What they wish for this Christmas
A new stroller model from Aprica called Easy Buggy was launched last month at Shangri-La (at The Fort). It’s the only three-wheel compact stroller available in the Philippines. Funfare interviewed the host, Pauleen Luna-Sotto (the first user of the stroller), and seven of the other stars present.
Where and how do you spend Christmas? Who do you spend it with?
Pauleen Luna-Sotto (Mrs. Vic Sotto): We normally spend it here in the Philippines because it’s MMFF time. We usually get that done and over with. If we want to go out of the country, definitely after Christmas Day.
Kaye Abad-Castillo (wife of Paul Jake Castillo): This year, we’re planning to have Christmas in Manila since last year we had it in Cebu with Paul Jake’s family. Joaquin’s birthday is Dec. 22. This year, we’ll have it with my side of the family.
Sid Lucero: My holidays are always based on my daughter’s schedule. Since my family’s set-up is far from the conventional, I wait for her schedule and build mine around it which means I spend it in the car. She has her mom’s side and dad’s side which is divided into two. We used to try to make it to all, but now, we choose.
Geoff Eigenmann: Here lang. Kung aalis kami, it’s gonna be hard with one toddler and one infant. With family lang. We rarely travel during Christmas.
Miriam Quiambao: We usually hold our Christmas family gatherings at our home. My mother-in-law cooks a special dinner while I fix the house. My family and my in-laws gather around the dinner table on Christmas Eve. We stay up playing games or singing to videoke while waiting, then we exchange gifts at midnight with holiday music playing in the background.
Gwen Zamora (David Semerad’s partner): I usually spend Christmas with family in Manila enjoying a noche buena feast. However, this year, I can’t wait to celebrate our first Christmas at our cabin with our lil Cooper. David and I are starting our own little tradition.
Maricar de Mesa: Every year, we decide on spending our Christmas holidays either out of town or out of the country, always with my family.
Ciara: We usually spend Christmas Eve and noche buena with my mom’s side of the family. On Christmas Day, we celebrate with the Sottos. We all bring gifts and we have parlor games like the Boat is Sinking, Newspaper Dance and Paint Me a Picture.
What is the best Christmas gift that you have received?
Pauleen: I’m not much of a gift person. Even my husband, we don’t really give gifts to each other. Minsan, we just give gifts para masabing may label pero we really don’t. Not so much.
Kaye: My son. I always talked to him while he was in my tummy. The original estimate was January 12. Papatak ‘yung 37 weeks ko, December 20. Usually daw, late ang first time baby. I always talked to him before Christmas, after Christmas, huwag lang Christmas or New Year. Ayun, December 22.
Sid: My daughter.
Geoff: My family. Late na ako naging tatay but happy ako na I am one now. I love my family.
Miriam: Last year, one of the best Christmas gifts I received was from my son Joshua. He gave me a necklace that I ordered in Lazada and paid for with his own money. It had an infinity pendant to symbolize his never-ending love for me as his mother. Awwww. Heart melt.
Gwen: Christmas in my home wasn’t really about gifts but about enjoying each other’s company. But if I were to say one, it would probably be the mini apricot poodle my parents got me when I was seven years old. I named her Curleen because she had curly hair.
Ciara: The best Christmas gift I have ever received is Jesus — His love and forgiveness. It’s free and His love never ends and nothing can ever separate us from His love.
Maricar: There’s a couple of material things that I have received over the years but spending it with my loved ones is always the best.
What do you wish for this Christmas?
Pauleen: Another baby! Don’t tell my husband. I want another baby, one na lang. Magkaroon lang ng kalaro ang baby naming si Tali.
Kaye: Number one, no crying. Number two, second baby. Sana next year. ’Yung hindi iyakin, ipagpe-pray ko talaga.
Sid: Maybe for time to be slower so I can visit more houses. I’ll be on the road. More time. When my baby was growing up and younger, it was easy to lug her around, but it’s too much car time. It’s unhealthy. So maybe if time was slower, we could squeeze in more Christmases but other than that, I’m grateful for the time I get. Sometimes, I get her on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve or New Year, and vice versa. I don’t want to ping-pong, eh.
Geoff: That my kids grow up to be happy kids and very kind. That they should grow up not thinking they’re different from other kids, and we should all love each other.
Miriam: I wish for a joy-filled Christmas celebrating complete with family including my dad.
Gwen: That my family’s life path stay as bright as it is now. We have been receiving blessings upon blessings for which we are super thankful. God is good, indeed.
Ciara: My wish this Christmas is for all Filipinos to love our country more...for the Filipino people to stop the bashing and look for the good in our country. After all, we should be grateful for our beautiful country.
Maricar: For my mom to be completely cancer-free and live a longer life and just enjoy the rest of her time with her grandchild.
(E-mail reactions at [email protected].)
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