For many Filipinos, Christmas is best spent at home, surrounded by family and a table filled with their favorite holiday dishes.
For Charlie Fleming and Heath Jornales, the season also brings an opportunity to appreciate the people who have been part of their lives throughout the year.
As Christmas approaches, the two young stars are already looking forward to their respective celebrations.
Their plans include family traditions, familiar dishes, and the company of people who make the holidays special.
In an exclusive interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) during the Jollibee Christmas Lighting Event at Jollibee Zapote in Las Piñas on November 12, 2026, Charlie and Heath shared what they are looking forward to this Christmas.
They also revealed their must-have dishes for Noche Buena and reflected on the people they are most grateful for this year.
CHRISTMAS AT HOME, WITH FAMILY
For Heath, the holidays call for a trip back to the province, where he hopes to spend Christmas with his family and dogs.
"I'm gonna be spending my Christmas this year with my family. Probably, gusto ko sana sa province para it's back in my home with my dogs," he shared.
Charlie, meanwhile, has another reason to be excited about the holidays.
This year marks her first time appearing in a film, which is scheduled for release during Christmas.
"This year is my first time being in a film. So I'm just excited for the movie to come out on Christmas. But also, I'm of course spending my day with my family and I'm just hoping for good food, good people, good time. It's just the perfect match," she said.
When it comes to Christmas traditions, Heath's family makes sure that Noche Buena remains part of their annual celebration.
Their gathering comes with a generous spread and karaoke, with their dogs also getting a share of the feast.
"One thing na sinusunod ng family ko lagi every Christmas is Noche Buena. We all gather up so much food tapos kakain kami lahat while may nagka-karaoke sa background. And yung mga natira, we give it to the dogs and also the dogs get a nice feast," he recounted.
Charlie's family has a different approach to the occasion.
She described their Christmas celebration as a day when everyone can take a break and enjoy the holiday at their own pace.
"For me, our family, I think we just love to have a chill day. That's always the goal like during Christmas. It's like really time for you to relax and like wind down.
"Of course, we have, like, a good food just enough for us to eat, good drinks, you know what I mean, good people, good vibes. Sometimes we sleep early, sometimes we don't.
"It's really just whatever we feel at the moment. Just as long as we chill and we're celebrating the life of Jesus also, that's all we need," she explained.
what's ON THEIR NOCHE BUENA TABLES
Food remains a major part of Filipino Christmas celebrations.
So when Charlie and Heath were asked to choose only three dishes for Noche Buena, their answers included familiar favorites from Jollibee.
Charlie's picks are lasagna, Chickenjoy, and lechon.
With her extended family in the province joining the celebration, she already has her holiday menu in mind.
"Ako, I think, lasagna is definitely up there. Of course, iconic, Chickenjoy. So easy for like my whole family. So I have a big family in the province, my lolas, my lolos, titas, titos, all of my cousins.
"Um, what else? Ay! Ito sa pamilya ko siyempre. Ako hindi ako kumakain nito, pero usually ako ang nagpo-provide nito, ang lechon," she said.
Heath also included Chickenjoy in his selection, alongside Jollibee Spaghetti and seafood.
In fact, he already knows how much Chickenjoy his family needs for their celebration.
"Para sa amin naman, sa pamilya ko, we really love Jollibee spaghetti. Talagang every Christmas you're gonna see Jollibee Spaghetti there on the table. And I really love it.
"And then Chickenjoy, siyempre, the biggest bucket they got. And how many buckets? Three. Boom. That's for the whole family.
"And then another dish, yung pinaka-favorite lalo na ng dad ko, either crab or shrimp. He loves seafood," he shared.
With three buckets of Chickenjoy on Heath's Christmas menu, his family certainly has a feast to look forward to.
His mention of Jollibee Spaghetti also highlights how certain food favorites become part of a family's annual holiday tradition.
THE PEOPLE THEY ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS CHRISTMAS
Beyond their Christmas plans, Charlie and Heath also shared what they appreciate most about the year that is about to end.
For Charlie, one of her biggest blessings has been finding her circle of friends in Manila.
Growing up, she said she did not have many friends, which makes the connections she has built this year especially meaningful.
"One thing that I'm grateful for this year, I think it's the found family that I've had here in Manila. So like me growing up, I don't really have that many friends talaga.
"But like this year was really a time for me to appreciate the friends that I have around me. 'Cause of course you have your family, and then you have your found family, which is you're supposed to hold on to them. They're so important to you guys.
"So I hope everyone finds their found family, especially in the Christmas season," she said.
Heath, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for his family and friends, who have continued to support him since he started his career in showbiz.
"Para sa akin naman, one thing I'm really grateful for is my family and friends. That's just one. And ayun, they've been really there for me ever since I started here sa showbiz.
"So I'm really grateful na they're always here for me, to support me, and to ground me always," he shared.
WHAT THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
To wrap up the conversation, the two stars were asked to complete the phrase, "All I want for Christmas is..."
Charlie could not resist referencing the popular holiday song before giving her answer.
"Is you! Okay wait. All I want for Christmas is good food and good people," she said.
Heath had a similar wish, with food and family at the top of his list.
"All I want for Christmas is amazing food. And one more, amazing food. And family," he answered.
Their Christmas wishes also reflect the message behind Jollibee's holiday campaign, "Sa bawat sandali ng Pasko, may JOY," which celebrates the happiness found in sharing meals and spending time with loved ones.
For Charlie and Heath, the holidays bring another opportunity to make memories with the people who matter most.
And if their Noche Buena selections are any indication, their Christmas celebrations will have plenty of food to go around.