Director Laurice Guillen, along with her daughters Anna and Ina, will celebrate Christmas the way they did when her husband Johnny Delgado was still alive.

“Every year, kaming apat lang talaga ang nagse-celebrate mula noon conversion namin. Sinasalubong namin ang Pasko by hearing mass. Tapos nagdarasal kami and then may sharing, kakain tapos bubuksan ang gift. Importante ang cards sa amin kasi doon namin isinusulat ang saloobin namin,” Laurice shared at the press conference of “I Love You, Goodbye” last Dec. 19.

Laurice added: “Gusto ko, sana ganoon din ang maging celebration namin. I'm still hoping na magparamdam siya (Johnny).”

According to the prized director, Johnny, who died last Nov. 19, was aware that his days were numbered when he was diagnosed with lymphoma or cancer of the immune system.

“[Although] I knew he's prepared to die, he wasn’t prepared to say goodbye,” Laurice said. “He never said goodbye. Basta, let it happen na lang. Hindi niya kayang mag-goodbye. For that matter, ako rin.”

Laurice recalled how she would put up a brave front when she's with her husband.

“Sabi niya, hindi naman siya takot mamatay. Tanggap naman niya. 'Wag lang daw niya akong makitang umiiyak. So, I never cried in front of him.”

But human frailty prevailed. One time, Laurice cried in front of John at his bed.

“There was one time, nagmisa sa bahay. I knew that he felt that hesitation there and he knew what it meant. Pagkatapos noon, lumuluha na ako tapos napatingin ako sa kanya habang nakahiga siya sa kama. Meron siyang luhang ganoon. He mouthed ‘I love you.’”

She described Johnny as a devoted father and went on to narrate his last days with his children.

“Pagkatapos ng shooting, pagsakay nya ng kotse, uwi kaagad siya. He lived for his children and his heart. Hindi siya 'yong iniisip how he will provide for his family.

“One time, may nasabi siya kay Malou Santos ng Star Cinema. Sabi niya, ‘Akala ko, ako ang mag-aalaga kay Laurice. Hindi ko alam na siya pala ang mag-aalaga sa akin.’

“Kaya ganoon na lang 'yung assurance namin [sa kanya] na ‘Don't worry, we'll be okay.’ Ganon ang assurance namin para hindi siya nag-iisip.
 
Laurice shared how vocal the actor was about her work.

“'Pag may naisip siya, sasabihin niya kaagad iyon. Minsan, tayo di ba, may tamang pagkakataon para sabihin mo 'yon. With us, diretsong sasabihin niya. Minsan, hindi sanay ang mga bata. Wala siyang introduction, dire-diretso, walang introduction. Ako, sanay na ako. Na-appreciate ko naman [‘yung ganun] kasi alam kong hindi niya ako bobolahin.”

Johnny is Laurice’s biggest critic.

“Sasabihin niya, ‘Ba't ang hilig mo sa tuhog? Parang ang pangit ng shot mo. Bakit ganoon, ang pangit ng pagkaka-deliver. Bakit mo pinabayaan?’ Teka muna...

“Eventually, nakikinig na lang ako para kung meron siyang gustong sabihin ay hindi nai-interrupt ang train of thought niya,” said Laurice who had directed him in the movies “Tanging Yaman,” “Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin” and “Santa Santita.”

Laurice is confident that if Johnny were around, he will have been proud of her latest movie “I Love You, Goodbye” staring Angelica Panganiban, Derek Ramsay, Kim Chiu and Gabby Concepcion.

She describes the love scenes between Angelica and Derek and Angelica and Gabby as ‘disparate.’

“Magkaiba sila. Kay Gabby, medyo sensual. Kumbaga sa gourmet, may wine and all the trimmings. Kay Derek naman, passionate,” Laurice said.

She also defended Angelica’s shower scene in the film.

“Hindi ito basta idinagdag lang. Importante ang shower scene. The scene was like akala niya (Angelica) ay iniwan na siya nang isa kaya kuskos siya nang kuskos ng kanyang katawan. Wala namang nakita, di ba? It wasn't just there for the effect.”

She expressed satisfaction over Angelica and Derek's romantic scenes in the beach.

“Ay naku, marami silang nalunok na buhangin sa beach,” she joked.