FEAST. GIVE. LOVE.

The Lunar New Year is all about giving. As I grew up under my Granny’s charge, I had the privilege to see and understand what giving means. As the festive season approached, Mama would be seen preparing weeks ahead, planning what she’d buy from the market (“you save if you stock up earlier”), toiling at the stove days before reunion dinner (“buah keluak tastes better after a few days”) and the First Day family lunch when everyone gathered at our Siglap home. I never once heard her complain.

FEBRUARY 2016

The Lunar New Year is all about giving. As I grew up under my Granny’s charge, I had the privilege to see and understand what giving means. As the festive season approached, Mama would be seen preparing weeks ahead, planning what she’d buy from the market (“you save if you stock up earlier”), toiling at the stove days before reunion dinner (“buah keluak tastes better after a few days”) and the First Day family lunch when everyone gathered at our Siglap home. I never once heard her complain.

She derived such joy seeing everyone happy, as they ate her dishes with gusto. From Mama, I’ve learnt that giving should come from a joyful heart and a generous spirit – you give because you want to give, not thinking about what you’ll be getting in exchange. It’s a demonstration of love.

And that’s the same spirit that reverberates through the four women in “The Beauty of Giving”, on pg 30. The Weekly serves to inspire you, our readers, and I’m sure, like me, you’ll admire how these women are touching countless lives with their I-can-change-the-world attitude and heart work.

What’s not so hard work is finding the perfect outfit come CNY. We’ve got gorgeous dresses and the chic-est slipon shoes (because who has time to fiddle with straps when you’re getting in and out of homes), plus the prettiest goodluck makeup colours to brighten up your complexion (just check out actress Liv Lo’s beautiful pictures on pg 44).

And what’s CNY without food? Don’t miss celebrity chef Kylie Kwong’s feast, specially created for The Weekly, on pg 106. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

FROM FAR LEFT:

So proud that our excolleague Charlotte Goh is giving her heart to the “helping profession” as the advocacy director, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre; Impress your guests with celeb chef Kylie Kwong’s prosperous recipes; Senior Beauty Writer Elizabeth Lee brings out actress-model Liv Lo’s romantic side with shades of pink.

IN MEMORY

As we were preparing this issue for print, we were informed of the passing of one of our own. Elaine Kwong, Editor-in-Chief of The Malaysian Women’s Weekly, had put up a strong fight, but finally succumbed to cancer. How she dealt with the disease was indicative of her character – strong and courageous. She touched many lives through her work at The Weekly, and we dedicate this issue to her.