Show up every day, and opportunities will follow
“Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness.” –Buddha
One of the most powerful forces in life is consistency. The life we build will only ever be as good as our mindset. When we work on things that matter with diligence and drive, we are more likely to achieve our goals. Small wins every single day make life move forward more positively. When we focus on showing up every day, opportunities follow.
No matter how much pain hurts now, there is often a way to have our struggles and issues change our life for the better. As we come into the last weeks of 2024, we should reflect on all the experiences that have unfolded, good and bad, and find ways to grow from them. It is also important to take a moment to appreciate those in our lives who help us on our journey to becoming the best versions of ourselves; whether that be family or friends, it is always good to dedicate quality time to those we love and are thankful for.
As a tradition, the SM Group hosts an annual Thanksgiving lunch at China Blue at the Conrad. It’s that time of the year when a select group of media is hosted for the year-long support for the businesses of SM, as well as appreciation and gratitude for the many years of friendship. Together with Tessie Coson, Hans Sy Sr. and Chico Sy, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan organizes this special lunch during Thanksgiving. They graciously moved the lunch to a later date so our family could still join, as we were still mourning the passing of our father, Alex Prieto.
It was wonderful to celebrate the season with our friends from the industry and share what we are all grateful for. I hosted a little sharing game and did some speed shopping in SM Mall of Asia (MOA) for some prizes. Big Boss Hans Sy Sr. shared his pride and gratitude for the growth of National University. Bringing education to a more affordable level is just one of the notable legacies that the Sy family will be respected for.
Spectacular launches
The happiest season has begun at SM Supermalls, with a series of spectacular Christmas launches at SM malls around the country. Each mall celebrated the beginning of Christmas with unique themes, activities, and decorations, bringing joy and excitement to families and visitors alike.
SM MOA kicked off the festivities with MOA Paskong Pinoy as early as October. The spirit of the holidays came alive thanks to live performances from the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. Stell of SB19 also serenaded the crowd with his rendition of classic Filipino Christmas favorites. Following this was MOA’s dazzling tree lighting ceremony, which illuminated the mall and created a magical atmosphere for the holiday season. The grand, playful installations of Filipino icons, including taho carts and kalesa, flanked a towering Christmas tree in the mall’s Central Atrium.
SM Aura, on the other hand, celebrated Filipino craftsmanship through the Sinag at Saya showcase. A beautifully decorated holiday display highlighted local artistry with intricate ornaments and parol made from native materials. The tree-lighting ceremony featured a unique fashion presentation by renowned designer Carl Jan Cruz, who reimagined traditional Filipino aesthetics through modern design.
Although SM Aura is my go-to shopping mall, I have recently rediscovered SM MOA because that is where the one and only Disney Store in the Philippines opened. For Christmas shopping, I took my grandkids and grandnieces and -nephews to Disney Store to check out the numerous Disney characters and toys. The expansive store is conveniently located on the ground floor and almost at the center of the mall.
Just for this Christmas, Disney Store has a cute promotion that will end by yearend. For every P5,000 minimum spend, single-receipt transaction, you can choose postcards from three designs as your special gift. Get the limited-edition Disney Store postcards and collect all three designs. It truly is the happiest store on earth!
Purifiers and perfume
For my wish list, all I want is the latest Dyson Purifier. Because of all the research Dyson has been doing all these years, they have become the authority in clear air in the home. Separating particles from airflow or filtration has been at the center of Dyson products for 30 years. During that time, Dyson invested in laboratories and test rigs that measure filtration efficacy, not only of the filter as industry standards stipulate, but also at full-machine level, developing entirely new test methods in both floor care and air purification.
Dyson vacuums offer five stages of fully sealed filtration, from cyclonic separation in the vacuum bin, to the cyclone pack, filtration mesh and pre- and post-motor filters to effectively separate different sizes of debris. In Dyson purifiers, three filters combine for highly effective indoor purification, trapping particles in a glass HEPA media, capturing gas pollutants and continuously destroying formaldehyde at a molecular level.
For the rest of the list, I decided to make it a Jo Malone London Christmas. For this feel-good festive season, Jo Malone London showcased “A Christmas Special” at Whitespace Manila to introduce this year’s Christmas collection.
Guests were allowed to discover the different scented gifts and this year’s scent of the season: Fir & Artemisia. Wrapped up in the spirit of the season, the woodiness of fir and aromatic artemisia contrasted with supple leather in this festive scent.
Jo Malone London stylists assisted guests in discovering the different Christmas sets and finding the perfect gift for the season. The room was filled with different activities for everyone to enjoy—from creating their own Christmas ornaments to playing the Spin The Wheel game and taking home Jo Malone London prizes.
Brand general manager Camille Oloan welcomed guests and thanked them for all their support to the brand throughout the year. A custom cocktail menu inspired by the collection was served by Cibo di M. The Christmas collection is now available in all Jo Malone London boutiques. Since traffic is crazy these days, there is always online shopping!
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