Today is Christmas Day, and definitely this year’s celebration will look a lot different compared to Christmases past because the quarantine season is not over yet and the danger of COVID-19 makes it hard for everyone not to feel a bit Grinchy.
But amid the coronavirus pandemic, we, Filipinos, will still be able to make Christmas special even without grand parties. According to news reports, party-goers will be apprehended. Not even an out-of-town holiday trip is a good idea.
Showbiz-watchers, of course, want to know how celebrities are going to celebrate Christmas 2020. Here’s how some of them are thinking of ways to spending the most wonderful time of the year:
AAAI talent and Biyahe Ni Drew host Drew Arellano: “Even if we don’t go out or travel, as long as we’re together, it’s always special. Like I remember last Halloween, even if we didn’t have a Trick or Treat outside, the kids had fun. We just put a sign on each door of the house and then our helpers would stay behind the door tapos may kakatok, as if ang laki ng bahay namin di ba? (laughs) But it was fun. You know, if you just use your creative mind, anything is possible. It’s always a choice to be happy so I think it will be easy for us to think of ways to celebrate Christmas this year.”
Frontrow president RS Francisco: “Christmas, for me, is always a time for tradition, a time to spend with my family and those who are dear to my heart. Though this will be the second time that we wouldn’t be complete (his dad Rudy Francisco passed away last year), I am looking forward to Christmas this year as it would be a reunion for me and my mom, who has been quarantining in the safety of her home for almost 10 months now — a very long time that we haven’t seen or hugged each other.”
“Given the current pandemic situation, I think we will be spending much of Christmas this year in prayer and through worship. As always, we will give thanks to the Lord for keeping our family safe and healthy throughout 2020. But we will always keep in mind and offer our prayers to all the families badly affected by the pandemic as well as the victims of calamities. We are also thankful to all medical frontliners for taking care of us. 2020 has been a tough year for all of us. But if we keep on praying and sharing our blessings and love all throughout this season until the year ends… if we continue to be kind and help each other, we will be able to face the New Year with a renewed spirit and renewed hope for better and brighter things ahead.”
John Arcilla: “Christmas is a family gathering. This time is so perfect. In fact, if there will be an implementation of a community quarantine for a week from Dec. 23 to 26, I will not complain. No other perfect Christmas celebration than having it with your family or friends. Going to a party with protocol is kinda corny or awkward, and partying outside without protocol is irresponsible. So, a locked-in, intimate gathering with your family members whom you can cuddle and embrace with no restrictions is just so perfect and more meaningful.”
John, who plays the title role in Suarez, The Healing Priest for the Metro Manila Film Festival, added, “For me, this is going to be the most meaningful and realistic Christmas that this world could have. This year should remind us that Christmas started on the birth of Jesus in a manger. There were no fireworks. No Christmas trees or Santa Claus. But the world was illuminated by a great ‘light of hope,’ and the whole world rejoiced for the air of new life. We are all scared these days — full of confusions and uncertainties — but this is the exact situation when we need to embrace and allow the birth of the Baby Savior within our hearts once more and again... and again... so that we continue to celebrate Christmas with a hopeful and merrier heart.”
Ritz Azul: “Honestly, our Christmas celebration will remain the same kasi masyado kaming matipid, hahahaha. What is important is that we are together at masayang nagkwe-kwentuhan. That’s why, I always look forward to December na halos walang work kumbaga naka-bakasyon lahat so what my family do is just stay in the house and bond. A welcome addition to what I will do this Christmas is watch The Missing (the Regal Films’ MMFF film entry that she’s starring in with Joseph Marco and Miles Ocampo) with my family plus magluluto ako ng manok sa bakuran namin (laughs).”
Joseph Marco: “The pandemic has brought my family closer together so I would say that this Christmas is gonna be special. It’s gonna be simple but it’s gonna be really special that I’m really looking forward to it plus The Missing.”
Miles Ocampo: Every year, me and my family spend Christmas at home but what makes this year’s celebration different is that there are no more parties, no more reunions but thanks to technology, we can still greet our relatives through video calls. Overall, wala rin nabago masyado kasi bahay lang din naman kami pag Pasko.”