THOUGHTS OF CHRISTMAS NEVER FAIL to turn my day around. Who doesn?t love the Yuletide season? Never mind if it makes us wish that our net income would match our gross Christmas spending.

I asked some celebs to share their fondest Christmas memory. May you all have priceless memories of the season to see you through the whole year round.

CESAR MONTANO: ?I was 20 years old and staying in my hometown in Baclayon. After the Christmas Eve Mass, people went home and the streets were empty. My cousins and I felt so alone. We had no money. In Bohol, the party is on the 25th. Para mabuhay ang gabi, nag-caroling kami at ako ang nag-gitara. We earned a lot of money so we partied till 6 a.m.

DINGDONG DANTES: ?It was those Christmases when I still believed in Santa Claus. I would always look forward to the gift-giving ceremony on Christmas Eve when Santa would really be there. It turned out he was just a stout American with a white beard and semi-long white hair.?

JOHN ESTRADA: ?When my mom gave me my first bike. I also can?t forget Christmas of 1990 because that?s when Tito Douglas discovered me and it was my first year in ?Palibhasa Lalake.??

MARICEL LAXA-PANGILINAN: ?Our first Christmas as newlyweds 16 years ago. Anthony and I spent it together. It was quite unusual not to be hopping from one family to another for Noche Buena but it proved that we were on our way to start a family we could call our very own.?

CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA: ?When my Dad gave Tamiya cars to me and my brothers. We broke it before Christmas was over. But it was so much fun.?

BARON GEISLER: ?When our house burned down in 2004 and 2006, we lost everything, but surprisingly, buo pa rin ang Pasko namin. I was amazed that it was our happiest Christmas. Kahit ?di kumpleto ang gamit namin, kumpleto kaming pamilya at mas nag-bonding kami.?

SUZI ENTRATA-ABRERA: ?When I waited for as long as I could for Santa. My siblings and I even took turns waiting. But we all fell asleep and when we woke up, there were Santa?s gifts galore!?

JED MADELA: ?Last year when I celebrated Christmas Day with the elders from Asilo de Molo. Together with my family, we organized a simple party and gift-giving for them. Seeing the elders? smiles and hearing their laughter is priceless!?

IZA CALZADO: ?When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my parents told me I wasn?t going to get a Christmas gift. But when the 25th came, they gave me a Shy Violet (from the ?Rainbow Brite? cartoon) doll.?

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?Ang Panday? is GMA Films and Imus Productions? official entry to the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival. Bong Revilla portrays the lead role (Flavio) again. Will he outdo himself in his nth version of the Pinoy classic?

Based on the trailer, wala kayang makapantay sa Panday?

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Cristine Reyes considers it a dream come true to be Vic Sotto?s leading lady in OctoArts Films and APT Entertainment?s entry to the ?09 MMFF, ?Ang Darling Kong Aswang.?

But she?s quick to douse speculations that Vic would figure in her own romantic life: ?I consider him as a kuya and he?s the best adviser I?ve had especially on love.?

The movie is a surefire hit considering Vic?s impressive track record at the MMFF box office. For seven straight years, all his entries were the festival?s top grosser. ?Ang Darling Kong Aswang? is not a spin-off of ?Twilight? but it might make viewers fall in love with the characters at first bite and sight.

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