“Love is a state of Being. It is not dependent on some other body, some external form.” —Eckhart Tolle

Love, indeed, is the greatest gift of all. For love to flourish, we need to access the consciousness frequency of presence. Being present and accepting your partner, without needing to judge or change them in any way, is the greatest catalyst for a healthy relationship. Self-compassion is nutrition for the soul and the way to move more deeply into the New together, into Being.

“Your love is not outside; it is deep within you. You can never lose it, and it cannot leave you,” writes Eckhart Tolle, the German inspirational teacher and author of the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “The Power of Now.” His insightful book is widely regarded as one of the most influential spiritual books of our time.

At the age of 29, he underwent a profound inner transformation that radically changed the course of his life. The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey.

As I continue to search for clarity, mindfulness and enlightenment in my life, I have discovered Tolle’s wonderfully profound yet simple teachings that focus on self-purpose and letting go of the ego. He is a huge advocate of living in the now, and reading his quotes always puts me in a state of blissful understanding.

At the core of Tolle’s teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. An essential aspect of this awakening consists of transcending our ego-based state of consciousness. By letting go of how we think things should be, and instead embracing things as they are, we are able to reach higher levels of inner love.

This is a prerequisite to personal happiness. To get to a place of peace, inner transformation will have to occur. We need to believe that love is a state of being. We need to consciously create a space for grace and peace to enter our hearts.

Light and openness

We need to bring the light in, instead of fighting the darkness. Knowing that love is a state of being creates openness toward life and all the possibilities for profound connection. Without blaming, we could all learn to listen to everyone and everything around us in an open, nondefensive way. Instead of waiting, searching and hoping for love, we can find love, psychologically speaking, through being a loving person. Love is an open energy that exists in the world, not an object we can possess.

In my desperate search for ways of coping with last year’s emotional trauma, I would have very late night chats with good friend Tourism Secretary Bernadette “Berna” Romulo Puyat. It was wonderful to share tips on life, love and happiness.

Maybe the hardest working person in service out there, Berna continues to deliver outstanding work even with her post ending soon. World tourism executives and scores of delegates from all over the global travel and tourism sector recently gathered in Manila for the three-day 21st World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit under the theme, “Rediscovering Travel.” Big congratulations to all in Berna’s team for the successful summit.

In the opening ceremony at the Manila Marriott Hotel, she welcomed the WTTC delegates attending in person and online, saying the summit “marks the beginning of a new era” for Philippine tourism.

Tourism growth

According to the WTTC’s projection in its latest Economic Impact Report (EIR), travel and tourism in the Philippines will reach an annual growth rate of 6.7 percent in the next 10 years, exceeding its overall economy average growth rate of just 5.6 percent.

The EIR also projects that employment will grow and generate 2.9 million new jobs that will account for 21.5 percent of all jobs in the Philippines. WTTC CEO and president Julia Simpson said that the latest EIR for the Philippines signals the astonishing recovery of the country’s travel and tourism sector.

Berna also served as one of the speakers during the summit’s first panel discussion titled “Redefining Travel in a Changing World,” sitting alongside Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, Marriott International group president Craig Smith and The Global Rescue Companies CEO Dan Richards, to talk about how the travel and tourism sector continues to offer incredible experiences and drive social progress while still protecting health, preserving the environment, and responding to a rapidly changing landscape.

The roster of globally renowned speakers and panelists included Kevin Kwan, world-renowned author and executive producer of “Crazy Rich Asians,” and Lawrence Bender, award-winning producer of acclaimed films such as “Pulp Fiction,” “Good Will Hunting,” and “Inglourious Basterds,” among others.

Both Kwan and Bender took the main stage to tackle how destinations maximize the mediums of books and film for sustainable growth.

Other speakers were Jeremy Jauncey, the founder and CEO of Beautiful Destinations, and Bear Grylls, British adventurer, writer, television presenter and businessman known for his shows on Discovery Channel like “Man vs Wild.”

Celebrated with culture, history and gastronomy, the WTTC and its delegates enjoyed a gala dinner reception at the Philippine International Convention Center. Special performances from some of the most talented Filipino artists namely Bamboo, Martin Nievera, Isay Alvarez, Robert Sena, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, and others were showcased as well. Guests feasted on a five-course dinner prepared by internationally renowned chef Margarita Forés of Cibo.

To showcase Philippine hospitality and spectacle, another dinner was held at the Philippine National Museum where Berna looked radiant in her terno by Rhett Eala. She told me it was the same gown she wore at the Red Charity Gala (RCG) in 2019.

It makes me wonder, now that tourism is opening up, will we be able to rekindle our love for Philippine fashion and charity and restart RCG plans again?

If love is a state of being, maybe my RCG partner Kaye Tiñga and I could be in the state of goodness and joy and spread love very soon!

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