Self-love is top priority
“Kindness is strength. Uncertainty is a teacher. Joy is necessary.” —Sandra Oh
Freedom is a shifting energy in my life. Due to emotional instability, I need to switch from negative to positive expressions to free me from internal tension. To promote spiritual growth and inner healing, I focus on my motivation, goals, and productivity.
Being free has given me ample time to reflect on where I want my new chapter to go. I can dictate how long I need to process any challenge as well as explore other options. Self-love is top priority so I could choose my own timeline.
To celebrate freedom on Philippine Independence Day, I attended the 15th annual Mega Ball at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City. It was wonderful to join the celebration that also honors strong, dynamic women who make lasting impact in their own field.
Along with Mega’s editor in chief Peewee Reyes-Isidro, this year’s Mega Ball cochair—and one of the Pinoy Pride Awardees—was celebrity choreographer and G-Force founder and artistic director Georcelle Dapat-Sy. Celebrated for transforming the perception and impact of modern dance in the Philippines, Teacher Georcelle brought her love and passion for dance, insight, G-Force, and her friends to make this year’s MEGA Ball one for the books.
Guests came dressed in their best dance-ready black and white formals. These include Pinoy Pride awardees Heart Evangelista, Dolly de Leon, Dr. Vicki Belo, Niana Guerrero, Karen Davila, Suzy Yuzon, and Grace Vera Cruz, along with beauty queens Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo, Catriona Gray, R’Bonney Gabriel, Chelsea Manalo, and Katarina Rodriguez.
Dinner was prepared by Rhea Rizzo, chef and owner of Mrs. Saldo’s. She described her menu as “dance, and all of its beautiful forms and styles.” The past two Mega Balls have been about fashion’s intersection with art and food. This year we explored and celebrated the relationship of fashion and dance.
At the event, I was able to reconnect with Pinoy Pride awardee for Entertainment Dolly de Leon. Garnering unprecedented global recognition for a Filipino actor, her success opened conversations about representation for Filipino performers in international productions.
With over 101.5 million followers across platforms, Pinoy Pride awardee for Dance and Social Media Niana Guerrero has transformed from a viral video creator to an influential Gen Z entertainment figure. She is also the niece of college friend Bong Guerrero who I visited last month in Dubai.
During the program of the second evening of the Mega Ball, dancers from the Alice Reyes Dance Company opened the festivities with a rousing rendition of traditional dance interpreted through contemporary dance.
Scholarly pursuits
To celebrate a different kind of freedom, my Assumption High School ’81 batchmates and I flew to Iloilo to present our donations to our scholars at Assumption Passi.
To celebrate our 40th year out of high school four years ago, cochairs Popsie Gamboa and Maripi Jalandoni launched the Ruby Project to provide 20 talented and deserving learners a senior high school education at the Assumption. Today, we rejoice and are truly proud: these 20 have completed their college studies, many of whom graduated at the top of their classes with Latin honors!
We reunited with our alumni scholars: Starwin, Brent, Rowela, Christia, and Jethro—once timid and uncertain, now self-assured, and ready to face the challenges of life in the workplace. What touched our hearts most was their gratitude. They promised to pay it forward someday, giving back to help, just as we have helped them.
Building on this success, we launched the Sapphire Project last year. This project, fully funded by generous Assumption HS ’81 classmates, aims to support a total of 45 senior high students as we celebrate our Sapphire Jubilee, 45 years out of High School in 2026. This year’s roster includes academic and athletic scholars LG Val Abana, Ezekiel Hiti-ayon, Benz Padernal, William Josh Padura, Earl Ronn Senina, Sonny James Balaski, Jeremiah de la Fuente, John Rendell Entico, Gena Rose Pamonag, Kert Panizales who were chosen from nearby public schools.
Between visiting the school and meeting our scholars, our gang enjoyed the best dishes Iloilo has to offer. From all the sweet treats, pancit molo, inasal, batchoy, and the best siopao from Roberto’s, we gained weight but it was so worth it!
Awareness campaign
Aside from supporting Assumption HS ’81 Foundation, Red Charity Gala also supports Hope for Lupus Foundation. Opening their latest run of its public awareness exhibit at SM Aura Premier, Hope for Lupus marked their first series in partnership with SM Supermalls last month.
The “Butterfly Exhibit” expanded rollout reinforces the Foundation’s commitment to bringing lupus education and advocacy to more communities across the Philippines.
Catch the last leg at SM City North Edsa on Aug. 22 to Aug. 24. By hosting the exhibit, SM Supermalls reinforces its commitment to supporting public health and inclusive causes.
The event was led by Social Welfare Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, who established the Foundation after her own diagnosis. Once unable to walk, feed herself, or live independently due to the effects of lupus, Villar rose to become a national policymaker and tireless advocate for patients like her.
“This exhibit is not just about raising awareness—it’s about restoring dignity, building empathy, and making sure no one feels invisible,” Villar said. “Thanks to SM Supermalls, we’re able to bring this message of hope to everyday spaces where people can truly engage with it.”
Starting next month, Red Charity Gala cochair Kaye Tiñga and I will be so busy working on this year’s gala featuring Rhett Eala. We are delighted to have once again Hope for Lupus as one of our beneficiaries. We choose freedom and we choose to make a difference!
