HAS it really been a year already? It wasn't too long ago when we featured ABS-CBN's "Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko" a year ago on the cover, then there was Lopez Museum's 50th anniversary several weeks later, then OML's very special milestone, the May 2010 elections and ABSCBN's coverage, and now we've almost reached the end of another year again. Without a doubt, this has been a year of highs, of records and awesome wins, although there were some low points here and there. Take a short walk down memory lane as we revisit all these in our customary yearender on page 5.

Operationally, the Lopez Group has plenty of things to be thankful for, as record revenues have been notched by ABS-CBN in particular. The other listed firms are not far behind, turning in their own multiple-digit financial performance as well. The accolades and honors have also poured in, including chairman emeritus Oscar M. Lopez's newest honoris causa from Ateneo, chairman Manuel M. Lopez's appointment as envoy to Japan, plus a raft of honors at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards.

As we write this there are still a couple of weeks to go before Christmas, and we know most of you haven't started filling your list yet. There are some great gift ideas in our Christmas feature this issue, which includes offerings from ABS-CBN Merchandising, ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. and ICanServe Foundation. To get you even more in the mood for the holidays, we paid a visit to Power Plant Mall to check out what they've got in store for us. In addition to the kind of Christmas celebration we've loved and anticipated every year for the past decade, Power Plant Mall has new stores that will positively take your breath away. But don't just take our word for it, gather your friends and family and make sure you calendar a major shopping trip to Manila's fashionable mall sooner than later!

Atty. Jake Almeda Lopez came over last month to personally say thank-you for the article published in our November issue ("The old-fashioned loyalty of Jake Almeda Lopez"). Even if it carried no byline, Atty. Jake said, "Only Boo [Chanco] could have written about all those. Who else was there?" He also clarified that his father is Domingo B. Lopez, an oversight that was definitely not Mr. Chanco's. We apologize for the error.

Let us bid the old year farewell and welcome 2011 with our leaders' good tidings and appreciation for a job well done, on page 5. As OML says in his Christmas message, we have a lot to look forward to in the months