Tom Rodriguez
How are you celebrating the Christmas season to make it more meaningful despite the pandemic?
TOM RODRIGUEZ
“Aside from the fact that we can travel again, I now have a wife (Carla Abellana)! I will be able to go with her in the United States, finally, since the pandemic began. I will be able to spend time and celebrate with my family there. In a way, it’s going to be another “family-moon” for us. One was with her family here in the Philippines. “We will probably rent a cabin in Sedona, Arizona, where there’s some snow—just so we feel that it’s really Christmas.”
Catriona Gray
CATRIONA GRAY
“Unfortunately, I can’t go to Australia to see my parents because the travel restrictions are still high. I will still be required to do a two-week quarantine, which I can’t do because of my work commitments. So we’re doing a virtual family celebration this year.
I will be staying in Manila and celebrating with my friends who are here, because they’re my family, too. I realized even more now that friends are my family while I’m away from my parents. They fill that space or me. And I will still have a happy holiday season.Some of us can’t be with our loved ones, but it’s all about making an intentional effort, even if it’s just a voice or video call. You can surprise them with gifts even if you’re not physically there. You just try to make your presence felt. That’s the best you can do. But hopefully we can all be together in the coming years.