Maricel Laxa in China

Actress Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan—with her brothers Melvin and Misha, and their mother, former actress Imelda Ilanan—spent five days last November on a tour of Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China. The trip was actually Mom Imelda's treat. Ms. Ilanan, who now lives in Singapore with her partner Ben Avanceña, decided it was time for a family reunion.

"She treated us to celebrate my brother Melvin's birthday," says Maricel. "We also traveled with my mom's friends from Singapore. We were 15 all in all!"

Although her husband Anthony Pangilinan and their three kids were not with them, Maricel says the China trip was "masaya, relaxing, and very educational."