Holiday Cheer: Time together with tree, trimmings, toy dogs

Jun Robles Lana (seated, left) with Sydney, and Perci Intalan with Melbourne and Tokyo.

Perci Intalan, filmmaker, tells the Inquirer: “Our tree this year is playful, fun, full of surprises. It’s not big but it’s overflowing with little ornaments—very detailed. There are trimmings on the trimmings. We use the same pieces every year, adding just a few trinkets here and there.

“As a kid, I always decorated the family tree. Now, with Jun (Robles Lana, filmmaker), I am the tree-decorating expert, and he’s in charge of the gift-wrapping. He makes each present look so beautiful, you wouldn’t want to unwrap it.

“It’s a working holiday season for us but we are excited. I will join the Metro Manila Film Festival parade for “Shake, Rattle and Roll XV.” (I directed one of the episodes.) Jun is working on his latest film, “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan.”

“Jun and I usually spend the eve with our respective families. Past midnight, we celebrate at home with our pets—Toy poodles Sydney and Melbourne and aspin Tokyo.

“We got Sydney and Melbourne six years ago. There is a story behind their names: When Jun and I met, I was working on a show in Australia. He would visit me in Sydney, one of my favorite cities. But he says he prefers Melbourne.

“Two weeks ago, I found a small pup in the middle of the street. We adopted him and named him Tokyo, after the city where we had our honeymoon after our New York wedding last year.

We don’t dress them up for the holidays. We just play with them. Bayani San Diego Jr.

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