FILIPINOS always have a plan for the holiday season.
It is the time of the year when many are out and about checking out Christmas events and activities with their family and friends, various establishments like malls and restaurants are busy, and terminals, airports, and seaports are filled with passengers heading to their holiday destinations.
While many ring in the holidays by reuniting and spending time with their loved ones, others celebrate Christmas in different ways like spending the entire day to themselves and enjoying some peace and quiet at home.
Like regular people, local celebrities have various Christmas plans. From going abroad to staying in the metro, these Filipino stars told republicasia how they would spend the holiday this year, as well as their goals for 2025.
Enrique Gil
During a sitdown interview, “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” actor Enrique Gil shared with republicasia that he plans to visit his family, particularly his sister and mom, and the apartment he just bought in Spain.
“I want to move in and fix my room, and fix up some stuff. And na-miss ko rin yung sister ko, so I need to visit her. It’s been almost like—last year ko pa siya last nakita or nakasama,” he said.
The 32-year-old actor is starring in “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital,” a forthcoming horror flick based on the 2018 South Korean film “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.” It is an official entry to the 50th edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which will kick off in Philippine theaters on Christmas Day, December 25.
But the new horror movie is not the only project Enrique has in store for his fans, as he is set to make his teleserye comeback. According to the actor, he would have to return to the Philippines from Spain by January 2025 to prepare for his next soap.
Enrique shared that his 2025 goals would be to return to the small screen and “do really well.”
“[I] hope our show does really well, and just do more projects, produce more content,” he said, hoping to meet his fans again.
Jane de Leon
Christmas season this year will be different for Enrique’s “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” co-star, Jane de Leon.
The 26-year-old actress said she has no fixed plan yet for Christmas as her mom would leave for the United States.
“Medyo stuck lang ako kasi my dad, he already passed away, and then ‘yung mom ko naman aalis siya. So, matitira lang kami ni Kuya Francis,” she said, referring to her older brother whom she is close with.
While nothing is definite, Jane said she might consider joining her friends who would be spending Christmas away from their families.
For 2025, Jane said she hopes to enjoy life more.
“My goal for 2025 is to stop na sa pagiging survival mode [and] enjoy life. Kasi for this year, wala akong ginawa kundi to survive,” she added.
MJ Lastimosa
MJ Lastimosa’s Christmas celebration this year will also differ from her usual holiday plans in the previous years when she traveled to different countries.
The Miss Universe Philippines 2014 titleholder joins Enrique and Jane in “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital.” This marks her debut in the annual MMFF, which features a diverse lineup of Filipino films.
“This is my first time to be part of the MMFF, so I’m going to stay here in Manila. And for the first time, I’ll be working for Christmas and New Year which is a blessing na rin,” shared the 37-year-old beauty queen.
With her hard work, MJ hopes to purchase her own home next year.
“I’m just going to continue what I’ve been doing. Talagang work hard and siguro to have a house kasi I’ve been renting. So, ayun talaga pinaka-goal ko: to own a house,” she said.
1st One
Like many Filipinos, members of the rising P-pop group 1st One—Ace, Max, Alpha, Joker, J, and Jayson—want nothing more than to spend Christmas with their loved ones, with Jayson hoping to return to his province and Alpha wanting to attend Mass with his family.
“Kakain talaga ako ng marami kasi lahat kami nangayayat eh. So, medyo magbabawi lang kami onti,” said Alpha.
Other members, meanwhile, simply want to take time off from their busy schedules. According to J, they have group activities this holiday season including attending music festivals.
“Gusto ko po magpahinga,” said Max. “Kailangan din po talagang magpahinga kasi it keeps us recharged [and] sane.”
Joker agreed with him and jested, “Ako ang plano ko matulog para sa 2025 buong taon tayong puyat.”
1st One has been busy promoting their latest single “Wala Ng Iba,” their second song this year after “Paalam Na” in August. They held an exclusive media launch for “Wala Ng Iba” earlier this month, where the republicasia team had the opportunity to learn more about the meaning of the song and its creative process.
Ace, the group’s leader, said he plans to continue promoting “Wala Ng Iba” even during Christmas by streaming it on music platforms and watching its music video on YouTube. He then encouraged their fans, collectively known as For One, to help them make “Wala Ng Iba” top music charts.
“That would be, for me, one of the greatest Christmas gifts for 1st One as a group and sana ma-enjoy niyo ‘yung ‘Wala Ng Iba,’” he said.
As a group, 1st One said they aim to make more songs and music videos, hold more events, and hopefully, have more endorsements and fans.
“Napansin namin palaki nang palaki ‘yung For One, so why not take it to a whole new humongous level in 2025 and let’s make 2025 1st One’s year,” said Ace.
