WRITE IT DOWN, MAKE IT HAPPEN

I am going to be an EIC

a pro makeup artist

and a 5-goals-per-game striker by 24!

-- inspired by Henriette Anne Klauser's Write it Down, Make it Happen :)

BTS: KRISTINE HERMOSA COVER SHOOT FOR ZEN HEALTH MAY-JUNE 2010

Among the many photo shoot's I've managed to organize is Kristine Hermosa's for ZEN Health Magazine May-June 2010 issue :)


Photos by Ria Regino
Makeup by Mickey See for Shu Uemura
Hairstying by John Valle for L'Oreal Professionnel
Styling by Miko Calma
Clothes by Cinderella
Shot on Location at Dusit Thani Manila
Special thanks to Ms. Danelle Ruth Palang


BTS shots taken by V. Glenn Orion

ALL PHOTOS ARE OWNED BY ZEN HEALTH MAGAZINE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

ENJOY!!!

WATER COLOR PALETTE? LIPSTICK PALETTE? C'MOWN!

One of the perks of working for a magazine, a lifestyle magazine at that, is getting to have first-hand info and yeah, latest scoops on everything under the sun. Each time we get to have a photoshoot, I always find myself standing near the makeup artist; observing each stroke of the brush and how colors or unimaginable combination meld into one awesomely beautiful piece of art.

Stupid and non-stupid (:p) questions spurt outta my mouth whenever I get near our guest makeup artist. And it always amazes me that I leave the shoot venue with a handful of tips for me to bring home. One such tip is if you got lotsa lipsticks and you've got lotsa clients to do makeup on, MAC's Owen Sarmiento let me on in a secret. He showed me his trolley and there I saw, palettes and palettes of lipsticks housing various shades of MACs...and then the secret spilled:

"I just emptied and thoroughly washed water color palettes then turned it into lipstick palettes. Cheap yet functional," Owen said.


Woohoo! So months after the revelation, I immediately headed out to my fave bookstore and bought a clear, plastic water color palette; emptied and thoroughly washed it like Owen instructed and scooped some from the tubes and into their new home! :p

Here's my own:




Kayoooot right? :p

CALIFORNIA BERRY: Cup o' Goodness Sans the Guilt

Ice cream or yogurt?

Two options. One critical decision you’d have to think of before indulging yourself to yumminess. For those natural dessert lovers, the former would definitely be their major choice. Health-conscious dessert-lovers, however, would probably opt for the latter as it has been well known to be healthy and good for the body.

How about mixing the great qualities of these two equally delicious desserts into one product that is sure to melt your heart of cravings?

People nowadays are getting more health-conscious; the growing popularity of healthy foods being offered in the market is really inevitable. Yogurt, for one, has been experiencing warm and favorable reception since it’s been introduced in the market. In the Philippines, yogurt is being enjoyed more when it’s frozen or ice cream-like, thus, the bloom of the frozen yogurt business in the country.

Yogurt’s rich, creamy texture is the result of milk fermentation and coagulation—adding a tangy, slightly astringent characteristic with unique zest in its flavor. Aside from its undeniable addicting taste, yogurt is loaded with calcium, phosphorus, Vitamin B, riboflavin, protein, lactic acid while helping you to lose weight as well.

The presence of live cultures or bacteria in yogurt helps to restore the intestinal tract to normal after antibiotic intake, at the same time help reduce the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines. Also known as probiotics, it also helps in prevention of constipation and eases diarrhea.

The name CaliforniaBerry was derived from a simple reason that it

originated in California with assorted berries as a favorite pair of most consumers of the product. Undeniably, the brand has established a real asset of its own and has gained product patronage many years ago, reflecting the amazing benefits and cutting edge features of authentic yogurt in each cup.

Enjoy the plain, fat-free CaliforniaBerry yogurt starting at an affordable price of Php60 for small, Php85 for medium, and Php115 for large. Order a medium or large size and add pizzazz to its unique flavor by adding your favorite three topping combinations for a price of only Php30. Toppings available are from candies, cereal, chocolates, to syrup—with fresh fruits and nuts as constant favorite varieties. Chocoholics and candy lovers will surely go crazy with chocolate chip, white chocolate chip, M&M’s, cookies and cream, rainbow sprinkles, and marshmallow. While rice crispies, almond clusters, blueberry, cherry, strawberry, green apple, peach, pineapple, mango, kiwi, and banana double up the health benefits and taste of CaliforniaBerry’s silky smooth, natural yogurt. Customers can also try CaliforniaBerry’s Signature® Flavors.

So, the next time you feel like satiating for a cold ice cream but wary of its horrifying calorific contents, switch to CaliforniaBerry and indulge your senses in their nutritious yogurt selections. After all, enjoying a dessert doesn’t always have to be guilt-ridden.

MUTYA NG PILIPINAS 2010 BEAUTIES

Did makeup for these Mutya ng Pilipinas 2010 beauties! Many thanks to Mama Lourd, Master Jim and the rest of the team for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime! :D

BEA'S WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENT

Another WEEEEE moment! Just saw this in Bea Alonzo's official website! Wahoo!!! Many many thanks to Monch Navales, Nina Ferrer, and ofkors, Bea Alonzo for the opportunity and for gracing ZEN Health's cover!







Oh, crap! I still have to finish the cover story...Almost forgot! :p


Later! :)

BTS: BEA ALNOZO COVER SHOOT FOR ZEN HEALTH MAGAZINE'S JAN-FEB 2011 ISSUE

One helluva afternoon cover shoot with Bea Alonzo at The Bellevue Manila just happened yesterday. Woohoo!!! Of course, it won't be possible without the supah supportive ZH staff and THE DREAM TEAM namely Doc Marlon Pecjo, Brent Sales, Christine Duque, and Patrick Galang.

Quick quick but fab shoot. Great food. Great and hilarious staff and company, I must say. Non-stop kwento and chikahan from aftie til night. Hands down to the ZH Staff and The Dream Team :)

(Lay-out 1)

(Doc Marlon, Brent Sales, and Silver)

(Mastah MUA Ms. Christine Duque and Bea Alonzo)

(Zas me, doing ze interbyuuuu)

(Ze mastah stylist Patrick Galang and Red)

ALL PHOTOS ARE OWNED BY ZEN HEALTH MAGAZINE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

BEA ALONZO ON ZEN HEALTH MAGAZINE'S JAN-FEB 2011 ISSUE! :D

I'm soooo excited and I just can't hide eeeet! :p We, at ZEN Health, are gettin' busy with the 2nd Anniversary issue featuring Bea Alonzo! Woohoo! :D

Photo Challenge Day 4: A PHOTO OF THE LAST PLACE YOU WENT ON HOLIDAY

This one's from last year's company Christmas Partey. Photo taken at the World Trade Center :D

Photo Challenge Day 3: A PHOTO THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

Babies make me happy! There's something about those chubby cheeks and heart-warming smiles and coos that make me want to squeeze em tight, put em in my pocket, and carry em the whole day!!! :D Good God! Thank you for creating babies! :D

Photo below belongs to Beatriz Lim, my boyfriend's cousin, who was once the cutest bouncing bibi gerl and now the sexiest and prettiest woman of em all! :D

Photo Challenge Day 2: A PHOTO OF YOURSELF A YEAR AGO

Out take from Tinker Bell Magazine photo shoot :)

Photo Challenge

Kinda felt giddy upon finding this happy happy photo challenge list from my friends' blogs (Angie Vianzon and Jorelle Balitbit) so I'll give it a try.

day 1. your facebook profile photo
day 2. a photo of yourself a year ago
day 3. a photo that makes you happy
day 4. a photo of the last place you went on holiday
day 5. a photo of you
day 6. a photo that makes you laugh
day 7. a photo of someone you love
day 8. a photo of your favourite band/musician
day 9. a photo of your family
day 10. a photo of you as a baby
day 11. a photo of your favourite film(s)
day 12. a photo of you
day 13. a photo of your best friend(s)
day 14. a photo of one of your favourite family members
day 15. a photo of you and someone you love
day 16. a photo of you at the last party you went to
day 17. a drunk photo of you
day 18. a photo of one of your classes
day 19. a photo of you on a school trip
day 20. a photo of something you enjoy doing
day 21. a photo of you standing up
day 22. a photo of your town
day 23. a photo of your friend as a baby
day 24. a photo of you that your hair looks nice in
day 25. a photo of a night you loved
day 26. a photo of your favorite weekend
day 27. a photo of last summer
day 28. a photo of what you ate today
day 29. a photo of someone you find attractive
day 30. a photo of you when you were happy

Today's Day 1 so here's my Facebook profile photo:

Thank You Day 1!

(this one's my desktop wallpaper which I customized. Got the image from google images)

Since I won't be around ze office this morning to present the editorial department's share of God's wisdom due to dysmenorrhea, might as well write a bit about our topic in this blog.

I chose Gratitude because it simply feels so crisp, light, refreshing, and positive. Since I believe I was born a whiner, I think it won't hurt to say 'thank you' every so often to balance, or shall I say, to rid me off the negative disposition I have as a whiner.

Today, I shall start my THANK YOU DAY 1 :D (yes, that smiley is necessary to let you know how serious I am with this thing :p ...and another smiley)

I am thankful of my dysmenorrhea I am having today. Weird. But despite the pain, the cramps, and the LBM (oops, tmi :p) it brings I still find it relieving that it's the exact same thing that reminds and at the same time assures me that hey! I am still fully functional and I can still bear a child.

So there, thank you heaps Papa God for the pain of a reminder :)


Hellew! Hellew! Today, what are you thankful for?

Breaking Away From The Bonds of BDD

“I hate my calves, my pores are huge, my nail beds suck, I have man shoulders”—do these lines (taken from the movie Mean Girls), or its related terms, often reverberate in your head as you glance at your reflection? Or worse, have you become a jigsaw puzzle of someone else’s body parts? Take heed—you might be suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Defined as a psychiatric illness or condition where a subjective feeling of ugliness or repulsiveness despite the person’s normal appearance exists, BDD causes the person to be occupied with the imagined defect which is blown out of proportion. This, in turn, starts to affect the person’s physical, emotional, mental, relational, and occupational wellbeing.

“Basically the person would be pre-occupied with one defect which might really be a defect, but the loathing and the repulsion is not proportional to the actual defect.” explained Dr. Randy Dellosa, psychiatrist and doctor of psychology. “There is also an exaggerated repulsiveness towards that body part.”

If you think you’re ugly, say aye!

Although not all people who think they’re ugly or are sometimes dissatisfied with how they look are sufferers of BDD. But those who obsessively regard themselves as a huge pile of crap despite their normal, and even appear beautiful which results to numerous mild to reconstructive surgeries might do.

This holds true because according to Dr. Anna Marie Lansangan of Shimmian Manila, there are patients who will seek the help of a cosmetic surgeon before that of a psychiatrist.

“Once they have their surgery, their self loathing’s supposed to end but there are some who are never satisfied,” said Dr. Dellosa. “Another indication is how they treat the feedback from others. Most people will say that there’s nothing wrong and then the person would feel that there really is something wrong. There’s now a mismatch between what’s real and the perceived ugliness where it’s about self perception more than what is real.”

Dr. Lansangan said that even in a cosmetic surgery clinic, they can easily spot a person who might be suffering from BDD as the key symptom is the person’s strong delusional belief that a body part is defective or deformed in some way which is objectively unremarkable.

Other signs and symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, include frequent trips in front of the mirror or avoiding it conversely; being self-conscious; avoidance of public; use of too much makeup or clothes to camouflage the self-inflicted imperfections.

The evolution of insecurity

Ages ago, women with love handles and voluptuous physiques were deemed attractive, almost-perfect, and beautiful. Take a look at old paintings of women and find that chubbiness equates to attractiveness and beauty. And, FYI, men in those times found those kinds of women sexy and suitable for motherhood because, according to Dr. Dellosa, being fleshy and plump gives the impression that you can be a good mother. The reason is that plumpness is associated with good mothering because if you’re a kid, who would you like to embrace more? Of course the mother with a plumper figure.

Now, scour the metro for a chubby woman sporting the latest fashion statement up in a billboard today and you’ll find close to nothing. No thanks to Kate Moss for the waif-like body mania, almost all women followed suit. And because Kate Moss is a model, one budding designer justified the want and need for this kind of physique and said that clothes look and fit perfectly on models with 36-24-36 or lesser vital stats.

That may hold true for models, but not for the common women who have different needs and who don’t work for the catwalk. So another angle looked into is the involvement and the influence of the media.

Considered another insecurity purveyor, Dr. Dellosa explained that advertisements in radio, print, or televisions are always meant to make people feel bad about themselves and to buy the product thereafter. And for you to buy the product, they have to ingrain subconsciously that there’s something wrong with you or that there’s something lacking or there’s something ugly about you.

Dr. Lansangan believes otherwise.

“Media may play a great role in portraying a “must be figure” or a must be look” to be recognized as beautiful but I must say that it’s not the cause,” she said. “But it may somehow intensify the BDD patient’s over-concern on their flawed body part.”

If it’s not entirely the media’s doing, then who else’s?

“Parents might inflict low self esteem on their kids,” said Dr. Dellosa. “If parents tell the kid that he or she is ugly or ridiculed or made fun of some body part of the kid. Intentional or otherwise, it can contribute to the emotional wound or trauma and this lessens the kid’s self esteem. If the kid feels bad, of course he or she’ll assume higher and even unreachable standards.”

Other than the physical factors, Dr. Dellosa added that there is also an internal aspect that has to be considered. BDD can be genetic. There might be a passed gene that has the BDD gene. It may be a biochemical imbalance in the brain because it has been found that people who have BDD sometimes have serotonin imbalance which is also seen in people with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD.

The guys feel it, too

Contrary to the popular belief, men feel insecure, too which might lead to the onset of BDD. Dr. Dellosa knew this guy who was so preoccupied with his pimples and pock marks which were very negligible and totally forgettable. In fact when I saw him I didn’t even notice it until he pointed my attention to it.

Because of it, he started to become socially withdrawn and became very timid. He wouldn’t go out of the house, eventually suffered from agoraphobia and affected his schooling.

The right side of the mirror

If you think you are under BDD’s wicked spell, break loose from its bonds by submitting yourself to anti-psychotic medications and anti-depressants if no amount of reconstructive surgery can alleviate your concerns, suggested Dr. Lansangan. The onset of BDD is insidious and the concern about one’s appearance develops gradually. Indeed, patients often brood about their imagined defect for several years before consulting a physician.

Also, you should get an evaluation from a professional if it’s a holistic evaluation where there will be a triad of treatment which includes the serotonin balancers that are actually anti-depressants; psychotherapy to enhance your self-esteem and tweak your standards of beauty and handsomeness; and wellness therapies so that you will feel good even when the medications and psychotherapies have ended, Dr. Dellosa proposed.

Dr. Randy Dellosa (http://randydellosa.blogspot.com) shares these tips on how to battle BDD:

1. Accept that you cannot please everyone. The moment you set yourself to pleasing everyone is the moment you succumb to loneliness, remorse, and dissatisfaction.
2. Choose what you read, hear or watch because not all of them are real.
3. Rather that having a high standard of beauty, find a person partner who will accept you for your flaws and strengths. If you think you’re ugly and you find somebody who loves you then consider it true love
4. Choose friends who love themselves and who inspire you to live healthily and gratefully.

WELLNESS: The Global Mala Project 2010

(photo by Edsel Ochoa)

The Global Mala Project is uniting yoga, service and collective action. The purpose of the project is to bring the global yoga community together from every continent, school and approach to form a "mala around the earth", through collective practices based upon the sacred cycle of 108 (108 Surya Namaskar, Mantra, Kriya, Meditation). These events will be happening simultaneously in cities including: New York, Munich, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Tokyo, etc.

Manila has been on the map since day 1, thanks to Teresa Herrera, a dedicated yogini who leads and produces the Manila chapter of this worldwide event.

On Fall Equinox and the United Nations International Day of Peace, studios/teachers/organizations across the globe create yoga celebrations, raising funds & awareness for some of the most essential issues of our times.

The funds raised from this celebration will go to organizations such as: TREES FOR THE FUTURE (www.plant-trees.org)

TUBBATAHA FOUNDATION (www.tubbatahareef.org)

Shiva Rea (www.shivarea.com) is the Catalyst for this world wide event. And the Manila chapter will be produced/led by TERESA HERRERA (www.teresaherrera.net) Some teachers in support of the event are: Corey Wills, Roland Dela Cruz, Francesca Regala, Al Jerreau Galang, Tristan Choa, Jeannie Javelosa, and many more.

This event will not be possible without the support of the following sponsors: DOVE, VASELINE LOTION, THE GROVE by ROCKWELL, TEAM MANILA, THE FARM, AURA ATHLETICA, YOGITOES, CERTIFIED CALM, LIFESTYLE NETWORK, VELVET CHANNEL, MYX, MAGIC 89.9, U92 FM, PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER, METRO, METRO SOCIETY, METRO HOME, CHALK MAGAZINE, FOOD MAGAZINE, WORKING MOM, COCOON MAGAZINE, ONE SPORT MAGAZINE, CLICK THE CITY, SPORTS MANILA.



WHAT IS A MALA? A MALA is a string of 108 beads used for meditation & prayer. It is used for counting as you repeat a mantra—much like the Catholic rosary. And 108 is a very sacred number and has a great deal of significance in Buddhism, Hinduism, Science, and in Yoga. The idea is that every city involved in the Global Mala Project represents 1 bead, and as we celebrate & practice all together, (since it will be happening simultaneously in different parts of the world) we form a MALA, uniting us all.

WELLNESS: Hilot and The Pinoy's Touch

What has been considered as the Pinoy’s traditional choice of stress-buster is now one of the world’s famous and sought-after massage therapies to date. After its standardization, it has garnered hordes of patrons than ever.

More than a thousand years ago, Hilot has been in existence; providing first aid assistance to illness-stricken townsfolk and responding to the community’s various medical needs—even midwifery and diagnostics.

Fast forward decades later and the generically known Hilot sa Pilay has evolved into a more developed, elaborate and now standardized Filipino Hilot.

The Pinoy’s healer

Bibiano “Boy” Fajardo, president of the Association of Traditional Health Aid Givers Inc. or ATHAG, suffered from muscular dystrophy when he was 27years old and through Hilot was he cured in less than a year. And with the aid of herbal baths and herbal concoctions that cleansed his system, he eventually reached the pink of his health in no time.

“Hilot is a healing process and has been a part of my life since I was 20. I was already into it,” said Fajardo. “When I got sick of muscular dystrophy, which was incurable even at this time with the Western medicine, I was healed by albularyos (native medicine men). After that I committed to myself that I will go further into its study.”

This healing technique is not just the usual drink-the-medicine-and-get-cured process but more of the balancing of energies and the body’s four elements.

In Philwell.org, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, integrative healer medical doctor and Cathy Turvill, president of Philippine Wellness Association, explained that “humankind and the environment are interrelated and interconnected through energy channels in the universe and in the human body. Thus the focus of the Hilot is not just body (or muscle or tissue manipulation) by hand, but also the harnessing of bio-energies from the following: the universe (cosmic, spiritual, and ethereal), the environment (earth, wind, fire and water), botanicals (leaves, flowers, aromatic oils) and the healers themselves. The Filipino Healer or Hilot Massage Therapist becomes the medium for harnessing all these bio-energies to bring about balance, harmony, health and wellness.”

Setting standards

Most of the spas in and out of the metro now offer Hilot and has included it in their spa menu. In fact, its soothing effects and benefits can be experienced in the rest f the world, too. Much of the accolade goes to the combined efforts of PhilWell and the Department of Tourism to promote Hilot in the world.

Cathy Turvill said that when they first put up PhilWell, one of their key thrusts is to create a Filipino brand of massage or spa therapy that they could promote.

“Since then we saw the need to standardize Hilot because before, the techniques and styles for executing the therapy and massage are hodge-podge. We cannot sell something unless we do it properly. So we started working with the Department of Health, the Department of Tourism and TESDA to come up with the basic and standards of Hilot,” she said.

What makes Hilot truly and distinctly Filipino is the use of warm banana leaf strips with droplets of extra virgin coconut oil before and after the massage. According to Dr. Galvez Tan and Turvill, naturally ionized banana leaves “act on the molecular and bio-energy as manifested on the skin and body parts to determine which areas need an infusion of massage. Banana leaves also provide astringent and cleansing effect to the body.”

Hilot and the world

In a recent article in Malaya titled “‘Hilot’ now available in Japan’s high-end beauty clinic”, Takano Yuri related that "a specialized wellness tour triggered my interest of to visit the Philippines and experience the traditional Hilot. I discovered its benefits in enhancing health and beauty, a main reason for including this in our line of services to be offered in all Takano Yuri clinics in Japan."

Thus, its debut promotion in Takano Yuri beauty salons in Japan.

Apart from being included the salons’s exquisite roster of services, HIlot has also been registered in the International Language of Spas and was picked up by Spa Finder 2007-2008, a trend spotter based in New York, added Turvill.