Puso ng Pasko

Puso ng Pasko (lit. 'Heart of Christmas') is a 1998 Filipino comedy-drama fantasy film written and directed together by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes, with Paul Daza as the additional writer for the film. It stars Jason Salcedo, Justin Simoy, Korinne Lirio, Emman Abeleda, and Jolina Magdangal.

Produced by Tikbalang Productions and distributed by Star Cinema, the film served as an official entry for the 24th Metro Manila Film Festival and was released on December 25, 1998. Throughout its run, the film became one of the film festival edition's top grossers.

Plot
The story revolves around the Carpio family. The mother Ophelia (Cherry Pie Picache) loves to plant flowers especially roses. Her husband Miguel (Edu Manzano) is a well-respected man in their community. They use to celebrate Christmas with their children Dondi (Jason Salcedo), the eldest, Vincent (Justin Simoy) a paralytic, and their only daughter Maya (Korinne Lirio). But, when Ophelia gave birth to Christopher (Emman Abeleda) on Christmas Day, she got sick and series of events happened especially when Miguel's sisters Belle (Jaclyn Jose) and Christy (Rita Avila) came to the picture. Miguel suffered many problems in his business and was forced to go on hiding and Ophelia died and blamed Christopher. During Christmas season Belle and Christy along with their confidante Leopold (Manny Castañeda) are planning to sell the house and forcing the Carpio children as well as Tiyo Balti (Jaime Fabregas) and Lola Angeles (Anita Linda) to leave. However, Dondi and his siblings were moved to the garage. However, Tiyo Balti was there to help them and said the Christmas is the season of miracles, especially Dondi's girlfriend Sandy (Anna Larrucea). Their only way to save their house is the land title that was now yet found. They also saw a Christmas ball that come to life and introduced herself as Merry (Jolina Magdangal). Merry were given each of them one wishes except for Vincent who does not believe in the spirit of Christmas. However, they are barred from saying or sharing their wishes or it will come true. Maya was the first to make a wish, while they are in the Church attending Simbang Gabi, she wished for Vincent to walk again. Vincent fell and was able to walk again. For Christopher, he wished to have snow in Philippines. Although it's a tropical country, it began to snow. However, series of disasters happened because of snow. Especially Christopher who suffered pneumonia. When Christopher saw Belle and Christy making a fake title, he was also saw by Christy and hid himself buried in snow. Now, he is dying, Dondi wished to Merry for Christopher to be healed. He was completely healed that the doctor could not believed what caused his complete recovery. But, Vincent knew that it was Dondi who wished for him to walked again, until he knew that it was Maya. Because of the doctor's advice that Christopher might got sick again because of the snow, Sandy wished for the snow to stop. Belle and Christy goes for drastic measures to forced the children to get out. However, they were given until Christmas Day to go out. On Christmas Eve, they celebrated Christmas as well as Christopher's birthday and Merry bid farewell to them. As they celebrated Christmas, Belle and Christy came to tell them to get out. But, when Angeles came, Maya gave her a piece of white rose. When Angeles asked where she get the rose, they brought her to the garden and Angeles started to dig. The demolition team came but Dondi stopped them from destroying the house until Angeles found a chest and remembered everything. She recalled that their mother Ophelia put the land title, and they found the real land title. An outraged Christy threw a piece of debris from the pergula and hit Dondi to the head. Dondi, already bleeding returned to the garage and he was helped by Christopher. But Christopher, saw Dondi taken by an angel, and Christopher wished once again to Merry. He wished for Dondi to return, in exchange, he gave to her his necklace with the pictures of his parents. Dondi returned and told Christopher that he is sleeping. An unexpected visitor came as the Carpio family is about to go to Church to attend the Christmas Eve Mass. The visitor turned out to be Miguel, their estranged father. Dondi, Vincent, Maya and Christopher had reunited with their father on Christmas day.

Cast and characters

 * Jason Salcedo as Dondi Carpio
 * Justin Simoy as Vincent Carpio
 * Korinne Lirio as Maya Carpio
 * Emman Abeleda as Christopher Carpio
 * Jaclyn Jose as Belle Carpio
 * Rita Avila as Christy Carpio
 * Jolina Magdangal as Merry
 * Edu Manzano as Miguel Carpio
 * Cherry Pie Picache as Ophelia Carpio
 * Anita Linda as Lola Angeles
 * Jaime Fabregas as Baltazar Tiyo Balti
 * Anna Larrucea as Sandy

Supporting cast

 * Lara Fabregas as Binibining Kulimlim
 * Ernie Zarate as the family doctor
 * Giselle Toengi as Manolita Morato
 * Ogie Diaz as the talk-show host
 * P.J. Oreta as the newscaster
 * Junell Hernando as Jon-Jon
 * Anthony Rosaldo as young Dondi
 * Isaiah Samuel as young Vincent

Production
The majority of the visual effects of the film were handled by Roadrunner Network, Inc.

Track listing
Adapted from the Puso Ng Pasko (Original Soundtrack) liner notes.

Personnel
Adapted from the Puso Ng Pasko (Original Soundtrack) liner notes.


 * Arranger – Toto Gentica (tracks 1,2,4,6,9)
 * Guitars – Lou Bonnevie (tracks 1,6,9)
 * Guitars – Arnel Sevilla (track 7)
 * Back-up Vocals – Dimitri Productions' Artists-In-Residence (track 1)
 * Recording engineers – Arnel Candelario (track 2)
 * Recording engineers – Whannie Dellosa & German Mendoza Jr. (tracks 3,5,7,8)
 * Project Assistants from Dimitri Productions – Myla Clarion and Camilo Ocenada
 * Recorded and Mastered at – Dimitri, Studios, 1998 (tracks 1,2,4,6,9)
 * Recorded and Mastered at – Audio Post (tracks 3,5,7,8)
 * Buddy Medina – executive producer
 * Rene A. Salta – a&r supervision