14/01/2023
The last quarter of every year is always a whirlwind and 2022’s was no exception. Despite spending the holidays in Manila, it was a very busy but fruitful time for me, working on big things, reconnecting with friends and family, and most importantly giving back.
My trip back home began in early November and those days revolved around meeting clients all over the Metro. Since Christmastime was fast approaching, there were many looking for perfect gifts for their loved ones—special jewelry and rare bags included. Apart from meetups, personal appearances, and even house visits, I hosted intimate, private dinners with Clients to showcase and present all the bags, especially the unique ones, I had on hand. It was and is important for me to have this personal touch and connection to my Clients, and I’m really thankful I was able to do this in person to see them and exchange colorful stories.
Things started picking up mid-month, especially as I was featured on Modern Parenting and The Philippine Star. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I’d appear in such esteemed publications, let alone share my story and personal anecdotes with all their readers! I feel very honored to have been chosen, especially when Büm Tenorio, the genius behind “A fairy tale called Inday Shopper,” described my story as inspiring. Kevyn Gohu also beautifully compared my work as a personal shopper to one of a “Real-Life Fairy Godmother,” talking about how I can make magic and make people’s dreams come true. I was so touched by their kind words, and it made me feel good and proud about the direction I’m leading my business towards. Though I may come off as crazy and unserious on my account at times, it’s nice to know that Inday Shopper can inspire others not only with the dreamy, high-luxury items that we sell, but with our hard work, dedication, and humble beginnings as well. I guess there is much value in showing that you’re relatable, down to earth, and real, especially online, something I felt most when I met some of my followers in real life. Thank you to those who approached and said hi, and to those who were too shy and only messaged afterwards—I’d love to stop and chat!
The love I’ve received and the pride and joy I felt were a complete 180 to what I went through earlier last year when I lost my Instagram account. While in Manila, it felt as if all hope was gone on ever recovering my account and so I dedicated my time and effort to work. Eventually though, I finally found time to wind down and relax, even treating myself and my mom to a few beauty treatments at Belo! It was during this time of relaxation when a longtime prayer was answered.
I distinctly remember that during one pampering session, I received an email from Instagram saying that I was going to get access to my original account once again. I couldn’t believe it! If I wasn’t in the middle of Belo treatment, I would’ve danced for joy as it had been three months since I lost that account and honestly thought I was never going to get it back. Besides the rollercoaster of emotions, I truly felt that a miracle had happened and was incredibly grateful for this unexpected blessing—so much so that I wanted to give back to the Universe in thanks. And with a help of dear friends in Manila, I was able to do this.
In December, I celebrated my birthday with Child HAUS, an organization that supports cancer-stricken Filipinos. In order to help the organization more and on a bigger scale, I called for donations, both monetary and in-kind, to followers and Clients alike. I was once again overwhelmed by the love and support for this initiative, with people donating varying amounts from Php 100 to Php 50,000! No amount was too small especially since everyone’s hearts and desire to help was so big.
My birthday was also a time of reflection for me as I thought about all the years I’ve been working to get to where I’m at now. Oftentimes people ask me when I feel most successful, and my answer after turning a year older is this: I feel most successful when I am giving back. Growing up with hardly anything, the fact that I have more than enough to share with others is really the ultimate sign that I’ve made it.
More than the success I’ve experienced, I couldn’t help but be emotional especially as I haven’t seen my husband and my children in over a month. Because of this, I asked them to fly over and spend the holidays with me, even for just two weeks, and they gladly agreed. We were able to relax, bond, and enjoy each other’s company, spending time as a family, with these days together being some of the happiest I’ve had while in Manila.
After the New Year however, my family headed back to Belgium as I went back to work. On my last week in the Philippines, I was shuttling back and forth from Manila and Batangas overseeing the construction of two properties: a rest house for my parents and an events place to host celebrations. On top of this, I’ve been working with several partners to launch a sparkling, new jewelry brand, something you should all look forward to by the end of January.
While much has been done in the two months back home, there is still much that needs to be done. But for now, I will be with my family in Belgium and recharge for an exciting trip this April, where I’ll be bringing brighter, even more Hermès-ing things to Manila!
With everything I’ve got going on you may wonder why I still chose to fly back home to Belgium—it’s because of my family. I’ve said this time and time again, no matter how busy one gets, at the end of the day, the most important thing is family. Though I must go back to doing the cooking and the cleaning, after months of living in the Philippines being cared for by loving Yayas and being chauffeured around, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world as I am with the people who matter the most to me.
This article is one of the longer ones I’ve written, and I’d like to thank each and every one of you for reading and supporting your Inday Shopper all these years. It’s because of you that there is much growth in both my career and personal life, and for that I’ll always be grateful!
