Are celebrities ready for new beginnings this 2026?

The first month of the year, January, is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, passages and transitions. He is frequently depicted with two faces, each one looking in opposite directions. The double-sided head symbolizes his flair for seeing the past and the future.

As 2026 unfolds, I hope for better and brighter things for the country and for all Filipinos. I asked some celebrities about the lessons they learned from 2025 and what they look forward to in 2026. Here are their answers:

Drew Arellano — “Lessons of 2025: My body performs best when I listen to it. Training hard only works when recovery is part of the plan. Preparation prevents stress. Hospitality is about how you respond. Things won’t always go perfectly, but great service can. Humor plus simplicity equals strong creative ideas. Empathy goes a long way. Value beats cost. Curiosity fuels growth.

“Goals for 2026: Race smarter and stronger. Aim for that ‘Personal Best’ marathon and build toward ‘The Qualifier.’ Elevate my mountain house experience. Grow creatively. Make decisions with confidence. Live more intentionally. Streamline, refine and enjoy more of what matters.”

Iya Villania-Arellano — “2025 was the year I experienced the peace and strength that could have only come from the Lord. I learnt that if you really seek the Lord, you become so much more sensitive to the ways He speaks and moves in you, giving you peace, direction and even ideas! So many moments in my prayer time, He has impressed on my heart different thoughts and ideas.

“In 2026, I’m looking forward to more moments together with the family. Every day is so special just watching the kids love each other, so I’m just looking forward to witnessing more of that love. I also hope to build more family traditions.”

Mariel Padilla — “The biggest lesson 2025 taught me is the value of slowing down and being present. This year reminded me that no matter how busy life gets — with work, family and everything in between — what truly matters are the quiet moments with the people I love, the simple joys and the peace that comes from choosing gratitude over stress. I learned to appreciate balance, to listen to my body, and to protect my peace without guilt.

“For 2026, I’m simply looking forward to more laughter, more travels, more time with family, and more moments that make life fun. I’m hoping for a year that feels lighter, happier and filled with good energy — and maybe a few surprises along the way.”

Sitti — “Rest is equally important as work. You have to prioritize it. More quality time with family and hopefully more new music.”

Baron Geisler — “2025 taught me the value of discipline, presence and gratitude. This year reminded me that growth happens quietly — when you choose to show up for yourself, honor your craft and be present for the people who matter.   learned to embrace grace, to trust God’s timing and to stay grounded even as new projects and endorsements came my way. Every opportunity, whether on set or through a brand that believes in me, became a reminder of how far God has taken me from where I once was.

“In 2026, I look forward to being more consistent — in my work, in my relationships, in my faith and in the man I’m becoming. I’m excited for new roles, meaningful collaborations and more partnerships with brands whose values align with mine. But most of all, I look forward to a year where I can serve quietly, love deeply and continue building a life rooted in purpose, integrity and gratitude.”

Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo — “In 2025, I learned from my lawyer-husband, King Rodrigo, the term ‘righteous indignation.’ I fully felt and experienced ‘righteous indignation,’ our ultimate right to anger, at the outbreak of the flood control scandal. When nature took its wrath at personages and their elements, I felt collapsing violently inward. For a moment, I felt helpless. The only recourse and antidote to helplessness, I thought, was to speak when asked and to express oneself when questioned. And to help those who are victimized in ways constructive and far-reaching.

“As a community, as a people, and as a nation, we collectively move up as we muster faith, hope and goodwill that lead us to peace. True peace brings with it hope. With Christ at our center, we shall keep that hope burning in our hearts amidst the mishaps and the turmoil that surround us.”

Nikka and Patrick Garcia — “To always have patience because the Lord always answers in His most perfect time. For 2026, we are excited for new experiences and opportunities, not just for ourselves but for the entire family.”

Nikki Valdez — “Every day is a learning experience for me, but what I learned the most in 2025 is to make sure to be in your here and now as much as you can. To face everything one step at a time.

“For work, I look forward to doing more significant projects with roles that will inspire and help others. As for family, I look forward to making more memories that will last a lifetime.”

Thou Reyes — “Cliché as it sounds, but ‘Go with the flow!’ You may have the perfect plan for your life, but LIFE is clever enough to play around its PERFECT plan for you. I am so present right now that I have so little time to think about what’s ahead of me. I’m just enjoying the ride and fascinated by how things turn around. I’m happy and contented; I think those two words are hard to come by during this time, but I am, and I’m so grateful for it. Faith, trust and kindness are things that I’ll surely bring in 2026. You’ll never go wrong with them.”

Gabrielle Basiano — “2025 taught me how to accept myself, and in that acceptance, I found a deeper kind of happiness. I used to hear my mom sing “Que Sera, Sera” all the time, but only now do I truly understand it. Life really does unfold the way it’s meant to. All we can do is meet it with acceptance, learn what we need to learn and grow from there. As I step into 2026, I’m choosing growth. I’m excited to try new things, to feel uncomfortable on purpose, and to say yes to experiences that once scared me. New beginnings don’t scare me anymore; they excite me.”

Gab Umali — “I’ve learned that in being an artist, you really have to reach deeper in terms of your art to a more personal level. Being an artist, I’ve also tried to explore and experiment with my craft through these ‘newer’ technologies (AI tools), and it surprisingly made the process easier. What I’m looking forward to in 2026 is to inspire my circle of co-artists to be more emotionally, mentally and physically expressive in their passion.”