What's your favorite Christmas carol?
You know it’s the yuletide season when you start feeling the cool breeze, seeing Christmas lights and lanterns all over, and of course when you hear Christmas songs on the radio, in restaurants and all over the malls! Listening to Christmas songs brings back so many wonderful memories of my childhood and a happy feeling I can’t explain. So what’s your favorite Christmas carol?
Rachel Anne Wolfe, artist
All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. It has a great fun beat to it with a message that tells us that it isn’t what we have or receive that’s important this holiday season but who we have that really counts and truly matters. For me, that can beat any present under the tree.
Edward Mendez, actor
Silver Bells because it’s a soothing song and the melody is very peaceful sounding. It creates the perfect Christmas atmosphere.
Georgina Diaz
The Christmas Song by Mel Torme and Bill Wells, especially when this piece is played on the piano. It is so melodious, it reminds me of New York CIty and all the street vendors that sell pretzels and chestnuts roasted on charcoal. I must be one of the few people who love to listen to Christmas music playing in the malls and stores as early as October. But my funny favorite Filipino Christmas song is Macho Macho na si Santa by Masculados because it reflects the changes in the trends and this generation. These are some of the lyrics: “Dahil machong macho na si Santa di na sya, di na mataba. Dahil machong macho na si Santa Claus, Mr. Suave na, masculado pa. Dati rati si Santa pantaloon nyay di na magkasya, ang katawan ay kay bigat-bigat. Kung maglakad ay hirap na hirap. Kaya tuwing umaga ay nag workout sya, umiwas din sa keso de bola. Unti-unting lumiit ang tyan. Naisipan ni Santa palitan lahat ng costume nya, nagshopping at namilli sya bagong damit at cellphone nya,kaya mga bata ay huwag magtaka kung tunay ba na si Santa sya.”
Zsazsa Padilla, singer/actress/TV host
I’ll Be Home for Christmas because after Thrilla in Manila, my dad moved to the States so I always wished for him to come back home to Manila so we could all be together for Christmas.
Reena Aguilar, businesswoman
The Christmas Song (“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”), whose music and lyrics are a true classic. It is the familiarity of the song that brings back happy memories of Christmas. It reminds me of a traditional family Christmas. I especially like the version by Josh Groban who sings like an angel.
Bambi Lichauco, chef instructor, American Hospitality Academy Phils.
The Christmas Song, which reminds me of the good times and the bad, the happy times and the sad. Yet most of all it reminds me of home and family.
Angeli Valenciano, president, Manila Genesis Entertainment and Management Inc.
Away in a Manger, a song that reminds me of the reason for the season, wonderful childhood, Christmas memories. That the Lord Jesus, though a king in his own right, was born in a manger with no crib for a bed. I want to be just like that — living with the absence of materialism and “things,” just pure worship from shepherds for the King of all Kings!
Joji Dingcong, talent manager/corporate imaging and branding consultant
Oh Come All Ye Faithful is a beautiful heraldic song. When sung by a chorale, I imagine a choir of angels singing it with solemnity. It has an ethereal feel and hearing it at Christmas I truly feel the child Christ’s presence. So beautiful!
Martin Nievera, singer
The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole . For some reason, of all Christmas carols I love and sometimes play during the heat of summer, is this Christmas classic. The Christmas Song puts me in the Christmas mood no matter what time of the year it is or what sadness I may be going through. It sets the tone, creates the landscape and renews the faith. This song turns on believing! It’s a happy, sad song — what Christmas is all about.
Bianca Manalo, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2009/actress
My Grown-Up Christmas List because when I was a kid I used to wish for a dollhouse, bike, toys, stickers, etc. But ever since I was exposed to our community Couples for Christ with our project Gawad Kalinga, my parents taught me to share all my time, talents and resources, especially with our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Doing charity work together with my family is something that I really cherish and treasure and I have always prayed that everyone would do the same. And I am very thankful because when I became Bb. Pilipinas Universe in 2009 I just didn’t become a beauty queen, but also an ambassadress of goodwill. Being that, I know that I must lead by example so that people would be inspired through my actions. Just listen to the song — it says it all.
