Campaign’s Creative Faces to Watch 2025 – Melquiades Christian M Abrera Mel’s creativity and artistic vision are invaluable bringing a fresh perspective to every project His charisma and passion make him not just a great creator His versatility across high-end production and social-first content makes him truly one of a kind from Fly Emirates to Subway and General Motors aligning their identity with dynamic social-first content Equally passionate about high-production cinematic shoots and fun I seek creative challenges that push me to deliver the best possible outcome one that satisfies both the client’s vision and my artistic standards recently performing at the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix I’m also passionate about photography and cinematic content regularly sharing my work on social media as a creative outlet Go back to main article: Campaign’s Creative Faces to Watch 2025 This report is only available in Spanish language Related: Could This Filipino Superhero Be Making An Appearance In The Marvel Cinematic Universe Soon? View this post on InstagramA post shared by Manix Abrera 🙂 (@manix_abrera) it was announced that Manix Abrera illustrated the cover for the upcoming comic from the cape crusader this partnership makes it the first time that Manix worked on a comic for DC The comic was written by Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by Carmine Di Giandeomenico The comic details the origin of the Dark Knight with its official plot as follows: “The origin of Batman and his never-ending fight against crime in Gotham City is modern mythology-but what of the story in between How did an angry-damaged young man grow into the most accomplished detective and crime-fighter the world has ever known Superstar writer Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil) and acclaimed artist Carmine Di Giandomenico (The Flash) will take Bruce Wayne on a fraught journey-making allies and enemies-on his training to become Batman in this definitive new series!” View this post on InstagramA post shared by Next Comic Art (@nextcomicart) Continue Reading: Sol Dalusung And The Nameless Hero Might Be Your Next Favorite Fantasy Komik This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page I RECENTLY had the privilege of being invited to the induction of the 2025 Board of Directors and Trustees of the PANA (Philippine Association of National Advertisers) and the PANAF (PANA Foundation) because the incoming president is my dear niece and Goddaughter Group Head of Marketing and Communications – Ayala Land Corporate and Estates When she told me that Emily Abrera would be their guest of honor to deliver the keynote address I immediately confirmed my attendance because I was eager to see this outstanding woman again one of the chosen 100 whom I had featured in my first coffee table book “100 Women of the Philippines: Celebrating Filipina womanhood in the new millennium” published in 2000.  Emily was described by writer Nini Yarte as: “In the global operations of McCann Erickson Emily Altomonte Abrera is distinguished as  the first woman to become president and managing director of a McCann Erickson agency this development made her the first woman to lead a multinational ad agency in the Philippines.”  She eventually became the agency’s CEO I distinctly remember her meaningful quotation that we chose to highlight from her interview: “Advertising can do a great deal of good in the world.” she continues to be that icon for the good that advertising and communications can do and while she has retired from advertising to focus on her advocacy communications always with a sense of humor,  compassionate and to me a leader and role model that many of us in the communications industry look up to and emulate her keynote address was not only impressive; it carried a lot of humor I’m sharing the full text of her speech here Thank you Emily and please continue to do more good in this industry we are in The Keynote Address of Emily Abrera for the PANA induction January 23 Congratulations to the soon-to-be inducted Board members of the PANA and the PANA Foundation While making notes for these short remarks today I did step back to try and gauge how much the advertising industry had really changed in the past 15 years (I retired officially from commercial advertising in 2010 to concentrate on advocacy communications.) the media-buying function of most large agencies got spun off the Adboard which was the umbrella organization of the industry and annual ad congresses that brought everyone together became a thing of the past The function of screening ad materials has continued under the ASC but given the dramatic rise in the use of social media there is likely a need to review the need for a more efficient system that can do the job within the more compressed time frames you all work with today.     It seems there are more business enterprises in the industry but each staying within their specific area of concern And so it goes…the industry players continue to function in their own silos with less and less connectivity to one another And that made everyone miss the stuff they took for granted before: the outdoors along with other more serious mental health issues and an inordinate closeness to and dependency on the internet But none of this stopped the criminal activities of those who were in a position to profit from the emotional turbulence and desperation that marked those three years in the past 15 years the landscape of the ad industry has changed so much that it’s barely recognizable It’s no different from the challenge of trying to get things done on time in today’s world amid traffic (both vehicular and human) It’s also harder to see the change when one is immersed in this business day in and day out One needs to have been away from it for a while to get the full shock value of where it has taken us the approaching election has made the media landscape uglier than usual lately and that’s been a good thing for families and their budgets was a great change-maker for society at large as far as consumer habits go The other impetus was (and still is) information technology The way we buy has changed; the ways we relate to one another have changed; the ways we consume media have changed as well; even the way we eat has changed: my grandchildren seem to enjoy their breakfast more when it’s delivered at the door than when it’s prepared in our own kitchen We all go home to sleep beside our partners (those of us who have them) but we are more married to our little gadgets than ever before The cellphone has expanded our capabilities made us more beautiful in selfies—but it has also narrowed our perspectives the phone camera has replaced the human eye We have actually forgotten how to be present and how to use our senses to perceive I watched a young lady at a Van Gogh immersion exhibit enter the hall with her eye glued to her cellphone from start to finish of the entire presentation practically she didn’t once bump into anyone while doing this Restaurant staff are awesome at taking group shots which is not to diminish the selfie skills of this generation Are people still photographing their food before they begin eating it (I used to worry that if I failed dismally as a human being in this life Now there is a distinct possibility that I could be reincarnated as a cellphone.) even if you can’t track the changes incrementally you can’t escape being aware of them because the PANA does its marketing homework And marketers are trained to find the profit opportunities that any situation presents you may have inspired legions of politicians to do the same You are doing lots of good things—Brand Academy we are more united and prompted to action by what we hate rather than by what we wish for: enlightened leadership the eradication of corruption…and the list goes on.  What we wish for as private citizens shouldn’t be drastically different from what we wish for as business people Our personal wish list of values can’t be siloed from the businesses we run it’s the cynics who cannot imagine a better world PANA is the oldest and the biggest organization in the ad industry but I have to say that asking creative teams to pitch for every single project is a drastic misuse of their creativity You can’t build brands with a string of 15-seconders about families that break into dance because their clothes are whiter and smell fresher or because Nanay has discovered a new sandwich filling… even if you run these messages endlessly Is it any wonder then that people hit the Skip button every time?  Don’t you miss the stories that engage audiences so that they don’t skip the ads I worry that soon audiences will automatically tune out unless the material is simply exaggerated entertainment The recent Manila Film Festival box office results are hinting at it I have spent almost a half century now in the practice of communications I was raised with the same bible in hand as the PANA breathing things… that brands can live long and fruitful lives That just like you and me they can thrive through good times and bad if they adhere to the timeless values that real people embrace no matter how drastically circumstances may change I believe that brands must create meaning in order to connect Because when consumers cease to think of them I won’t pretend to know enough to have any answers but I think we can begin by asking the questions How can the industry respond better to the call of the times How can we together create a sea change of greater sensitivity How can we foster deeper connectivity among the industry players so that our shared wish list manifests in positive social change How do we bring in the newer and younger enterprises How do we create a more life-sustaining advertising industry What will it take to move us from being mere spectators to being participants I wanted so much to end this talk with something uplifting one of my granddaughters (who’s in first year college) up and asked me about brands and branding When I checked how she did in her presentation she told me that she and her team got top marks “I didn’t know advertising was so interesting.” I am keeping my fingers crossed on that kid after years of doing freelance gigs and playing drums in a band has taken a job as a copywriter in a good company Thank you for inviting me to be here today PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra) the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world Joy Lumawig-Buensalido is the President and CEO of Buensalido PR and Communications She was past Chairman of the IPRA Philippine chapter for two terms PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com Input your search keywords and press Enter Photography By Harold Julian Stella Abrera made headlines in 2015 when she became the first Filipino-American to be promoted to principal dancer one of the most renowned dance companies globally.  STEPS offers dance education to economically disadvantaged youth at CENTEX public schools in Tondo “The Ayala Foundation and CENTEX help identify talent in music dance and other art forms and they cultivate that in the children giving them opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have,” says Abrera “It’s quite incredible work and whenever we go to the Philippines on these trips to raise money for CENTEX “And they’re talented!” adds Radetsky It isn’t the first time Abrera has traveled to the Philippines to give back she set up a small charity with Operation USA called Steps Forward for the Philippines to raise funds for a school in Guiuan that was heavily impacted by super typhoon Haiyan After guest-starring with Ballet Philippines in a performance of Giselle she traveled to Guiuan to visit the school children and deliver supplies Abrera was introduced by a mutual friend to Zobel-Elizalde and a new friendship–and meaningful collaboration was formed “Stella and I instantly connected because of our Philippine roots,” recalls Zobel-Elizalde “It was after this meeting that Stella called me saying she wanted to put together a gala of ABT stars in the Philippines I immediately agreed as it was such an honor to work with Stella who was a principal dancer with ABT at the time.” and danced in a series of galas in Manila in 2018 and 2019 to benefit the students of CENTEX “What struck me most about working with Stella was her grace and elegance in everything she did incredibly hard working and has a strong vision of what the finished product should look like I believe we both share the passion for dance and excellence in dance training,” says Zobel-Elizalde In addition to this year’s gala at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati ABT Studio Company also performed free shows at Cebu and Davao “The initial impulse for all of these performances is to democratize ballet and the arts in the Philippines,” says Radetsky “I think that aligns with ABT Studio Company’s mission which is to engage a very broad audience taking ballet to all corners of the globe and to all communities Abrera moved from Manila when she was four years old where she began studying ballet at the age of five She joined ABT in 199 after winning the gold medal at the Adeline Genée Awards one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions her parents still cultivated a strong sense of connection to their Filipino heritage “We still have a lot of cousins in the Philippines and my parents were very much connected to our culture through the food we ate who were like our extended family in the States It was like having a little Filipino community outside of the Philippines She met her husband while they were both dancing at ABT ABT never toured to Manila and Filipino representation within the company was rather scarce “I remember there were two Filipino dancers that preceded me who is now the director of Artistic Administration at ABT,” says Abrera “There was one other Filipino dancer who joined the company towards the end of my career Jeffrey Cirio (who is now a principal with Boston Ballet).” It makes Abrera’s work even more poignant bringing ABT stars to the Philippines and teaching master classes to develop local dancers who will be teaching classes during their upcoming visit recognize the unique talent inherent in Filipinos “They’re all very hard workers; disciplined and curious,” says Radetsky “I also think they are very instinctual in their musicality,” adds Abrera After the first gala Abrera performed in 2018 two young STEPS students were discovered by Radetsky both of whom ended up receiving scholarships to study at the ABT JKO School later that year is now a dancer in AB’s corps de ballet and has already performed soloist roles including Lead Gypsy in Don Quixote and Puck in The Dream is now a member of the ABT Studio Company and will be among the performers during this month’s tour this trip feels like a special homecoming for Pelegrin since his family has not seen him dance in five years A dream of his is to one day dance in Romeo and Juliet “Both Sascha and Stella have been powerful mentors to these two boys and have guided them through their ABT journey,” says Zobel-Elizalde STEPS opened the Stella Abrera Dance and Music Hall at the CENTEX Batangas campus Having the school in Batangas where underprivileged children can receive quality arts education is particularly significant for Abrera whose paternal grandmother hails from the province to be part of some young people’s lives and help them find their love for music and dance,” says Abrera Abrera served as international ambassador and jury chair for the first edition of the Youth Grand Prix Philippines part of the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix one of the industry’s leading ballet scholarship competitions For all the success she’s seen in her own career who will lead the next generation of dancers as she assures the helm of the ABT JKO School “I am so excited that I have this position.” says Abrera “I can have an even more direct impact on the lives of talented and deserving students.” Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Singer-songwriter Ysabelle Cuevas and TV personalities Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Paolo Abrera will join singer and actress Lea Salonga during The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s concerts in Manila The concerts will have a format similar to the choir and orchestra’s Christmas concerts The concerts are part of the choir’s multiyear, multicity “Hope” tour. In 2023, the choir and orchestra performed their “Esperaza” concerts in the National Auditorium in Mexico City it’s the “Himig ng Pag-asa” or “melody of hope” tour Feb This is the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s first visit to the Philippines Cuevas, who has recently relocated to Utah, is also a writer and singer for the Church’s youth music project, Strive To Be a celebrated singer-songwriter from the Philippines and one of our guest artists on the.. “I remember watching general conference growing up, paying extra attention when the Tabernacle Choir started singing. Never had I imagined I’d one day share a stage with them. What an incredible honor and blessing. The Lord truly is in every movement, even in the whisper of a prayer,” Cuevas shared on Facebook. Narrators for the concerts will be husband-and-wife duo Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Paolo Abrera, who are Filipino TV personalities and news anchors.  Paolo Abrera posted on Instagram: “What an honour to be part of a very special choir concert experience and be mentioned in the same breath as the world renown Tabernacle Choir and our very own world class performer and star of Broadway and West End, Lea Salonga along with the talented Ysabelle Cuevas.”  View this post on Instagram A post shared by paoloabrera (@paoloabrera) The choir announced in December 2023 that Salonga will perform during the tour A third concert in the Philippines, a sacred music concert, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. was announced on The Tabernacle Choir Philippine Tour Facebook page.  Information about ticket distribution to the sacred music concert will be available at a later date.  The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square will deliver a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of... Philippines.","type":"text"},{"type":"oembed_response","subtype":"facebook-post","_id":"DZMOCK3YVDDVOZLN36LAAGXFBE","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square","author_url":"https://www.facebook.com/TheTabernacleChoir","provider_url":"https://www.facebook.com","provider_name":"Facebook","html":"\n<\/script>Meet the hosts and special guests joining us for our performances in the Philippines!\n\nSuzi and Paolo Abrera, our hosts,... Meet Ysabelle Cuevas, a celebrated singer-songwriter from the Philippines and one of our guest artists on the... View this post on Instagram A post shared by paoloabrera (@paoloabrera) The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square will deliver a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of.. Stellå åbrera needs total physical discipline — and lots of Advil — to stay at the top By Rivka GalchenPhotographs by Brenda Ann Kenneally Tales of how dancers find their calling can feel as random and as magical as the arrival of a fairy queen godmother in a ballet her family moved from the Philippines to California signed her up for a ballet class so she would have something to do other than watch cartoons and there was an elderly lady running it,” Abrera recalled The children did emboîtés across the room “I remember looking down at my legs Abrera has spent her entire professional life at American Ballet Theater in New York and was promoted to soloist five years later she suffered a major injury that involved her back and her sciatic nerve “It took me 10 minutes to go a city block,” she recalled It was not clear whether she would ever be able to dance again “Now I can see that time as finite,” she said that it would be able to heal itself.” After 18 months then returned to the stage again six months later She played the role of Juliet last year at 40 A typical rehearsal day for Abrera begins with a company or open class in the morning She then has rehearsals from around noon until 7 p.m. “If I have a longer break,” she said “I’ll cross train for injury prevention or get physical therapy to help the tweaks feel better.” To stay in form and also to avoid reinjury she swims twice a week and does core-stability exercise sessions three times a week she’ll try to find time for a second massage on a weekday [Read about Stella Abrera in “Romeo and Juliet.”] Abrera often practices roles with the 86-year-old ballet coach Irina Kolpakova Kolpakova coached Abrera for her role of Summer in the world premiere this spring of Alexei Ratmansky’s “The Seasons.” “Stellochka,” Kolpakova said in her thick Russian accent in form and personality.” Kolpakova herself danced as a prima ballerina at the Kirov Ballet in the former Soviet Union until she was 51 doesn’t see her age as particularly remarkable She pointed to the long careers of dancers like Alessandra Ferri When I suggested to Abrera after watching a practice that it seemed there were no limitations on her body Jumps that are for a younger body.” She then added with a laugh: “I have taken so much Advil Parkinson was a wild and fabulous figure in London during her time as a principal ballerina for the Royal Ballet “She took me under her wing,” Abrera said and let’s see how it goes.’ ” Abrera explained that it meant something like try to feel differently about yourself It wasn’t really about appearance; it was about a feeling In addition to “The Seasons,” Abrera performs five other lead roles this season including in Ratmansky’s “Harlequinade,” “Whipped Cream” and Twyla Tharp’s “Deuce Coupe.” Of her routine during a performance season Abrera explained that she has it “so down now that it’s almost boring — I go to class in the morning then a coffee and a chocolate-chip cookie in the afternoon.” Then the curtain rises Behind the scenes of “Harlequinade” at the Metropolitan Opera House Rivka Galchen is a fiction writer and journalist whose novel for children Brenda Ann Kenneally is a documentary maker a Guggenheim fellow and the author of two books “Upstate Girls.” Sasha Arutyunova is a Moscow-born See Stella Abrera onstage at the Metropolitan Opera House through July 6 Stella Abrera and Sonja Kostich share a background in dance, are Asian-American and now lead an important artistic center in the Hudson Valley Kaatsbaan Cultural Park they talk about Kaatsbaan Cultural Park and its 30 year history Kaatsbaan’s singular role as both an artistic incubator and an arts presenter its unique position during Covid in having the space to create and present work safely for both performers and audience Stella’s and Sonja’s careers as dancers and their transition to arts administration their commitment to diversity in programming and the organization’s first grant from the Arts Endowment.  Follow us on Apple Podcasts ACCIONA has been awarded a new contract in Catalonia for the operation and maintenance of the six wastewater treatment plants that make up the Sanitation System of the Abrera group awarded by the public company Agència Catalana de l’Aigua is for four years and approximately €13.7 M It includes the operation and maintenance of the six WWTPs at Abrera the plants provide a service to a population equivalent of almost 200,000 The sanitation network has more than 70 kilometres of pipework plus 16 pumping stations external to the plants The contract will include major technological innovations to optimize energy efficiency changes to infrastructures that have deteriorated over time The aim is to ensure the correct functioning of the facilities and the quality of the water treated Among the measures to be undertaken in the Abrera WWTP is the construction of a platform for the reception of dehydrated sludge from other WWTPs that are not equipped with sludge stabilisation This means that the sludge from these plants can be stabilised in the anaerobic digestion phase following their rehydration with a resulting reduction in dry material and increased energy production from biogas the sludge can be valorised through use in agriculture With the aim of adapting the Abrera WTTP to this new scenario and ensure compliance with effluent quality requirements ACCIONA will also implement a series of measures aimed at improving the control systems optimising the biological elimination of nutrients and increasing the production of biogas in anaerobic digestion Among these measures are some of its own technological innovations developed by the R&D&I department of ACCIONA such as NIPARMOX® for the treatment of return flows I accept Information on data protection In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on Data Protection and with other Data Protection regulations in force you are hereby informed that your personal data shall be processed by Acciona whose identification data are as follows: Tax ID No (NIF): A08001851; Address: Avenida de la Gran Vía de Hortaleza No.: +34 91 663 28 50; email: protecciondedatos@acciona.com Your data shall be processed in order to send you information through the subscription to our Newsletter through electronic means activities and news pertinent to our activity sectors The consent given by the data subject by indicating that they have read and accept this data protection information comprises the lawfulness of processing the subscription Request cannot be satisfied We may also process your satisfaction or preferences Data shall be stored until the elimination is requested we may give access to your data to service providers (such as technology service providers) who assist us in fulfilling this purpose may be located outside of the European Economic Area in territories that do not offer a level of data protection that is comparable to that of the European Union we transfer User data with appropriate safeguards and always ensuring the security of the same The data subject can exercise their rights of access to or rectification and/or the restriction of or objection to the processing of such data by writing the Department of Data Protection located at Avenida de la Gran Vía de Hortaleza 28033 (Madrid) or by sending the form available in the link: FORM If we consider it necessary in order to be able to identify you, we may ask you for a copy of an identity document. Furthermore, at any time the data subject may withdraw the granted consent by contacting the aforementioned address and file a claim to the Supervisory Authority (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos www.aepd.es) You can also unsubscribe from the Newsletter communication For any further information you can visit the Privacy Police on the website https://www.acciona.com/privacy-policy/ LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. For the most part, the world of ballet is dominated by young, white women. They generally have short careers— often retiring before they reach age 30.  That's around the age that ballet dancer Stella Abrera feared her career in dance was coming to an end. After suffering a devastating injury, she had to learn the most basic steps all over again. But now she's back, and making history too. At 37-years-old, Abrera became the first Filipino American to be promoted to principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre.  Abrera joined Take Two for a conversation about how she came back from her injury and how she feels about making history. To listen to the full interview with Stella Abrera, click the link above. Print For American Ballet Theatre dancer and South Pasadena native Stella Abrera it has been quite a year — one that started with her unexpected and emotional promotion to principal An admired and distinctive company veteran noted for her buoyant jumps Abrera had invested 14 years as a soloist when the elevation to principal came through she created a role in a new Mark Morris work for ABT During the company’s recent eight-week season at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York culminating in last week’s performance honoring her 20th anniversary as a member of ABT — an occasion that also saw her debut as Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty,” a touchstone ballerina role is returning to Southern California as ABT performs at a benefit Thursday at the Music Center in Los Angeles followed by a program of works by noted choreographer Alexei Ratmansky on Friday through Sunday the first Filipino American ballerina to make principal at ABT found her way from South Pasadena to New York in part by way of Sydney She is the youngest of five children in a family that moved often because her father’s work as a civil engineer took them all over the world The family had a home in South Pasadena but was living in Manila at the time Abrera was born I missed out on some really cool cities — Jakarta and So Paulo,” she joked during an interview at the Met six days before her anniversary evening late last month The family returned to California soon after her birth The training continued when the family moved to San Diego and then to Sydney where Abrera spent formative years studying under the rigorous Royal Academy of Dance syllabus which puts students through a series of adjudications and exams an Australian former ABT principal dancer and later assistant artistic director with the company was on the panel adjudicating one of Abrera’s advanced exams when she was 16 He was so impressed that he arranged an ABT audition “The audition went well; they offered me an apprentice position in the main company.” So she packed up and moved again — this time for her own job “They knew I was kind of unstoppable,” she said Abrera proved adept at more contemporary works in ABT’s repertory while she began to earn small featured roles in the 19th-century classics “I really tried to make a statement about who I was in those contemporary roles because there’s a little more freedom,” she said citing Paul Taylor’s lyrical “Airs” as a favorite New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff praised her performance in that work noting that Abrera “gave each shape a gorgeous fullness.” For her early development in the classical ballets a former Royal Ballet principal who became ABT’s ballet mistress “I was so fortunate to have her guidance and nurturing Georgina really helped me to fine-tune things — helped me become a ballerina.” marking the major move out of the corps de ballet and the potential to become a principal Abrera focused on her expanding repertory challenges taking a long-range view of what lay ahead “I don’t think there’s any young dancer who doesn’t have dreams of rocketing up to the top,” she said “Anyone joining a company is initially learning the ropes and getting a feel for how it all works you understand where you stand in the company — what you need to do to pay your dues You also understand that there’s luck and timing involved Just as lead roles started coming Abrera’s way she suffered a complex back injury that kept her offstage for 18 months This was soon after she had danced the title role of Cinderella and been told she would be learning the iconic role of Giselle Throughout the long and difficult period when she couldn’t dance When she finally did make her debut as Giselle last year “there was some neat poetic justice for me personally I really put all of my soul into that one.” Ballet mistress Irina Kolpakova coaches Stella Abrera during a recent rehearsal in New York Altman / For The Times ) She works closely on her demanding roles with Irina Kolpakova a former Mariinsky ballerina and longtime member of ABT’s artistic staff “There are no words to describe how wonderful and generous she is with her wisdom and all the experience she can impart on all the ballerinas,” said Abrera who made a point of pulling Kolpakova out of the wings during her celebratory curtain calls after last week’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Abrera added major roles to her repertory: the willful spirited Lise in Frederick Ashton’s “La Fille Mal Gardée”; the Queen of Shemakhan the elusive temptress in Ratmansky’s new “The Golden Cockerel”; and the Maiden in his fantastical 2012 “Firebird.” She will perform that last role twice — as well as one she created in his “Symphony #9” — when ABT comes to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this week Ratmansky has been steadily enriching the company’s repertory with bold new works and — thanks to his probing curiosity about ballet history — well-researched productions of older ballets “Alexei has made such a huge impact on our company,” said Abrera who has created roles in several of his works I had never worked with anyone who is so detail-oriented He pushes everyone beyond a point where they think they can go — and then they go there She described her “Firebird” role as wonderful to perform “because you can really dive into the character The technical demands and the character are really interwoven Each step tells the audience who the character is.” Abrera is clearly enjoying this latest phase to be doing so many debuts is unusual,” she said because I’m so open and so ready to have these experiences — and happy to be there.” When: Thursday benefit performance of “Firebird” is sold out Limited seating available for regular performances at 7:30 p.m Info: (213) 972-0711, www.musiccenter.org/abt Follow The Times’ arts team @culturemonster. Entertainment & Arts Travel & Experiences World & Nation Hollywood Inc. Books Television Music Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism The following is a press release from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) together with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) is widening the public’s access to Pirated Inferno after launching 5,000 hard copies and ensuring its accessibility to online readers.  Published as part of the joint mission of the interagency National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) to protect intellectual property rights physical copies of the comic book were presented last June 13 at IPOPHL’s main office in Taguig City Pirated Inferno was created with the aim of broadening the reach of IPOPHL’s information campaign among Filipinos on protecting intellectual property rights and the consequences of piracy.  “In a world where technology and connectivity has opened doors for opportunity it has also provided a breeding ground for piracy to flourish we have the power to shape the narrative by choosing to support genuine works and rejecting piracy in all its forms,” said IPOPHL Deputy Director General and Officer-in-Charge Nathaniel Arevalo during the launch “I hope that Pirated Inferno will inspire us all to take action and stand against piracy by championing the value of creative work,” Arevalo added The online version of the comic book was previously released in 2023 with a soft launch held during last year’s Philippine Book Festival The current launch of the print version is also part of the NCIPR’s 16th anniversary celebration on June 21.  “One of the struggles of creatives – especially when you’re starting out – is that you already have a hard time creating something and then it just gets pirated I’ve heard so many stories like this,” said Abrera in Filipino sharing that this is why he readily accepted the challenge to create an anti-piracy comic when NBDB Abrera is a freelance cartoonist best known for his daily comic strip Kikomachine Komix published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the weekly webcomic News Hardcore in GMA News Online He was also honored at IPOPHL’s 2024 Gawad Yamang Isip Awards for his contribution to the government’s intellectual property enforcement efforts with the publication of the comic book “Telling stories is a powerful tool to raise [intellectual property] awareness,” said NBDB Director Ryan Esteban Esteban explained that this collaboration with IPOPHL and the NCIPR is aligned with their thrust since 2017 to create an entertaining and engaging work in protecting the rights of Filipino creators which would educate the public at the same time.  The NCIPR serves as the interagency body that formulates and implements plans and policies as well as strengthens the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the country where IPOPHL serves as vice-chair and acting chair “This comic book is just one step in our collective efforts to inform and inspire people to take action against piracy,” said IPOPHL’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Office Supervising Director Christine Pangilinan-Canlapan we can make a difference if we just say ‘no’ to piracy,” Canlapan said.  IPOPHL and the NBDB will be distributing the physical copies of Pirated Inferno to various stakeholders at their respective youth-targeted events while Abrera will be sharing copies at the Philippine International Comics Festival in July and the Manila International Book Fair in September Online readers can enjoy the comic book for free through this link. – Rappler.com Now meet the other ballerina who made history this year.What really mattersIn a world with too much noise and too little context We don’t flood you with panic-inducing headlines or race to be first We focus on being useful to you — breaking down the news in ways that inform We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today by Rachel Huggins LinkStella Abrera and Sascha Radetsky of American Ballet Theatre.2015 was a groundbreaking year in ballet On June 30, the American Ballet Theatre made an announcement that would forever change the world of dance: Misty Copeland, one of the most famous ballerinas and biggest champions of diversity in the industry, would be promoted to the highest rank within the prestigious dance company, nearly a week after making a stellar debut as lead in ballet classic Swan Lake “I had moments of doubting myself, and wanting to quit, because I didn’t know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this level,” Copeland said in an emotional press conference the day of her promotion But Copeland wasn’t the only ballerina of color to make history that day a dynamic dancer who established a solid career as a veteran soloist with ABT for 14 years becoming the first appointed Filipina-American woman Her unexpected rise was praised by Asian-American and Filipino publications around the world and sparked an outpouring of support from Filipina dancers on social media who used the hashtag #PinayPower to show their pride Abrera’s success was a powerful reminder that in a field that has little racial or ethnic diversity they too could ascend to the highest ranks one day being among the “first” to break a racial barrier in ballet wasn’t anything that Abrera ever gave much thought to especially growing up in a diverse community in Pasadena In a December 11 interview with Southern California Public Radio Abrera revealed something unique as a woman of color in the ballet world: She never felt isolated because of her race: Ever since my promotion I’ve been asked if it’s affected my career in the 20 years that I’ve been a professional dancer at American Ballet Theatre I’ve had the luxury of fully focusing on the work … So that’s why at first I found it a little disconcerting that my ethnicity was being brought up but now I’m seeing a lot on my social media — I’m noticing that a lot of young dancers who are Filipino American they show support for me and I find that very heartwarming Abrera may not have felt that her skin color was a barrier in ballet but she faced other hardships on her tumultuous journey to the top After becoming principal dancer at 37 — way past the prime age of a typical ballerina — and surviving a devastating injury that nearly prevented her from walking several years ago Abrera has said she is grateful to dance at all In a candid and touching interview with BuzzFeed in October Abrera recounted the frustrating day in 2008 when she feared her career “It started after a very tough rehearsal,” says Stella she began to lose strength in her muscles and she grew weaker that my leg just was not functioning properly.“Despite seeing several doctors and physical therapists a proper diagnosis eluded Stella for nine months All the doctors were shrugging their shoulders like Abrera eventually discovered the unrelenting pain was the result of a back injury and sciatic nerve damage causing severe pain and numbness in the back of her leg grueling hours of rehearsal and performances she endured from dancing professionally since she was 17 years old she went from a rising star to suddenly sidelined at the peak of her career a roller coaster that caused her to hit rock bottom For months she couldn’t walk without being in constant pain — much less dance — as her calf continued to lose strength Abrera began taking cortisone injections to help alleviate the pain in her back and spine Fueled by a deep inner strength to press forward in the midst of a tumultuous storm She was determined to dance again in any capacity and never focused on what she’d do career-wise if she couldn’t fulfill her lifelong passion each baby step made helped her feel a little more empowered On good days she muddled through rehab in aches and pain yet found the strength to endure On exceptional days she pushed herself to exercise and eventually rehabilitated her legs to the point needed to dance at her previous level a level in which she once amassed thousands of calf raises over the years When she finally clawed her way back to the stage in 2009 more skillful dancer driven by a new mindset: “Instead of dancing to fulfill my girlhood dream of being a principal, I focused simply on becoming the best dancer and artist I could possibly be,” she said in an August interview with the online dance magazine Dance Informa Immersing herself in dance like she never left breathing new life into each performance by changing everything from her technique to how she viewed each performance when after years of dancing in the background and never getting the opportunity to lead a performance at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House she rose to the challenge of filling in for principal dancer Polina Semionova in ABT’s long-anticipated debut of Giselle which caught the attention of ABT directors and helped her land the principal dancer position a month later earned the praise typically reserved for the most esteemed ballerinas “Some of her dancing was luminous, and all of it was stylish and heartfelt; but above all in Act II, where the dead Giselle dances to save her living lover, Albrecht, from death, she made it clear that dance was a spiritual act,” the New York Times raved in a review. “Her steps were filled with yearning for him and devotion to dance itself.” Through a long, turbulent journey to the very top ranks of ballet, one filled with a nearly career-ending injury, a string of relapses, and times of harrowing emotional distress, no other theme echoes louder in Abrera’s life than her uncanny perseverance and resilience in pursuit of her dreams. “All the things that have happened pointed to me not being chosen [as a principal dancer],” Abrera told NBC News. “And if that happened, no one would have batted an eye. I wouldn’t have. It’s crazy at 37, this doesn’t happen in our world. Thank God, it did. It’s a wonderful thing.” Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling stories of the day, compiled by news editor Sean Collins. Given the Court’s Republican supermajority, this case is unlikely to end well for trans people. Learn about saving, spending, investing, and more in a monthly personal finance advice column written by Nicole Dieker. The latest news, analysis, and explainers coming out of the GOP Iowa caucuses. A Texas judge issued a national ruling against medication abortion. Here’s what you need to know. A community celebrating Black voices Beautycon is a global platform that brings together beauty enthusiasts and industry leaders to explore the latest trends and conversations shaping the future of beauty Posted in: Comics, Preview | Tagged: , , , , , ABLAZE will be publishing two graphic novels by award-winning Filipino creator Manuel Luis "Manix" Abrera starting with the release of his acclaimed book Then his 2nd wordless comic anthology of supernatural stories which won the Philippines National Book Award on September 27th These graphic novels push the boundaries of wordless comics with stories told in illustration-only panels Each story with its own charm and intriguing twists – a young man spends his entire life searching for answers but shock awaits when he finally gets that eureka moment; someone finds love that unexpectedly finds somebody else; two men argue over who goes first on an escalator; a mother and daughter fight over a cockroach; a drunk man urinates on a tree and gets a big surprise – making you wonder how these mundane plots can turn out bizarrely prompting you to reflect and crave for more Is finding happiness worth it when you lose what really matters the most Manix Abrera's 12 breaks all language barriers cutting straight to your soul touching your heart in ways you cannot imagine 14 tells the story of a human who mysteriously discovers a 13th floor on his building and finds himself in the middle of a storytelling session among different mythological creatures of Philippine folklore Together with a partying crowd of supernatural beings he listens to stories narrated by creatures such as the Manananggal and even by a White Lady and a Doppelganger describing wild stories spurred by their unique 14 is a grand narrative of weird yet wonderful tales surreal but unarguably true to the emotions of the heart dying to be born again – may all sound too human but are also being experienced by these mythological creatures 1982) graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines Diliman He is a freelance cartoonist and is the creator of Kikomachine Komix his long-running daily strip in the Philippine Daily Inquirer he has produced 16 volumes of Kikomachine Komix and News Hardcore compilation volume 1 He also released two wordless graphic novels entitled "12" and "14" He is a three-time National Book Awardee for his works "News Hardcore: Hukbong Sandatahan ng Kahaggardan" (2016) and "Kikomachine Komix Volume 14: Alaala ng Kinabukasan" (2019) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manix_abrera/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/manix_abrera Asian Journal News The Filipino-American Community Newspaper Since 1991 the first Filipino American principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre has retired after 24 years with the classical ballet company 42-year-old Abrera’s farewell performance would have been the title role of “Giselle” at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York on June 13 “I always thought my heart would break on this day but I see now that it’s because my heart is so full—it’s bursting with love and gratitude for everyone who has made this twisty one of which dreams are made,” Abrera wrote in an Instagram post on Monday “ABT will forever be in my heart—thank you and farewell.” A post shared by Stella Abrera (@stellaabreradetsky) on Jun 15 Her last performance with the company was “Giselle” at the Kennedy Center in Washington Abrera was named artistic director for Kaatsbaan I began a summer coaching and training initiative for young professional dancers in the ranks of apprentice to year five corps de ballet This demographic is kind of a waiting area I offer two weeks for a small group to work on the pas de deux and solos that they don’t really get to work on during their season and then I also ask them to pick a solo that’s within the realm of their next possible step such as the Swan Lake pas de trois,” she told Dance Magazine in a recent interview Abrera and her family moved from the Philippines to South Pasadena she took her first ballet class and has been dancing ever since The family moved often because of her father’s work as a civil engineer which also brought them to San Diego and Sydney She began her studies with Philip and Charles Fuller and Cynthia Young at Le Studio in Pasadena and continued it at the West Coast Ballet Theatre in San Diego when they moved there She also spent three years studying the Royal Academy of Dancing method with Joan and Monica Halliday at the Halliday Dance Centre in Sydney she joined the ABT as a member of the corps de ballet after being an apprentice for a few months I had this dream to be a ballerina when I was a little girl and I grew up and became one but I worked hard and I am grateful,” Abrera said in 2016 The Fil-Am dancer suffered a crippling back injury in 2010 that threatened to end her blossoming career and sidelined her for 18 months She returned to the stage and got injured again before recovering and taking the stage six months later Abrera debuted in the title role of “Giselle” in 2015 after she filled in for an injured dancer She then made history when she ascended to a principal dancer role soon after becoming the first person of Filipino descent to reach the elite ballet company’s highest rank to help inspire the next generation of dancers not only Filipinos but all of them It warms my heart to see these young Filipina dancers on social media saying that I inspire them and it’s a responsibility that I am happy to take on,” she previously told the Asian Journal We caught up with her ahead of her performances in this weekend's inSymphony No an exuberant and youthful Ratmansky piece set to music by Dmitri Shostakovich an enchanting story brought to life by Ratmansky’s choreographed steps How does your position as a powerful woman transforming the arts affect the values you instill in your everyday life?I like to think that my position at ABT and in the dance world only exerts a positive influence on my core values and deepens the imperative to invest professionalism What has been the most rewarding aspect of founding your charity Steps Forward for the Philippines? Steps Forward for the Philippines has been deeply gratifying initiative in myriad ways I was so appreciative—and proud—of how the dance community (as well as my dear friends and family) pulled together to help the children impacted by Typhoon Haiyan was meeting those incredible kids in person glimpsing their courage and resourcefulness and seeing their station in life ever so slightly improve Visiting them was a powerfully humbling experience What is unique about this particular Ratmansky program?This program offers a diverse sampling of Alexei’s ABT creations from the Soviet-tinged yet somewhat abstract Symphony No 9 (part one of his Shostakovich trilogy) to Symposium into the heady realm of American music (Bernstein) which is based on an old Russian fairy tale and set to a whirlwind of a Stravinsky score These three works are distinct from one another poetic choreography and showcases this company’s technical and dramatic virtuosity Misty Copeland and Herman Cornejo in Firebird Misty Copeland and Roman Zhurbin in Firebird Thelma Golden will celebrate Lauren Halsey and U.K.-based singer Griff will take the stage featured A-list designers and Otis College standouts who earned scholarships for innovation in Fashion Design lawyers say Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe showed injuries consistent with a dog attack and plan to present a case against Chloe a German Shepherd who was re-homed by the owner's of the house where the cop's body was found in a snowbank Magazine’s takeaways on five notable topics from President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term consumers are stocking up on household items and bites from THEBlvd and Hinoki & the Bird School of Filmmaking Third-Year Films May 7 School of Filmmaking Fourth-Year Films May 16 Stella Abrera will dance the role of Sugar Plum Fairy on Dec Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in 2011 Contact Media Relations We encourage you to enable Javascript to enhance your enjoyment of our website ShareSaveLifestyleForbesLifeSpotlight on ABT Principal Dancer Stella AbreraByKristin Tablang ShareSaveThis article is more than 8 years old.Growing up she moved every few years due to her father’s work as a civil engineer which took her family all over the world—from Sydney to San Diego her parents prioritized one thing: pinpointing the best ballet school for her “It took a lot of time and energy to find a good fit in each city that we moved to but it was so great that they made the effort because dance was kind of the one constant for me,” she says “I was always super comfortable and in my element at a studio Ballet was a huge part of my identity from the get-go.” Abrera fell in love with the art form at the age of five after her older sister urged her to enroll at a local school down the hill from their Pasadena home Alessandra Ferri were my heroes,” she says And her parents deeply supported her passion from the start “My dad instilled in me many of the values he puts into his career and hard work,” while her mother—a concert pianist—helped cultivate her creativity “She was always playing classical music,” she recalls She entered the American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice at 17 and joined the company's corps three months later and luckily I’ve been able to stick with it ever since,” she says Stella Abrera plays Clara in 'The Nutcracker.' Photo: Rosalie O'Connor Last year the 37-year-old was promoted to principal dancer becoming the first Filipino-American figurante to accomplish the feat—one she likely would’ve achieved sooner if not for a crippling back injury that rendered her unable to take the stage for two years “It took about 18 months from the point of injury to my first performance and then I relapsed and was out again for another six months,” she recounts But even as she struggled to walk—let alone dance—she stayed positive “I was super stubborn about it and kept forging ahead trying different things to help speed up the healing,” she says remembering how one of her dearest friends and fellow dancers sacrificed a few hours each day for four months to teach her a class suited to her level at that moment “Every day we would build a little bit more “It taught me how to better manage my body and pace myself,” she says Stella Abrera in 'The Bright Stream.' Photo: Rosalie O'Connor Abrera celebrated her 20th anniversary at ABT—an occasion the company feted at the end of her debut performance as Aurora in Sleeping Beauty at the Metropolitan Opera House She was greeted on stage with a flurry of confetti and friends and family who included her husband and former ABT soloist A photo posted by Stella Abrera (@stellaabreradetsky) on Jul 1 A photo posted by Stella Abrera (@stellaabreradetsky) on May 29 Abrera portrays the title role in 'Giselle.' Photo: MIRA among the greatest highlights of being a dancer lies in the storytelling it entails “I try to think about how I would organically—using my body and physicality and my own imagination and creativity—best express the narrative,” she reveals characterization is just as important as technique Her portrayal of Lise in La Fille Mal Gardée last May is one of her all-time favorites She’s a multilayered character—sweet but spunky And if there's one part she'd love to play but has yet to have the chance to it would be dancing to Chopin in Jerome Robbins' Other Dances “That’s what’s so magical about the art form—it’s fleeting and not even a video can capture the whole essence of it because it’s something that you can only feel and experience in person.” A photo posted by Stella Abrera (@stellaabreradetsky) on May 7 When she’s not at the studio or in the spotlight “Cooking is my main hobby—though eating is a close second,” she divulges “I realize it’s an unusual fantasy,” she laughs “but living in an olive orchard—next to a vineyard and one rolling hill over from a bakery—doesn’t sound too shabby.” Skip to content, or skip to search American Ballet Theatre’s Stella Abrera’s dancing invites the attention of a thoughtful and patient viewer: one who will linger on the willowy extension of her arms the otherworldly way she seems to float across the stage Even as she proved herself in numerous principal roles, it seemed like Abrera might be a career soloist at ABT. Then, on June 30, the same day Misty Copeland became the first African-American principal dancer in ABT’s history After 20 years at the company (and at the advanced-for-a-ballerina age of 37) she is its first Filipina-American principal ballerina Copeland got magazine covers; Abrera’s moment was only captured in a black-and-white Instagram photo by dancer Daniil Simkin in which company members applaud her as sits cross-legged on the studio floor weeping with what looks like a mixture of joy and relief A photo posted by Daniil Simkin (@daniil) on Jun 30 Broadway Off-Broadway Off-Off Broadway Cabaret Dance Opera Classical Music Nashville Minneapolis / St. Paul Connecticut Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles WEST END UK Regional Canada Australia / New Zealand Europe Asia Latin America Africa / Middle East TV/Movies Music began her studies with Philip and Charles Fuller and Cynthia Young at Le Studio in Pasadena She continued her studies with Lorna Diamond and Patricia Hoffman at the West Coast Ballet Theatre in San Diego From:  Photo Flash: Get A First Look At American Ballet Theatre's GISELLE From:  Photo Flash: American Ballet Theatre Hosts 2017 Holiday Benefit in Beverly Hills and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows © 2025 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Privacy Policy Philippines — When actress and singer Lea Salonga got the invitation to perform with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square during its “Himig ng Pag-asa” tour or “melody of hope” tour stop in the Philippines “I don’t know if that there are that many artists that have had the opportunity to perform more than one time with the choir,” Salonga said Monday at a press conference in advance of the choir and orchestra’s concerts on Feb The concert will also be live on the choir’s YouTube channel Wednesday The choir so far has performed in two concerts 23 and a sacred music concert at the University of Santos Tomas on Feb Salonga will be one of guest artists along with singer-songwriter Ysabelle Cuevas and TV personalities Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Paolo Abrera 4 among CNN Philippines programs aired on Dec according to information from Bonneville Distribution There are 323 members of the 360-voice volunteer choir on tour and 68 members of the orchestra These “musical missionaries” are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days and choir members have a monthslong audition process The choir’s origins date back to 1847 when pioneer members of the Church formed a choir to sing at a conference of the Church weeks after arriving in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley “I think the warmth of the people will definitely be felt by everyone,” Salonga said Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Paolo Abrera, a husband and wife duo who are TV personalities and news anchors, said during the press conference that they went to the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s 2023 Christmas concert in Salt Lake City Entrata-Abrera said that when you see the choir members onstage She liked seeing them backstage as she could see each person’s excitement “It was such a great opportunity to see both sides of the choir and it’s a rare opportunity,” she said Paolo Abrera said that “it’s one thing to listen to the music to watch a television special.” But to “be present in the Conference Center and just feel the energy the choir puts out — it’s a totally different experience Cuevas said that growing up in the Philippines she would hear the Tabernacle Choir at the twice-a-year general conference “Even before I understood English very well I always connected with the music,” she said In response to a question about how music can help foster a sense of community Leavitt pointed to why music is meaningful “I believe that it’s because music is a very special and universal language “I believe that it’s speaking to a part of us that is divine.” Music will continue to be part of people’s lives because it speaks to them in a personal way said that the hospitality and warmth of the Filipino people has been “unparalleled in our many world travels The more than 320 singers and 68 orchestra members have been rehearsing and preparing for the concerts with “joy and love in their hearts.” “I think you will feel that as well as what will hopefully be a magnificent wall of sound,” Wilberg added an audience member told him “that was more than a concert Leo Marcelo, a choir member who is a Philippine native said he knew that the Filipinos would be welcoming but the response at the concerts was “beyond what I imagined.” “The reaction of the Filipinos — the warmth and the welcoming — is out-of-this-world amazing,” Marcelo said He’s been able to visit with family members who live in the Philippines 5-12 will be to Florida and Georgia in the southeastern United States The livestream of the concert will air on the choir’s YouTube channel Wednesday Local Church leaders are encouraging people to gather to watch it It will be up for several months after the concert During the 2023 tour stop in Mexico City, 500,000 people who watched the streamed concert Welcome to Life Lessons, a series of interviews with different peronalities about their inspirations, insights, struggles, and challenges in life. She is the first Filipina-American to reach the rank of principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Stella Abrera fell in love with ballet as a young girl earning each and every opportunity through hard work and skill she suffered an injury that could have put her out of her commission but perseverance and love for dance won out in the end she danced the role of Princess Tea Flower in ABT’s production Can a man/woman really have
it all 
I suppose that that all depends on whether you’re the type of person who counts your blessings or the type who is never quite satisfied Having loved ones with whom to share experiences with What’s something new you learnt about life At what age did you finally feel comfortable in your own skin What’s the best/worst decision you have ever made?
 The worst was probably not marrying him sooner What does integrity mean to
you? Can you name a few who have integrity?
 I think a person with integrity follows through with his or her own principles What’s the best advice you would give your younger self 
Listen to your instincts and be true
to yourself What would you want your legacy to be?
 I would want to be remembered for being kind  Like this story? Susbribe to our weekly newsletter to be updated on the latest news on Society and Culture.