The BIG 30

For many women, turning thirty can mean a lot of things. Many expect it to be a golden decade—a momentous time when one’s purpose is carved, a sense of clarity on what you want out of life is determined, or that you’ve reached a certain level of success that you would be proud of. While there are many fairytale notions about the idea of turning 30, I hope that this particular realization resounds louder than the others: that in this specific time you begin to learn to accept and love yourself more. You understand that all the failures and challenges you’ve undergone has made you what you are today: beautiful, confident, perhaps scarred, but a survivor who is ready to take on the world.

This February 2022 marks another milestone for the Philippines’ Best Fashion Magazine, MEGA. As it celebrates its 30th anniversary this month, I can’t help but remember its founding editor Sari Yap and her dream of creating a magazine to teach Filipinos how to dress up and to help Filipino designers. Like the very few who had a vision for something great, she knew there were many battles ahead and struggles she had to fight to achieve her dream. Thirty years later, her dream is kept alive by the individuals who believe in its purpose and has spent decades to keep and further this legacy. True, we have come a long way, and it has been so worth it. We promise you that we will keep on evolving, growing and transcending—to be the MEGA you need.

Homegrown. Is also what we are celebrating on our 30th. MEGA is proudly a Filipino brand -- one that advocates for Filipino creatives. Monthly, you’ll see their body of work in the pages of the magazine. Starting with this issue, we will boldly highlight their voices, their points of view and creations, reiterating the fact that Filipino talent is a force to be reckoned with and should be celebrated because of its artistry and creativity.

Lastly, our three covers feature a multi-generation of women (and girl) , each one representing a cause.

A cause to heal, a cause to help and a cause to head. We chose seasoned character actress Cherie Gil, multi-hyphenate creative Nadine Lustre and young beauty Scarlet Snow Belo to be the faces of our campaign pushing for the following narratives: in order to heal and give back to the community, one must take care of oneself and strive to be its best version; one must also use their platform and advocate for the preservation of nature, as we are experiencing the severe after affects of its abuse. In the same light it is also the willingness to help all those who need our aid. And lastly, the idea that the only way we can provide a better future for the next generation is if we make sound decisions and demand inspiring and responsible leadership starting now.

As we strive to continue crafting narratives and stories that deserve to be told in the coming years and so forth, we invite you to come along and experience this journey with us, because as the old adage goes: the best is yet to come.

Enjoy the issue!