Holiday stars shine

The Pangilinans (from left): Miel, Senator Kiko, Miguel, Sharon, KC and Frankie

Tradition collides with technology in these family photos that celebrities are sharing with their friends via their Facebook pages.

To cap off a whirlwind holiday season, Megastar Sharon Cuneta posted a family pic—made more special because eldest KC Concepcion was able to make it all the way from Europe.

KC, who also helped fix the sumptuous spread (complete with cheese, wine, chocolates from France and lechon from nearby), presented to her mom the best gift ever: Her diploma from the American University in Paris.

“After 10 years … KC finally picked up her diploma from school,” Sharon explained. “They had misspelled her last name with a ‘T.’ They redid it and kept it in the school vault for the past decade.”

It was the most meaningful present for this “proud” mom.

TV host Ryan Agoncillo also posted a snapshot of his growing family with actress Judy Ann Santos. Their youngest Luna, who will turn 2 on Jan. 8, looks camera-ready, like the rest of the brood.

The Agoncillos (clockwise from left): Ryan, Luna, Judy Ann, Yohan and Lucho

The season has been “so far, so good,” Ryan quipped.

Fresh from a US trip, Kapuso heartthrob Ken Chan took part in a traditional “noche buena” with parents Allan and Veronica, and brothers Mark and York.

Ken Chan (right) with (from left) York, mom Veronica, dad Allan and Mark

“I just got back from the US, where I stayed for two weeks,” Ken related. “I wanted to experience a white Christmas. But, of course, I had to be home for the holidays—to be with family. Christmas is not the same without your loved ones.”

It was a full house for actress Angelu de Leon who enjoyed a fab feast whipped up by her mom Flora: “Nilagang baboy with white beans, kare-kare, liempo, pinakbet, baked chicken, ham, bread and cheese.”

Angelu de Leon with (clockwise from left) Nicole, Loise, husband Wowie and bunso Rafa

Daughters Nicole and Loise, son Rafa and husband Wowie Rivera also relished the classic dishes. Much missed was Wowie’s older son Renzo who spent the eve with his mom. “We also played games while waiting for the clock to strike 12, the time to exchange gifts and sample another round of mom’s home-cooked meals,” Angelu recounted.

TV host Amy Perez follows the same rituals every year with sons Adi, Sean Kyle and Isaiah Joaquin, and hubby Carlo Castillo. “We usually spend Christmas Eve at my parents’ house,” Amy said. “After Mass, we have dinner there, then we go home at 11 p.m. so that we can unwrap gifts by midnight.”

Clockwise from left: Amy Perez, eldest son Adi, husband Carlo Castillo, youngest Isaiah Joaquin and second-born Sean Kyle.

The next day, “we go to my in-laws’ house for lunch.” Amy asserted: “What’s important is that we get to spend time together as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Filmmaker-actress Laurice Guillen described the holidays as “complete.” “Christmas Mass, Christmas Eve dinner with the Esquiviazes (late husband Johnny Delgado’s half-brothers and sisters and their families), noche buena.” And as finale, there’s also “gift-giving” for everyone; daughters Ana and Ina Feleo are on top of her list, of course.

The Feleos (from left): Ana, Laurice Guillen and Ina

The Cruzes (front row, from left): Lyn, Tirso and TJ, (back row) Djanin and Bodie

Actor Tirso Cruz III and wife Lyn, kids TJ, Djanin and Bodie made sure to include fur babies Fifi and Vhong-Vhong in their annual family pic. “We just had a simple dinner at home. Quiet yet full of love. We’re thankful to God for all the blessings,” Lyn recalled.

Singer Dingdong Avanzado, wife Jessa Zaragoza and daughter Jayda motored all over the place this year. “We had a simple and quiet Christmas with our families. We had lunch with Jessa’s family in Binangonan and dinner with my relatives at my brother-in-law’s farmhouse in Antipolo.”

The Avanzados (from left): Jessa Zaragoza, Jayda and Dingdong

Singer Raymond Lauchengco, with wife Mia, and kids Natalie and David, visited a winter wonderland this year. “This is the first year we are spending the holidays away from our families and the Philippines,” Raymond remarked. “While we miss our relatives and gave up a lot of December work offers, we realized that we couldn’t put a price tag on memories that we could create together.”

The Lauchengcos in Saskatoon, Canad (clockwise from left): David, Raymond, Mia and Natalie

After Canada (where Raymond performed in four cities), the Lauchengcos headed to New York “for a quiet, intimate white Christmas … a first for us!”

Ai-Ai delas Alas and Gerald Sibayan (third and second from right, respectively) with family

It’s likewise a holiday of firsts for newly married couple Ai-Ai delas Alas and Gerald Sibayan. “It’s our first Christmas as husband and wife,” she pointed out. “We had fun. But I’m still not used to being called Mrs. Ai-Ai delas Alas-Sibayan (laughs).I always think it will end with Delas Alas … something follows pa pala! Parang weird lang.”