“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” —Aristotle

Standing: Vina Francisco, Cindy Quirante, Christine Li; seated: Marites Allen, Sea Princess, Ollay Aninion

At the end of the day, it is not what you do, but who you are that defines your core as a human being. Finding our identity away from all the labels and tasks is liberating; it validates our existence in this world. At our current stage in life, we already have a tapestry of happy memories, unforgettable adventures and challenging experiences. Each one of these valuable life encounters shapes our being today. This is the story of our life that provides us direction as to who we are and who we want to be.

Learning to tune into these insights is one of the most powerful ways to find the purpose, inspiration and authenticity of the life we truly desire. Asking ourselves “Am I better today than yesterday?” clears the fog of anxiety and simplifies how to tackle our issues. Thus, we can start building the self-esteem and confidence to gain mastery of our lives.

Rosan Cruz, Cecil Ravelas, Norman and Mye Cruz, Joby Belmonte

At the tail end of my healing phase after a traumatic event, I have less triggers and longer stages of acceptance. My primary goal of self-improvement is supported by all the hours of therapy and spiritual soul-searching that I do. I have gained a clearer vision of who I am and who I aspire to become. As I enter into my new life cycle of 60, I am motivated to establish my legacy and be a positive change in my best capacity.

Like any muscle that needs exercise, self-improvement needs daily attention and focus. We exercise our mindset towards progress and knowledge. I have grown leaps and bounds from my relationship breakdown. Continuous improvement takes time, but it is well worth the effort!

Angie Duarte, Gabriel Dela Cruz, Aida Dela Cruz, Marie Buenaobra, Sea Princess, Ma. Katrina Nocom, Jayson Vicente Isaac, Aida Concepcion, Eunice Enrera .

For better or for worse, time and technology do not wait for us to evolve. The great risk of staying behind and leaving things to the past is evident. Most of us cannot afford to stay stagnant and retire in a life of mediocrity. So the most reliable way to move forward and be at the top of our game is to inspect, assess and adapt, little by little, at the end of every experience.

Cover girl

For the New Year issue of asianTraveler Magazine, I was interviewed about my life now, as I personify positivity, confidence, wit and resilience after navigating through the end of my 26-year marriage. These very elements that I thought I lacked ended up being the most powerful traits that I gained from the experience.

I am so honored to be its cover girl with photos taken at Admiral Hotel Manila, wearing stunning outfits by Rajo Laurel. Many thanks to Aida dela Cruz, the managing editor, for the splendid feature.

In their latest issue titled “Hotspots for All Seasons,” readers will have a chance to discover and rediscover some of the country’s most alluring destinations that integrate all these pleasures.

When it comes to beaches, the country has an extensive coastline offering a host of white-sand beaches. Of course, none is more famous than dazzling Boracay. Emerging from its image as a hub for wild beach parties, Puerto Galera has more to offer tourists. The beauty of Sicogon Island is also featured in the issue, as well as Iloilo and Palawan. Check out the asianTraveler January issue to see all these features and my colorful spread interviewed by Angie Duarte for a bit of wit and humor.

Empowered women are true inspirations to me. I got to meet Rep. Len Alonte, one of the most hardworking women in government, when I went to visit Biñan, Laguna. After weeks of planning with my travel buddy Joby Belmonte, we did a road trip to this progressive city in the south.

First school of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in Biñan

We first toured the school site where Dr. Jose Rizal had his first formal education under Maestro Justiniano Cruz. The city’s historian briefly explained how our national hero ended up in Biñan for his first schooling coming from his hometown, Calamba. The tour continued with a visit to Casa Biñanense that houses the Jacobo Gonzales Museum and the Biñan Congressional Office.

More self-help books

In windows, from left: Macie Lorenzo, Janet Torio, Tina Villar, Kiefer Victoriano, Geff Candido, Andrew Galano, Jorge Lafradez; foreground: Tina Olegario, Bernie Ibarra, Dr. Benjamin and Aileen Perez, Melai Felicidario, Mavie Perez, Margie Limqueco, Norman and Mye Cruz, Sea Princess, Cecil Ravelas, Joby Belmonte, Rosan Cruz, Lulu Francisco, Zeny Diquiatco, Pinky Miranda

As a showcase of their warm hospitality, we enjoyed the local Biñan cuisine for lunch hosted by Rep. Len. She shared her long and fruitful government service life where I discovered that she was instrumental in converting the town of Biñan into a city.

From this sumptuous meal that took most of the afternoon, we walked to San Isidro Labrador Parish Church and made three wishes. We visited the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan that was formerly the Municipal Building. We toured the Alberto Mansion, the house of the mother of Rizal. Finally, we visited chef RV Manabat in his bakeshop where we got to taste his delicious cakes.

Chef RV Manabat and Nova Veluz of Buddy’s Pancit Lucban

Working on my digital platform, I am constantly reading self-help books and listening to inspirational podcasts. I came across the book of Daniel H. Pink. “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” was published in 2009 and very quickly became a bestseller with its focus on the importance and effectiveness of three elements to having motivation at work: autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Mia Ocampo, Nathan and Chany Ku, Sea Princess, Mitsukoshi Fresh’s Takato Ishimoto

Pink proposes these three elements to strive for in order to promote intrinsic motivation. Briefly explained, Pink’s motivation factors are autonomy, which is the feeling of being autonomous, self-directed; mastery, the feeling that you are getting better at things that matter, by getting feedback; and purpose, which is knowing why you are doing something.

After my separation, I was temporarily blindsided and confused; I lost my life direction and motivation to move ahead. But thanks to these insights, I have better footing to move to my future. I am now more confident in the purpose of my new chapter.