What now, 2026?
And just like that, I am sure you will agree with me when I say that 2025 flew by even quicker than 2024. At this age, time truly feels like it moves twice as fast, and honestly, it is unsettling. It seems like only yesterday when I sighed as I locked up my shop for the holidays and rushed home, excited for some much-needed rest.
Now, it is all over. By the time you read this, work resumes tomorrow, and the familiar cycle begins again: of facing EDSA daily and spending half of my life in the car.
There is so much I want to express today. My hopes for the year, for the country, for my family, my business, and myself. Because I was not able to share my thoughts last week, everything feels a bit tangled, as if too many thoughts are competing for space. I will try my best to lay them out with clarity. Please bear with me.
On health
I began the year sick. The flu that everyone seems to have right now caught up with me. Coughing with phlegm, headaches, body pains from my legs to my back and shoulders, and even heartburn all arrived at once. Some friends said it might be another strain of COVID, but at this point, a flu is a flu. This one was particularly unkind.
There was no shortcut to recovery. I drank plenty of liquids, took countless vitamins and probiotics, and even antibiotics. I tried to sleep as much as I could, though that was nearly impossible with the constant coughing.
It was not the most graceful way to welcome the New Year, but sometimes there is no lesson other than acceptance. The virus comes whether you are ready or not. The best we can do is take care, sanitize our hands, and hope our bodies cooperate.
On gifts
Despite feeling under the weather, opening gifts was still a pleasant experience. I had to enlist the help of Jody and Jacqui, who happily stepped in as my little assistants. The house was soon filled with sweets. Fruitcakes, cookies, pastries, and chocolates seemed to appear from every corner. One could say the sugar industry had a very successful holiday season.
Receiving gifts also brings up a familiar question. What do we do with the ones we do not really need? Do we keep them just in case, tuck them away and hope they become useful someday, or do we pass them on?
My view is simple. There should be no guilt in regifting. If you receive something that does not serve you, but you know someone else would truly appreciate it, then giving it away wholeheartedly is still an act of generosity. What matters is learning to value the things we choose to keep and allowing the rest to find a better home.
Personalized gifts, however, will always be my favorite. Anything with my name or initials instantly feels more meaningful. I suppose it is because I love my name. I was named after my grandfather, whom I never met. I was born in July, and he passed away the following August.
My parents changed my name during my baptism, which caused more than a little paperwork and confusion, but the sentiment behind it has always stayed with me.
On politics
While working on my financial report for 2025, a thought weighed heavily on my mind. Perhaps I could have worked harder, taken fewer vacations, or skipped buying that tiny Chanel bag that can barely fit a lipstick. Still, the money I earned was honest. I did not steal it, and it was not handed to me in exchange for favors. I paid my taxes, and I paid my suppliers.
That realization made me wish even more that our leaders would do better. This country is not lacking in potential. With proper use of funds, lives could be improved, and opportunities expanded. The idea may sound too simple, but progress begins when people stop stealing. But I will end this here before my blood pressure rises.
On love
Jacqueline suggested that in 2026, I should go on one date every month. The mere thought of it already made me tired. The dating scene feels exhausting, filled with predictable questions about hobbies, music preferences, and whether one enjoys hiking.
Jody agreed with me that finding quality men in Manila is tough. Perhaps it is the pool, perhaps it is timing, or perhaps everyone is simply tired in their own way. She suggested that going on dates while I am traveling might make more sense. There is something easier about meeting people when you are away from routine, away from expectations, and away from familiar traffic and small talk.
At this stage of my life, however, the absence of romance does not feel like a loss. My heart is already full. I am surrounded by family and friends who bring me genuine joy. And if I am being completely honest, there is also a Chanel bag quietly reminding me that happiness comes in many forms.
On loss
This past Christmas and New Year were significant because we experienced them for the first time without Dad and Mom. Even with my efforts to keep the house lively, a quiet loneliness lingered.
I miss how Dad would sit at the end of the table, exactly where he belonged. A simple nod from him was enough to be served food. I miss how we pretended to be impressed when he handed out a few hundred pesos to his grandkids, as if it were a grand fortune.
I miss how he would turn his chair around when it was time for the children to perform, acting as the judge of every talent show. The loudest performer always won simply because they were the easiest for him to hear. I miss coaxing him into telling the same childhood stories again and again. I miss the sound of his laughter, which was always the greatest gift of all.
A moment of reflection
As I rest and recover from this flu tonight, I will make use of the gifts I received and allow myself a moment of quiet reflection. I will pray for better leadership and for a country that learns to care for its people. I will celebrate the single life and the abundance of love that already surrounds me.
Most of all, I will pray for Dad and Mom to continue guiding me. I feel their presence even now. I simply want more of it. All of it. As much as I can get. It may sound selfish, but when it comes to them, I allow myself this longing.
