Celebs share Christmas wishes for a better Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Local celebrities have expressed their Christmas wishes for a better Philippines amid the controversies, alleged corruption issues and natural calamities the country has faced in recent months.

Several of them joined the Trillion Peso March anti-corruption protests held on Sept. 21 and Nov. 30 in various parts of Metro Manila. Kapamilya stars Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Darren Espanto and Donny Pangilinan, along with Andrea Brillantes, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Catriona Gray, Elijah Canlas, Maris Racal, Ben&Ben and many others participated in the mass demonstrations, calling for justice and accountability over alleged corruption in government flood control projects.

Some showbiz personalities also extended financial aid and offered prayers for victims of the powerful earthquakes that jolted Cebu and Davao Oriental on Sept. 30 and Oct. 10, respectively, as well as for those affected by Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan which hit the Visayas and Luzon in early November. The calamities claimed hundreds of lives.

Cebuanas Kim Chiu and Vina Morales, BINI Aiah and Colet, celebrity couple KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde, among others, donated relief goods and provided financial assistance to earthquake and typhoon victims.

The STAR collated celebrities’ responses from various interviews about their Christmas wishes and here are their answers:

Vice Ganda: “Aside from my family’s good health, I want our Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) film (‘Call Me Mother’) to be a commercial success. Kailangang-kailangan ng ABS-CBN kumita ng pelikulang ito para sa pagpapatuloy ng pagseserbisyo ng kumpanya sa mamayang Pilipino. And of course, the greatest wish of everyone, and I’m really sure of what I’m going to say, maging maayos ang sitwasyon ng bansa natin.”

Nadine Lustre: “I hope that every family will spend time together this Christmas. Like what Ate Vice said, sa daming nangyayari sa Pilipinas ngayon, I’m wishing that this time around, kahit sa Pasko medyo maging positive naman tayo. And I hope that you will watch our film ‘Call Me Mother.’”

Richard Gutierrez: “I wish that every Filipino will be happy this Christmas. Sana wala ng delubyo, sana wala ng nakaw and peace and love for everyone this Christmas.”

Matteo Guidicelli: “Sana maging masaya tayong lahat and also have good health. I also prayed that we will see change because people are already tired. And we need to create content, produce material that inspires, represents the country, not just locally but for international purposes.

“Because sobrang nakakahiya na yung pangyayari. Our country, internationally, looks very bad. So, we have to rebuild this and seek accountability from the people that need to be accountable. It’s our job, (as) the media, to represent the good stories and represent the Philippines the best way possible.”

Jessy Mendiola: “Nagkasunod-sunod yung mga calamities, typhoons this season. I hope that people will find warmth and happiness kahit papano. That’s my wish and I hope that we will greet the New Year with peace…  Hard-working people deserve the best and I believe that Filipinos are hard-working.”

Luis Manzano: “Same. I wish that Filipinos will get what they deserve. We deserve nothing but the best and more. So, sana yun ang makuha natin this Christmas.”

Rhen Escaño: “Well, hindi naman matatapos ang problema natin sa Pilipinas but sana mas maging matalino na yung mga tao. I hope next election, we will choose the right candidate na papaupuin natin because what’s happening now is overwhelming.”

Randy Santiago: “We’re just praying that whatever problems we have now in the country will be resolved. Ma-resolve and maging maganda for the entire Philippines.”

On the other hand, some celebrities have shared their personal wishes for this Christmas, such as hoping for the MMFF to be a success and spending time with their families. Read on:

Piolo Pascual: “My Christmas wish is for the festival (MMFF) to be a success. A lot of people are working just to reach the deadline. I hope the people will flock to the cinemas. All of us are working and we’re doing this not just for the art but also for our country.

“As much as cinema is an escape, it’s something that we’re proud of as Filipinos. We’re doing everything just to, you know, bring the ante up and raise the standards in terms of filmmaking. So, I hope people get to appreciate that. I hope that people will support Filipino films.”

Ashtine Olviga: “My family usually celebrates Christmas in Quezon Province. One of my wishes is for us to travel out of the country or to other parts of the Philippines. Siguro ngayon, hindi man ngayong Christmas, makapag-travel kami.”

Andrea Brillantes: “Pahinga lang and just to be with my friends and family.”

Ariel Rivera: “My Christmas wish is the same every year — just to be with my two boys who live in Canada. My Christmas wish to myself and to my wife (Gelli de Belen) is to spend our time with our two boys and my family in Canada.”

Nina: “Of course, I will spend Christmas with my family. Mas masaya if you spend it with your family kahit na out of the country or here in the Philippines.”