7 Filipino Stars on Their Christmas Plans and Gift Ideas

The holiday season is in full swing!

Despite the ongoing pandemic, we've all come to look at the brighter side of life and celebrate the good things we still get to enjoy. As compared to how things were last year, 2021 was a little better and gave us a taste of that sense of normalcy in our lives pre-pandemic, making us more hopeful for an even better year ahead.

The artists in this list have had an amazing year despite the limitations the global health crisis presented, and that's something they're really thankful for this Christmas. Elisse Joson and Rachelle Ann Go-Spies received one of the best gifts in life: the gift of motherhood. Heart Evangelista-Escudero shared that 2021 was truly a banner year for creativity for her, what with her many projects and collaborations. Charlie Dizon, Jane de Leon, AC Bonifacio, and Maymay Entrata have all been blessed with career breakthroughs.      

We've recently caught up with them, and asked them about their Christmas plans, Christmas gift recommendations, and the year that we're about to say goodbye to. Read on.

ELISSE JOSON

On her Christmas plans

"This Christmas is gonna be really special because it's our first Christmas with Felize [her daughter with McCoy De Leon] and she's such a blessing to us, she's an angel. Wala na akong mahihiling pang regalo dahil si Felize, enough na bilang gift from God. I just know that we will have the best Christmas this year because everything is new to us. So, our Christmas tree is decorated. It's our first time to put up a Christmas tree. We bought gifts for our loved ones already and 'yung plans for Christmas dinner, a small Christmas dinner, is already set. So I'm excited because this is all new to us, and I'm sure it's gonna be so much fun."

On her Christmas gift recommendations for her fellow moms

"Bilang first-time mom, I would like to receive anything for my daughter. But ang Christmas gift recommendation ko siguro…. I would say, anything for the home kahit small trinkets for the house, I would appreciate it… something that would help around the house. Bilang first-time mom, kasama na d'yan ang pagkakaroon ng family, so anything that would help around the house, we would appreciate it."

CHARLIE DIZON

On her Christmas plans

"Christmas plans? Hindi ako sure kasi 'yung last taping day namin [for Viral Scandal] is December 23 so… Kasi usually sa US kami nag-Chri-Christmas talaga kasi andu'n 'yung family ko and right now andu'n din 'yung parents ko, tapos 'yung sister ko from Canada, lilipad din talaga du'n for Christmas. Ako lang 'yung hindi aabot. Siguro makiki-Christmas ako with my friends or with Ate Dimples [Romana], kasi kapitbahay ko siya dito so baka sa kanila na lang ako maki-join or kung sinuman siguro na p'wede." 

JANE DE LEON

On her Christmas plans

"Just to be with my family lang, Noche Buena, ganyan. And simple Christmas pero gusto kong maging unforgettable for us."

On her Christmas gift recommendations

For a mom: "Sabihin ko sana 'yung selfie stick kasi mahilig sila mag-selfie selfie (laughs). Pero siguro, simple is hindi siya material, but food is okay kasi you can put 'yung love mo du'n sa food na 'yun and sobrang na-a-appreciate talaga 'yun ng nanay. Food is okay. Kahit ano, cookies, pasta, cake, but if you want naman na material, you can buy, siguro, a sweater. Or mga home buddies natin 'di ba, p'wede 'yan mga pambahay kahit simple na flowers or flower vase. Something na pang-decorate sa bahay, ma-a-appreciate 'yun ng nanay."

For a sister: "Sa sister, damit, para hindi na kayo maghiraman ng damit (laughs)! Ma-a-appreciate niya 'yun, pang-OOTD. Damit or sapatos."

For a gal pal: "Dapat funny stuff, 'di ba? Kasi barkada 'yan eh, and mas magiging memorable 'yan kapag unexpected gift."

For a female colleague: "Sa panahon talaga ngayon, ang mga babae ha, mahilig sila mag-decorate ng kuwarto. Halaman! 'Yung plantita, p'wede rin sa nanay 'yun, mga plants... P'wedeng clothes, candles. May mga mahihilig d'yan sa humidifier. P'wedeng makeup. Sobrang daming options."

On what she wants to receive for Christmas

"Simple lang eh, vacuum cleaner (laughs). Adulting na kasi talaga, so ayun, pambahay talaga... Pero gusto ko lang vacuum cleaner para sa carpet ko!"

On how she summarizes her 2021

"I think it's a stepping stone for new beginnings... Because lahat naman ups and downs and'yan, lahat ng mga struggles. Actually, everyday naman is a new day 'di ba? Binibigyan ka naman ng chance ni Lord para gawin 'yung mga bagong bagay to improve yourself, to be a better person not just for yourself but sa ibang tao din. So, ayun, you just need to apply it and to be thankful."

RACHELLE ANN GO-SPIES

On her Christmas plans

"We love Christmas. And that’s, I think, the big thing for us, and we wanna impart to Lukas [her and Martin Spies' son] what we did as a family, how we spend Christmas, especially Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is really a big thing in our family and Martin's family as well. So, I think, that we will share and pass on to Lukas. But yeah, hopefully we would be in the Philippines during Christmastime. That's in our wish list!"

On her Christmas gift idea for herself and her recommendations for her fellow moms

"Ano bang gift, spa break? Retreat?... Materially, I don't want anything, I don't need anything. I think 'yung ano lang talaga, massage lang or spa break or... The moms out there will get this, like after you give birth, everything is dry like your skin, your hair. And I guess, if I wanna get something, if I wanna treat myself, I would get something like skincare products or hair products that will help myself feel, you know, good again, alive again, I suppose. Yeah, that one, skincare, good for the me-time."

AC BONIFACIO

On her Christmas plans

"I'm gonna go home for the holidays and spend the holidays with my family back at home [AC was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada]. I love spending it with them. We're such a big family, too, so at least when I get home, I'll be able to spend time with them." 

On how she summarizes her 2021

"This year was a very unexpected year in terms of work, friends, personal life—everything! Everything was just unexpected, now that I'm releasing music like this ["Fool No Mo"]. I never thought that I would do that and with the series coming up [Lyric and Beat], and all the other jobs I've done. Parang I'm just so shookt. And the friends that I've been able to meet and get close with. So, it really is an unexpected but very grateful year po." 

HEART EVANGELISTA-ESCUDERO

On her Christmas plans

"I'll be in the States. Hopefully, my husband can come and excuse himself from work because I'm going to be there Christmas and New Year. Hopefully, he can join me."

On her Christmas gift recommendations for the modern woman

"I think a nice blazer would be a good idea because it's something that would represent power and confidence; when you put a blazer even when you have shorts on, it ups the game. A nice bottle of perfume is always nice. Candle, that’s always a good gift. Stationary is so good; everything is so techie now but I still do believe in personalizing things and handwritten letters, not just texts and emails. Another thing, I'm gonna go for pen, a nice pen; we're always on our phone typing. I love writing even when it's like my schedule, I love writing. I still have a journal. Especially for the younger generations, they might not know how to write anymore because everything is so techie. Those are my top 5."

On how she summarizes her 2021

"I think it couldn't have been any better given the situation, that's why I’m so, so grateful because I had work. And the work is not just because for myself, I mean, I have my personal things that I need to do and so I was very thankful that I was able to have work, my team has work. I was kind of surprised how there were so many opportunities but at the same time, it was really good because there's a lot of self-discoveries on what else when we can do even if we thought it was just up to here (limits), we can do more. Like doing your own content, being more creative, really using your mind because there's nothing else you can do like go out and all of that. So just being creative, I've developed that side of my brain during 2021."

MAYMAY ENTRATA

On her Christmas plans

"Plano ko, bago po ako lilipad kasama 'yung pamilya ko sa Christmas talaga (kasi two years ko na sila hindi nakakasama kaya finally makakasama ko na sila), bago ako lilipad ay makakasama ko muna sila Ms. Em [Millan], Sir Rain [Dagala]. Meron kaming Christmas party na matagal na naming hinihintay... Matagal na naming ginagawa ito, every year talaga pero since nu'ng pandemya po eh hindi na namin nagagawa. Tapos ngayon, sa sobrang excited ko, ako na bahala sa lahat [her fashion stylist Em added that Maymay took the initiative to plan and organize their Christmas gathering this year]."

On how she summarizes her 2021

"Rollercoaster po itong 2021. Pero masaya ako na nandito na ako sa point na medyo kumalma na. Pero 'yung beginning po ng 2021, medyo ganito siya [shows her hand in up and down motions], 'yung road ko. Hindi madali pero dahil pinili kong maging okay ulit, paunti-unti kumakalma na siya. At tsaka ko rin na-realize na siguro habang buhay pa tayo, habang may natitira pa tayong oras, desisyon natin kung gusto talaga natin maging masaya hanggang sa huli and 'yun 'yung gusto ko. At isa na 'yung 'MPowered' na kumbaga, 'yun ang maging witness na isa siyang celebration ba na kahit may pinagdadaanan tayo, okay lang kasi eventually, magiging okay din tayo."

Lead photos by @shairaluna via @charliedizon_, @riaregino for @metrodotstyle, @ryanagustin_ via @gorachelleann, @imjanedeleon, and @iamhearte