Glide into growth
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” – Nelson Mandela
In the final months of the Snake year, we need to release unwanted baggage of fear, anxiety, and envy to have a sacred transition from who we have been to who we are becoming. The Snake does not shed out of punishment but sheds for growth of a new skin.
Before the Year of the Fire Horse enters in February 2026, let this conscious shedding happen to move forward without unnecessary weight. Let us prepare our body with healthy living, our home with fresh interiors, our heart with pure joy, and our spirit with divine grace so the New Year would be more auspicious for us.
The Horse rises when we rise. It mirrors our clarity, our focus, and our willingness to step into the next version of ourselves. 2026 carries the energy of forward motion. After an entire year of circling around our potential, this year’s growth will outpace our doubt. We are armed with the truth and we can bring our essence to life.
A great cause
As all my legal cases have been moved to next year, I feel relieved that I will have a peaceful Christmas season so I can continue doing my charities. For the third Christmas in a row, my Assumption High School ‘81 batch has celebrated with the lolas at the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly. This home is one of the many beneficiaries of the Red Charity Gala (RCG) which I co-chair with Kaye Tinga.
Aside from the RCG donation, our batch gifts the lolas with sacks of rice, a lot of pork, chicken, fruits, and grooming and cleaning supplies from the generosity of batchmates from here and abroad.
We also prepare a musical show where the lolas showcase their singing and dancing talents. It is always a fun and fulfilling afternoon spent with the abandoned lolas—we arrive laden with presents, but go home with the gift of unexpected love and joy.
Christmas tee time
I actually didn’t make the gift-giving affair because I played at the Manila Golf Ladies Day tournament with my golf partner Farah Imperial. The annual tournament prepares Christmas gift packages, groceries, rice and shoes for all the 150 caddies of Manila Golf.
At the awarding, the ladies dress in festive Christmas theme outfits and lots of raffles and special prizes are won. Many of the players even keep their costumes while playing golf. On top of the fact that it is such a fun tournament, it is also great to support the fundraising efforts of the Ladies Branch with Sandy Romualdez and Malu Gamboa-Lindo heading the committee.
Special thanks to Anna Racquel Santos, Isa Lorenzo, Melissa Lee, Alfred Ty, and Loli Sy, to name a few. And to raffle donors Pepper Lunch, Dyson, Crocs, Malayan Insurance, Silverlens, Focus Global, Chef Jessie, and many more.
Creative lineage
The next day, I attended the presscon of “Malikhaing Pinoy: Lahi,” a 30-piece couture collection by renowned Filipino designer Rajo Laurel. The collection is slated to reveal an inspired visual journey to promote Philippine creativity, cultural diplomacy, and the cultivation of our country’s creative economy. The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC), announced the artistic presentation o be staged on Jan. 30, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand.
This grand Philippine fashion showcase is part of the landmark partnership PCIDC established with Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency, a milestone alliance that not only serves to enhance cross-border collaboration but also provides a platform for strategic trade.
Laurel’s evocative design voice is emboldened by handcrafted works and accessories exclusively developed for the collection by some of the country’s most celebrated creatives such as Arnel Papa, Celestina Maristela Ocampo, Cholo Ayuyao, Monchét Diokno Olives, and MX Studios by Maxine Santos Tuaño. Together, they complete the design narrative with head-to-toe looks that crystallize the vision.
The result is a collection that blends elements of history, identity, geography, and community through the designer’s contemporary artistic lens. Laurel emphasizes, “Lahi is a storyboard of Philippine fashion developed through collaboration. Bayanihan is a core Filipino value. There is strength in creating a point of view together with other Filipino creatives.“
Hope in a card
From that presscon, I rushed to The Podium to attend the event of good friend Nannette Medved-Po of HOPE—the inspiring impact organization behind Hope in a Bottle—where they launched a new credit card with BDO Mastercard that supports the construction of much-needed public classrooms for Filipino students.
For every ₱1,000 qualified spend, BDO donates ₱5 to HOPE. Even a portion of the annual membership fees, both principal and supplementary, go toward HOPE’s education and community-building programs.
“Here in BDO, we believe in investing in every Filipino child’s education. Every child deserves a safe and inspiring space to grow and achieve their aspirations,” says Ma. Nannette R. Regala, senior vice president and consumer banking group marketing head.
BDO HOPE Mastercard cardholders also enjoy exclusive perks all year round, including instant discounts, premium offers nationwide, and a low FOREX conversion fee of just 1.85 percent, making the card a smart choice for both local and international use.
In line with both organizations’ commitment to sustainability, each BDO HOPE Mastercard is crafted from 100 percent recycled plastic. This reflects HOPE’s pioneering role as the Philippines’ first net zero plastic waste brand, and supports BDO’s broader product sustainability strategy.
Together, BDO and HOPE are driving forward a shared vision of social and environmental progress, one purchase at a time.
Apply for a BDO HOPE Mastercard today and let your everyday spend help build a better tomorrow. Plus, get a P10,000 welcome cashback for a minimum spend of P50,000 when approved by Dec. 31, 2025. Learn more and apply at www.bdo.com.ph/welcome-cashback-elite or visit a BDO branch near you.
May this season be filled with wonderful moments with family and sharing blessings whenever possible. We can all help make a difference!
