New Year wishes, hopes, and thanksgiving

Angel Thoughts

May the new year bring us fewer COVID infections and deaths, natural disasters, political turmoil, and economic downfalls. Peace and love to everyone. Never mind political and religious differences!

Manigong bagong taon (a prosperous new year) to all you faithful readers! May the New Year bring us fewer COVID infections and deaths, natural disasters, political turmoil, and economic downfalls. Peace and love to everyone. Never mind political and religious differences!

I asked several friends to share their wishes and hopes for the coming year and here are their answers.  

Cabinet secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles readily told us his wishes:

“I wish for this COVID-19 pandemic to finally end and pray for our kababayans to unite and help each other heal, recover, and rebuild in the aftermath of typhoon Odette and this pandemic. I pray for 2022 to be the year that we fulfill all our blessings by paying it forward to those most in need. The things I am grateful for are for the healing of friends and family from COVID-19, and the good health and safety of loved ones. I am grateful for meaningful work that helps others. I am grateful for each and every day that we wake up and are all able to ask the Lord to allow us to be an instrument of blessings for others!”

Tourism secretary Berna Romulo Puyat wished for a breakthrough year and success for all, and for her department to overcome its challenges.

“In 2022, I hope for the sustainable recovery of the tourism industry. One of the legacies that I want to carry as tourism secretary is the successful revival of tourism in the country following the pandemic. the DOT’s tourism Response and Recovery Plan along with the constant support of our partner agencies, Local Government Units (LGU)s, private stakeholders, and tourism workers, we will be able to come out of this situation stronger. I hope everyone continues to tap into the spirit of Bayanihan! We are part of a community that can only move forward and progress as one if we do our part in helping and supporting each other,” she says. “For my loved ones, all that I ever pray for is that they stay healthy and well. The pandemic has made us realize just how valuable our time with each other is. I am looking forward to spending more time with my family making meaningful, happy, and memorable memories.”

She is also thankful that God had given her the strength, focus, and heart to carry on with her duties.

“It’s an enormous task to steer the industry to the path to recovery and the cooperation and the effort put in by everyone has greatly helped in bringing us to where we are now. Tourism workers are getting back their jobs and more destinations are reopening. Tourists are starting to come again. I am thankful also to the LGUs, concerned government agencies, my colleagues, and co-workers for their hard work and perseverance.” 

Didi Domingo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman prays that COVID-19 will be totally vanquished in the coming year.

“For 2022, I wish our economy would be on a fast road to recovery. I wish that when I retire next year, God will grant me a peaceful, healthy, and fulfilling retirement. And when my time to go comes, I pray it will be a fast and easy one,” she says. “I am thankful that PAGCOR, our corporation has significantly contributed to the fight against COVID and that despite the difficult business climate, we were able to maintain the employment of our 12,500 employees who have 26,000 plus dependents and that we in our family have remained safe and healthy!”

Then there is Maritess Lopez, the better half of former ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez. Maritess is a cancer survivor who just celebrated her first year in complete remission with her family.

She is grateful to the Almighty and all those who stormed heaven for her recovery. Maritess hopes that the new year will bring better times for everybody and especially her loving circle of family and friends.

I also asked my good friend, Joy Mendoza Rojas, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager, now a private lawyer and a blooming artist, what his wishes are and what he is thankful for in the past year.

“I am fine and healthy and so are the rest of my family. For these, I am thankful to the Lord. Just to be physically and mentally healthy and to survive this pandemic are great blessings,” Joy says. “I wish this worldwide pandemic will soon end and I hope for a better year for our country and the whole world!”

I wish all of you good health and a productive, healthy year full of love and peace! Hugs and kisses everyone!