We asked the stars: Does goodwill end with the Christmas season?
JASMINE CURTIS-SMITH
We should now, more than ever, make sure to share our blessings with those affected by calamities. If we must hold parties, let us tone them down a notch and donate the savings to the needy. Yes, life goes on, and we always have to look after our kababayan.
RICHARD POON
The disasters have moved me and my wife Maricar (Reyes, model-actress) to give more. Jesus Christ gave up his life so we could receive forgiveness and healing.
LUIS MANZANO
For me, Christmas is always a symbol of hope—which we need, along with faith, considering what the country went through in the past year. We look forward to bouncing back, better than ever, in the coming year.
RICO J. PUNO
Christmas, for me, has become a time to sit back, relax and reflect. This shouldn’t happen only at Christmas.
JOROSS GAMBOA
We can celebrate Christmas all year round by being selfless, by giving to those who are in need. In fact, I didn’t have a big celebration for my birthday in November. I donated most of my savings to organizations involved in relief operations for our countrymen in the south.
MITOY YONTING
Christmas is a tradition of family togetherness that should be in every Filipino’s heart always.
JOSEPH MARCO
Even after Christmas we need to feel that there is still hope for us at a time when we are really down. What’s good about Filipinos is that we just keep moving forward.
WENN V. DERAMAS
The recent calamities that struck the Philippines may be the strongest and most destructive, but they are nothing new to us. We’ve learned to be more appreciative of what we have because of the disasters. We’ve also become stronger. ’Pag nakaramdam tayo ng sakit, mas naa-appreciate natin ang sarap. Allan Policarpio and Marinel R. Cruz