Maricel, a woman of substance

She'd always tell her sons, Marron and Sebastien, that they will have a Yuletide vacation in America but this never pushed through at all. This year, though, Maricel crosses her fingers that — come what may — they will go out of the country.

But it is highly unlikely that she can finally make it this time, because her Metro Manila Film Festival entry 'Bahay Kubo' requires her to join the float for the Parade of Stars in the metropolis which is customarily observed every Christmas.

Maricel can easily relate to the movie as it has something to do with adopting children. As is public knowledge, Marron is an adopted son; she, however, has shown that he is more than her biological son. How time flies — Marron is now 21. If by any chance he falls in love and gets married, Maricel is always ready. Maricel is actually a grandma herself, as her niece Meryl has just given birth to a handsome baby boy. When asked what she will do if the real mother of Marron just pops up one day to claim him back, the multi-award-winning actress says she would let the young man decide what he likes. Although it may hurt her, she says she will understand because when she took Marron as her own son, it was an unconditional love.