“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” —J.K. Rowling
The power of a growth mindset comes with the process of trying. In moving forward in my personal life, I realized that whether it is in business or in love, we need to keep working on finding that right mix of key ingredients to make the partnership or relationship work. Standing still in our comfort zone does not encourage any potential growth.
As the new year unfolds, we all could start another goal or dream to make a more fulfilling life. It is never too late to begin that journey of growth. This drive comes from a place of passion and resilience. With no loss of enthusiasm, we gain success when we overcome the challenges and rise up from one failure to another. Everything becomes more meaningful as we come one step closer to our goals. We cannot simply go back and change the beginning of a relationship or circumstances of a partnership, but we can start where we are and change the course to maneuver the desired ending. We must begin with an open heart to see a wider perspective and learn to adjust accordingly. We need to learn how to keep our lifeboat afloat during the storms of our days and see every adversity, every failure, every heartache as character-building blocks.
Trust the process of learning to have a growth mindset. If defeat is inevitable, we should accept it for a day and then move on. There will always be an opportunity to work on the issues and begin anew. Once our mindset changes, everything outside of that follows the direction of the desired flow.
Street party
As we look for the good in every situation, we see the valuable life lessons in every setback and grow with love and integrity. We continually move forward and wish for the best. Our favorite party host Tim Yap celebrated his birthday this year with this growth mindset and themed his party “Go, Grow and Glow in the Year’s Lucky Color Green!”
Each new year, Tim chooses a new spot to celebrate his milestone. This year, he didn’t choose one establishment, but three. Auro Chocolate Café, Bolero Manila and Cochi by Marvin were the venues where Tim hosted his private street party. Tim blocked off the 27th Street of Bonifacio Global City (with a provision that pedestrians could still cross) for his year-starter party that gathered the boomers, millennials, generations X, Y and Z together in one space.
Believing in the gift of no gap, Tim partied with all ages. No generation gap here. We are all one scene together and we need to uplift and inspire each other to do better. Especially since this is the start of the year, we can map out and manifest what we want in our life and how we want to live it. Offering support were event partners Lazada PH and LazAffiliates PH. The appetizers and desserts came from Auro Chocolate Café. Tapas and cocktails were from Bolero Manila and for the main course, there was a cochinillo parade and other faves by Cochi by Marvin. We all enjoyed drinks by Sula, Arc Gin and Vodka and Ralph’s Wines and Spirits.
Special thanks to major sponsors Auro Chocolate Café, Bolero and Cochi. Guests received giveaways from Fresh, Ultra Green Coffee and Kemans. Tim got the country’s top DJs to spin, like Karl Ty, Jason Soong, Manolet Dario and Mike Reefer, to name a few.
The party was a blast with entertainment from All Stars, DD Reg and Rondalla Tinkling Dancers. We continued the evening at the newest disco lounge bar, Stardust along Jupiter, Bel-Air Makati. It was fun to enjoy the Manila nightlife for a change.
Italian style
I am definitely back in the swing of things and attended the opening of the newest Corso Como 88. This multibrand store, known for its exquisite collection of renowned Italian and European labels, recently opened its largest store in the country on the third level of One Ayala, Makati. Celebrities, influencers and VIP guests gathered at the grand opening event, which had the theme Nuovi Ricordi Di Lusso (“new luxe memories” in Italian). As an homage to the new year, guests wore their best luxe white and gold ensembles as they shopped the night away. The event was a stylish salute to the clean slate that is 2024, and Corso Como 88’s new chapter.
During the event, founders Imelda Menguito-Sciandra and Valter Sciandra revealed that Corso Como 88 is now the official and exclusive distributors for several coveted bag brands and fragrance lines from Europe. This includes Jiano Bags, known for their vibrant and unique designs; Biagini 1968, famous for their totes and briefcases with classic yet contemporary styles; Buti Italia, popular for their bags with sleek leather designs in timeless shapes; Iacucci bags, loved for their timeless interpretation of Italian luxury for contemporary men and women; Acqua dell’Elba, which boasts many fresh and aquatic fragrances; and lastly, Bottega Italiana Spigo 1920 (BOIS 1920), a family-founded house popular for its elegant artisan perfumes.
Beyond its array of luxury items, the Corso Como 88 One Ayala store, in itself, is a sight to behold, owing to the interior design expertise of Cecil Ravelas, an alumna of Instituto Marangoni. Ravelas’ contemporary and minimalist style radiates from the store’s multitiered wooden shelves, serving as its captivating focal point.
Another highlight of the grand opening was a spectacular fashion presentation, where six models strutted around the store clad in dazzling gold outfits accessorized with pieces from Corso Como 88’s new brands. The segment emphasized how the pieces are poised to become timeless staples, elevating one’s style not only in 2024 but also in the coming years. CEO Imelda Menguito-Sciandra said, “At Corso Como 88, we’ve made it our mission to offer high-quality European fashion at competitive prices, so everyone can experience the joy of self-expression through fashion.”
In closing, I am sending my daughter Jordan Prieto birthday greetings as she turns 26 in Japan. She has so much to discover in life, but Jordan has found her place in the Siargao sun, and we are looking forward to her new project unveiling very soon.
Follow @seaprincess888 on Instagram.
