More room to heal, support, and grow
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention and thus, cultivate mindfulness.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness is a meditative practice that allows us to truly sink into the moment. I do find it quite challenging though, as my mind is often restless and overthinking. When I worry too much about issues and problems, it is difficult for me to really appreciate moments of pride and success.
Though at the graduation of my youngest, Athena Prieto Valdes, I was fully present and beaming with joy for this important milestone. With love, grit, and grace as a single mom, I raised a graduate. I didn’t just survive, I raised a legacy.
At Athena’s graduation ceremony at SOAS University of London, I gathered meaningful notes from their key speakers on building a future and making a difference. The faculty speaker stated that life now has an imbalance of power with no wisdom. The speaker encouraged students to use their completed education and knowledge to build an ecosystem that solves problems to make meaningful impact to all. Live to make a difference because in this broken world, they have the voice to bring hope and they have the energy to build change.
Being here in London with my entire family unit is the fulfilling culmination of all my healing for the past five years and this current journey of moving forward. I feel emotionally safe with all the love and support from my kids. My creative expression matures with age as I continue my new purpose as a real estate curator. My focus now is honed in on my creative projects, kids, and philanthropic efforts.
Sister support
Last Aug. 30, my mother Marixi Prieto, my son Bryan Prieto, and I celebrated our joint birthdays at the Sisters of Mary Girlstown, along with fellow Virgo, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos. Sisters of Mary provides a full-ride scholarship for underprivileged youth, and Mamarixi has been an avid supporter of this community for decades. My mother just celebrated her birthday (Sept. 11) this past weekend, and I want to take this moment to show her all my love and appreciation. Through her hugely generous heart, she instilled in me from a young age the importance of charity and piety—and that is the same legacy I hope to pass on to all my children.
This same generosity is shared with FL Liza who has been supporting Red Charity Gala through the years. At our recent birthday bash at Sisters of Mary, she donated school bags and supplies to each of the 3,000 students. She also helped distribute Dunkin’ donuts and drinks to all of them who were so delighted. The girls’ cultural presentation was amazing with all the visitors moved to tears, including the First Lady. It was heartwarming to celebrate our milestones with all of them.
Many others have also supported Sisters of Mary Girlstown and Boystown including former Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Bukidnon Rep. Audrey Zubiri, Cong. Florabel Yatco, and more. They were all together at the wedding of Senator Grace’s son, Brian Poe Llamanzares and Marge Gutierrez. Best wishes to this dynamic newlyweds!
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares
The Negrense spirit
September is a busy month with many friends also celebrating their birthdays like Assumption HS 81 classmate Tessa Alindogan’s mother Cory Alindogan and SM Supermalls big boss Steven Tan. I saw Steven at the presscon of the upcoming 40th Negros Trade Fair on Sept. 22 to 27 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura. The fair is called Butlak, with over 170 vendors from the South.
A Hiligaynon word that translates to the rising of the sun or bloom, Butlak echoes the Negrense spirit—an amalgamation of resolve, resourcefulness, and faith in the promise of a new dawn.
During the first edition of the Negros Trade Fair 40 years ago, 30 vendors from Negros Occidental gathered at the Makati Carpark to showcase local crafts, products, and wares from the region. Following the collapse of the sugar industry, sugar farm workers began to harness their creativity through food, weaves, furniture, and the arts as a means for augmenting their livelihoods. And it was at the first Negros Trade Fair where they began to see the rays of a new sunrise for the region.
Mary Ann Colmenares, chairperson of the Negros Trade Fair, recalls, “During one of the early Negros Trade Fairs, the theme was Hope Shines in Negros. This is the mindset that has consistently guided us throughout the 40 years of the trade fair. The Negrenses have held on to the promise of a new day, and that God’s mercies are new every morning.”
Its president, Christina Gaston, elaborates, “Our task is to find ways for brands to grow and to drive economic growth. While ANP is the incubator, the fair is the platform. The idea of Butlak was anchored on how our entrepreneurs have bloomed over the years.”
Coconut revival
To support other local industries, the DTI has been intensifying efforts to transform the country’s coconut industry into high-value product streams, following a 34.4 percent surge in coconut exports, reaching $3.6 billion in 2025. At the recently concluded DTI – Bagong Pilipinas Coconut Philippines Trade Fair, the coconut industry was highlighted with several merchants and products showing the continued growth in this sector.
The Department of Trade and Industry led by Sec. Cris Roque will be heading the ASEAN Creative Industries Expo on Sept. 18 at SMX Convention Center in SM Aura. This is the flagship event of Philippine Creative Industries Month 2026 to bring together the country’s creative talent and foster greater innovation, collaboration, and market opportunities across ASEAN.
Life is meant to be fully expressed with joy and excitement. When we embrace life with passion and compassion, we will move forward with not regrets. From all the setbacks of the past, the heart learns to heal and appreciate the new blessings and most importantly, family!
