Yup, we’re finally in the thick of the wonderful, joyous season that is Christmas. Sure, we’re all juggling a million demands in our lives — job, family, personal, health — as well as sharing our prayers with others for a safe and joyful holiday season. Meanwhile, we’re thinking about Christmas shopping (and trying not to panic).
But one thing that lifts us out of our holiday slump is Christmas music — the best-loved, timeless melodies and songs that have a real meaning during the season of giving. We asked people this week to share their favorite songs during the Yuletide season. Here’s what they said.
Franco Laurel, stage actor
My Favorite Christmas song is Grown-Up Christmas List. I love the message of the song. How we wish that wars would never start, that every man would have a friend, that time would heal all hearts and that right would always win. I believe that deep in our hearts, this is what we are all praying for. God gave us the gift of life through His son Jesus Christ and everything is possible for those who believe in Jesus!
Bea Lopez, homemaker
My favorite Christmas song is White Christmas because my son loves to sing it even if he’s out of tune. He sings this song until we all have tears streaming down our faces from laughing.
Ming Arroyo, marketing manager
I love Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band Aid. It’s an inspirational song with a very timely message sung by the most popular British pop artists of the ‘80s. The message of ending hunger in Africa and spreading hope and joy with a catchy beat is very moving. Always gives me “last song syndrome” when I hear it, too.
Cherry Tiosejo Reyes, creative and managing
director, Essensuals Toni & Guy
My favorite Christmas song is The Twelve Days of Christmas because it’s such a fun song to sing. You find yourself wondering if you got the right gift for the right day.
Carla Larrazabal del Prado, homemaker
My favorite Christmas carol is O Come All Ye Faithful or the Latin version, Adeste Fidelis. I like it very much because it depicts the true meaning of Christmas, that is the very reason why we are celebrating and why we are joyous. Some Christmas carols merely talk about the food, gifts and all the fun; although all these are part of the Christmas season, nonetheless we should not stop there but put an emphasis on the fact that Jesus was born and we are all gathered together since He is here to bring us peace, joy and a lot of hope in spite of the difficulties we and our country continue to experience.
Amanda Tengco, student
My favorite Christmas song is Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I’ve been a lifelong fan of Lennon and the Beatles and I believe this song expresses all the comfort and joy I feel during this time of the year.
Nina Daza Puyat, homemaker
It’s Christmas Time by The Carpenters. This song may be corny but it reminds me of my college days in upstate New York. When I hear this song, I get transported to a specific scene in 1983 when four of my Pinoy friends and I were in a car, giggling and singing out loud on our way to a shopping mall in the middle of winter. I was 20 years old, with maybe $25 shopping money in my pocket, but I felt like I was on top of the world. I never get tired of listening to this song every Christmas season because the upbeat tempo and the happy lyrics make me feel young and carefree again.
Prof. Irzan Tandjung Ph.D., Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines
O Holy Night because of the lyrics, the message: it is holy, and it gives me serenity and peace. The melody is idiosyncratic: I melt whenever I hear the song. It is like a soothing medicine, it brings me emotion through divine music. Music is an intellectual, physical and spiritual endeavor that requires self-awareness and the awareness of time that only humans possess. The reason why O Holy Night works so well for me is because it is timeless and because the melody and harmony are still the same as what we use and sing today. I prefer to hear it in the evenings during Christmas months rather than afternoons (as the title itself alludes to).
Lea Salonga, singer/actress
Grown-Up Christmas List because of the wishes it lists: it asks not for toys, tinsel or candy, but for peace among men, an end to war, and “that right would always win, and love would never end.”
Patrick Uy, owner/photographer, Pacific Light Studio
There are many Christmas songs and albums I really like to play during yuletide season. Miss Kita Kung Christmas reminds me of distant family (my brother and sister live in the US) and friends. Maksim’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is definitely one of my favorites — the upbeat tempo just perks up my moods. Kenny G’s Christmas album’s one of my favorites also. It’s really hard to pin down on just one song. Feliz Navidad!
Divine M. Lee, vice president, sales and marketing, Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp.
I really love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer because it reminds me of my childhood days. I played Rudolph the Reindeer in a school presentation because I couldn’t sing the tune! They say that Christmas is for children but I never really lost my excitement for it. rols.org.uk/rudolf_the_red_nosed_reindeer.htm”Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is still the first choice on my iPod every Christmas.