Before COVID-19, luxury was defined by opulence and excess: people constantly traveling, splurging on the latest designer frocks, dining on the creations of the chef de jour. It’s splashed on social media pages and the favorite tagline is, “because I can.”  

I’ve always felt that the world was moving too fast before all this happened. I also felt that people have become hedonistic and excessive—including me. But beyond the price tags and three Michelin star dishes, what people have always yearned for is acceptance and the perception of #blessed.

True enough, now that we are in a pandemic, I still believe that the tagline is “because I can,” but what changed is what it pertains to.

COVID19 taught us that what we need is at home, that we can survive in our house clothes, and the best dishes are homemade. The silver lining I learned from this time is that life is indeed simple: we just complicate it. 

So what is the new meaning of luxury? I asked this question to several women, including myself.

For me, it’s having the energy to do what I have always wanted to do. Being free from the worry of what the future holds and being in the constant mindset of gratefulness. This requires a bit of discipline on my end, and that is why it has become my goal. 

Patti Echauz-Chillip: Chairman, Standard Insurance Co.

“Luxury used to mean having time off for leisure. Now there’s so much time!”

“From my busy schedule of helping run our company—Standard Insurance Co.—and attending different functions, I now have time to appreciate things in nature like birds and flowers and plants. I have the luxury to try different recipes or projects and repeat the process if I failed. We are very thankful to enjoy the fresh air and the sea with family and friends.”

“Time is the ultimate luxury because you don’t know how much time you really have. So enjoy it and spend it wisely.”

Juana Manahan-Yupangco: Author, Mesa ni Misis

“Before, I enjoyed traveling, dining out, and going to the salon. Post-COVID, luxury for me is being able to have alone time since everyone is in the house. Being outdoors with the family has become one of the things I look forward to.”

“Simple things such as taking a walk to a local coffee/ tea place on a nice day, treating myself and the kids to a plant milk drink, or sitting at an outdoor table with my husband drinking good wine have become my alternatives, and I realized that that’s more than enough to feel blessed. ” 

Anna Rufino, MD: Dermatologist, Beautique MD

“For me, luxury is something that we can’t always have or something that is more difficult to attain. I’ve always considered time as the greatest luxury… time spent with loved ones, time to relax and travel, time you can take away from work and the day to day. During the pandemic, it made me realize that good health is another great luxury especially as we age.”

“Now more than ever, travel has become a luxury, since it’s not as easy as before. Being able to escape to a local beach where you don’t need to wear a mask, enjoy the fresh breeze is a luxury that I was able to experience with my family during this time.”

The definition of was luxury is ever-changing: from the show of wealth to the show of enjoyment of wealth. And now, it’s the show of resilience. Is it a sign that we are evolving? I guess only time can tell.

MORE FROM JEANETTE IPAPO-TUASON: A Better Me During Covid: Learning from Books That Inspire The Spirit