What are you thankful for?

MANILA, Philippines - Thanksgiving has come and gone but the positivity it has made us feel and the lessons on being always grateful still remain and hopefully continue through the years. It is said that the secret to happiness is being thankful for everything, big or small, that comes into our lives. It gives us the contentment we all desire and anything more that comes our way is counted as an additional blessing.

Sharon Tan, businesswoman

Thankful for my Dad who has inspired and taught me the virtues of humility, respect, hardwork, perseverance, fairness, practical, compassion, giving, curiosity and courage.

Joyce Makitalo, jewelry designer

There are so many things I am thankful for — material things and relationships — but I am most thankful for the yoga wisdom that I have stumbled upon. Spiritual wisdom is something that one can benefit from in this life, and after. It satisfies the soul and gives one a deep sense of peace and happiness.

Maritoni Fernandez, actress/ owner Herb-All Organic Trading Corp

I am thankful for being alive — a 13-year (and counting) breast cancer survivor. I am thankful for being blessed with two wonderful children, an 18-year-old daughter in college and an eight-year-old son. I am grateful for being blessed with an amazing, fun and extraordinary job, which I enjoy immensely. I have been given the ability to do well in spite of being a single parent. This job has blessed my little family with a good comfortable life. I’m thankful for friends who are my guardians and mentors at the same time.  Should I go on?

(Laughs). There’s so much to be grateful for! I am grateful that I know my God on a personal level, my health, my family and friends, my job, and my simple but happy life!

Gabe Mercado, founder and director, SPIT Improv Theater

I am thankful that Dr. Mary Tyszkiewicz, who just recently retired from her research position in FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), will be flying over to the Philippines this January to help my theater group SPIT roll out a disaster management and readiness program based on improvisational theater to the areas affected by the recent calamities in our country.

She will be spending a month here and we’re excited to have her share her experience with us about how ordinary citizens can better prepare themselves for unexpected disasters. I am very thankful that despite the fact that we suffer more than our fair share of disasters both natural and man-made, we are a people who organize ourselves quickly to find ways to help each other and cheer each other on.

While we do complain a lot on social media and while a lot of the complaints do have credibility, we aren’t letting our anger and frustration get in the way of finding our own ways of helping.

Joanna Suarez, lawyer

I am thankful for fresh starts, for new beginnings.  

JC Buendia, fashion designer

Friends say I’m lucky I still have my mother. Indeed, I’m so thankful because she’s still strong and healthy at 74. Each movie date, each road trip, each Sunday Mass, each coffee break with her I am grateful for.

Vicki Abary, brand marketing consultant, Vogue Concepts, Inc.

I am thankful for all the blessings God has given me: the gift of life, a supportive family, friends new and old and loving relationships. I am thankful to see my beautiful son Enzo grow up. I am thankful for good health so that I may be able to spend quality time with loved ones and to do work that I love. I am thankful for new experiences. I am thankful for second chances. I am thankful that time heals. 

Zarina Yap, model and nurse

At this point in my life, I am thankful for so many things: career, love, friendship, family and the future I will have. But what I am most thankful for is that part of my life when my grandfather introduced me to God. I have been able to achieve so much in my life through Him, and it is because of Him that I am who I am today. Getting my dream job, finding my soulmate and being surrounded by people who love and support me are what I thank God for everyday. It is because of Him that I have been able to become the person I am today and have all these aspects of my life to be grateful for. I am most thankful for having God in my life.

Quinito Henson, microfinance practitioner, journalist, sports broadcaster

There isn’t a day that passes when I don’t give thanks to God for His blessings — my wonderful wife Menchu, my amazing mother Marina who turns 98 the week before Christmas, my late father Gregorio who is my inspiration, my awesome daughter Cristina and her husband Mark, my brother Ramon and sisters Vicki and Irene and their families, my in-laws, my relatives, Ambassador Danding Cojuangco for giving me the opportunity to do meaningful work for the less privileged through microfinance the last 28 years and counting, the world of sports that has provided a stage for me to share my views with the public through media, the Philippine Star for allowing me to grow as a journalist, my country of which I am so proud to fight for, my alma mater De La Salle for my education and religious upbringing, the Catholic Church for my faith, the La Salle basketball team for showing character and spirit in defying incredible odds this season, my co-workers without whom we will not have achieved our goals in social development and education, my friends whom I will always cherish for their sincerity, support and encouragement and my critics who drive me to improve and excel in everything I do. 

Romeo Lee, artist

Thankful … na hindi pa ako nag-aasawa at nasa art scene pa ako at umaakyat palagi ng bundok. Na ang dami-dami kong kaibigan sa music scene, sa mountaineering, at iba-iba pang tao. Kahit super jologs, rock ‘n’ roll lang ang buhay. Life is short, you know.