The timeless magic of Christmas movies

Merry Christmas! This is the most wonderful day of the year. And in this country, we celebrate the longest Christmas. Just at the start of the "ber" months, everybody is already agog with where to shop, what to get and what to give for Christmas presents. All sorts of family entertainment are offered – movies, stage plays, concerts, carnivals – because Christmas is a time for and with our families. I try not to work on Christmas Day.

It’s a holiday I spend with Nanay, Bong, my niece Lanie, nephew Jake and sister Mana Fe. We usually go out of town, either Lipa where I maintain a modest resthouse; Baguio, Nanay’s favorite place or Borongan, Eastern Samar, my hometown. My mother dictates where we spend Christmas.

Last year, we were in Lipa. We had fun. Our cook prepared sumptuous food consisting of my favorite Christmas fare: lengua con mushroom, pork embutido, chicken roast with orange and pineapple glaze, baked prawns and fish fillet with tartar sauce, buttered vegetable, sopa de ahu or garlic sauce, clams pasta, leche flan and halayang ube. We would feast on food, listen to music, or just plain talk to each other.

Nanay loves this time of the year, when the weather is just right – not humid or cold – in spite of the rains. On Christmas Eve, we would do our exchange gifts. Jake always gets the biggest gift. He loves big boxes which he would unwrap with his tiny strong hands. My Nanay always gives me the best Christmas gift – her sense of humor. She wraps anything from chocnut to pan de sal with the funniest dedication. Of course, this is Nanay’s way of expressing her unconditional love. During this time, we would watch movies, all sorts of movies. From drama to comedy, from classics to Nanay’s all-time favorite the Sam Milby-Toni Gonzaga starrer You Are the One. Among the movies we watch tirelessly during Christmas are:

It’s A Wonderful Life. The 1946 movie starring Jimmy Stewart is one of the best Christmas movies. Frank Capra’s classic showed a frustrated young man on the verge of losing himself, then comes to life and realizes that indeed, it’s a wonderful life. He goes home and is welcomed by his family and the entire community.

A Christmas Story (1983). It is a funny, child’s eye view of the holiday about a boy named Ralphie and the true meaning of Christmas: getting a present, specifically, a gun. The boy clings to his dream despite the urging of his mother and Santa not to because "you will shoot your eye out."

How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The movie is based on a book by Dr. Seuss. It tells of how Grinch had lost the spirit of Christmas over the years and his exploits to rid everyone of Christmas joy. The story has been retold a number of times including the one that starred Jim Carrey.

A Christmas Carol (1938). It is based on Charles Dickens’ book. It is the story of a man who sacrifices everything including family and friends in order to get rich. At his old age, ghosts visit and tell him of his errors and hoping his ways will change in the remaining days of his life.

Home Alone (1990). It is the movie where McCaulay Culkin became big. A rich family goes on Christmas vacation, accidentally leaving a little truant son behind. The boy is gleeful that the whole family is out. But when thieves come to the house and attempt to rob the family, the poor boy is left to care for the big mansion against robbers.

White Christmas (1954). Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in the Christmas classic. But the real star of the show is Irving Berlin’s score.

The Santa Clause (1994). When something happens to Santa Claus, a man takes over to play the role of Santa. He starts growing the beard and the belly, and soon enough he looks just like Santa Claus! He delivers presents to all children of the world, which is not an easy job. But for the Santa Clause, it had become his responsibility

Bad Santa. If there’s a good Santa, there’s a Bad Santa and that perfectly fits Billy Bob Thornton who plays the Bad Santa in the comedy movie.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947). The classic film is about Christmas and the story of a man who claims to be Kris Kringle himself. Nobody believes him, and it’s up to a lawyer and a little girl who must set aside their logical thinking just long enough to have faith that the man could really be the Santa Claus.

Prancer. The 1989 movie is about a reindeer who shows up inexplicably in the woods after the town’s decorative Prancer falls from its perch and shatters on the street below. The "real" Prancer is nursing an injury, too, a bullet wound, and an eight-year-old girl with the assistance of a local veterinarian, takes it upon herself to secretly nurse the reindeer back to health. The little girl nurses Prancer and promises Santa she will make Prancer flight worthy again in time for Christmas Eve.

Elf (2003). Will Ferrell topbills the "for-the-entire-family" Christmas comedy; and

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). A Tim Burton’s Christmas classic.

And of course, I never fail to watch all the entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and go watch movies.