The best and worst Christmas for Arci Muñoz

Arci Muñoz

We don’t feel like celebrating Christmas this year. We just want to be together and support each other emotionally,” said actress-musician Arci Muñoz when asked how her family would be spending the holidays this year.

Arci said she couldn’t help but feel sad because, for the first time, she’d be experiencing Christmas without her dad, Manuel Ramon Muñoz, who passed away in February. “The sadness and longing will always be there. I miss everything about him. He is my personal hero,” the actress said.

Arci added that her family would most likely pay a visit to her dad’s grave on Christmas Day. “After that, we will have dinner together at my aunt’s house, like we always do each year. It’s hard to think that Dad will no longer be around. Where I am right now is because of him. He may not be here physically, but I know he’s watching over me,” she shared with the Inquirer.

Arci said her eldest sister got married recently, and it had been an emotional moment for them. “My mom and brother walked her to the altar. She was the first of us to have gotten married. Our dad didn’t live long enough to see any of his daughters tie the knot, or meet his grandchildren,” Arci pointed out.

She added: “I still feel his presence. Only recently, my aunt called us up to say she saw Dad’s face on the flame of a candle. I know that every blessing that I’m getting now, he had something to do with it.”

The actress is busy promoting her latest movie, titled “Extra Service,” which will be shown on Jan. 11. She is featured in this comedy adventure film by Chris Martinez along with Coleen Garcia, Jessy Mendiola, Ejay Falcon, Enzo Pineda and Vin Abrenica.

Arci’s teleserye, “Magpahanggang Wakas,” opposite Jericho Rosales, will be airing its last episode in three weeks. “Things are getting more exciting for my character, Aryann,” she said. “This is also why a lot of people were surprised to find out that we will be airing our last episode soon. When the series was first pitched to the cast, they told us that this will just run for 16 weeks.”

Arci explained that the production team had already given its all into the program, “so much so that we can no longer stretch or extend its run without affecting the story. If you have been following it, you’ll notice that the story is fast-paced, and it progresses every week. We’ve had an awesome time working on the show.”

The actress said working on “Magpahanggang Wakas” had been emotionally draining for her. “Most of my scenes required me to cry. Sometimes, I get to bring the character’s depression home. I make sure I shake the feeling off. I don’t want it to affect me, especially because I’m still grieving for the loss of my own dad,” Arci explained, adding that she was able to use her personal struggles to empathize with her character. “There was this scene where Aryann lost her baby. It was easy for me to cry because I understood her pain.”

These days, her only regret is not having enough time with her family. “I hardly see them because of work, but I’m not complaining. I’ve waited for these good breaks to come,” she shared. “I haven’t had a good 8-hour sleep in months. I will spend the Christmas break doing exactly that.”

Arci said she would also tend to her cats, Luna and Artemis, and their four kittens. “I want to enjoy them first. I also plan to go out of town with my mom, who misses my dad as much as I do.”

She said she’d also need to make it up to the members of her rock band, Philia. “I know they feel I have neglected them. I promised to make it up to them. We will make more music videos in 2017, and compose more songs.”