MANILA, Philippines?We all must make wonderful Christmas memories because in the end, that?s the only gift we have left. Celebrities share their happiest childhood and grown-up Yuletide memories. May the magic of Christmas never leave you!

CESAR MONTANO: ?My unforgettable Christmas was during my growing up years in Sta. Ana. From age 6, I would go Christmas caroling house to house from Sta. Ana all the way to San Juan. I was carrying the most famous musical instrument na pinitpit na tansan shaped like a book. As an adult in 1986 in Bohol, my cousins and I went caroling after the midnight Mass. We had a great time kahit tatlong beses kami hinabol ng aso! We finished at 3 a.m. At the break of dawn, we went to Baluarte and swam in the sea.?

RUFA MAE QUINTO: ?It was such a delight as a kid to hang socks on the stairs of our house with my Christmas wish list even if I knew it was my tito who would buy the things I wanted. I also have fond memories of caroling and namamasko sa mga ninong at ninang ko. As an adult, I cherish my first White Christmas in Michigan. I also look forward to the yearly MMFF and the parade of stars because it has been my panata to give laughter to the Filipinos on Christmas Day.?

DINGDONG DANTES: ?As a child, I treasured the time when Santa visited me. As an adult, it gives me joy to play Santa to others.?

OGIE ALCASID: ?On Christmas morning when I was 5 years old, my mom woke me up and Santa had delivered his Christmas present. As an adult, it makes me happiest seeing my kids open their Christmas gifts.?

KARYLLE: ?When I was a kid, Santa would leave his red sack with white furry lining a white cord with lots of toys under my bed or under the Christmas tree. As a grown-up, I had a major tampuhan with one of my best friends. She surprised me by coming to our yearly Christmas dinner and forgetting about her tampo to me.?

DIETHER OCAMPO: ?As a child, I was so happy when I received a ?Nognog? (the African kid) piggy bank. Now I?m overjoyed reading Christmas cards from kids with cancer whom my K.I.D.S. Foundation has been supporting.?

ANGEL AQUINO: ?It was the year when the family computer became so popular. That Christmas, my tatay and nanay were not on speaking terms for a long time. All of us kids were terribly affected. Despite the problem, our state of living, my nanay managed to make us feel ?Christmasy? and hopeful and we would have a Noche Buena. On that eve, we had handa but not much. Right before we opened our gift, nanay and tatay made peace. My siblings and I wondered why there was only one gift for all of us. We were extremely happy when we opened it because it was a family computer. We played Mario Brothers all night. No Christmas in my adult life has outdone that one.?

CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA: ?As a kid, I?ll never forget the Christmas when my cousins and I got our first Tamiya cars and we raced them non-stop. Now I feel happy deep inside every time I see my nieces and nephews play around the Christmas tree.?

MARIEL RODRIGUEZ: ?My happiest Christmas as a kid was when I got the Little Mermaid doll I always wanted. As an adult, I felt the Christmas spirit the most when I was inside the PBB house.?

BENJIE PARAS: ?When I was a little boy, my mom asked me what gift I wanted from Santa. I told her I wanted a toy car. When I woke up on Christmas, I was surprised to see the toy car beside me. As an adult, I treasure Christmas when I won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the PBA at the same time.?

JED MADELA: ?My happiest Christmas as a child was when my cousins and I lined up to get crisp five peso bills from our grandma. As an adult, it was when I shared my blessings with the aged in Anawim last week. It was in honor of my grandma. Now it?s my turn to give back and spread around the crisp bills. But of course it?s not just five pesos (laughs).?

?Monthsary? countdown

Sweetness is in everything Paul Soriano does for his GF Toni Gonzaga. On her Facebook wall, he wrote, ?1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 18 and-a-half ? Kaaautes!?
Toni explained that it?s a countdown to their ?monthsary.? Ahh, the countless joys of being head over heels. After the holiday rush comes the mush.

Next girl?

Dennis Trillo is flattered that Maja Salvador is so vocal about having a crush on him. ?It?s a very honest gesture to confess something like that,? says Dennis. ?I find her very pretty and talented. I hope to work with her someday.?

If and when that happens, will Maja be the next girl in Mr. Gagambino?s web-like love life?

Just hanging out?

Dashing businessman Jojo Manlongat is often seen with Jean Garcia. ?We?re just hanging out and having a good time,? he says.

Jojo was linked once-upon-a-time to Angelu de Leon and Sunshine Dizon. Does he have a penchant for actresses or is it the other way around?

Shopping

Alicia Mayer was spotted shopping for baby clothes. Was it for her inaanak this Christmas or does she have a date with Santa Stork?

PERSONAL: Madamo gid na salamat to my newfound friends in Roxas City, the wonderful Bolaño women: Cari, Tita Monina and Tita Emilia. Meeting you was one of the best parts of my trip.

E-mail wateringholesshangrila@yahoo.com