Celebrity-style pandemic Christmas

(In this forum, celebrities share with Inquirer Entertainment how they plan to celebrate Christmas amid the pandemic.)

Iza Calzado

A ‘Zoom Christmas’ for Iza Calzado

Iza: This will be our first Christmas away from Ben’s (Wintle, Iza’s husband) family. They are based in the United Kingdom. We will just be spending Christmas Day at home, also because I have work. (Iza is busy promoting her Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Tagpuan”). We will just have a Zoom Christmas with the family. Basta buhay ang lahat and everyone I love is healthy. That’s the best Christmas gift for me.

Yael Yuzon: Christmas for two

Yael: We (Yael and wife, singer-TV host Karylle) might just stay at home for the Christmas holidays and keep it simple. We’ll grill stuff, throw in some kimchi, and watch shows. K will be caroling online for her charity with the diocese of Pasig City, while I have been busy finishing an album, doing gigs, and attending Filscap (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) meetings. It looks like it will be just the two of us.

Yael Yuzon (right) and wife Karylle

A stay-at-home Christmas for Isay Alvarez

Isay: We (Isay and husband, singer Robert Seña) are usually out during this season, kasi mga layas. This time around, we will stay at home in Bulacan and enjoy the cool breeze there. We will cook and wait for our kids to show up. We are going to try to be normal parents, cooking and prepping for the big meal.

A ‘quiet Christmas’ for Vivian Velez

Vivian: I’ll just have a simple dinner with the family. We will just stay at home, as much as possible. I had several friends who got infected by COVID-19, and some of them actually died because of it. For me, COVID-19 is real. It’s within my circle, so I’m really being careful. My Christmas this year will just be a quiet one. I usually travel abroad in December. If not for the pandemic, I’d be out of the Philippines by now with my family. That’s what I will miss the most.

No Noche Buena big gathering for Wendell Ramos

Wendell: This year’s celebration will definitely be all about the family and prayers. We will just spend the holidays at home and have some bonding time with my loved ones.

We just have to let the children know… explain that they won’t be able to do the things they used to enjoy during Christmas, like the big gatherings for Noche Buena. And that’s the difficult part.

But given our current situation, with the pandemic and all, the most important thing is family. The one positive thing about this is that you get to appreciate even more your family’s worth.

A Christmas away from family for Mac Alejandre

Mac: This is one of the few times that I will not be spending Christmas with my family. I’d be out of the country by now. This is a period when we should just set aside the festivities related to Christmas and just focus on its essence—the birth of Christ. I don’t want to sound too preachy, but if you put things in that perspective, for sure, everything will be alright. Mababawasan ang lungkot mo.

Ritz Azul to binge-watch MMFF entries

Ritz: Since this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival is already online, my plan is to watch all the entries with my family at home. This will also be my way of supporting the local film industry. I also want to have a small salu-salo with my loved-ones if possible; and since we can’t go out I hope we can play traditional games like piko. I want my family to keep practicing traditional Filipino culture.

Get-togethers a no-no for Angela Cortez

Angela: Christmas is always with family. Unfortunately, get-togethers are out for this year. This is making me miss my friends all the more. Zoom meets with them will be a good idea.

An intimate celebration for Azenith Briones

Azenith: I’m going to spend the holiday season in my private resort and garden here in San Pablo, Laguna, with my children, my mom, my sister, and very close relatives and friends. We will have a very intimate celebration, as well as some gift-giving sessions for the less fortunate on Christmas Day. Noche Buena will just be with my family.

Joseph Marco

Joseph Marco: Bonding with family and dog

Joseph: Since I’m such a homebody and I have just returned from a lock-in set (for the series “Ang Sa Iyo ay Akin”), I plan to just stay at home for the holidays. I have my own condo unit but I hope to stay at our house and bond with my family and my dog for a whole month. I also can’t wait to watch all the films at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

No work on Christmas Day a first for Miles Ocampo

Miles Ocampo

Miles: This year will be my first in a long while to spend Christmas with my family. I always have work on Christmas Day, although I usually spend Noche Buena with them. Also, I plan to watch “The Missing” with them. Since we’ve shot the movie last year, and 2019 seems like a long time ago now, I’m curious to see how Direk (Easy Ferrer) worked on some of my favorite scenes. I’m excited to experience how the entire film looks and feels like.

No US trip this Christmas for Charlie Dizon

Charlie: The initial plan is to go to Pangasinan, my mom’s side, to visit my grandfather there. We really want to spend time with him, but if ever we can’t push through with this plan we’ll most likely have a Zoom call with the rest of the family while having Noche Buena. I have sisters in the United States and another one in Canada. My parents and I usually fly to the US to join them every Christmas there but since both are senior citizens now, we are scared to let them travel.

Mae Cruz-Alviar hopes to complete Simbang Gabi

Mae: Of course, I want to see my mom. These days, you just limit meetups to the people you need or want to see. My mom is both a “want” and a “need” because she’s already 82. We’re still thinking of how to do this because we have to protect her, too. In terms of other plans, it’s just mostly Zoom meetups and finding ways to send love to others, whether through gifts or gestures. Of course, we will try to complete the Simbang Gabi.

Gillian Vicencio: No visit to great-grandma

Gillian: We usually visit my grandmother’s mom on Christmas Day. It’s the only time of the year when I get to see all of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. We’re almost always complete on that day. With the pandemic, we have to prioritize health and safety, so we’ll most likely stay at home. I hope that next year, we’ll be able to do the things that we’re used to doing during the Christmas season.

Ruby Rodriguez: Sad but still thankful

Ruby: The year 2020 has been a very trying and painful year for everyone. We lost jobs, friends and loved ones. We lost someone who’s very important and dear to us (her sister, Dr. Sally Gatchalian to COVID-19).

The holiday season made me think 100 times: “Will I smile again? Will I be happy? Will I celebrate?” But then it slapped me in the face: “This isn’t what you’re supposed to be thinking and feeling! Be thankful and rejoice with the Lord. You still have family! And while you lost your BFF sister due to the pandemic, she left a blessing for all of you—a new family member through her daughter!”

I also have a new family in “Owe My Love!” (an upcoming GMA 7 series).

Benjamin Alves

A ‘staycation’ for Benjamin Alves

Benjamin: I plan to do a staycation and have a good Christmas Eve dinner here in the metro to debrief from our locked-in taping. I’m thankful for my health and the opportunity to work. I think it’s still important to celebrate Christmas (in whatever capacity) to show that, despite what we have gone through this year, we’re still blessed, because this is the season when Jesus was born.

Paul Salas OK with no gifts

Paul: I will spend Christmas with my family. I don’t mind even if there are no gifts. Since the lockdown started, we have managed to survive as a family. We’re healthy and happy. I think that’s what I’m thankful for this year. And it’s always worth it to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Good times or bad, we shouldn’t forget about Him.

Kelvin Miranda keeping it simple

It will be a simple one. As long as I’m with the people who are important to me, then I’m happy. There are things to be grateful for right now. I’m thankful for the trust people put in what I do. That I’m still able to open my eyes, that my family is still whole is something to celebrate. We should cherish the true spirit of Christmas.

Pops Fernandez: The Santa Claus of family

Pops: I look forward to Christmas because I’m the Santa Claus of the family. I also love planning it… I think that’s what Christmas is all about. It sounds mushy, but this year has been eye-opener for everyone—that we have to really cherish each other’s company. And we’re going to do that.

Martin Nievera (left) and Pops Fernandez

Martin Nievera: Christmas with family and dogs

Martin: It’s going to be with my three boys and their mothers. And our dogs.

We lost lives and we’re unable to see each other. Music artists can’t do shows. But heroes were born—the doctors, the nurses, the frontliners. As performers, our job is to inspire. And if people are inspired, I hope we can also inspire the rest of the world during this bad time.

Thea Tolentino to help cook Christmas meal

Thea: I will spend Christmas this year by helping my mom cook. I learned a couple of new things this year—one of them is cooking. So I thought of whipping up a dish that we haven’t had yet on our Christmas table.

I’m thankful for friends and family that made me sane during this tough time; for GMA 7 for giving me the show “The Lost Recipe,” an amazing project that inspired me to cook. This year may be the most stressful one, but I can say that it is also one of the best years for me.

No expensive gifts for Mylene Dizon

Mylene: We will just spend it at home. Christmas will be simple this year. I told my family not to give each other expensive gifts. I don’t feel it’s the right time for that… I’m just thankful for the time with my family.

Leo Martinez thankful for ‘the gift of life’

Leo: Christmas, pandemic or not, is always with family. This Christmas, we will have to keep it to our immediate family since the virus is still around. We will have the traditional Noche Buena and opening of gifts, but the most important is we will be together to pray and greet the Lord’s coming.

The gift of life is what we’re most thankful for. God has spared the family from the dreaded COVID-19 disease and the pandemic has taught us to live simply and appreciate and be thankful for everything that we have. Personally, we thank the Lord for “Owe My Love,” my first regular job after eight months of quarantine, as well as my two cultural advocacies, “Doon Po Sa Amin” and “Sine Wikain.”

Arra San Austin clinking wine glasses

Arra: I just want to spend Christmas with my family with food and drinks. Not exactly expecting gifts, but I just want to gather the family members that are close to my heart and clink glasses of wine with them! Every year, I travel for Christmas, out of town or out of the country. But this year… it’s going to be my family before my own trips.

Ina Feleo counting blessings

Ina: This year has reinforced counting the blessings. Sometimes you have to be reminded of the simplest and most important things in life, which, for me, is family. Aside from getting married, I was able to meet more people from my father’s (Johnny Delgado) side of the family. I opened my heart to my cousins and gained a lot of friends. That’s the biggest blessing.

No lavish celebration for Vhong Navarro

Vhong: Christmas will be simple this year. It’s difficult to really have a good time, because not everyone has gotten back to his or her feet yet. Some people don’t have the means to serve food. Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, the typhoons also affected many of us. So I think it’s better to celebrate the day without it being too lavish.

What’s important to me is that I have my wife (Tanya Bautista) and my family with me. Last year was a good one for us and I hope to just do the same this year… And I just want to thank everyone for supporting me this year.

A ‘locked-in family gathering’ for John Arcilla

John: Partying outside is awkward and irresponsible… There’s no better Christmas celebration than having it with your family and closest friends. So a locked-in, intimate gathering with family whom you can embrace with no restrictions would be perfect and meaningful.

We’re all scared these days — full of confusion and uncertainties. But this is the exact situation where we need to, once again, embrace and allow the birth of our Savior within our hearts, so that hope will not cease in our hearts. I may be crying now as I write this answer, but I will let these tears be the tears of hope that this, too shall pass, while embracing the people I love.

Gabby Eigenmann keeping the faith

Gabby: We’re happy we’re able to do a project before the year ends. The reality is that we haven’t had work for so long… at least there’s a chance to recover financially, so we can have something for our family. Some people had made plans for Christmas, but then the pandemic is still here. But there are still blessings. And I’m hoping for more projects this year.

I’m thankful that we have been safe. We will get through this together. Let’s not lose hope…As long as we have faith, everything will fall into place eventually.

Zoren Legaspi feeling thankful

Zoren: It’s hard to plan a get-together because people are still afraid. Just blowing a cake can be tricky these days.

Because of the long break, you start doubting your financial stability. Sometimes trimming your staff down crosses your mind, but you don’t want to do that, especially now, because people are already losing their jobs. But at least work has resumed and I’m thankful for that.

Yayo Aguila

Yayo Aguila: Keeping it simple, intimate

Yayo: I will be spending my day with my kids. We will share some home-cooked meals. Christmas day will be simple and intimate. There will be no big celebration this time with the other relatives. We want to maintain safety protocols.

Bianca Gonzalez-Intal in ‘boodle fight’

Bianca: I will just be at home with my family, with our ates, and will share with them a simple boodle fight. We will also have a video call with other family members. On Christmas night, I will be busy with my hosting job for “Pinoy Big Brother.”

INQ