#MayForever for kindness, compassion, loyalty and true love in this cruel world.

1. Poetry lines on ceilings of Philippine buses and jeepneys, just like in some London buses/Tube train carriages. They call it “Poems on the Underground.” To celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th death anniv, they chose lines from his poems. We should feature our own poets’ works, both in English and Pilipino.

2. More sculptures on sidewalks and in parks, just like in Melbourne, Australia. But first of all, more sidewalks and parks.

3. A place — perhaps in Bonifacio Global City — where Covent Garden meets Harajuku, Pinoy-style. A vibrant place with art exhibits/sales, musicians and performers, curated vintage shops and artisanal offerings at flea markets, sidewalk restos, food stalls and mini concerts. Where young revelers can be costumed and theme-dressed to celebrate occasions.

4. More urban art on building walls instead of huge ads. I love those cool murals on the walls of BGC buildings.

5. Free entrance to all museums. Bravo to the National Museum for opening its doors to everyone. Boo to museums still charging entrance fees.

6. And while we’re at it, special free showings for those who really cannot afford pricey tickets to cultural shows, theater plays and concerts.

7. Naming achievers like Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Lea Salonga and Ambeth Ocampo as National Artists, even if they’re not aging and wheelchair-bound yet. They deserve it already.

8. A stop to society columnists putting press releases/photos together and passing it off as a column. That is so not journalism. They should write interesting untold stories about society personages, human interest stories about the rich and famous.

9. An end to fashion coverage of SONA. By God, the SONA is not a red carpet event! It took President Rody Duterte to stop this annual folly. Journalists should do the who’s-wearing-what coverage only for fashion shows/events and Star Magic Balls, please.

10. More Filipinos embracing local brands and local craftsmen. I love what Cedie Lopez-Vargas and her group are doing through the MaArte Fair. And the brave, nationalist thrust of brands like Ben Chan’s Bench and Sheree Roxas-Chua Gotauco’s Freeway.

11. Watching The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon live, in New York. With the next president of the United States as his guest, whoever she may be.

12. Meeting one of my fave poets, Judith Viorst, in Washington, DC or wherever she may be. I’ve collected all her books, starting from When Did I Stop Being Twenty and Other Injustices, It’s Hard To Be Hip Over Thirty and Other Tragedies of Married Life, How Did I Get To Be Forty?, Forever Fifty, Suddenly Sixty to I’m Too Young To Be Seventy. And now, she’s written Unexpectedly Eighty. I hope to see her write a next book called No, I Can’t Be 90!

13. A trip somewhere near, maybe Batanes or Bhutan, with my whole Lifestyle team, including our young Young STAR, YStyle and Supreme people. And in a fun switch of duties, let the Sports editors or Business editors handle our sections while we’re away on the trip.

14. Antarctica with my fave grandson Enzo. Because it’s his dream destination. With his Lolo Robert. Because somebody has to pay for this pricey trip.

15. Cuba. Because Che Guevara.

16. Myanmar. Because Aung Sun.

17. San Giovanni Rotondo. Because Padre Pio.

18. Lourdes, for the nth time. Not as a tourist, but this time as a volunteer assisting the religious pilgrims, for one week.

19. Mexico. Because Frida Kahlo. And her husband Diego Rivera. And her lover Leon Trotsky.

20. Connecticut. Because Harry Connick Jr.

21. Industrialists building more offices/factories in the provinces. This will spread income and employment opportunities and help decongest Metro Manila. The government should give incentives to industrialists who do this.

22. That those who have more in life will find it in their hearts to help build more houses for the poor. And give free education to the poorest of the poor.

23. More practical and useful subjects in high school like cooking (even for boys) and car engine trouble-shooting (even for girls).

24. The conversion of the ghost-filled and now badly-located Malacañang Palace into a museum. And a new Malacañang in a better area with high-tech security features for the president just like in the movies.

25. The world-class international airport that previous presidents have failed to build. Please, President Duterte, only you can make it happen.

26. Less pay for senators and congressmen. More pay for teachers.

27. #MayForever for National Book Store, whose owners have staunchly been promoting reading, publishing works by Filipino authors and inviting bestselling authors to Manila.

28. #MayForever for Filipino filmmakers/producers/scriptwriters like those who make movies such as That Thing Called Tadhana and Heneral Luna.

29. #MayForever for engaging and intelligent TV personalities like Teddyboy Locsin and Karen Davila who make us think, laugh and examine. Teddyboy’s “Teditorials” always make my day. I like Karen’s interviews that make the interviewee tense and vulnerable and hopefully vomit up truth.

30. #MayForever for kindness, compassion, loyalty and true love in this cruel world.