Like most people, celebrities have their fair share of highs and lows in a year marked by milestones and booboos. Needless to say, they try to focus on the events that found them elated more than disheartened, grateful more than remorseful for the year that was.
In a few press conferences and events where PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) caught up with these nine stars, we asked about the highlight of their 2011. While most of them mentioned achievements, lessons learned, and projects that kept their year frenzied, one valued recuperation from sickness, and another, his out-of-the-country visits.
TEEN STARS. For this year, teen heartthrob Sam Concepcion is grateful for his movie project Way Back Home and for getting to star in the defunct weekend soap Good Vibes.
The 19-year-old likewise topbilled Peter Pan, a Stages and Repertory Philippines production.
Sam says, "I was able to do music, I was able to do movies, and TV. It doesn't happen a lot na nagawa ko siya lahat this year."
Of those feats, the young singer/dancer/actor says that being picked to open Grammy-winner Taylor Swift's concert last February was the most remarkable.
"I opened with Taylor Swift, which is amazing—yun yung one of the biggest things I did this year," he beams.
Teen drama actress Kathryn Bernardo, who was cast with Sam in Way Back Home, has proven that she has talent.
Launched in the primetime soap remake of Mara Clara, with co-star Julia Montes, Kathryn is truly happy about the job offers that came her way.
"Ang dami nangyari nitong year na ito na sobrang thankful ako— yung sa career ko, yung sa projects.
"After ng Mara Clara, nag-Growing Up." Kathryn now appears in the latter, which is a Saturday youth-oriented program.
She adds that in 2012, she is slated to work on another soap, Always in My Heart.
"Para sa akin, yun lang. As long as may trabaho. Yun yung nage-enjoy ako gawin," says the 15-year-old morena beauty.
Tween Academy: Class of 2012's Louise delos Reyes bloomed this year.
The Kapuso network took a chance on the 18-year-old Louise, when it gave her the lead role for the afternoon soap Alakdana, which aired from January to May of 2011.
As the year ends, Louise says she is grateful to be part of one of the Metro Manila Film Festival entries.
"Having a Shake Rattle and Roll 13, Metro Manila Film Festival Entry! Kasi parang ... every artista talaga parang hinihiling nila magkaroon ng Metro Manila Film Festival entry.
"Di ba, every year parang it's such an honor for us na magkaroon ng isang pelikula, tapos under Regal [Films] pa.
"Ang ganda kasi ng Shake Rattle and Roll para mapasali ka."
She adds, "Sa lahat talaga ng projects na nakuha ko, thankful ako."
AWARDS. Balladeer Christian Bautista was awarded a Diamond Record last December 2 for his holiday album, A Wonderful Christmas.
While that alone cap his 2011, the singer/actor has also been cast in the Pan-Asian television-musical series, The Kitchen Musical,along with Filipino artists Karylle, Thou Reyes, and others.
Christian is likewise thankful to have released his first international album, Outbound. The eight-track album consists of collaborations with music producers and artists from Singapore, Indonesia, and Japan.
The charming balladeer remarks, "Thank you, God! I'm just thankful to God for giving me all this— sometimes, undeserved, sometimes deserved.
"Pero, it's great. Hopefully I can still be an inspiration, a role model."
Meanwhile, host/model/actor Luis Manzano says that the bulk of what he is grateful for came during the last quarter of the year.
"This last quarter, so many things happened whether it be personal, career. Siguro itong last quarter, modesty aside, I got four awards.
"So that in itself, not every artist or host gets to receive an award, pero in the final quarter I was able to get [the Philippine Movie Press Club's] Best Game Show, Best Talent Search Show Host, Best Showbiz-Oriented Talk Show Host awards.
"And I was blessed pa with an Anak TV award!
"So I guess, everything! In terms of personal life, we all know na I'm in love once again."
Luis mentions that he and girlfriend Jennlyn Mercado may spend Christmas day with Luis's friends.
"So [I'm thankful for] everything! So many things. Very, very hard to enumerate."
Said to be the new Indie Prince, Edgar Allan Guzman says that winning the Best Actor trophy at the 7th Cinemlaya Film Festival 2011 opened a lot of opportunities for him.
For this, he is most grateful.
"Yung pagka-panalo ko nung Best Actor. Kumbaga, dun kasi lahat nag-open yung opportunities sa mainstream, tapos sa TV5."
The 22-year-old actor was cast with Superstar Nora Aunor in the primetime soap opera, Sa Ngalan ng Ina.
Edgar continues, "Ang daming magagandang nangyari sa akin this year. Siyempre, pagkasama ko dito sa Shake Rattle and Roll 13, di ba?
"Kumbaga kasi, bilang artista, hindi ako makukumpleto kung hindi ako makakasakay sa float, di ba? Isa ito sa mga magandang nangyari sa akin sa 2011.
"Siyempre nagkaro'n din ako ng mga endorsements, di ba? Like Bench...
"Maraming magagandang nangyari sa akin, at sana sa susunod na taon, kung ano yung suwerte at blessings na dumadating sa akin ngayon, magbago man yung taon, ganun pa rin yung tanggap at pagbe-bless sa akin ni Lord."
TRAVELS, ENDORSEMENTS, RECOVERY. Actor-turned-model Zanjoe Marudo considers his travels as the highlight of his year.
He and girlfriend Bea Alonzo visited Paris in August, and just this November, the happy couple spent Bea's birthday in Korea.
Zanjor mentions, however, that his favorite among the places he visited was Florence, Italy.
"Yun yung pinakamagandang lugar na napuntahan ko this year. Yung food, yung culture, yung tao, iba.
"Si Bea, kasama ko nung time na yun kaya mas naging memorable."
On a different note, Zanjoe mentions that for his New Year's resolution, he aims to start his day early, "Gigising na ako nang maaga, matutulog na ako nang maaga."
When asked in jest if he still wants to grow taller, he chuckles and quips, "Hindi, para maraming magawang bagay, di ba? 'Pag gumigising ka nang maaga, marami kang nagagawa!"
Carla Abellana, who stars in two MMFF entries this year (Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story and Yesterday Today Tomorrow), had trouble choosing from the bundle of blessings she received this year.
"Where do I start? It's hard to choose," says the GMA-7 star with the pretty face.
"Siguro [I'm thankful] for all the endorsements that I received this year, for the trust that they gave me," the actress finally says.
When asked which among her endorsements tops her list, the Kung Aagawin Mo Lahat Sa Akin lead actress states, "Ang dami! Aside from all my previous contracts na na-renew, may mga bago ako for this year: Torque [mobile phones], Tanduay, Zen Zest.
"Nagpapasalamat ako dahil pinagkatiwalaan nila ako, na ako yung napili nila."
The dynamic comedienne Eugene Domingo most certainly had a colorful 2011.
Eugene, who received the Best Actress award in this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival for Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (which also won Best Picture), starred in some five films this year.
These include My Valentine Girls, Who's That Girl, and Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi.
This does not yet include the three MMFF 2011 entries that she is in—My Househusband, Shake Rattle and Roll 13, and Enteng ng Ina Mo.
On top of her many projects, Eugene realizes that recovering from the accident that befell her while filming Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is the most significant experience of her year.
"For 2011, I am most grateful for my recovery kasi naaksidente ako, di ba? Napaka-importante na malusog ka, lalo na kung artista ka.
"Nahulog ako sa septic tank, so likod ko yung na-damage. Hanggang ngayon masakit ang likod ko pero mahusay na akong nakakatayo.
"'Di ka makakapagtrabaho, e, kung di ka makatayo.
"So. for almost three weeks after my accident during the filming of Septic Tank, naappreciate ko talaga.
"So, sumatutal, walang materyal na katumbas ang kalusugan."