Happy New Year everyone! We are just halfway through the first month of 2021, and the Chinese New Year is still weeks away, so I can still greet you “Happy New Year!”

How did you spend New Year’s Eve? As for me, I was in my safe bubble in Massachusetts, in my sister’s home with her husband, daughter, daughter’s husband, and their 17-month old son. We did some New Year rituals to bring in good luck. We prepared round fruits and 13 pieces of grapes. We wore outfits with polka dots and filled our pockets with coins. The night was memorable because it provided a quiet welcome to look forward to a new start, to be grateful that we all survived the pandemic these past 10 months. The following day, January 1, my sister and I had a Zoom call with the rest of our siblings living in the US.

Although my holidays in the US were happy, they made me sentimental for the celebrations in Manila, especially the one I have with the staff and friends of my artist agency/ production company.

We used to schedule a Christmas party at my home in Greenhills on the last Friday prior to Christmas day. The event is meant as thanksgiving for the year and appreciation for artists and employees. The menu is composed of comfort food that our friends usually request: baked chicken macaroni, baked cream corn, etc. The get-together is usually a late lunch so guests can avoid the traffic due to the Christmas rush.

After eating, I ask the artists and employees to prepare three trivia questions about themselves as I add my own trivia questions. Some of my questions are the usual like, “How many cameras do I have?” and “How many cellphones do I have?” The questions may be the same but the answers may vary each year. If someone gives a correct answer to the trivia question, he or she receives a modest cash prize in the form of new bills. Even if people work together for months or years, there are still things they do not know about each other. Our annual trivia game gives the party attendees a chance to know each other better.

The trivia game is the only game we play at the party but it is more than enough to keep us engaged and entertained. I don’t recall how it started but we have been doing it for many years already. There’s always lots of laughter at the revelations that are disclosed. I missed the office Christmas/New Year get-together; we didn’t have one for 2020 due to the pandemic. The party is always a great opportunity to know each other better in a fun and laidback atmosphere, and a way to share blessings with our hardworking team.

In spite of being away from Manila, I was still able to fulfill one New Year ritual that I do each year: clean up my space. Thanks to my staff who organized the files, discarded the materials I no longer need and tidied the office for me.

These past months, I have repeatedly realized that COVID-19 should not prevent us from enjoying life and going about the activities we would like to do. Bonding with loved ones, celebrating milestones, working… these and other endeavors can still be done if we are open to possibilities and determined to make the most of what is there.

I admit there are still many things I would like to do but cannot because of the current situation. Our production company, Culturtain Musicat Productions, had to shelve our next film indefinitely because the new protocols are too expensive for independent producers like us.

At any rate, my staff and I are finding new projects, especially for my music artists as events are still not possible. We are all grateful for the offers and inquiries and other projects that have been keeping our humble production outfit/ artist agency afloat during these challenging times.

The fact that my immediate family, close friends, and I have stayed safe amid the critical coronavirus that has claimed lives all around us is more than enough reason for me to remain hopeful for 2021.

I have not made any new plans or resolutions. But I am definitely conscious that I must keep moving forward. We must persevere. None of us known when and if we will ever get back to where we were before the pandemic. Therefore we must be more creative in trying to find ways to continue with our respective businesses and tasks.

“Adapt, adapt, adapt” is my mantra for the coming months. I hope it will be your mantra, too.

Stay safe and count your blessings.

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