Feel that Pinoy Christmas vibe in this Hollywood rom-com film

Photo from nikkitabanana17/Instagram

Jose Mari Chan may be belting out his Christmas hits and your alarms are re-set for simbang gabi, but there’s still too many to mention Filipino holiday traditions and this Hollywood Christmas film brings noche buena feast centerstage.

Watching a collection of holiday films (while eating leftover Noche buena food) just brings that warmth wherever you are in the world. Add “A Vineyard Christmas” to your holiday must-watch as it would give you that nostalgic Filipino Christmas feels — complete with puto bumbong, lechon and noche buena highlights.

This romantic comedy film features Filipino American Nikki Mckenzie as lead star where she plays as Heather Marquez. Her character was set to have a heartwarming holiday reunion with his Filipino dad where she met the handsome but grumpy vineyard owner played by Victor Zinick Jr.

“I’m over the moon to get to share this special film with all of you. It’s my first lead in a Christmas movie and I’m so proud of it,” said Mckenzie in an Instagram post.

You may also like: Funny Christmas movies that will make you laugh

Crafting Christmas culture on the screen

McKenzie also appreciates the writer’s inclusion of Tagalog lines and Filipino Christmas traditions in the movie. As she puts it, “Even in ‘A Vineyard Christmas,’ they made that part Filipina for me. She interviewed me about my family and culture. Noche Buena got put in there, lechon, puto bumbong. We had Tagalog in the film.”

This Filipino American actress spent her childhood in Northern California before she finally moved to Los Angeles for college. For years, she also struggled to get roles as an individual of color.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikki Mckenzie (@nikkitabanana17)

But thanks to people nowadays embracing diversity, she snagged the leading role even if she had accepted she wouldn’t get it. McKenzie almost skipped the audition for this Christmas film but things took a turn when she got bored with a broken TV leading her to look at the script.

“I fell in love with it. It was so funny,” shared McKenzie in an interview. Her audition for “The Wedding Contest” opened the doors to this Christmas film. Catch this rom-com special at Paramount Plus, Peacock, Free eVe, and Pluto TV.

Before we cozy up with hot chocolate and left-over Filipino Christmas food, here’s a toast to Nikki McKenzie’s Pinoy-powered triumph.