Choosing to center on gratitude and personal growth
“Lost time is never found again.” —Benjamin Franklin
Seize the day and engage in activities that bring joy and contentment. When you take charge of your time and cultivate a positive attitude, you will be propelled to the high levels of an empowered life. I always start my day with mindfulness practices like meditation and prayer to stay calm and focused. With so much negativity around me lately, I need to prioritize tasks and align my goals. Instead of intensifying fear and uncertainty, I center on gratitude and personal growth.
Back to my full social schedule, I had a busy week of back-to-back events that kicked off Women’s Month. I joined the celebration of leadership and empowerment that was hosted by TopNewsAsia, Rising Tigers Magazine, and InCharge Magazine. Titled “A Powerful Talk with Loida Nicolas Lewis,” the intimate talk brought together some of the country’s most influential figures to celebrate the remarkable journey and wisdom of Lewis, a trailblazer in business, philanthropy, and advocacy.
Grace Bondad Nicolas, president and coowner of Rising Tigers, TopNewsAsia, and InCharge Magazines, warmly welcomed the esteemed guests to the event held at the prestigious Makati Shangri-La. Attendees included Makati Mayor Abby Binay, Malaysia Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez, Tourism Assistant Secretary Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Sen. Robin Padilla, and many others.
As a pioneering businesswoman and former chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice International, Lewis shared her inspiring journey of resilience, integrity, and leadership. She emphasized the significance of women’s empowerment, education, and perseverance in breaking barriers and creating a lasting impact in society.
Learning so many valued insights from Lewis, I also shared my own experiences and challenges at the moment. After the talk, Nicolas turned over trophies to Lewis, Becky Garcia, Anna Magkawas, and myself as “Powerful Women in the Philippines” for our influence and impact in society.
Rent your wardrobe
For that event, I rented my outfit from the newly opened store, My Closet Manager (Visit their showroom at 1 Proscenium, Rockwell for a consultation; myclosetmanager.com. Follow them on social media
@myclosetmanager for updates and exclusive offers.). This revolutionary concept by former luxury retail executive Genevieve Jimenez-Yalung redefines the way we interact with our wardrobe while supporting style and sustainability.
Through its core services, My Closet Manager offers personalized closet storage, rentable designer fashion and a platform for passive wardrobe income. They offer premium white-glove service and a secure, climate-controlled facility. Clients can earn passive income with well-loved fashion pieces.
Circular fashion isn’t just a trend but the future of sustainable living. I have finally found a solution to my decluttering and storage problem.
Filipino artistry
March 6 must have been a very auspicious day because so many events happened that day. It started with the PH International Furniture Show 2025 and Interior & Design Manila’s “Neue Waves” at the SMX Convention Center. The grand showcase of Filipino artistry, craftsmanship, and innovation highlighted furniture from different regions and crafts from local materials. The exhibition celebrated the seamless fusion of traditional and contemporary aesthetics, demonstrating how Filipino artisans continue to push the boundaries of creativity.
One of the defining aspects of this event is its ability to merge classic craftsmanship with cutting-edge design. Traditional materials such as rattan, abaca, and mother-of-pearl are reimagined through contemporary forms, resulting in furniture and objects that are both functional and visually striking.
With hundreds of bespoke pieces on display, the exhibition served as a platform to elevate Filipino design onto the global stage. The event fostered collaborations, networking, and business opportunities. This year’s showcase is more than just an exhibition—it is a testament to the enduring artistry and evolving creativity of Filipino designers and artisans.
Meaningful change
Straight from SMX, I headed to Dusit Thani Hotel for the “Unstoppable Filipina Summit” 2025 hosted by WomenBizPH. With session moderator lawyer Lorna Patajo-Kapunan, our topic focused on the evolving landscape of diversity, equality, and inclusion in the business world. We discussed key challenges and actionable strategies in advancing meaningful change for a more equitable workspaces and social spaces.
The highly interesting and entertaining talk was even more enlightening for me as the other panelists shared their challenges and journey to where they are today. Filipino actor, singer-songwriter, director and guitarist Ice Seguerra is a transman and is a strong proponent of equal rights especially in his field of entertainment industry. Angie Mead King is a transwoman who is continually evolving in her ventures. As CEO for Car Porn Racing, Classic Speed Inc., Hotel Ava and King Tower Farm, King is on a quest to spread sustainable farming and clean living. She has been happily married to Joey Mead King for almost two decades.
After quickly thanking event head Rosemarie Bosch-Ong of Wilcon Depot for inviting me to be on the panel, I headed to Podium for the grand opening of the newest restaurant of the Wildflour Group, Osteria Antica. The lively evening with delectable tasting of Italian flavors had guests enjoying the extensive menu. The restaurant even has an exclusive elevator from the ground floor to the sixth floor. Congrats to Ana Lorenzana De Ocampo on her latest venture!
Happily ending my day shopping, I did some retail shopping at ArteFino at Powerplant Mall at Rockwell. The weekend-long pop-up bazaar carries so many fun clothes and accessories and supports local artisans, too.
May we all celebrate the rest of Women’s Month in the company of other empowered women who help build and bring out the best in each one of us.
