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Today is the first day of September and some Filipinos consider this day as the official start of the holiday season.

But before we get too excited for the “Ber months,” the Father of Philippine Christmas Carols Jose Mari Chan wanted to remind Filipinos to get their COVID-19 shots amid the ongoing pandemic.

Jose shared on 24 Oras yesterday: “To make Christmas meaningful this year and how do you do that?

“Take care of your health, if you have not been vaccinated yet, please, please have yourself vaccinated.

“Because, come Christmas you don't want to be sick in bed, you don't want to be in the hospital. So have yourself vaccinated most importantly.

“And let's make this Christmas meaningful.”

He added that we should also foster the habit of sharing to our less fortunate kababayans, too.

“Show your love by sharing your blessings to those who have less in life, those who are hungry. And those who are underemployed or unemployed.”

With the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country at 1,989,857 (as of this writing), Mr. Chan takes extra precaution to protect himself from the highly-contagious virus by working at home for now.

“For the time being I worked from home, I don't go to the office. I work from home.

“Mga concerts zero. There are no concerts at most sometimes, they would request me na could 'you submit yourself of your video singing, then I do, I submit it because that's part of the gift of music that God has given me.

“God gave me the gift of music in order for me to share with his people - I always say yes.”

When asked about his viral memes online ushering the Christmas season, Jose Mari simply smiled and said, “I'm complimented, I'm flattered but I hope they not overdo it baka sabihan ng mga tao, 'ayan naman! Wala na bang bago? [laughs].”

Take a look at some of the best memes featuring the legendary Jose Mari Chan in this gallery below.