What does the New Year mean to you?
For me, New Year’s is the time to look back at what I have done in my life and what I can do in the coming year. Because of the abundant blessings I have received, my wishes and resolutions have changed from expecting others to do for me to what I can do to make the lives better for the people I love and those around me. With the New Year coming, I suggest that each of us include as part of our New Year’s resolutions anything we can do to help the country.
CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA, singer: For me, the New Year means more shows, music and performances. And more lives to inspire.
JESSICA BUNEVACZ, actress: It sounds like a cliché, but for me New Year means change. As New Year’s Day approaches I already think of what changes I should make for the next year. Sometimes we make these changes, sometimes we don’t because we forget about them towards the end of the year. One thing I always do at midnight on New Year’s Eve is to kiss my loved ones and tell them how much I love them. Of course, I also make sure to have money and lots and lots of food!
RICO HIZON, business news anchor, BBC World News: New Year means continuing to thank our Lord for all the blessings he has shared with my family in the past years. Sharing these gifts with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines who are in need. Praying that my family and our country will always be safe from harm and calamities, and hoping that our nation works towards a collective journey for peace, prosperity and happiness. It is a constant reminder that all this is not just about New Year’s Day but the whole year to come.
LUKE JICKAIN, model: It’s a time not about candy and partying… because that’s Halloween.
VILMA SANTOS RECTO, Batangas governor: These words are from Edith Lovejoy Pierce: “We will open the book, its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
MIA TAMBUNTING PADILLA, administrative consultant: For me, New Year means another opportunity to better myself through the different roles God has assigned to me. It is a chance to reflect on lessons learned during the past year, and to apply these in my roles as a wife, daughter, sister, friend, and worker.
Health Secretary FRANCISCO DUQUE: For me, New Year is full of hope and new beginnings. New Year’s Eve in particular means making the rounds of government hospitals to assess their readiness to treat victims of fireworks-related injuries. It means hoping that each year will have fewer casualties but not necessarily less merrymaking.
MARICRIS VASQUEZ PRADA, homemaker: To me, New Year’s is a time for reflection, appreciation and renewal. It means being given the opportunity to wake up to a new day and start fresh, but with the benefit of hindsight. By knowing what you did wrong in the past year, as well as what you need to change in the future, you can keep improving your life until you get to where you want to be. The New Year reminds us of that possibility, to appreciate all the joys and blessings we’ve been given, and to be allowed the chance to give some back. God knows we aren’t perfect and that’s why we are given so many New Years to get it right.
