With the September issue of Lifestyle Asia out already, the digital landscape becomes home to many touching tales of overcoming fear and keeping the faith amidst hardship and adversity
With 156 pages of riveting tales of bravery and hope, Lifestyle Asia returns after a three-month hiatus stronger, bolder, and all the more inspired to go beyond what we have so far known as luxury living. Five of our favorite society personalities reflect on the year so far and share how the health crisis has, even after disrupting many planned affairs, changed them internally to brave a new world. Tina Cuevas, Sharmila Hiranand, Mike Lagman, Happy Ongpauco-Tiu, and Tessa Prieto-Valdes relay their experiences and the wisdom they gained in the course of their isolation.
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We also featured Brian Cu, who steps down from Grab Philippines after years of leading the transportation app service company, as he discusses future plans and the many strides they’ve accomplished as a team. Rachel Renucci-Tan’s rice revolution is also featured in our pages, as she passionately tells us how her work has provided much-needed aid to our farmers and our agriculture industry. Audrey Tan-Zubiri writes a heartfelt account of how her family overcame her husband’s bout with COVID by keeping their faith steadfast and eagerly learning lessons along the way. And finally, our cover personality, Maria Ressa—whose remarkable journey in chronicling truth has inspired millions around the world—talks to us about drawing courage amid fighting fears and winning personal battles with courage.
#HaveCourage: Our Digital Battlecry
Further encouraging our digital community to take part in this infectious burst of bravery, Lifestyle Asia initiated a digital campaign spearheaded by its Editor in Chief, Dong Ronquillo. “Let this year be the year we go after courage—break free from the things that hold you back and allow yourself to dream without limits,” he urges. “Pursue courage everywhere and in whatever you are going through. It is in having courage and standing together, working side by side, that we can conquer anything.”
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This then started a wave of inspirational stories from men and women from all circles, touched by a digital movement. The campaign requires those involved to challenge friends and followers to join in the storytelling, to inspire, be inspired, and spread the much-needed optimism and hope even amid a health crisis. “Lifestyle Asia stands with you—let’s find courage and strength in each other,” Dong says. The well-intention gesture so far has produced many beautiful and well-written accounts from those who participated. We round them up here, to spread this wave of courage.
A Mission to Serve Many
For those like Berna Romulo-Puyat (who previously graced our cover last February 2020) and Rachel Renucci-Tan (appearing in our current issue), courage was the fuel of their actions. It impassioned them to think about serving others first and finding ways to contribute to society as a whole.
Strength Through Faith
On the other hand, some draw inner strength by channeling courage from God. Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo, Michelle Tiangco, and Connie Haw mention the Lord as the prime source of their courage in times of need. It is through Him that they discover the power to overcome hurdles, no matter how hard it is.
Bravery in the Face of Adversity
Life’s tough challenges also bring out the best in us. Extraordinary women like Susan Sy and Keri Zamora share that the difficulties they faced somehow gave them the resolve to not only endure life’s hardships but to win against these challenges and come out as better persons.
Identity-Shaping Experiences
Others August 2019 cover personality Charmaine Lagman, Tina Cuevas, and Arlene Cu express how through courage gave them purpose for themselves, their family, and the people around them. It motivated them to be better in what they do and to pursue missions that help others in many ways.
An Unexpected Education
For Happy Ongpauco-Tiu and March 2019 cover personality Aivee Teo, the impacts of the global health crisis may have sown fear in many, but what was important were the valuable lessons they learned and how these taught them to be stronger and bolder in life.
A Story-Filled September
With many more of Lifestyle Asia’s beloved circles joining in the spread of motivation, we aim to fill our Instagram feeds with these hope-inspired stories to uplift the spirits of those who need it. And as the first week ends, may it give you time to reflect and draw courage from within. Let these personal anecdotes help you discover a hidden source of strength in these trying times. This is the meaningful life that we aim to encourage—where people from all industries, sectors, and backgrounds are encouraged to find purpose and fulfill their own personal missions, through the words we write in the pages we continue to fill.
So with this, we invite you, dear reader, to tell us what your story of courage is and inspire others to #HaveCourage.
