What's ahead in 2021?


IN THE COVER Philippines' biggest and most influential lifestyle people in a forum that embraces the year ahead with best wishes and good intentions

Here are some heartfelt messages from industry leaders that should remind us to bring with us and keep with us a lot of faith, a lot of hope, and a lot of precious lessons learned as we emerge from this year of constant challenge. Happy New Year to all!

Better is a word we all deserve in 2021. It should be the natural outcome of every life experience. It must be who we are and what we should be after every mistake made and lesson learned. This year, 2020, has given us so much time to reflect on our lives. We learned that the act of one person could affect an entire community. We learned that even in our isolation, we could make a difference in other people’s lives. We learned that the interest of all should take precedence over our personal plans. I hope we can take this mindset onward. I hope we remember well and learn well so that we can expect better and live better. Better is a word I wish for myself, for every fellow Filipino, and for our nation. —Ben Chan, founder, Bench, chairman and CEO, Suyen Corporation

I am almost sure everyone will wish for the end of this pandemic to come with 2021. It’s what we should all wish for, for each other.  Wish that we are able to get back to normal, not to be afraid of touching and hugging each other to show affection, especially to family members. We must never take anything for granted. It’s the biggest lesson from the pandemic. Nothing is sure, so always be prepared. But it is God’s gift to us, the strength we need for as long as we depend on Him and put our trust in Him. Survival is the key. As Jack Ma said, “Just to survive this pandemic is already success.” —Nedy Tantoco, chair, Rustan’s Commercial Corporation

The greatest lesson of 2020… Time to be humbled. —Virgie Ramos, president, Swatch Philippines

What a year it has been! I miss my monthly trips to Manila!  I wish and pray the vaccines can reach the Philippines sooner than soon. I am in awe of how disciplined Filipinos have been in combatting Covid and following the imposed restrictions. I have no doubt that continuous prayers have been instrumental in sparing the country from worst fatalities compared to many other countries. This year, 2020, has taught us all that good health and family matter the most. Most of all, I firmly believe that the world will be a better place after all this nightmare. I wish that the country can recover fast and resume the economic growth that can improve the lives of all in need in the Philippines. —Josie Natori, designer, CEO and founder, Natori Company

As with any of life’s obstacles, let us not allow this incredibly challenging year to end without drawing important learnings from it. Let us remember that we withstood and overcame this year’s hurdles together. Our Bayanihan spirit, in a way, saved us. We supported one another, lent a helping hand wherever needed, and worked as one to rebuild what was lost. If anything, let this year remind us to always hold dear what matters most: the health and safety of our loved ones and time spent with them. With faith that better days are ahead in 2021, I wish everyone a meaningful, peaceful, and happy New Year! The pandemic spared no one. It is the great equalizer. The duality of the health and economic crisis brought Filipinos to heel in 2020. —Berna Romulo-Puyat, secretary, Department of Tourism

This year has been extremely challenging for all of us, and if there’s one thing I have learned from the extraordinary year that this has been, it’s that change is the only constant in life.  Without the positive spirit and resilient nature to change, we, at the SSI Group, would not have been able to adapt.  It has been our Group’s ability to innovate and adjust that has driven our response to the challenges, and I expect that, just as we have in the past, we will emerge from this challenge as a better, stronger, and more efficient retailer.  As the whole country and the world continue to go through this extraordinary period, I remain positive we can rise up to the unique challenges humanity is facing today. I hope that we, as a nation, will get inspired to persevere and carry on, to keep rising to hurdles faced every day, and to look toward the future with more certainty and anticipation, together. I bid everyone a memorable Christmas and a promising New Year! —Anton Huang, president, Stores Specialists, Inc.

This unique and challenging time has reminded me of the value of hope and the power of books. Reading has served not just as an escape or comfort, but also a way of improving my skills and expanding my knowledge while at home. I know that even after this pandemic, I will continue to make time to read. Despite everything we have faced, I truly believe we will emerge from this pandemic with many lessons learned and with a new perspective on how we live our lives and what we prioritize. I am praying for and looking forward to a better 2021 for all of us. —Xandra Ramos, managing director, National Book Store

On a personal level, I became acutely aware of my scale relative to current events. But I also realized my strength when I gave myself permission to be vulnerable, to seek and receive support, and to dispense the same to those in similar need. At no other point in time is the quintessential spirit of Bayanihan more dramatically pressing than now, in the midst of the pandemic. In 2021, I pray for strength and the resolve for all Filipinos to truly embark on communal unity, work, and cooperation to rise above our struggles. The true essence of Bayanihan, para sa bayan, must override our personal agendas. We must start beating the pandemic together. Communication, dialogue, alignment of goals and action are what we need right now to survive. This beautiful Filipino mentality of helping one another without expecting anything in return is what will get us back on the right track. After all, the only way out of this is together. —Steven Tan, president, SM Supermalls

After a life-altering year, we really do not know what is ahead of us. We need to keep evolving, to have faith despite the challenges. Positive developments came out of 2020, placing health and safety protocols as the primary drivers of any plan. One is the use of technology that will move us forward to the next decade. The sudden shift to the digital platform has made life at home and at work more flexible. Transactions are now cashless, even in shopping for anything that includes the grocery, the seafood market in Dampa, and takeouts, all delivered using apps on the mobile phone. Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo have brought theater performances from the Cultural Center of the Philippines to a larger audience, giving much hope to those who are displaced. As theaters open when permitted, I remain optimistic that it will be a variation of a live performance environment. Zoom has kept us close and engaged with family, friends, and colleagues. Relationships are important and valued friendships will continue through 2021 as human connection advances remotely. This pandemic taught me that time is important. It must be managed with every moment cherished because tomorrow might not happen. Christmas 2020 was special because it brought out the best in all of us. We are kinder and more generous. Let us be grateful and look forward to a better year ahead. —Margie Moran Floirendo, chair, Cultural Center of the Philippines

The greatest lesson I’ve learned in 2020 is that in governance, health should always come first, along with the preparedness in the event of the worst health emergency such as Covid-19. It is wise to invest in the best health care system possible, since the health of the citizens is the key to progress. A healthy constituency brings about productivity and, ultimately, growth for the city. —Isko Moreno, mayor of Manila

This year has pushed everyone over the edge. I’ve had so many moments of despair, resignation, and lost hope. The year put everything we thought we knew about ourselves and about life into a whirling spin cycle that seemed to have no end in sight. But then I managed to pull myself together and did things that made me happy, like calling friends I hadn’t spoken to in years just to hear their voice and relive memories. Not enough emojis and emoticons can ever express how you truly feel. I learned new skills and discovered new passions. I appreciated simple moments and gestures of kindness. We have lost so much this year and yet we remain resolute in our will to survive adversities thrown our way. As we look toward starting a new year, let us remember to be kind, patient, and compassionate. It isn’t over and who knows what next year will bring? But if there’s one thing I know, we can do this…together. —Rafe Totengco, creative director and founder, Rafe New York

Next year. 2021, will be a year of progress and efficiency. Soon, travel time from the northern part of Manila to the southern portion will only be 30 minutes. Build, Build, Build will be able to deliver on its promise of creating more opportunities in every region in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. —Mark Villar, secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways

Amid all our well-laid-out plans, life is full of surprises and uncertainties. We just have to be resilient, flexible, and optimistic to be able to meet these challenges. This is a lesson we should take with us into the New Year. —Tessie Sy-Coson, co-chair, SM Investments Corporation