REPRESENTATIVE Lani Mercado says her husband, Senator Ramon ?Bong? Revilla Jr., is just as meticulous as she is with home interiors.

After Lani had put the finishing touches on this year?s Christmas décor, with the help of interior decorator Anjoy Hipolito, she still consulted Bong on the finer details.

?I incorporated his comments and suggestions to the overall design,? Lani relates. ?He wanted the house to look joyful, festive and bright.?

?I?m a perfectionist,? Bong admits.

While the clan?s home in Cavite hewed closely to a copper-rust-gold motif, the Revillas chose red for their Alabang house.

?The house in Cavite is European-inspired while the one in Alabang is modern Asian,? Lani notes.

This year, she scattered fresh poinsettias all over the Alabang home, placed a Nativity scene at the foyer, displayed an Infant Jesus (given by veteran actress Luz Valdez) by the stairs and put up a dancing Santa Claus by the doorway.

?My own kids didn?t grow up with the tradition of Santa Claus,? Lani explains. ?But we made sure to introduce our grandchildren to it.?

The holidays, Bong and Lani agree, have become more exciting with the arrival of their two grandchildren: Jolo?s son Gab, 5, and Inah?s daughter Alexa, 2.

They suddenly realized that their own kids have grown up: Bryan, 24; Jolo, 22; Inah, 21; Gianna, 15; Loudette, 13; and Ram, 12.

?I got surprised,? Bong confesses. ?Our youngest Ram is already a young man. But now it?s as if we have new toys in Gab and Alexa.?

There are times when Bong considers expanding the house, to make room for the new additions in the family.

?But then I realize that when the kids go off to college, Lani and I will be all alone in this big house,? Bong says.

For now, they enjoy living in a full, fun house. ?Kahit nagsisiksikan kami (Even if it gets a bit crowded),? Bong says.

The holidays are inevitably ?cheerful and chaotic? for the Revillas.

?Masaya pero magulo (fun but noisy),? Lani says.

Although he is frequently busy promoting a movie for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) every December (this year, he stars in ?Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote? with another box-office draw, Vic Sotto), Bong gets to spend quality time with the family.

After the annual MMFF parade on Christmas Eve, the Revillas rush back to Alabang.

?We usually have Noche Buena in our Alabang house. On the 28th, we visit my side of the family,? says Lani. ?Then on December 31, we go to Mass at the Imus Cathedral and welcome the New Year with fireworks, and more food in our Cavite home.?

Lani says Bong requests for homespun fare for their Noche Buena and Media Noche feasts.

?He usually asks for grilled hotdog, barbecue, ham and queso de bola,? Lani says. ?This year, he requested for puto bumbong and bibingka.?

They have very simple Christmases, Bong insists.

?When I?m home, I?m happy because I?m with my wife!? he exclaims.

?Asus,? Lani quips. ?He feels rested and relaxed here. This is our comfort zone.?

?We?re always on the go, so when I?m free, I hang out with my kids. We do normal things: malling, watching movies, dining out,? says Bong.

?We enjoy simple, ordinary stuff. These things keep us grounded and balanced,? says Lani.

The holiday season is no exception.

?My kids would usually give me a T-shirt or a jacket for Christmas. They?d all save up and buy one gift for me. Ambag-ambag sila,? Bong says.

?More than material things, I value our time together the most,? Lani says. ?Preparing dinner together. Laughing, malling and shopping together. We do our shopping after the 25th?usually on the 31st, after the holiday rush.?

Reunions with Bong?s siblings in Cavite are just as gleeful.

?All of Bong?s siblings would bring their families to visit my father-in-law (action star and former senator Ramon Revilla Sr.),? Lani says. ?We?re one whole barangay (village) there.?

The health of his father, who suffered a stroke two years ago, is improving, says Bong.