TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE COVERS

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE COVERS

 

          I tagged it “Traditional Christmas” because most of us know that December 25 is not really the day of birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It’s the wrong day, month and year of beginning. Christmas around the world, however, have been observed for centuries on this day.

          Daily, weekly and monthly publications follow the same tradition, and their covers speak of the annual event.

          Here are some Philippine magazines with Christmas as the theme or part of the layout of the covers.

          This one, as of this posting, is 71 years old. The Christmas issue of Daigdig (Ang Dating Hiwaga) featuring Tita Duran (Teresita Rigo Durango, 1929-1991), and Jose Perez Vera.

Daigdig (Ang Dating Hiwaga), December 16, 1947.

          The post-war magazine The Philippine Screen Glamour feauring on its front cover, Pancho Magalona (Enrique Gayoso Magalona Jr, 1923-1998) and Tita Duran, and on the back cover, the film Ang Pagsilang ng Mesiyas (The Birth of the Messiah, 1952).

The Philippine Screen Glamour, December 1952

 

          The “Christmas Three” issue of Kislap Graphic featuring the top three young stars of the era, Amalia Fuentes, Barbara Perez and Susan Roces.

Kislap Graphic, December 19, 1956

          Topstar Pip Movie Entertainment Magazine, featuring Tirso “Pip” Cruz III and the love team of Edgar Mortiz and Vilma Santos.

Topstar Pip Movie Entertainment Magazine Vol. 1 No. 3, December 28, 1970

 

 

          This Sixteen issue (Vol. 4 No. 112, December 29, 1972), with the young Vilma Santos on the front cover, says it also in different language on its cover

Sixteen Vol. 4 No. 112, December 29, 1972

          After a decade or so, Sixteen became Sixteen MOD, and then MOD Filipina. Here are two succeeding issues for Christmas of 1988 featuring Shelley Huchel and Heidi Rodriguez.

MOD Filipina Vol. 21 Nos. 902 and 903, December 16 and 23, 1988

          Two Christmas issues of Celebrity World featuring Sunshine Cruz (1994) and Congressman Joaquin Nereo and his wife Uliran (1995).

Celebrity World Vol. 3 No. 177, December 26, 1994 and Vol. 4 No. 228, December 25, 1995

          Mr. & Ms. 1994 Christmas issue featuring Dawn Zulueta.

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 18 No. 35, December 20, 1994

          Mr. & Ms. most often featured a family photo on it’s Christmas issue covers such as these: Paco Arespacochaga and Geneva Cruz and their daughter Heaven (1996) and Jomari Yllana and Aiko Melendez and their son Andre (1998). Ironically and unfortunately, however, both relationships ended up in separations.

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 20 No. 34, December 24, 1996 and Vol. 22 No.34, December 22, 1998

 

          Here is Mr. & Ms. unique Christmas-New Year issue featuring Gary Valenciano, his wife, Angeli Pangilinan, and their children, Gabriel, Paolo and Keana.

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 25 No. 36, December 25, 2001 – January 1, 2002

 

          Atlas TV Guide (initially titled TV Star), started circulation on December 1999, with its first cover featuring Titanic’s Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. As such it may not distinctively had the Christmas theme on its cover except for a few Yuletide symbols.

Atlas TV Guide first issue, December 1999

Atlas TV Guide December issues (2000, 2002 and 2005)

Atlas TV Guide December issues (2006, 2007 and 2008)



Atlas TV Guide December issues (2010, 2011 and 2012)



 

          MOD 1999 Christmas issue with The World is Not Enough lead actress Sophie Marceau on the cover as “Christmas Girl.”

MOD December 1999

          More MOD 2004, 2005 and 2006 Christmas issues featuring Rica Peralejo, Iya Villania and Judy Ann Santos.

MOD Vol. 36 No. 1732 (December 24, 2004), Vol. 37 No. 1783 (December 23, 2005)

and Vol. 38 No. 1829 (December 25, 2006)



 

          Apart from its Christmas issues, MOD also releases “Christmas Specials” such as the two below, featuring Charo Ronquillo (2005) and Ann Rhea Macapagal (2006).

MOD Christmas Special issues for 2005 and 2006

           Finally for MOD, it’s last two Christmas issues, featuring Kimberly Baculi (2011) and Judy Ann Santos (2012).

MOD December 2011 and December 2012

 

 

          Two succeeding Christmas issues of the popular Ilocano magazine, Bannawag, featuring Zaijan Jaranilla (2011) and Angel Locsin (2012).

Bannawag, December 26, 2011 and December 24, 2012

Evolution of Philippine (Television) Drama

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 10 No. 122, February 2010

On the cover: Jerri Manthey, Rupert Boneham and Rob Mariano

An assigned article, “The Evolution of Philippine Drama,” is a research-based write-up about the “60 years of Drama” on television watched by Filipino households.

“A good person will never fail; he will always be remembered.” – Psalms 112:6, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

Television's Top 20 Hottest Female Celebs (2009)

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 9 No. 110, February 2009

On the cover: Blake Lively, Taylor Momsen and Leighton Meester

Philippine “Television’s Top 20 Hottest Female Celebs” for 2009 each described in four-line rhymes.

“..... I desire women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb, but in the way that befits women professing to reverence GOD, namely through good works.” – The First to Timothy 2:9-10, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

TV's Unforgettable Theme Songs

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 11 No. 134, February 2011
On the cover: Piper Perabo

Another article – “TV’s Unforgettable Theme Song” – I had fun compiling and writing, and inject my own poetry, both in English and Filipino. I especially like Regine Velasquez’s song Pangako for Love of the Condor Heroes, and Shamrock’s Hold On for Jumong.

“During my brief earthly life I composed songs about your commands. In the night I remember You, LORD, and I think about Your law. I find my happiness in obeying Your commands.” – Psalms 119:54-56, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

Celebrity Profiles: Willie Revillame, Ryan Agoncillo, Iza Calzado and Xyriel Manabat

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 11 No. 144, December 2011

On the cover: Michael Trevino,

Joe Manganiello, Ian Somerhalder, Chris Colfer and Nathan Fillion

A short profile of four celebrities – Willie Revillame, Ryan Agoncillo, Iza Calzado and Xyriel Manabat – the “Talk of the Town” for Atlas TV Guide 12th Anniversary.

“Now thanks be to GOD who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” – The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostles to the Corinthians 2:14: Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

Charice Pempengco Before Her Transformation

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 10 No. 132, December 2010

On the cover: Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer

Charice Pempengco was on top of the world. This was before her “transformation.”

“GOD’s anger is shown from heaven against all the evil and wrong things people do..... Because people did those things, GOD left them and let them do shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex and starting having sex with other women..... They know GOD’s law says that those who live like this should die. But they themselves not only continue to do these evil things, they applaud others who do them.” – Romans 1:18, 26 & 32. The Everyday Bible, New Century Version.

5 Scariest and Most Shocking Moments on Films & 13 Top Horror Movies

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 11 No. 142, October 2011
On the cover: “Animal Kingdom’s Finest and Weirdest”

Published before Holloween, the “Five Scariest and Most Shocking Moments on Films.”

MOD Vol. 38 No. 1843, October 2007
On the cover: Regine Velasquez

Another pre-Holloween article, “Scream Fest: The Top 13 Horror Movies of All Time,” co-written with Ms. Eden Carlos.

“Behold, the day! Behold, it has come! Doom has gone out; the rod has blossomed, pride has budded..... Every hand will be feeble, and every knee will be as weak as water. They will also be girded with sackcloth; horror will cover them; shame will be on every face, baldness on all their heads.” – The Book of Ezekiel 7:10, 17-18, Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

MVP, the Boxer and the Pianist

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 10 No. 130, October 2010

On the cover: Marion Caunter, Kristy Curtis, and Dave Nuku,

With Sharon Cuneta, Manny V. Pangilinan, and Edd China and Mike Brewer (insets)

Two articles, two Mannys (Manny V. Pangilinan and Manny Pacquiao), the “Massive Expansion of TV5” (pp. 8-9), and Lang Lang, a young virtuoso pianist from Liaoning, China, featured in Atlas TV Guide October 2010 issue.

“Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding.” – The Book of Job 12:12, Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

Gags Full of Laughter

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 10 No. 129, September 2010
On the cover: Ellen DeGeneres

An assigned article about the different gag shows in Philippine free TV in 2010.

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, whereof we are glad.” – The Book of Psalms 126:2-3, Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

The Elusive Emmy



Atlas TV Guide Vol. 11 No. 140, August 2011

On the cover: Giada De Lauretiis

For the trivia hunters, “The Elusive Emmy” is a loadful from the “television equivalent” of the Oscar.

“Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

What a Talent Show Should Be

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 10 No. 128, August 2010

On the cover: Robert de Niro

Lest producers, directors and writers of “talent” show are ignorant of the concept, they should read this article.

Also in this Atlas TV Guide (August 2010) issue is an assigned brief article about HDTV. This was among the first tech news about the subject published in a local magazine.

“Of course we would not dare classify ourselves or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. How stupid they are! They make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and they judge themselves by their own standards!” – Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 10:12, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

A Convergence of Ideas

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 10 No. 127, July 2010

On the cover: Rachel Zoe

If there is one TV program that I would recommend to students, it’s “Convergence.” Here’s a short write-up about it that I wrote seven years ago.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” – The Book of Psalms 133:1, Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

TV Review: Sapul sa Singko - Right on Target!

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 11 No. 138, June 2011
On the cover: Troian Bellisario, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell and Ashley Benson

A review of the TV5 early morning show Sapul sa Singko (2011).

“Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other and for all people. Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what GOD wants for you in Christ Jesus.” – I Thessalonians 5:15-18, The Everyday Bible, New Century Version.

American Presidents: Film Portrayals of the Most Powerful Man in the World

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 10 No. 125, May 2010
On the cover: Cobie Smulders

Here’s a collected list of “American Presidents: Film Portrayals of the Most Powerful Man in the World” (p. 12).

Also in this May 2010 Atlas TV Guide issue, “TV5’s News and Information Programs Hit Prime time Bull’s-eye!” (p. 16), an assigned reportage about the look of the “Kapatid Network” under its new management.

“An attentive ear, an observant eye, the LORD made them both.” – Proverbs 20:12, The Revised English Bible.