A GOLDEN YEAR
The journey to creating a magazine cover is never a straightforward one, no matter how many times it’s been done, no matter how early the start or how well planned. Something—many things—will always threaten to derail it.
This time around it was a COVID-19 variant so contagious that staging shoots became next to impossible, with many people dropping out suddenly because of the virus. In fact, on the day of Scarlet Snow Belo’s shoot, we had to replace people hours before the start.
Luckily, we had beautiful, compelling cover stars who need very little prodding to create magic for the camera. Cherie Gil, Scarlet and Nadine Lustre were not only the embodiments of our hopes and dreams for this issue, but also collaborators who worked tirelessly—and happily—with us.
And what of the editorial team? Well, we’re all used to the chaos. It’s part of the journey, and we’ve learned to trust that it will all be all right in the end.
This is MEGA’s 30th anniversary issue. It was done in the midst of the holidays and in one of the worst surges of COVID-19 to hit the country. The pages you hold in your hand are nothing short of a miracle.
Each cover is a call to heed some of the biggest issues concerning Filipinos right now: the destruction of the environment and its human toll, the need for everyone eligible to get vaccinated during this pandemic, and lastly, the duty of every Filipino to vote wisely and for the good of everyone in the coming elections. Turning 30 is a milestone for many people, a symbol of adulthood. In a serendipitous way, the journey to create this 30th anniversary issue speaks of how it is to reach the age, full of hair-raising twists and unexpected turns, anxiety and even dread. But also exhilaration, delight and a silent confidence that it will all work out in the end.
And now that we’ve reached it, what’s next? Well. It’s time to begin again.