“Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued.” —Dr. Brené Brown

As an earthly being, I realize that mapping meaningful connections is an intrinsic action to keep our emotional sanity intact. Our world is an infinite web of lively interconnections, forever reflecting and penetrating and cocreating one another.

Continuing my personal journey into my new chapter, I have learned to get a better grip of my emotions, as it is part of the puzzle that defines my human condition.

Though most of us will spend our lives trying to understand the ins and outs of our complex feelings, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown makes things a little simpler with “Atlas of the Heart,” a go-to encyclopedia of emotions.

She writes: “To form meaningful connections with others, we must first connect with ourselves, but to do either, we must first establish a common understanding of the language of emotion and human experience.”

Oprah favorite

One of Oprah’s favorite authors, Brown has an exquisite encyclopedia that helps readers build their emotional literacy and thus improve the relationships they have with others and themselves. She shares that when someone’s connection is given and received without judgment, and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship, it is a healthy kind of emotional experience.

To help readers understand the range of human emotions in all their complexity, Brown defines and describes 87 emotions. She highlights the relationships between the different emotions, clarifying key differences that sometimes confuse people into mistaking one emotion for another—as often happens with envy and jealousy, or shame and embarrassment.

Everything is interrelated—in time, in space, and in our very being.

Stay connected as much as possible. From that, we can derive the uplifting power of positive emotions such as love, joy, enthusiasm, gratitude, compassion, peace, unity and wonder. These emotions serve as soul boosters and enable us to cope with the messes and the miseries of life.

By being more in touch with our emotions, we are able to be more present in our daily lives and in our relationships with those around us. We can fully enjoy the shared moments and better articulate our gratitude.

Reaffirm connections

With the pandemic hopefully coming to an end, we can begin to reconnect with those we have not seen in years, and also start to spend more quality time with our loved ones. It is vital that we pay attention to what is brewing within our hearts.

I am so relieved to be reaffirming my connections with my own family this Easter, and what overwhelming joy it is to be here on vacation at the Gold Coast!

Life has normalized here in Australia, as if the pandemic never happened; people are free to move around without masks, even in the movie house. We can once again form connections with others without fear of contamination, just like in prepandemic times.

Thanks to the country’s strict health protocols and efficient vaccination program, the virus has been contained into just a flu strain. It is amazing how Australia has progressed into this level of completion.

I never thought this time would really come. Sometimes unable to shake the paranoia developed over the pandemic, I still make sure to carry Kaze Origins masks for safety. It feels strange to think the catastrophic virus is finally over, but it feels so much better to reclaim our freedom, safely!

For those inquiring about traveling to Australia as tourists, business travelers and other visitors, the Department of Home Affairs has introduced 100-percent online applications for visitor visas.

Travel restrictions are subject to change. For all the latest information about Australia’s border reopening and exemptions, please visit: homeaffairs.gov.au/COVID19. To apply online at ImmiAccount, guidehere: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online.

Art and furnishings

Just before flying Down Under, I reconnected with so many friends at the ongoing art exhibit at B&B Italia Manila. Art and design seamlessly converged at this exhibit titled “Art & Space Series 01: Contemporary Curations.”

A joint collaboration between B&B Italia Manila and art curator and interior stylist Glenn Cuevo, the exhibit showcases the brand’s finest furnishings along with coveted works of art by Philippine National Artists: Fernando Amorsolo, HR Ocampo, Arturo Luz, Ang Kiukok, and BenCab, alongside Alfonso Ossorio, Ramon Orlina, Lao Lianben, Gerardo Tan, Ronald Ventura, Andres Barrioquinto and Raffy Napay.

The exhibit is on until April 30 at the 10/F B&B Italia Manila Showroom at Twenty-Four Seven McKinley Building at Bonifacio Global City.

Preloved pop-up for Siargao

More connections were made, this time for charity, at the successful Red Charity Gala preloved popup that my RCG partner Kaye Tiñga and I organized. Rounding up as many past donors and supporters of our charity program, we asked our generous family and friends to donate preloved luxury items for sale for the charity.

The entire amount of P800,000 was earmarked for the continuous efforts to help rebuild Siargao.

We are so grateful to all who supported us, especially to Swatch grand dame Virgie Ramos, who opened the Swatch Building as our venue for free. Design couple Mado and Cyndi Fernandez Beltran of Moss Design House set up the venue to make it look like a chic SoHo shop in New York City.

And thanks to Mark Higgins who lent all the mannequins for free as well. Special thanks to our angels Maggie Gineta and Girlie Sison for the endless help.

Passing the charitable efforts to the next generation, our kids did their share in selling the donated items. Kaye’s daughters Kylie and Kerry Tiñga were attentive saleswomen throughout the day, and their younger brother Kristian Tiñga manned his own booth to sell his clothes for the benefit of Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly.

My daughter Jordan fronted our online sales through her Instagram and organized a multitude of deliveries, covering all of our bases!

There is indeed life after the pandemic, and it is so incredible!

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