(Part 2)
After being caught up in the holiday frenzy, it’s finally Christmas. If you have no more money left to count, it would be wiser to count your blessings instead.
As a continuation of yesterday’s column, here are some more favorite Yuletide memories of celebrities.
Mine would be the first time I experienced a white Christmas in New York with the family.
Another fond memory of mine is the time my mom surprised me with a gift I really wanted. I took her to the store where the tulip lights I like was on display, but since she didn’t bring enough cash, she asked if checks were accepted. The sales clerk said, “No.” So we went home without the lights.
But I got the surprise of my life when I opened mom’s Christmas gift to me. She bought the tulip lights I’ve long wanted with such a touching message on her card: “My dearest Doll, just to show you that there is absolutely nothing I would not do for you. Love you, Mommy.”
To this day, I have those tulip lights. It serves as my daily reminder that my mom’s love is shining down on me from heaven.
Joyeux Noël, à tout le monde! May there always be a little bit of Christmas in every day of our lives.
BOOTS Anson-Roa
BOOTS ANSON-ROA: As a kid, falling asleep in my mother’s arms during Noche Buena Mass. As an adult, a toddler Chiqui (Roa-Puno) with siblings Leah, Joey and Ben falling asleep in Pete’s and my arms during Misa de Gallo.
GABBY CONCEPCION: First time I saw a reindeer was in Tagaytay. I was looking around for Santa, but I did not see him. He was always good to me. Never missed a gift for Christmas. Every year, I look forward to Christmas Eve. I’m glad to know now, after all those wonderful Christmases gone by, that it was my father who played Santa all the time. How I miss my dad especially every Christmas.
GARY VALENCIANO: My fave Christmas memory as a child never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It was our last Christmas together with my parents and six siblings in our house in Greenhills in 1978. We were complete.
GARY Valenciano
As an adult, I will never forget the three times Christmas truly hit home. One was when my sister Gabin got married in 1998. We came really close to being complete once more as we celebrated Christmas in Orlando, Florida. It was like the old days, but this time with more brothers and sisters to celebrate with.
Then there was 2008. It was my 25th year in the industry. It ended with my mom spending Christmas with us in the Philippines. It was an incredible time.
Also on Dec. 21, 1992, Kiana was born. And we were all so excited that the “V family” now had a princess. We were once again complete.
RODERICK PAULATE: When I was a little boy, I remember falling in line with my siblings on Christmas Eve as Mamang and Papang handed out their gifts. This is the tradition I look forward to every holiday season. We never gave up this tradition. Now that my parents are gone, I still continue doing this in the family in memory of them.
SOPHIE Albert
SOPHIE ALBERT: The most memorable Christmases are the ones I spent with my Dad before he got paralyzed.
As an adult, I enjoy watching my nieces, nephews and little cousins open their gifts. It brings back fond memories of my Christmases as a kid.
MR. FU: I was always excited on Christmas Day because my overseas Filipino worker dad would come home and make our holidays really memorable. He died two years ago and since then, I promised my dad in heaven that I will make our Christmases special for the family. Ume-emote? May gano’n?