CHRISTMAS is special because it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. But do you remember a particular Christmas that stands out among the rest? Some celebrities do:

TV host, singer and actress Pops Fernandez feels that the holiday season becomes special because of her children, Robin and Ram. "It was sad because we never really celebrated Christmas when I was young. My friends would go out of town and they would make a big deal about noche buena. We never had that. We had an early Christmas dinner and just went to sleep.

"But now, my Christmases are more memorable. It feels great to watch my kids open their gifts. It's nice to see how they get excited about the toys they receive! Robin was born on Nov. 30, 1986 so that year was also the very first Christmas that I had my own family and my firstborn. That was so memorable!

"Christmas is a time for reminding each other of how much you care. It's a time for sharing and giving. Since my spiritual life has changed, Christmas for me is really about celebrating and remembering the birth of Jesus Christ."

Parañaque mayor-actor Joey Marquez remembers the first Christmas he received his bonus. "I was 13 years old, working as a janitor. With my first bonus, I bought cheeseburger, French fries and Coke for noche buena. I ate alone as I watched the kids playing outside."

In contrast, TV host Mo Twister usually eats noche buena with his family. Spending time with his loved ones at the dinner table makes his Christmases memorable. "Gift-giving is universal but Filipinos celebrate more--even if we have less. We go to simbang-gabi for nine days and we still go to Mass on Christmas Day with our families.

"But the dining table is where everything happens in our family. Sometimes it's not the food on the table that you look forward to but the conversation. When I'm with my family, I can still pretend that I'm young, even if I'm already 22. That's something that I don't want to lose. Moments with my family are priceless and memorable."

Director Peque Gallaga never works on Christmas Day because he spends it with his family. "The whole day of Christmas, we all cook--lahat ng mga anak ko kasali! As early as October, we already plan our menu. But actually the best Christmas we've ever had was when we didn't give gifts to each other. I had a heart attack so all my kids cooked for me and brought the food to the hospital. Doon namin nakita na it wasn't the gifts that were important, but the family."

Maricel Laxa fondly remembers her first Christmas as Mrs. Anthony Pangilinan. "We stayed in our pastor-friend's house. It was an unfinished house, walang paint at puro haligi lang. For our Christmas tree, Anthony decorated an indoor tree with lights. It was memorable kasi we made use of the resources that were available to us at kaming dalawa lang talaga ang magkasama."

Comedian and basketball star Bonel Balingit feels that 1984 was particularly noteworthy. "That was the year when I started playing basketball, although barangay league pa lang."

Meanwhile 1995 proved to be extra special for actress LJ Moreno. "It was my first Christmas here after a long time and all my cousins were at my Tita's house. It was really fun!" she remembers.

Comedienne-actress Rufa Mae Quinto can't forget Christmas of 1998. "Galing ako sa broken family at laki ako sa lola ko, so every Christmas, mga tito, tita, cousins at lola ko lang ang kasama ko. But since nag-show biz ako at nakaluwag ako, unti-unti kong nakupkop ang mga half-brothers and sisters ko, and my mom.

"Last year lang nangyari na lahat ng mga mahal at importante sa buhay ko ay nakasama ko sa Christmas and we had a party. Nakapagbigay na ako ng mga gifts, unlike before na ako ang dumadayo sa province para lang humingi ng aguinaldo!

"At least, in my own little way, napasaya ko at nabigyan ng tunay na ligaya ang family ko. Kaya happy birthday kay Lord! At least hindi lang freshness, sweetness, cuteness at, most of all, kindness ang na-maintain ko," she laughs.

Singer Jaya also thinks that she had her most memorable Christmas last year. "It was my first Christmas with my husband, Andrew. We spent it with his relatives in the States and we had junk food for noche buena. Pero masaya ang Christmas ng mga Pinoy kasi may simbang-gabi at puto bumbong. In the States, people are more focused on gift-giving but not on spending time with their loved ones.

"When I was single, I would go to my friend's house to sit near the fireplace, talk and have eggnogs. The only time I spent Christmas with my mom (Elizabeth Ramsey) was in 1994. We're not a typical family kasi, but my mom cooks my favorite kare-kare for noche buena, I make Italian spaghetti, and my sister makes sweet potato for dessert."

Actress Judy Ann Santos similarly regards Christmas '98 as her most memorable because she moved to her new house at Commonwealth. "It was special because it was my first Christmas in my new home. Tradisyon na sa amin ang mag-simba, mag-noche buena at mag-gift giving, but it was one of the happiest Christmases I've had in a long time," she beams.