‘Health, love, long life & happiness’

Did you know that at Harvard, the most popular and successful course reportedly teaches you how to learn to be happier?

The Positive Psychology class taught by Ben Shahar focuses on “happiness, self-esteem and motivation.”

This 45-year-old teacher, aptly nicknamed “the happiness guru,” has many tips on how to achieve happiness. Let me share with you one of his tips: “Spend your money on experiences. A study found that 75 percent of people felt happier when they invested their money in travel, courses and classes. While only the rest said they felt happier when buying things.”

(From left) Robert Lim Joseph Jr., Kingson Sian, Jaime Bautista and New World Makati GM Farid Schoucair.

Thus, it is no surprise that the travel industry continues to take off.

SKAL International CEO Daniela Otero reveals that based on projections, the number of international travelers will hit 1.6 billion by 2020!

SKAL is an association of travel and tourism professionals from around the world that promotes global tourism and friendship. SKAL is a Scandinavian acronym for Sundhet, Karlek, Alder and Lycka, which mean health, love, long life and happiness.

Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda and wife Ihoko.

Champions of tourism gathered recently for the 28th SKAL Tourism Personality Awards at the New World Makati Hotel.

The SKAL Tourism Personality Awards, in conjunction with the 37th founding anniversary of SKAL International Makati, led by SKAL International Makati president Jaime Bautista and chairman Robert “Bobby” Joseph Jr., honors outstanding individuals who contributed to the promotion and development of local and international tourism and travel industries.

Akihiro Hosoya, Robert Lim Joseph Jr. and Gov. Houdou Nakamura.

This year’s prestigious list of awardees include PAGCOR chairman Andrea Domingo, Gaming Tourism category; Resorts World Manila’s Kingson Sian, Integrated Tourism Enterprises category; All Nippon Airways’ Akihiro Hosoya, Airline category; Pan Pacific Manila general manager Richard Masselin, Hotel category; Nagasaki Prefecture Gov. Houdou Nakamura, International Tourism category; ABS-CBN News Channel’s Annalisa Burgos, Broadcast Media category; Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal, Airport category; Coltrans Exhibits Inc.’s Deedee Ledonio, M.I.C.E. category; Boracay Adventure Travel & Tours’ Capt. Peter Tay, Inbound and Domestic Tour category; LKY Group of Companies’ Lawrence Li Tan, Tourism Marketing category; NAIA Press Corps’ Raoul Esperas, Airport Media category; and yours truly for the Print Media category. Former Tourism secretary Jose Aspiras received a posthumous award.

(From left) PeopleAsia’s Ramon Ruiz, Allure’s Büm Tenorio Jr., PeopleAsia’s Princess Ocampo and Jannette Velasco.

I said in my acceptance speech, “Tonight, we celebrate the bonds and the friendship fostered in the sky, the seas and on the ground through tourism. And by being an instrument of this through my articles makes me feel like I am a peacemaker. Thus, this SKAL Tourism Personality Award will be more than just a trophy on my shelf. It is an affirmation that what I do can and make a difference; and world peace isn’t just for politicians or Miss Universe contestants, it is for all.”

This year’s SKAL awarding was done in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Airlines and the New World Makati Hotel.

PeopleAsia ’s Jose Paolo dela Cruz with Allure’s Jaymee Amores and Pinky Icamen.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected].Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.)