“Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.”—Ezra Taft Benson

Calmness is an inside job! In a world marked with uncertainty and chaos, finding a sense of calmness can seem like a monumental task. To cultivate an inner sense of peace and tranquility, we need to take a few steps to embrace mindfulness and practice self-care. Mindfulness is one of the most powerful tools for finding calmness. Paying attention to the present moment without judgment allows one to anchor oneself in the now and acknowledge emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. To bring calmness to the mind and body, simple practices like meditation, yoga or deep breathing are so helpful.

After months of being absent in my Bikram practice, I was so happy to attend Bikram yoga class in the new studio of Olay Aninion (2/F Aguirre Bldg., 108 HV Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati; follow @yoga_bikrammakati on Instagram). The first and original hot yoga in the Philippines, Bikram Yoga Makati is open daily and available for private and corporate classes. Keeping the mind, body and soul aligned is difficult if one of the three is being attacked from external forces. Practicing yoga brings back that balance to create a more peaceful mindset. Self-care should be prioritized to have a sense of stability and resilience. This can be attained with daily practices such as getting enough sleep, eating well-balanced meals, exercising and engaging in activities that bring you joy.

Sometimes, joy comes from creating boundaries around media consumption. By allocating specific times of the day to stay informed and limit exposure to negative or triggering content, we can lessen the feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. Instead, focus on consuming positive and uplifting information that can help maintain our peace of mind.

Support network

After my episode at “Drag Race Philippines” as guest judge, I got a lot of strong opinions against my judging. Although it was purely intended for show-biz drama, I offended one of the drag queens and the viewing public. My actions were a product of pure insensitivity and prejudice, so I do apologize for the hurtful words. I failed to extend empathy and respect to the talented artists. I was just delighted to be part of this season’s “Drag Race Philippines.”

Another calming method is to cultivate a supportive network of friends, family or like-minded individuals. Connecting with others who share similar experiences or have a calming influence can create a sense of belonging and help maintain calmness amidst external chaos.

For me, this supportive network is my Assumption Class of 1981 BFFs. We have remained close and truly compassionate toward each other through the years beyond our high school days. This year, my HS 1981 batch presented our donation to our dear Assumption sisters to help build a new home at the San Lorenzo campus. Donated on Assumption Day, Aug. 15, this project was headed by classmates Popsie Gamboa and Maripi Jalandoni.

The Nuns Home houses two communities of the Religious of the Assumption: the Emmaus Community where 13 elderly and infirm sisters stay, and the Cana Community where the religious who work closely with the students reside. Both communities live in a home that has not been renovated in over 20 years and is now termite infested. My batch is happy to give back to our Sisters.

Other charity projects will start soon, thanks to the funding from the Red Charity Gala (RCG). We are delighted to showcase the fashion presentation of Ivarluski Aseron on Oct. 8 at The Peninsula Manila. My cochair Kaye Tiñga and I are very grateful to our mainstay sponsor Ben Chan and the Bench family and new sponsors like George Royeca, cofounder and CEO of Angkas. We are so excited to mount this year’s gala with all our generous donors, as well.

New sponsor

New on RCG’s sponsors list is Genteel Home, a premier furniture design studio in Angeles, Pampanga. They officially opened their newest atelier at the Podium Mall in Mandaluyong City, as part of its 10 years in the Philippine home furnishing industry.

After mass and blessing of the store, the ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony was led by founder and principal designer Katrina de Leon, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan and actress and international fashion icon Heart Evangelista.

“Our goal is for you to feel seen and understood, as if your desires have been brought to life because Genteel Home is an embodiment of all that is personal, touching and inspiring. This is what we proudly showcase here at our newest Design Atelier. It is an open invitation for anyone to step in and have a piece of furniture uniquely designed for them,” De Leon said.

In the evening, Genteel Home transformed the Bonifacio Hall of Manila House into an enchanting garden as part of its 10th anniversary celebration and launched five more iconic chairs inspired by five other Filipino icons who made a mark in their respective fields. These include Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, box-office comedy queen Vice Ganda, award-winning broadcast journalist Karen Davila and multiawarded actor and singer Piolo Pascual.

Committed to promoting sustainability, Genteel Home has invested in its own mahogany farm, ensuring that for every furniture creation, trees are replenished. This also provides valuable livelihood opportunities for local communities. Genteel Home takes pride in meticulously considering every aspect of their business, always driven by love.

Finding calmness is not always easy. However, practicing mindfulness, prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries on media consumption, fostering a supportive network and shopping could help navigate the storms in life.

Catch the last day of ArteFino Festival in The Fifth at Rockwell at the Power Plant Mall. The festival supports and celebrates Filipino tradition, community and craft. The merchants showcasing Filipino arts and craft are keeping our local culture alive and we need to support them. Stay calm and keep shopping! INQ

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