My own grown-up Christmas list

No more lives torn apart

That wars would nevert start

And time will heal all hearts

Every man would have a friend

That right would always win

And love would never end

– from Grown-Up Christmas List by Michael Bublé

Everyone seems to have a "recycled" experience – you know, getting red-faced for recycling Christmas gifts. It’s not bad, I hasten to add, especially if the gifts are worth recycling and you are too pressed for time to go shopping.

What’s your favorite "recycling" story?

My friend "BA" has one.

"Several Christmases ago," she recalled, "I received gifts from my two friends who were mortal enemies. Neither I nor our other friends could make them kiss and make up. Anyway, I wanted the two enemies to ‘touch’ each other’s lives dahil Pasko po naman, di ba? Guess what I did – I simply changed the cards on the boxes with new ones, from me to each of them, and in that way they virtually exchanged gifts without their knowing it, of course! O, di ba, sakay na sakay sila sa spirit of Christmas?"

Four days before Christmas and here’s my own list of "recycled" gifts to my favorite stars, with some new additions, inspired by Michael Bublé’s song, an excerpt of which opens today’s Funfare:

• KRIS AQUINO and JAMES YAP – A healthy baby. Due in May next year, the little bundle of great joy should have combine its (gender not known just yet) parents’ best qualities.

• RITA AVILA – Another (also a) healthy baby. She and husband, TV director Erick Reyes, badly need one to make them a happy Family 3.

• ASSUNTA DE ROSSI and JULES LEDESMA – Also (a healthy) baby. Unsuccessful in their "joint venture" during their recent European holiday, the couple should buckle back down to work – pronto! – during this very conducive season.

• MARICEL SORIANO – Another Best Actress trophy for her memorably moving performance in Inang Yaya, a classic example of highly-effective "natural" acting.

• PIOLO PASCUAL and SAM MILBY – Inner strength to withstand the negative write-ups and malicious insinuations that could never, never put them down. Not a million detractors can put good men down, remember?

• ALESSANDRA DE ROSSI – A silencer to stop her from tongue-lashing girls (Jennylyn Mercado and Toni Gonzaga among them) even remotely, romantically linked to her estranged boyfriend Jeremy Marquez.

• GWEN GARCI, KEANNA REEVES, LARA MORENA and company – Also a silencer that will prevent them from flaunting on national television their bruises and black-eyes (Gwen and Lara) "courtesy" of what they claimed were their "batterer"-lovers and (in Keanna’s case) her conquest of men, young and old, that makes her look like a sex-hungry "terminator."

• MO TWISTER – More "talkative" guests. After all, Mo thrives on controversy, doesn’t he?

• ROSANNA ROCES – A treadmill and endless supply of diet pills...and peace pipes she should smoke with Lolit Solis, Vicki Belo and her ex-partner Tito Molina’s mom.

• POPS FERNANDEZ – To quote the song, "Dear Lord up above me; send someone to love me..." Or is Jomari Yllana really "it"?

• MICHELLE MADRIGAL – A smile on her face. Like Kristine Hermosa, this girl is pretty but she seems to be so full of herself, hardly smiling. Or is she feeling like the star that she might never be unless she improved her attitude?

• CESAR MONTANO – Another Hollywood movie (after The Great Raid) that will showcase his world-class talent.

• JUDY ANN SANTOS and RYAN AGONCILLO – A marriage contract (no "expiration" date, please!.).

• VIC SOTTO and PIA GUANIO – Also a marriage contract (same "term").

• KORINA SANCHEZ and Sen. MAR ROXAS – Also a marriage contract (indefinite!).

• DOLPHY and ZSA ZSA PADILLA – A march down the aisle, to the tune of You and I by Petula Clark...You know, You and I will travel far together...watch the evening growing old together...we may never get to the heaven but it’s heaven at least to try...

• JERICHO ROSALES and HEART EVANGELISTA – A marriage contract? Nope, it’s too early. Meanwhile, they may live(on?) happily ever after as sweethearts, notwithstanding objections from Heart’s family.

• JANNO GIBBS – A "chastity" belt. Need I say why? (Maybe Janno can let Mark Herras try it on for, uh, size?)

• REGINE VELASQUEZ and OGIE ALCASID – Simply a true confession. (Really now, Regine, who’s "George" in your life, your pet dog or a pet somebody?)

• To many stars planning to run in next May’s elections: A sign that screams, "DON’T!!!"

The Power 3 behind Gawad Kalinga film

How do you get three top movie producers to work together? Apparently, for Butch Jimenez of Jose Rizal and Muro Ami, Tony Gloria of Unitel and Tony Tuviera, beloved boss of Eat, Bulaga! and APT Films, give them a good cause to work for.

Word is out that the three producers have been handpicked by Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga (GK) for a forthcoming GK movie. The movie, entitled Paraiso is a trilogy and Jimenez, Gloria and Tuviera will produce one segment each of the trilogy.

Butch confirmed the project and said that the movie is practically finished. Tony Tuviera’s story is about a family swept by the Leyte landslide and how their lives were rebuilt by GK. Tony Gloria is producing a drama focusing on a Filipino married to an American wife whose burning desire was to help ease poverty in the country. After she was killed in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center Attack, her husband remembered her wish by building a GK village. Butch breaks away from the drama mold and tells a humorous tale of a juvenile delinquent named Elvis who enlightens the GK leaders that adopted him to the true meaning of the word, "family."

The movie has an "all-star cast" featuring Maricel Soriano, Cesar Montano, Michael V, Carmi Martin and Maricel Laxa. But the real story behind the story is how these stars and production people shared their talents freely to help GK.

I asked Butch how he was able to juggle his job in PLDT and producing a movie. He explained that the project was perfect for him since his segment had a running time of only 30 minutes and was finished in a few days. He reviewed scripts at 6:30 a.m. and production meetings were usually set late in the evening. "This movie is a tribute to the modern-day heroes of GK," shared Butch. "I could never say no to being a part of such a noble cause."

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