From the publisher's desk
Cheers to three years of PhilSTAR Life with YOU
It has been an incredible and challenging journey for the last three years, but I have always had faith in our vision for PhilSTAR L!fe, and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved for the millions of you who have enjoyed our stories. I’m deeply grateful for your support—you made it possible.
For most of us, the past year has been a wild ride. Inflation has driven prices so much that staples like the onion have become a luxury. Discussions on confidential and intelligence funds have left us scratching our heads, hoping to find clues on how they’re spent. So far, no luck.
But there was also good news. Gilas Pilipinas ended the Philippines’ 61-year gold medal drought in basketball at the Asian Games. Still in sports, the Filipinas qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in history. Fil-Am singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo won a Grammy for her debut album Sour, which featured the hit songs Driver’s License and Good 4 U. 106-year-old tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od made headlines around the world when she graced the cover of Vogue Philippines.
We championed the community and celebrated stories of hope, like Carl Audric Guia getting accepted into the most selective schools in the world with full financial aid. We followed the story of Zoe Gabriel, who got mocked for calling Charles & Keith a luxury brand and later cheered for her as she was offered endorsements. We shared the grief felt by those who loved GMA News anchor Mike Enriquez, journalist Luis Teodoro, former child actor JM Canlas, showbiz reporter Mario Dumaual, writer Lualhati Bautista, and music icon Tina Turner. We cried with you as we read the story of Lorelei Go and how she lost all three of her sons to cancer in three years. We filled you in on stories of anger and joy, pride and compassion, those that matter most and make us most human.
L!fe’s explainers and tips have also resonated with you, so in this special supplement, we’re giving you some of our best recommendations for style, travel, K-dramas, tech, and self-awareness. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as we had fun compiling them.
I’m deeply thankful for the L!fe team and our network of contributors, who have filled our pages with stories that have moved us, entertained us, enlightened us, and sparked important conversations. But none of this would be possible without you, our dear readers. Thank you for being part of our community—for engaging with our stories, sharing our social media posts, and giving us feedback. You have been our inspiration for three years. We couldn’t have done it without your love and support.
But this is just the beginning for us. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of L!fe, and we are thrilled to have you along for the ride.