Filipino celebrities are known to follow the tradition of sharing their well wishes for the new year – and true enough scores of them did so when the Christian calendar crossed over to January 1, 2019. With the Chinese New Year coming in on February 5, netizens can expect more popular personalities sending greetings of hope and positivity.
The tradition of exchanging new year greetings with family, friends, colleagues and well, just peace to all – is buoyed up by the belief that the one who greets will be equally blessed. The law of attraction says – the more someone thinks positively of others, the positivity he or she spreads would eventually come back to the sender.
Throughout history, people actually used different sets of calendars. It was in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII used and approved the implementation of the currently used Gregorian calendar. From then on, people began gathering to celebrate the New Year every January 1. The celebrations included the tradition of writing down one’s New Year’s resolutions for self-improvement, for goals, dreams and passion, and for a better life.
New Year greetings can also be a way of expressing gratefulness for what transpired in the past year, a way of reviewing goals and achievements, and the challenges and lessons encountered along the way. This act of sending simple greetings can become a guide for a fresh start, and a motivation to do better for the coming year.
As the month of January is almost over and the Chinese New Year is fast approaching, Good News Pilipinas scoured the social media and published interviews for the best of the New Year wishes posted by Filipino personalities and came up with this list of gems which can be used as motivation to stay positive for the rest of the year 2019.
HEART EVANGELISTA
Filipina celebrity endorser and fashion icon Heart Evangelista posted on January 1 an Instagram photo of a rainbow. She wrote, “God gave us a beautiful sign! I’ve got a great feeling about the year ahead! Happy New Year, everyone! May your year be as colorful, bountiful, and bright as the rainbow in the sky!”
In 2018, Heart Evangelista was featured in Harper’s Bazaar “Crazy Rich Couture” alongside with fashion style icons in Asia. The animal welfare advocate also earned praises after gracing the New York Fashion Week.
Evangelista welcomed the new year in January with a revelation on social media that she is collaborating with French luxury label Sequoia Paris for a special edition bag collection.
It seems like a “colorful, bountiful, and bright” year ahead for Heart Evangelista.
ANNE CURTIS SMITH
Filipino-Australian actress and host Anne Curtis Smith showered New Year greeting through a lovely photo with her husband Erwan Heussaff taken from a beach vacation. The couple was married in 2017, making the greetings more special as it was “from the Heussaff’s.”
The actress and host captioned the photo with, “Hand in hand. Ready to take on 2019 together. May we all inspire others and stay inspired, be kind, be patient, have faith and support one another every step of the way to make our dreams come true. Here’s to keeping our New Year’s resolutions and working hard to make our wishes happen this year! Happy New Year from The Heussaff’s.”
Truly inspiring thousands, confirmed by the post which has garnered more than 549 thousand likes, and counting.
Last year, Anne Curtis Smith landed on the cover of international magazine Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam’s 7th anniversary issue. She also made it to the Good News Pilipinas Top 10 Positive Action Stories by Filipinos in 2018 as a UNICEF Advocate for Children who joined a Cebu Pacific airplane crew in collecting donations for the UNICEF Change for Good program.
After the successful theater run of her movie Aurora, a 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Anne Curtis Smith presented on ABS-CBN’s noontime TV program It’s Showtime where she co-hosts – the Silver Play Button Award from YouTube.
IZA CALZADO
Filipino fine actress Iza Calzado narrated her colorful year in an Instagram post before 2018 ended.
In a photo of Calzado wearing her wedding gown she recalled her achievements for 2018: “What an amazing year this has been for me, truly a banner year! Started the year by winning Best Actress for Star Awards and Film Actress of the Year for Guillermo Mendoza Awards and recognized by Ani ng Dangal for the movie @blissfilmph and then joined a women empowerment group called @shetalksasia and together we staged 2 conferences including #thebodyloverevolution which served as a powerful tool for my own self love journey.
Filmed a Cinemalaya entry, Distance, which got into Tokyo International Film Festival. Latter part of this year challenged me physically and emotionally as we started a soap opera, Ngayon at Kailanman, and wrapped up a film project for @iflix.ph called Mystified — the very first project of our production company @sanggreinc which prompted many sleepless nights and bouts of sickness.
All this while planning one of the most important milestones in my life, my wedding. Thank God for the dedication and hard work from @eventsbyamandatirol to ensure our wedding would turn out well. I am very grateful to have plenty of love and support in my life especially from my husband @benmwintle could never have achieved all this of not for the energy of the people around me and the most important One from up above. Thank YOU, God.This year showed me what I am capable of and has been the best year for my growth as a woman, a human.”
She ended her caption with optimism, “Cheers to you 2018!!! 2019, I am so ready for you!!!”
Calzado had previously won the Yakushi Pearl Award in Japan for the movie Bliss in 2017.
This 2019, Iza Calzado is reunited with her “Encantadia Sanggre” sisters in the film “Mystified.”
MAINE MENDOZA
GNP Positive Action Story for 2018 Maine Mendoza expressed her optimism in the new year, saying she finally has moved on and that she is happier for being “incredibly blessed.”
Here is an excerpt from her Instagram caption: “I am just so so glad to have finally moved on from the toxic energy and people that used to drain me – the best realisation and resolution still. Cheers to a great year! And may we always find the courage to let go of what’s weighing us down. Hoping 2019 is even more exciting and fruitful for all of us. Happy New Year, everyone!”
She ended it with “Don’t stay where you are needed. Go where you are loved,” a quotation from popular digital poet Lang Leav who commented on her post saying Mendoza is “an inspiration to all women.” The Mendoza-Leav connection made it to the inaugural Good News Pilipinas! TV Week In Review premiered this January 2019 on YouTube.
Maine Mendoza had a busy yet colorful 2018. She had a collaboration project with MAC Cosmetics which had record-breaking sales within 60 seconds after it was launched. She sold some of her personal and pre-loved items online to raise funds for AlDub scholars making her charity the top 1 GNP Positive Action Story for 2018.
Mendoza also earned a Guinness Record as the most tweeted in 2018 with AlDub partner Alden Richards, and are the most requested stars to play the lead roles for GMA Network’s upcoming TV series Korean drama adaptation of Descendants of the Sun.
After the successful run of her MMFF entry movie “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles,” Mendoza can be seen on long-running TV noontime show Eat Bulaga and on Saturday night sitcom Daddy’s Gurl.
PIA WURTZBACH
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach – the Cagayan de Oro Fil-German lass who broke the 42-year drought for the Philippines on the prestigious pageant – shared on her social media her thankfulness for 2018.
“2018 was my year of growth and enlightenment. I am thankful for the gift of family who’s always by my side, the addition of my new nephew Logan, and of course my best friend Lara who reminds me of the simple joys in life.
I am thankful for all the blessings and opportunities, and the people I have worked with this year. I am thankful for good health so it was possible to enjoy everything this life has to offer. I started a fitness journey that’s now part of my lifestyle. I am thankful I was able to capture all these important moments in my life, which are tomorrow’s memories.
I look forward to 2019 with a grateful heart. What about you, what are you grateful for this year?”
Wurtzbach was truly blessed for 2018, receiving her own engraved star on the Walk of Fame Philippines in Eastwood City Plaza. This year, aside from being an advocate for HIV awareness, Pia Wurtzbach is the main host of ABS-CBN’s new show “World Dance Philippines.”
The beauty queen is set to be the first Filipino to have a wax figure displayed in Madame Tussaud’s Museum in HongKong.
CATRIONA GRAY
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Magnayon Gray narrated her journey on her Instagram, grateful for what she has achieved for herself and the Philippines.
“What can I say? 2018 has been one of the craziest, rollercoaster years of my life. I overcame fears and joined @bbpilipinasofficial, trusted in my vision and creativity, found a family and support system in my friends and @favor.church, I released my first music single #WereInThisTogether for @youngfocusph, advocated for @loveyourself.ph, travelled my beloved country and raised the Philippine flag on the @missuniverse stage. Looking back, I can see that I’ve grown so much, as a person, in revelation and in faith. I have so much to be grateful for and in bidding farewell to 2018, my heart is full.”
Now that she has the Miss Universe title, the Filipino-Australian beauty queen set her mind to enjoy the year while fulfilling her duties and responsibilities for the organization and encourage everyone to make 2019 the most amazing year.
“2019 you’re bound to be one of the most unforgettable years of my life…I’m ready for you. Wishing you all an amazing start to your new year! Let’s make this the most amazing year yet!”
Aside from winning the crown as her Christmas gift to the Philippines in December 2018, Gray also championed Filipino culture and heritage through her fashion outfits in the pageant.
Catriona Gray is the fourth Pinay to win Miss Universe title following the footsteps of Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, Margarita Moran in 1973 and Gloria Diaz in 1969. Gray’s positivity advocacy made her story on of the Good News Pilipinas Top 10 Triumphs, and Top 5 rankings in Good News Pilipinas! TV Week In Review videos.
ARNEL PINEDA
Journey’s front man Arnel Pineda wished everyone a peaceful 2019.
In an Instagram post he wrote:
“another year’s passing
making way to a new one
its called 2019
have a great one #everyone
lets all work even harder for #worldpeace #unity #harmony #equality #nomorewarandviolenceplease”
In another Instagram post, the Filipino vocalist greeted his co-workers and looked forward to meeting new collaborators this year.
Hollywood Director Jon M. Chu of Crazy Rich Asian is making a bio film of Arnel Pineda’s own journey to becoming the band’s front man replacing lead singer Steve Perry.
AICELLE SANTOS
Saying goodbye to 2018 with a kiss is musical theater actress Aicelle Santos who posted an Instagram photo with broadcast journalist Mark Zambrano.
The Filipina singer posted their couple photo with the note, “Kissing sweet 2018 goodbye as we welcome 2019 with love and hopeful hearts!?? Here’s to a blessed and exciting 2019 to us all! Happy New Year!??”
In March 2018, Aicelle Santos took on the role of Gigi Van Tranh, a bar girl in the stage musical Miss Saigon – a role previously essayed by Filipino singers Isay Alvares and Rachell Ann Go.
KATARINA RODRIGUEZ
Model and beauty queen Katarina Rodriguez may lost in her bid to Miss World pageant in Sanya, China last year but she ended the year with grateful heart and positivity for the learnings and experience.
In her Instagram post Rodriguez shared, “In 2018 I went on this insane roller coaster ride called life and learned many things, mainly about who I am as a person. This is the rhythm of life: low points, high points, and all those awkward in between. I’m a philosopher. Every day for the last year I’ve tried to understand people, places, everything & anything around me. I doubt I’ll ever fully get it.
But one thing I do know, you need to feel all things, beautiful & painful, equally. It’s one thing to just live & it’s something else entirely great to constantly feel alive, and to really just let yourself be a real human being. For every time my heart has been broken this year I’ve smiled 1,000 times more.
Thank you 2018. Thank you to all the magical places I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. Thank you to all the lessons learned and to all the successes. Thank you for all the new music. And thank you especially to all the sweet souls that have made me feel alive.”
Rodriguez represented the Philippines in Asia’s Next Top Model in 2014 and won second runner-up, joined Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2017 and won the Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental crown, her ticket to Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant held in Egypt where she emerged first runner-up. She is now the current Miss World-Philippines.
ATOM ARAULLO
Award-winning broadcast journalist Atom Araullo wished everyone to bravely face the new year.
In his Instagram Araullo said, “Well, there goes 2018, beyond the trees and over the hills! Goodbye old friend. Wishing everyone courage for the year ahead!”
Araullo bagged international awards for putting his brave heart into creating documentaries. In 2017, he won Bronze World Medal for his documentary “Warmer” about global warming which was aired in ANC.
In 2018 two of his documentaries won awards for GMA7 – “Philippine Seas” won International Broadcasting Awards in London and the Gold Camera in the US, and “Silang Kinalimutan” won the Gold Camera Award at the U.S. International Film & Video Festival.
In November last year, Araullo was awarded as one of 5 Luntiang Aligato Awardees for Journalism for shedding light on critical environmental issues.
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