Chynna Ortaleza, Sherilyn Reyes Share Some Family Christmas Traditions They Still Follow

Filipinos are big on family, traditions, and Christmas! Here are some family Christmas traditions that are still followed, observed, and enjoyed by these celebrities, as told to Smart Parenting:

Sherilyn Reyes

"Very traditional" is how Sherilyn Reyes-Tan describes the way she celebrated Christmas in her youth, and until now that she and her husband Chris Tan have grown children: Lorenz, Eia, and Ryle.

"At exactly 12MN," says the GMA-7 contract artist, "we gather around the table and eat together. Conversations and games follow afterwards."

She goes on narrating what they have for Noche Buena: "Steak and truffle pasta are our family’s favorite! So yearly regardless of the other dishes, present lagi yan… desserts like mango float also always present."

Chynna Ortaleza

Over at Chynna Ortaleza-Cipriano's family, the actress/TV host describes their Noche Buena and Media Noche as "simple and meaningful celebrations in our home."

She and her husband Kean Cipriano, the actor/musician/record producer, have two kids: Stellar and Salem. The couple have also co-founded and now jointly run O/C Records and Artist House, which is into music production and publishing, as well as talent management and event organizing.

"After 2 years of not being able to celebrate with family face to face," she says, referring to the isolation brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, "we are grateful that we get to come together again this year."

The GMA-7 homegrown star adds, "Of course prayer, good food, conversations, music & family time will always be the most important elements of our get-togethers."

Chynna also shares what they have for handa: "From the Ortaleza side we always have a dessert spread comprised of fruit salad and our current favorite cake, mama’s honey crusted ham & a good meat-becahamel pasta dish.

"The Cipriano side brings in the specialties of Pasig. We eat Mama Aging’s BBQ and Fresh Lumpia with Monghe & Chicken Flambé."

(Read here the traditional must-have holiday food items based on pamahiin.)

Nikki Valdez

Nikki Valdez recalls her family putting up the Christmas tree at home with the littlest member being assigned to the Christmas star as topper.

Today, the actress-singer says, "Hina-hand down ko kay Olivia," referring to her unica hija. Her family also includes her current husband Luis Garcia (read here how they recently marked their eight years of togetherness).

Nikki adds another Christmas tradition she grow up with: "Hindi napuputol ’yung pag dating ng midnight, nagbubukas kami ng mga regalo."

As for preparing for their Noche Buena, she points out, "Sa panahon ngayon kasi ang hirap because of my schedule." The ABS-CBN homegrown artist is in the cast of the movie, Family Matters, an entry to the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) that opens on December 25, Christmas Day.

"Pero kung kaya, kami talaga ’yung gumawa," she beams.

Mylene Dizon

Unlike in 2021, when Mylene Dizon and her kids Tomas and Lucas spand the holidays with her family in the United States, they will be home in the Philippines this Yuletide 2022.

The actress, who's also part of Family Matters, relates that she and her sons will be joining the family of her longtime partner Jason Webb at the house of patriarch Freddie Webb, the veteran actor and former sportsman. (Read here on Mylene and Jason's blended family.)

For New Year's Eve, Mylene says they're on the wait-and-see mode as they await the "standing" of Jason's team in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA). The former PBA player now sits as a coach of the Magnolia team.

Agot Isidro

Who remembers the old monito-monita, baby-baby, Kris Kringle way of exchanging gifts as Christmas Day nears? Agot Isidro's family sure does, and they do it every year!

The actress, who's also in the cast of Family Matters, goes on narrating, "We’d have the usual Noche Buena, then gift-giving. ’Tapos the next day, we eat menudo. Normally kasi nag-iinuman, so parang ’yung brunch, menudo ’yun parati."

Agot admits having lost count of the number of inaanaks she has, and quips, "Dapat sila na ’yung…Pinupuntahan na nila ako, ako na ang nireregaluhan kasi malalaki na sila."

What are the Christmas traditions that your family still follows?

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