A Brand New Start
am always thrilled when a new year comes along. The start of the year is the time when you are able to take stock of all that transpired over the past 12 months, gauge how far you’ve come, and how much farther you still need to go. Personally, 2017 has been a great year. Travel played a key role in broadening my horizons and enabling me to get a better and deeper understanding of the world we live in. There are definitely more places to see and experience. High on my list for this year are trips to South America and Israel. Of course, there is my annual trip with my good friends which, as of this time, is still a toss-up among London, Provence, Paris and somewhere in Spain. I am very much looking forward to that. Another priority for me this year is to do a coffee-table book, that as of the moment I will keep under wraps, but will hopefully be launched by the end of the year.
It was also a great year for the magazine. We’ve never had editorial features that were more cohesive or covers (and accompanying cover stories) that had more extensive impact than what we had in 2017.
I feel it’s our best work yet in the last 16 years and hopefully will continue in 2018. This was also the year when we kept abreast of changing norms in the publishing industry, as we upped our focus on our digital and online platforms in light of both current and impending changes in the field.
For our first issue of the year, we wanted to get off to a great start by highlighting positivity through “Those Who Give,” an inspiring compilation of the Philippines’ top philanthropists. Our list includes both individuals as well as corporate and civic foundations that are leading the way when it comes to making a difference.
January is always reserved for “Asia’s Most Stylish,” a collaborative effort among the Tatler magazines throughout the Asian region featuring one fashionable, elegant, and sophisticated woman per magazine. And who have we picked as Philippine Tatler’s Most Stylish for 2017? Tootsy Echauz-Angara who is not only stylish but is also a 'lady' in every sense of the word. Married to Senator Sonny Angara and a mother of three, she remains down-to-earth, refined, and gracious. In this town there are a lot of stylish ladies but sometimes they're only about the fashion brands they wear. Real style goes beyond appearance, it's the way one carries herself, and Tootsy definitely has that!
It is a brand new year! A lot of endless possibilities abound so let’s make an effort to make it the best one yet. Here's to 2018, may it be filled with faith, hope and love!