Barbie Forteza, Enchong Dee, Bobby Andrews, Angelu de Leon, and Rica Peralejo star in a holiday series about love, nostalgia, and togetherness.
Barbie Forteza strictly prohibits dieting during Christmas.
“I think Christmas is the only acceptable holiday on which we are allowed to indulge,” the actress said with a laugh.
Forteza is part of the ensemble cast of “Paskong Pinoy,” a four-episode holiday anthology streaming on Netflix. The series, directed by Mark Reyes, explores themes of longing, reconciliation, and the traditions that keep Filipinos coming home, especially during the most sentimental time of the year.
‘A Perfect Christmas’ for Barbie and Enchong
In one of the episodes, titled “A Perfect Christmas,” Forteza stars opposite Enchong Dee. Their story reflects on the rituals and small moments that make the season meaningful, even when life gets complicated.
For Forteza, the idea of a “perfect Christmas” is surprisingly simple.
“Personally, my definition of a perfect Christmas is quality time with my family,” she said. “In the best of health. Having the best time. Eating the best food.”
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Her co-star Dee agrees that the magic of the season lies not in extravagance but in togetherness. “Christmas in our family—it’s really spending time together. Honestly, you just turn on your TV, turn on Netflix while you’re gathering with your family.”
For Dee, that’s already the whole point of the holiday. “It doesn’t have to be extravagant. It doesn’t have to have so much food. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t have to travel,” he said. “But spending quality time with the people that you love the most—that’s a perfect Christmas.”
‘Last New Year in Boracay’ with Bobby, Angelu, and Rica
Another episode, “Last New Year in Boracay,” amplifies the nostalgia with the reunion of ’90s favorites Bobby Andrews, Angelu de Leon, and Rica Peralejo. The trio, who rose to fame during the decade of teen-oriented shows and love teams, come together again for a story steeped in nostalgia, reflection, and the passage of time.
For Peralejo, the project immediately stood out because it celebrates something uniquely Filipino in the way the country experiences the holidays.
“I think the whole world will agree that there’s nothing like Christmas in the Philippines,” Peralejo said during a recent media gathering organized by Netflix. “When Direk Mark told us about it, we thought, It’s been a while since we’ve seen something like this—a series that is really focused on a very Filipino Christmas.”
She added that the season reveals a defining trait of Filipino culture: the instinct to gather.
“We’re such a communal people that I think it just has to be spent with people. It can’t be spent alone,” Peralejo said. “Maybe other nationalities have more tolerance for being alone during this time. But for us, it really just has to be together.”
For de Leon, the anthology goes beyond the familiar trappings of the holidays.
“Yes, ‘Paskong Pinoy’ will remind everyone that it’s not just about the Christmas decor—the Christmas tree, the gifts, the lights, and the food,” she said. “But it will remind us about relationships we lost, we have, and will be found.”
A series worth watching year after year
She even hopes the series becomes something viewers revisit year after year. “I think it’s going to be a yearly thing that they’ll keep on watching,” she said. “And I hope that you get to enjoy it as much as we did.”
Meanwhile, Andrews believes the project reflects the chaos that comes with the season and the warmth that makes it all worth it. He explained, “I think Direk Mark highlights here in ‘Paskong Pinoy’ how you feel the love of everyone. Despite the three-hour traffic jams and the difficulty of finding the perfect Christmas gift, when you finally see each other at the party and meet your friends, loved ones, or family, all the stress disappears.
Suddenly, the stress fades into the background. “Everything is nice and beautiful,” Andrews said. “And that’s ‘Paskong Pinoy.’”
The series begins streaming on December 3.
It doesn’t have to be extravagant. It doesn’t have to have so much food. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t have to travel. But spending quality time with the people that you love the most—that’s a perfect Christmas.
Enchong Dee
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