Gardo Versoza
Photo by Mark Joseph Griswold
I was the one who put up the tree this year. I originally wanted a blue-and-white theme, but it ended up de colores (colorful) because I rushed it in time for my late mom’s Mass on December 1. I still plan to have a blue-and-white tree, but there’s also a special one for my son Uziel. The tree for Uziel will be decorated with vegetable stuffed toys so that he’ll be into healthy, nutritious food when he grows up. I’ll be the cook this year. I usually prepare kaldereta, kare-kare, buko salad and macaroni salad. I’m thinking of serving lechon, too.
On Christmas Eve, my partner Ivy, her kids and our son Uziel will just have dinner together and then go to church the next day. We plan to spend New Year’s Eve out of town. The smoke (from firecrackers) is bad for baby Uziel who will be two months old by then. Bayani San Diego Jr.
Anita Linda
Photo by BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.
Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love it the most among all the holidays. Everyone is gay and everywhere you look, you see colorful lights and lanterns. I supervised our helpers in putting up the tree.
We laid out a ceramic miniature Christmas village on the formal dining table. Most of the pieces came from the United States, but these ornaments have been with us for a long time now. Sometimes I make the adornments myself. On the set (of a TV show), I saw a beautiful handcrafted Christmas decor made from recycled materials. I asked how the decoration was made and I plan to make it for our house.
We always have pancit, spaghetti, barbecue, and my fave lumpia for Noche Buena. I don’t like spending for firecrackers. We are more than content watching our neighbors’ fireworks display. We just stay at home on New Year’s Eve. We set family reunions during the holidays, too. Bayani San Diego Jr.
Mimi Juareza
While malling at Rockwell one day, I chanced upon a store where Christmas trees were on sale. I just bought additional poinsettia (flowers) and retrieved old gold and silver ribbons and ornaments from last year.
Since I live alone in Manila, I just go to church and attend Mass on Christmas Eve. I cook food and celebrate with my three dogs (two poodles Tong and Kong and Japanese spitz-labrador Jang) and cat (Curio). I invite friends to drop by and we have a few drinks. But I try not to drink too much.
On New Year’s Eve, I go to church and prepare some dishes, too. The holiday season is that simple for me. Bayani San Diego Jr.