President and CEO, Wildflour Cafe + Bakery
We’ve all endured unexpected challenges and setbacks. Our company has definitely felt the impact of these, but I’m grateful that my team and staff were able to exercise a great degree of resilience, strength and perseverance that helped Wildflour brave the storm. My sincere hope is that the coming year brings a smooth recovery for everyone, and that the food and beverage industry is able to rise and thrive beyond this crisis.
Cofounder, Holy Carabao Holistic Farms
I am grateful for all the many holistic doctors, scientists, farmers, fisherfolk who kept us afloat and informed, and who strive daily to bring us food, nourishment and true health by way of clean food, relevant and applicable solutions, and holistic approaches to wellness.
Head of marketing for an international bank
I have so much to be grateful for in 2020. Prayer has kept me constantly sane through my fears and uncertainties. I am grateful that my faith has kept me stronger, positive and hopeful.
I am grateful that my family is safe, healthy and comfortable. We have food on our table, my son is able to continue his schooling, though virtually, and we are still able to afford his schooling. My dad is safe and healthy. My siblings and their families are also safe and healthy. My son got closer to his cousins and still kept some semblance of a normal childhood, being able to enjoy playtime with them.
My company has its employees as topmost priority, which allows me to continuously work from home, allowing us the flexibility to balance work, our children’s needs and our mental health. Plus the small things: We were given our office fixtures like chairs, desktops and our laptops so we could set up our office at home.
Our blessings allow us also to be of help to the community during this time. I am grateful that this time has brought my family together to be of support to the needy. We joined forces to raise funds to provide meals to front-liners. During the early months, we provided the necessary personal protective equipment to hospitals, contributed to help the homeless.
As a family, these brought us closer together, though not physically, but we felt each other’s presence. We had more family gatherings, though virtually—it kept us close. We prayed for each other and kept everyone close in prayer. I am super grateful to my nun friends at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal in Rue du Bac in Paris—their strong presence in our lives this year is beyond measure. We felt the miracles coming left and right. And their friendship, love, constant prayers and messages kept us strong and hopeful. I am grateful we are blessed to be able to help others, love others and continue to live comfortably.
PR consultant
As the year comes to a close, gratitude is at hand to our dear Father God for helping us get settled into a very modest studio in Greenhills after a four-and-a-half-year residency in New Manila, a feat we thought we will not be able to cope with because of the lockdown and strict protocols.
Likewise, for almost 10 months, we kept our equilibrium even without any income from PR consultancy in arts and culture.
Yet, we were blessed by around 40 “good Samaritans” sent by the Lord who unexpectedly helped me get by the daily rigors of solo living.
And lastly, to my family and friends for their endless energy bringing food for me, buying my groceries and medicines, their prayers and novenas. The list goes on and on.
Founder, Stylist In Pocket
I am very grateful to the guidance from up above for helping us navigate the turbulent waters of this year. What a memorable journey! With the help of my team, we were able to keep our morale high as we kept on moving until we reached calm waters.
We are all excited for 2021. It is promising!
Marketing head, Rustan Commercial Corp.
One of my biggest challenges in 2020 was keeping my anxiety and mental health balanced. But because of friends and colleagues, especially my workplace family, I was able to work through by feeling that I wasn’t alone. I am grateful that I still had the opportunity to laugh, smile and work. I am grateful for the great pause because the quiet brought to light what is most important: love for family and community.
Owner, ThemeWorks Events
The end of the first quarter of this year ended with a bang for my company, with three successive major weekly events, at World Trade Center, Okada Hotel and Araneta Coliseum. A few days after, the pandemic forced the world to shut down. For the next four months, we were faced with fear, restlessness and anxiety. But our faith kept our hearts beating and our hopes high.
Then events started happening on a different platform. The second half of the year came with a sense of positivity.
I am thankful for my faith, which oftentimes would waver. It’s my shot in the arm.
I am thankful for my close-knit family who regularly connect through Zoom and strengthen each other.
I am grateful for my clients who continue to believe.
And most of all, I lift my hands in praise to God for the grace he has provided all these times. I cannot talk about what I am grateful for this dark side of history without giving thanks to the Lord Almighty.
Deputy CEO, Jewelmer
This year I am grateful for time, for family, for work and to God. Though this year was filled with seemingly insurmountable challenges, it was also filled with blessings, perhaps not in the form that we were previously accustomed to, but blessings nevertheless. It takes a grateful heart to receive, and in order to receive you must first give.
I am grateful for all the learnings this year, and I feel that I have grown stronger and more united with the people that I am surrounded with. This year was a true test of faith and I am grateful that my faith never let me down.
Individually it would have been difficult to face a year like this, but together with a strong and united community, we can overcome. Thank you to my family and my Jewelmer family.
Events stylist
As the pandemic cloaks the world, the challenge is to see the silver lining amid the tribulations. COVID-19 almost decimated the events industry, and I have seen how everyone I know, including my people, suffered and struggled. The chaos created a toll on me as I found myself inside my shell, quieting down because everything else felt uncertain.
But it was during my isolation that I heard what I needed to hear. I went through emotional transformations as I recentered my passion and purpose. And with that, a more profound sense of gratitude sprouted.
I am grateful for the gift of life, family and real friends. It is during the dark times that one can see and feel the genuineness of the people around us.
The pandemic opened my eyes and heart. Everything was an uphill battle but this year revealed the extraordinary strength I have within me. That power continually gives me hope, courage and faith. I have latched onto that, having this firm belief that better days are coming.
Fashion designer
The year 2020 has shown me a deeper understanding of what being grateful really means. It made me see the world with more clarity and appreciate people and things that I normally take for granted.
I am mostly thankful for the gift of good health, not only for myself but for everyone around me; for the opportunity to slowly go back to work and be able to adjust to the “new normal”; well-meaning friends that I can always turn to whenever I feel overwhelmed with life; my grandsons whom I consider my kids, for constantly bringing joy to us with their innocence and sense of wonderment. For some of us, 2020 will always be the hardest year that we endured, but for me it was the only time that I was able to finally stop moving and reflect on the gift of life.
Socialite, homemaker
It has been a tough year for all of us. We didn’t expect the impact of the virus on all of our lives. It just came like a thief in the night. But despite all of this, I am grateful that my family and loved ones are safe and well. I count the days until a good vaccine is widely available for everyone. We still have a lot of things to be grateful for. Let’s continue to count our blessings and adapt to the new normal. Trust in our prayers of hope that we shall overcome this pandemic.
Lady Bess Howe
PR consultant
The one thing I’m most thankful and grateful for in 2020 is God’s presence in my life. Because of him, I can remain calm and hopeful during this very trying time. Because of him, I know that no matter how bad things may get, he is in control and all will be well. And, because of that, I am at peace.
Communications director, The Peninsula Manila
I’m grateful for the opportunity this lockdown has given me to getto know my neighbors, and not just the cursory “hi” when I’d pass them on the street.
I’m grateful that I have great colleagues at work , otherwise I would never have made the transition to working from home.
I’m grateful that sheltering at home has made me reconnect with my brothers. I’m grateful for all the texts, calls, ayuda packages, Zoom calls, etc. from friends. Friends really are answered prayers.
I’m grateful for all the random acts of kindness from people I barely know. The list goes on… I’m not saying that gratitude at a time like this does not require some work, but feeling and expressing gratitude has helped me (hopefully those around me, too) to feel better about this unbelievably strange year. —CHECHE V. MORAL