Wish upon a Starweek: New hope for the New Year

MANILA, Philippines – 2016 has been a challenging year for many, in no matter what field – be it politics, economics, arts and culture, or the environment. Considering everything that has happened in the past 12 months, many of us are more than excited to welcome the New Year with open arms and hearts full of hope.

With the turning of another year comes the traditional New Year’s resolution-setting – whether we intend to keep them or not. STARweek has asked people from various fields to reflect on the year that was and tell us their resolutions and hopes for the coming year.

What they have shared are not only resolutions, but answers to the challenges posed by 2016 – solutions that will hopefully result in a better 2017.

Margie Moran Floirendo President, Ballet Philippines

Margie Moran Floirendo is constantly at work. Even on holidays and vacations, she is always on the lookout for new trends or ideas that would help enhance the company’s operations.

“In 2017, I would like to bring in more opportunities to hone our dancers’ skills. One thing we noticed in past seasons is that having guest choreographers, coaches and ballet masters makes a big difference in our dancers’ performances. It’s incredibly heartening to watch them discover new possibilities of movement and push their abilities further.

“I would also like to see Ballet Philippines producing more prominent Filipino works that we could bring all over the world. With that, I also wish for the company to be able to tour extensively around the world this coming year, especially as we lead up to our 50th anniversary season in 2019.”

One of Floirendo’s signature projects for the company has been the “Share the Magic” program, which brings in public school students and individuals from underserved areas for a matinee ballet performance, through the support of corporate sponsors. The success of this program throughout the years has clearly shown that there is no lack in public interest for dance performance, and yet due to other factors such as traffic, getting audiences to the CCP remains a challenge.

“Another big wish of mine is for Ballet Philippines’ audience to increase, and for an enhanced appreciation for the performing arts, particularly dance. So many could benefit from a trip to the theater, and they just don’t know it!”

Work aside, Floirendo devotes time to her first grandchild, Cosima Margarita. As evidenced by her social media feeds, she is a doting grandmother, endlessly proud of each step of the adorable toddler’s growth. So when asked for one last wish, she was quick to say, “Another grandchild!” – Bee Carabeo
Ricardo Po Sr. Founder, Century Pacific Foods

The country’s 22nd richest man according to Forbes’ 2016 list of the Philippines’ 50 richest people, stopped counting his age when he turned 78 a few years back. Perhaps, it’s because he has already achieved most of what he dreamt of in life.

Po, who was born in poverty in Guangzhou, China and who lost most of his fortune in the 1973 stock market crash, founded Century Pacific Foods in 1978. Today, the company is the country’s largest canned tuna company and the leading exporter of private-label tuna. At this point in his life, Po said he cannot ask for anything more.

As such, his wish is no longer for himself but for the communities that have helped Century Pacific become what it is now.

For 2017, Po’s New Year’s wish is to be able to increase the beneficiaries of the Century Group’s feeding program to seven million meals from five million at present.

“My hope is to increase it by two million more. Hopefully, we will do more (in 2017) and make it seven million meals,” Po tells STARweek.

Dubbed as KAIN Po – which stands for Kalusugan at Kaisipan Naaalagaan – the Century Group’s feeding program started in 2010. Under the program, the company provides free meals throughout the year in different areas nationwide with the help of at least 81 non-government partners, foundations and civic organizations.

“It’s a kind of payback to the community. We are in the food business so we want to fill the stomachs of the people. Hopefully, we can do even better in the years to come,” Po says.                                                                                     – Iris C. Gonzales

Alyssa Valdez, Volleyball player

Three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Alyssa Valdez will start the year donning a new uniform, as she is set to join Thai volleyball team 3BB Nakomnont for two leagues this year, although she clarifies that despite the team’s Christmas Eve announcement, nothing is final and official yet.

The 23-year-old former Ateneo de Manila superstar is one of the most recognizable faces in Philippine sports today, after leading her alma mater to back-to-back UAAP championships in 2012 and 2013.

“There are a lot of things to look forward to this coming 2017,” she says. “I have to create and find ways on how I can improve myself as an athlete and grow myself as an individual.”

Valdez has suited up for various national contingents competing in the international arena. “As an athlete, representing our country is one of my dreams but in order to do so I need to be hardworking, determined and passionate to learn new things from the sport. Training and competing locally and abroad would be a great help for me to improve not only my skills but gain experience from the competitions, which I would need to further enhance my abilities and capabilities as an athlete.”

Wherever she competes, Valdez is determined to be a better athlete, person and role model. “From these, I hope to be able to be a better and well-rounded individual as a role model for the youth, and who serves and helps my family and other people.”

Gerard Salonga Conductor

Celebrating the New Year is all about family for conductor Gerard Salonga.

“We’re not firecracker-loving types,” he says of his wife, violinist Deejay, and kids. “We do a little staycation somewhere. The kids love it, and it keeps the evening nice and quiet. A good meal on New Year’s Day rounds it off.”

Salonga’s staycation is well-deserved, coming after a busy year. In 2016, he not only helmed the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, but was also chosen as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

In the coming year, Salonga plans to “work to become a better musician and father and husband.”

As for New Year’s resolutions, he says: “This one is sincere. I resolve to try and be a better citizen in every way. It’s easy to sit and complain, but it takes guts to really get up and work to make your country better.” – Ida Anita Q. del Mundo

NIC TIONGSON Writer, critic, historian

Dr. Nicanor Tiongson is professor emeritus of the UP Film Institute. Among his film books are the four-volume “The Urian Anthology” and “The Cinema of Manuel Conde.” He is a founding member and former chair of the respected critics’ group Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

Next year, he is setting aside film projects until he finishes the updated CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art – an obra maestra “four years in the making” – for a September launch. He also edited the first (1994) 10-volume encyclopedia.

He also commits to finishing a new play on revolutionary playwright Aurelio Tolentino for Tanghalang Pilipino, to be staged in July. “I’ve been doing research for about a year. I will use the Christmas vacation to write. That is the time I can shut out the world and write. I also wrote ‘Mabining Mandirigma’ during the Christmas holiday,” he says, referring to the TP blockbuster steam-punk musical on Apolinario Mabini.

Recently, he chaired the selection committee for the Metro Manila Film Festival, which drew criticism for allegedly choosing “indie” films over the usual filmfest fare of box office no-brainers.

On that controversy, Tiongson tells STARweek: “There’s no way to go but up. There are a lot of people who have reacted to this year’s choice of filmfest entries, with some saying they will finally watch a movie in the theater. Keep in mind also that the people who have been used to Cinemalaya films will probably be watching these MMFF entries, and that’s a big crowd that has been going to Cinemalaya.”

INJAP SIA Entrepreneur

Edgar “Injap” Sia II still gets emotional when talking about the humble beginnings of DoubleDragon Properties Corp., the listed property company which he chairs together with Jollibee Foods Corp. founder Tony Tan Caktiong.

Just thinking about how the company started from nothing to become what it is now has always been a source of deep, profound pride and joy for Injap, who also founded the homegrown Mang Inasal chicken barbeque chain that is now part of the Jollibee group.

As such, Injap says, his New Year’s resolution is to make sure that DoubleDragon achieves all the goals set for the year.

“I strongly believe that being able to fulfill those goals are important building blocks that will make DoubleDragon a formidable business locomotive that organically grows and significantly contributes to nation building,” he says.

One such goal is to move in to DoubleDragon’s new headquarters at the 4.8-hectare DD Meridian Park commercial and office complex at the Bay Area in Pasay.

“I am excited for that because it will mark the start of the corporate maturity of the company as it already starts to move out of start-up stage to become a new serious contender that strives to capture the bright future of the Philippine property industry,” he says.

Another clear goal is to have at least 30 operational CityMalls in various parts of the country to hit the target of having 100 of these provincial malls by 2020.

Indeed, Injap says, he has always been consistent in his dream to start, build and nurture business endeavors that will last for generations and become homegrown brands that every Filipino can be proud of – from an iconic chicken barbeque chain to a property giant. – ICG

Miguel Tabuena, Golfer

Miguel Tabuena is the youngest and one of the brightest stars in the Philippine golf scene today. He currently ranks 144 in the world and fifth in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, with winnings in 2016 of over half a million dollars. After winning the Philippine Open in 2015 – the first Filipino to win at home since 2008 – the 22-year-old realized his dream of playing against the big guys in the US Open in Pennsylvania last June. He earned this right after earlier topping the US Open sectional qualifiers in California, the first Filipino to do so.

Tabuena is looking towards an even stronger year in 2017, securing his cards not just in the Asian Tour but in the European and PGA Tours as well.

“I want to start off the year strong,” he tells STARweek. “Hopefully secure my card already, even from early on in the year. I plan to play the full Asian Tour schedule and I hope to play as many European Tour and PGA Tour tournaments I can get into. Hopefully, I can secure cards for those tours as well by year-end.”

Kiko Matos, Actor

Kiko Matos made waves in 2016, not only in his films, but also with his much-talked about tiff with actor Baron Geisler that culminated in an actual mixed martial arts (MMA) fight hosted by the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), an MMA league.

The plot thickens: by the end of the year, it was revealed that everything was an act – a social experiment for the documentary, Beast Mode, which premiered in December. (The producers, however, have made it clear that Geisler’s more recent incident involving Ping Medina is not part of the film).

The URCC match may have ended in a draw, but Matos considers 2016 a big win for his career. “2016 for me was the best year of my life. This was the year where I went way beyond my comfort zone. Project Beast Mode is one of the events that I will never forget. Aside from the controversies, this has also opened new doors for me in various fields, especially in martial arts.”

Matos adds he has learned a lot in the passed year. “What I learned this 2016 is to not be scared, and to always do the things that scare you, things that are foreign or uncomfortable for you.”

To celebrate the New Year, he shares, his family has an unusual tradition: “We throw our trash around the house for good luck! I’m not sure why we do it but my father always told us to throw our trash anywhere. I guess it’s a Portugese thing.”

Looking forward to the coming year, Matos says, “My New Year’s resolution for 2017 is to be a better person than I was yesterday. Better physically, mentally and spiritually. I’m going to aim for my fullest potential this 2017 and I will discredit all excuses in my head.”                                                                                                                          – IdM

ISIDRO CONSUNJI, Chairman, DMCI Holdings

Isidro Consunji, 67, is the son of David Consunji, hailed as the dean of builders and who founded construction company DMCI in 1954. The elder Consunji is the country’s ninth richest man on Forbes’ 2016 list of richest people in the Philippines.

At 18, Isidro or “Sid” as he is more commonly known, was already an apprentice of his dad who was then doing the iconic Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Now, decades later, Sid is the chairman and president of DMCI Holdings and is credited for leading the diversification of DMCI from a mere construction company to one of the country’s biggest conglomerates which now includes property, mining and water utility services.

Under his leadership, DMCI indeed became one of the biggest companies in the Philippines, successfully steering it even in the most difficult periods in history such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

As a testament of his ability as an industry leader, Sid, who graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1971 from the University of the Philippines Diliman, has recently been named UP Engineering’s most distinguished alumnus.

Amidst the company’s success and accolades, Sid’s New Year’s Resolution is simply to take time out to learn and travel more.

“My resolution is to organize time use effectively to make room for learning and travel for fun,” Sid tells STARweek.

He particularly wants to spend more time visiting China, Japan, Africa, America and Eastern Europe.

Asked if work takes up too much of his time, Sid, known in the industry for his amazing wit and humor, says: “Work itself, no, but thinking about it, yes.”  – ICG

Mara Lopez Actress, athlete, vegan lifestyle advocate

Mara Lopez may be an actress by trade, but she is equally passionate about promoting environmental protection and the vegan lifestyle. The daughter of actress Maria Isabel Lopez and Japanese surf instructor Hiroshi Yokohama, Mara is an avid surfer.

This year, she has also been rising in the jiujitsu ranks – even competing internationally.

The holidays for Lopez are spent at home, cooking with her mother. “We always have special meals, everything plant-based – including vegan ice cream!”

Lopez adds, “Mom always makes fruit cake every Christmas. Since I went vegan, she started making all our desserts at home plant-based and sometimes even gluten-free. But her fruit cake remains the same, flavorful and moist. She makes all the dried fruits herself too.”

After Christmas, Lopez always visits her dad for a week-long surf trip. “My dad and I always start our year in the ocean,” she shares. “We wake up before the sun comes out and paddle out into the ocean to catch waves together. Surfing is a big part of our lives and we start every year like that.”

As for New Year’s resolutions, Lopez wants to start focusing on her environmental advocacy and become more active in spreading the plant-based lifestyle.

“Climate change is something not everyone takes seriously and I want to change that. Every single person is responsible and has the power to help,” she says. “I hope 2017 can be a brighter year for our planet.” – IdM

Dr. Tereso Tullao Jr.

University Fellow, De La Salle University-Manila

Tereso Tullao Jr., one of the most loved and sought-after economics professors in De La Salle University, is now retired from teaching, but continues to serve as head of the DLSU Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies. A University Fellow since 1986, he has spent some four decades at DLSU and was awarded by Metrobank Foundation as one of the Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines in 1993.

Looking back on the year, Tullao says, “The performance of the Philippine economy is quite remarkable. Our GDP growth rate is one of the highest in the region and the inflation rate is modest and manageable. I guess these results were brought about by a combination of the sound macroeconomic fundamentals that started during the Arroyo adminsitration and continued by PNoy, huge OFW remittances and the election spending in May this year.”

Moving forward, he sees a number of challenges in 2017. “The coming 2017 will not be the usual year of the recent past. We will experience the effects of a Trump presidency and the adjustments arising from the Brexit. There is a move towards inward looking economic policies in the US and even in Europe. Although China is the second largest economy in the world, our trade relations with the Middle Kingdom is not as large as with the US, Japan and EU,” he says.

“There are projections that inflation rate will further increase together with an increase in interest rate arising from the decision of the US Federal reserve to control inflation. The peso will further depreciate due to global developments. There is a possibility that remittances will remain stagnant or worse, decrease with the turmoil in the Middle East, recession in the EU and the anti-trade policies of a Trump presidency. This will further put pressure on our exchange rate.”

Tullao adds, “If the global market is not as bright for 2017, I think we should stimulate the domestic economy to maintain our growth trajectory.”

The professor also points out that while the Duterte administration has crafted an excellent 10-point agenda for the economy, it has yet to articulate the concrete programs under it, instead focusing on the administration’s anti-drug campaign.

“There is no denying that this is a social, economic, political and bureaucratic problem but it is not the only problem of the country. We need to address the pressing problems of poverty, inadequate infrastructure and poor human and knowledge capital brought about by insufficient investment in higher education, graduate education, research and development,” says Tullao.

As for the holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Eve for Tullao are spent with extended family. While he doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions, Tullao says, “I just want to remain healthy in my senior years and enjoy the company and stories of my grandnephews and grandnieces.”

Looking towards 2017, he prays for the country and our leaders. He says, “In an environment where there is a growing mood towards anti-intellectualism, strong opinions with no room for compromise and vicious commentaries on the human person, my hope for our country and our leaders is summarized in my Christmas haiku sent to my friends:

kapayapaan/bumubukal sa ating/pagbibigayan.” – IdM

Harald Feurstein General manager, Conrad Manila

The Hilton Group returned to the Philippines last year with the opening of its first luxury hotel in Southeast Asia, the Conrad Manila. Tasked to get the 347-room hotel up and running is 18-year Hilton veteran Harald Feurstein.

He is actually a balikbayan, having managed the Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa from 2008 to 2010.

Aside from running the hotel, Feurstein is getting quite a reputation for another type of running – marathons. He is a dedicated and determined runner, and takes every chance to hit the hills and the trails outside Metro Manila every chance he gets, in the process discovering beautiful sights that local either take for granted or are totally unaware of.

He says that the task of opening a hotel, especially a top luxury brand like the Conrad, is not very different from running a marathon. “It is about discipline, huge amounts of discipline and endurance… To some extent, running ultra-marathons translates to the way I work. I also push the boundaries in some way, push for the next result,” he said in an earlier interview.

He tells STARweek: “I am proud that together with the team, we have written a beautiful story in 2016: the story of the making of Conrad Manila.  Each team member played a key role in creating this part of history which now makes Conrad Manila a key player in hospitality in the Philippines within a short period of time.

“Following on from this great start, it is my resolve to further expand our collective vision and drive with energy and passion to achieve even greater heights. Together, we will build on the foundation we have begun, by creating heartfelt experiences for our guests, meaningful opportunities for our team members, high value for our owners and a positive impact in our community.

With this in mind, it is our resolve to continue to steer Conrad Manila towards becoming a leading force in the hospitality industry in the Philippines.”

TERESITA ANG SEE Anti-crime crusader, Tsinoy community leader

Teresita Ang See came into the spotlight during the spate of kidnap-for-ransom incidents several years ago. She has helped countless families of kidnap victims deal with the kidnappers as well as law enforcement authorities to get the victims back safely and then to pursue cases against the suspects until conviction. Ang See is chairman of the Movement for the restoration of Peace and Order, a group of former kidnap victims.

She is also active among the Chinese-Filipino or Tsinoy community. She is the founding president of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, an organization of Tsinoys actively promoting integration of the ethnic Chinese into mainstream Filipino society.

Ang See regularly lectures locally and internationally on overseas Chinese affairs.

She tells STARweek: “Not everyone is given the privilege to help others. Those given that chance should seize it. I will. It may not come our way again.”

While she supports the current anti-drug and anti-crime campaigns and believes that these must continue, she says it must “not be at the expense of the rule of law and human decency.”

And as Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran celebrates 30 years this 2017, she wishes for “a true passing of the torch after one generation of Meah (her daughter) as president. I pray we get more resources to enable us to continue our work better.”

Dave Albao Executive director, Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation

Dave Albao celebrates New Year’s Eve in a unique way. The former island manager of Danjugan Island in Negros Occidental spends the last day of each year on Danjugan Island’s Typhoon Beach facing the Negros Sulu Sea – away from the noisy celebrations on the mainland.

“This is my annual tradition,” he says. “To welcome the new year in peace, silence, retrospection – while watching the stars, fireflies and glowing plankton in the sea.” In the midst of Mother Nature’s own glowing wonders, who needs fireworks?

He notes the progress in environmental work made in 2016: “More countries including the US and China ratified the Paris Agreement, meaning more commitment to keep carbon emissions at bay.” Climate change awareness is also increasing with the support of celebrities like Leonardo Di Caprio and the release of documentaries like Before the Flood, he says.

“In the Philippines, Al Gore trained Climate Reality Leaders and there are a lot of changes in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the better. We have also seen success in the listing of thresher sharks and mobula rays in the CITES Appendix II, meaning subsequent protection of these species in our Fisheries Code.”

These advancements make Albao hopeful when it comes to the New Year. “In 2017, we need to continue to deepen our understanding and commitment on personal lifestyle changes to minimize our carbon footprint and trash. These changes could be as simple as reducing single-use plastic in our consumption, or conserving power,” he says.

“Or the changes could be as profound as involving one’s self in conservation or environmental education projects. One way is also to travel more responsibly, to support sites towards sustainability and to volunteer in any environmental work.”

One way to support Albao’s advocacy is by visiting and learning from Danjugan Island and supporting the Danjugan Island Environmental Education Program. “The best way is to visit us, with an open heart and open mind, to experience and learn deeper our connection with nature. Danjugan will continue holding marine and wildlife camps that youth and adults can join, and this is also a way to support the conservation work we do.”

Albao’s New Year’s resolution is “to go lighter” – not only pertaining to losing weight, which is a common resolution at the beginning of each year. “What I really mean is to consume less stuff, produce less trash, less drama, less worries,” he says. “My hope for the New Year is that we will gain more support for conservation of habitats and species.”                                 – IdM