It was only when I met a skincare consultant, got interested in Cosmo and Marie Claire, and realized that I was not young anymore that I discovered the importance and benefits of protecting my skin from the sun. I also learned that whitening creams and lotions are not necessarily the same as sunblock creams.

My first sunblock was an old brand from L’oreal, one I don’t see in stores anymore (at least not locally). I then moved on to try other brands like Mary Kay, VMV, and other L’oreal brands. Although most of them indicate oil free or non-greasy, at the end of the day my face always turns out shiny and greasy.

I recently fell in love with two brands of organic skincare that offers their own sunblock product. One of them is Mario Badescu’s (MB) Suncare SPF-30. I was told by the girl at the store counter that it was perfect for my oily skin so I immediately bought it.

Like other sunblock creams I have tried, this one went on thick but non-greasy. It really did not feel lightweight when I put it on my face so I was prepared to be disappointed about paying a high price for it. An hour later though, my skin thoroughly absorbed it and there was no evidence of oil or grease on my face. At noon, my face was still oil-free and I must admit, my makeup was still intact. I could feel my smile reach my ears. I have had oily skin ever since I can remember and it was a treat to be oil-free for once.

I cannot tell you the difference among all those products I have tried. I can only say that MB certainly works for me!

Another sunblock that I accidentally got acquainted with is Leyende Face in the Sun Face sunblock. I bought it after I had my diamond peel treatment. The clinic that I went to unfortunately did not offer to put on sunblock on my face after the treatment and instead gave me advice that I better put on sunblock before I go out and expose my face to the sun. Good thing I remembered that Leyende sold sunblock so I immediately ran to the Eco Market stall and got myself one. I had to put it on right there at the store as my husband was already calling me up so I could meet him at Serendra. Since I had to cross the street in the hot sun to get there, I wanted to make sure my face did not burn.

Leyende’s sunblock is the exact opposite of MB’s such that it felt light on my fingertips and even lighter on my face. It was instantly absorbed and it instantly dried up before I even stepped out into the sun. It left my skin cool and supple and of course oil-free. I love it!

So I am now a loyal fan of both these brands and I usually stay with what works best on my skin rather than what is in or what is most expensive.

What about you? What is your suncare regimen?

Off I went to Clarity Aesthetic Center hoping to get myself into a diamond peel session to get my skin cleared up as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there were way more people that woke up early and got there before me than I had anticipated. Frustrated, I left to see if there were other places in the mall that I could go to for my DP session.

Skin 101 Dermatology and Cosmetic Clinic was on the same floor as Clarity at the Market Market Mall.  The facade was a welcoming site and looked similar to how spa receptions would like more so than that of derma clinics. Which is why it beckoned to me. I inquired if they had an available slot for a walk in and they confirmed, yey!

I get whisked off into a common room for my session. A common room is one where there are multiple beds and machines to accommodate multiple clients at the same time. I wasn’t too hesitant because I was the only one in the room but not long after, another client arrived all giddy and chatty and I longed for the peace and quiet of a private room. I really wasn’t in the mood to hear all about how her day was too hectic yada yada yada. I then also realized why they had a sign in the room that said “Pls. don’t leave your valuables unattended”. With all the foot traffic that goes in and out of the room combined with your eyes being closed due to the treatment, you might never notice that your treasured purse is gone.

Skin 101’s diamond peel session is preluded by a glycolic peel. A solution was applied to my face that created a combined sensation of itch and prickling pain, although bearable. After two minutes, the solution was wiped off and the DP session began.

The aesthetician who did the work on my face had quite heavy hands. Either that or she must have figured I had cowhide for skin considering how hard she was scraping the tool on my face. I never experienced that when I had treatment in other skin clinics so I was really not liking it at all. More than once my eyes teared up because of the pain. When it was over, my skin felt raw but also very soft and tender. It was the one thing I was familiar with so it was encouraging. At least I got the correct results.

The price for the DP session was cheaper than I first thought at only Php 1000.00. But I didn’t expect to pay more for the treatment and the service that I got. For my next session, I might have to ask for another aesthetician or maybe just go back to Clarity even if I have to pay a lot more.

Skin 101 Dermatological and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

Market! Market!
4th Level, Market Market, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Tel. No.: 8443763 / 9941914

I would like to say I have become an expert with lip balms since I seem to hold considerable influence in the success of the lip balm manufacturing industry but I am not. I have yet to find the perfect perfect lip balm that I can definitely say will work not only for me, but for everyone like me as well.

Maybe my lips are holding a mutiny because of all the different products I have subjected it to plus all the licking and slobbering (eewww) it has undergone. But I did not have a choice. My lips’ thirst for moisture is harder to curb than my own.

When local stores of Crabtree and Evelyn ran out of their Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera lip balms, I went back to good old reliable Blistex. But my lips were thirsting for more. So I set out to find other products and brands that claim to offer relief for my dehydrated lips. My search led me to an organic range of products that seem to be all the range now.

Leyende, the story of skin.

From the Spanish word leyenda, meaning “legend” or “story,” Leyende is an emerging Filipino brand of handmade, natural and organic bath and body products with a modern, clean-minimalist sensibility.

Mostly sourced internationally, Leyende’s raw ingredients come from organically accredited farms and companies such as Plamil UK, Rain Forest Remedies, Honeybiz Australia Ltd., Agbang Karite Africa, among others. The local ingredients Leyende utilizes are wild Ylang-Ylang essence and infusions from the Ilocos region, organic virgin coconut oil, rosemary extract and lemongrass essence from Gold in Grass Corporation. Equally remarkable is Leyende’s simple, but eye-catching design for its reusable and recycled packaging.

– Courtesy of Leyende.com website

Leyende’s lip balm called Kiss Kiss Balm Balm, is a multi purpose moisturizer that you can use on your lips and cuticles plus use on burns and cuts. It is made of beeswax, calendula extract, sunflower oil and natural plant coloring. It comes in two variants: apple with green tea and froyo - berry yoghurt.

Their lip balms are packaged differently compared to the usual plastic tubes you see in stores. They come in small glass jars with tin covers that look oh so cute! The catch is that it weighs a ton (well not exactly but it does weigh as heavy as it looks), and it is kind of hard to lug it around especially for those who carry oh so tiny purses.

It is not sticky but it is kind of glossy on your lips. This is something that some people do not really like (like my sister), think lip sheen products. As soon as you put it on your lips though, it comes on light unlike most products that sort of sit on top of your lips until it gets wiped off. And because it becomes one with your lips, it lasts a little longer than most products. It also doesn’t encourage licking because it doesn’t exactly taste like its variant name.

My lips are now less dry than they were before just after 2 weeks of use. And because I still cannot shake my bad habit of licking my lips, I am still far from achieving the kind of soft lips that babies are born with. I still recommend this product to everyone looking for the same treatment that I have been searching for. I would add though that you have to think of alternatives to packaging if you don’t want to lug around a small bottle in your bag everyday.

Leyende Products can be purchased:
Online at Leyende.com or Leyende at Multiply or

Visit their branches at:
Crossings Department Store
Shangri-la Mall EDSA
Crossings: The Ramp
2/F Glorietta 3 Makati City
The Reading Room
Shop 32 Cubao Expo Araneta Center, Cubao, QC
EcoMarket
G/F Market! Market! Bonifacio Global City

I didn’t know anyone who had been there so I turned to my best friend, the Internet, and did my best to find out more about what the place had to offer. Although the place had their own website, and  I found quite a few blogs who have written about their experience, I couldn’t get an overall picture about what I need to prepare, what I need to do, and what exactly I would see when I get there.

What the heck, let’s just drive there, I tell my husband. And drive we did. Thinking that the new highway will cut our trip by more than half, we decided to head out later than we usually do when going on out of town trips. Unfortunately, that was a bad decision as we encountered heavy traffic on the way to SCTEX.

So we got there just before 1PM and found out that the dolphin friends show was about to start and the next one was scheduled for 430PM. What??! I then recalled how some of the blogs mentioned something about calling ahead to determine the schedule for the day. I just had to sigh and frown in frustration.

We still entered the park and moved to watch the dolphin friends show. Because we were late, that meant we had to watch from the sidelines under the heat of the summer sun at 1PM. The bleachers were packed and they were no longer letting anyone enter. Regardless of the lousy position, I managed to take a few shots of the show.

It was fun watching the show and watching my kids point and scream each time the dolphins did their tricks. I was only too glad when the show ended and I could sit down. 

When the crowd dispersed, I asked what now? No one in our group knew. The small piece of paper that contained the day’s schedule said the next event was a diving show. But where? Again, nobody knew. Following the sound of what seemed to be a crowd of people, we came to another viewing area with a small pool in the center. The pool was too small in my opinion but apparently it was deep enough for these professional drivers.

Now this show I like. Even if I sat under the sun trying hard not to sweat too much, I was totally entertained by the antics of these professional divers. More than once I screamed and squealed as they jumped and rolled, or turned, or spread their legs while dropping into the pool below. The divers actually performed a short skit before the dives which fooled quite a few people in the audience.

The next event was the sea lion show and we made sure we were at the viewing area ahead of show time but I guess everyone else had the same idea as we were the last people to be let in and was allowed to squeeze in at the center aisle. We actually had the perfect seats (although extremely uncomfortable) because we were front and center and saw all the fun that was happening on stage.

One thing I was concerned about was the state of the sea lions. I am not an activist and will not pretend I don’t like zoos and animal parks but I do feel a bit bad watching the sea lion crawl along the wet cement and perform for us. It looked totally unnatural to me. Oh well, I just hope they are really well taken cared of.

The next stop for us was the indoor aquarium. It was setup similar to Manila Ocean Park where you had to enter a dark enclosed area filled with several aquariums where you can see different colored and different sized fish. And similar to my experience at Ocean Park, there were not a few but several annoyingly ignorant (if not utterly stupid) people who totally disregarded the very clear instructions - "No tapping on the glass" and "No flash photography allowed". What is worse is that the adults were the ones asking their kids to pose in front of the glass cases so that they can take photos. And because it was dark, of course they had to use the camera flash. Duh!

I think the park has quite a bit to improve in terms of operations but it is still a great place to visit especially if its for your kids. At the end of the day, seeing the smiles of my sons were worth the stress my hubby and I went through for the whole trip. To minimize your stress, here are some things you need to consider when planning to go to Ocean Adventure.

• Plan to leave early so that you arrive at the park when it opens at 9AM. Since the show schedules change everyday (or every week), arriving early will ensure you get a big chance of enjoying an organized experience.
• Eat a heavy meal before you get to the park. Food is not allowed inside the park and the prices inside their cafe is out of this world especially since their cafe is more like a school canteen. Go figure.
• Bring bottled water. This is the only thing allowed inside the park and because you will be under the sun most of the time, its best to have something to drink.
• Ocean Adventure is located deep within Subic Bay Freeport Zone. It is nowhere near the main gate or even the Central Business District. It is located at the West Ilanin Forest on the way to Morong Gate. Unfortunately, I have to recommend that you take your car or rent one. If that is not possible, there are Taxi cabs provided by SBMA that are familiar enough with the area that they will be able to take you there. If you need detailed directions, check out the park’s website.
• Last tip: Enjoy!

Guest Information:
Park Hours - 9AM to 6PM daily
Admission Prices - Adult, Php450.00; Children below 12 and Senior Citizens, Php370.00

Contact Info:
(SUBIC) - 63-47-2529000
(MANILA) - 63-2-7063344
Email - info [at] oceanadventure [dot] com [dot] ph
Mailing address - Ocean Adventure, Camayan Wharf West Ilanin Forest Subic Bay Freeport Zone 2222 Philippines
** More pictures here.

So when we planned our trip to Subic for my son’s birthday, we planned to take SCTEX so that we can get to Subic (and back) in lesser time than we used to. Maybe this is why we really did not rush to head out early, instead ate breakfast at home first and left around 8AM already.

Traffic was light on Edsa except that part in Quezon City where you get near Balintawak, and we expected this already. What we did not expect though was the heavy traffic at North Luzon Expressway. My hubby and I started kidding around and saying that maybe everyone else was headed to Subic but a few hours later, we stopped laughing. It wasn’t funny that cars were at a standstill at NLEX going to DAU exit.

Traffic at a standstill at NLEX

After paying Php 174 in toll fees, I expected a smoother ride than our experience that day. Normally, I wouldn’t complain because really driving through NLEX is such a joy but that day was a nightmare. It took us almost 2 hours just to get through DAU tollway.

So maybe we had to suffer a bit so that we could truly appreciate what SCTEX has to offer. I must confess I was in awe when we entered SCTEX. It reminded me of highways and freeways in the US. The roads were wide, the surroundings were a vast expanse of lush greenery and rustic farmland. Not like what your eyes would feast on when you drive towards the South where your left and your right are flanked by commercial plants or houses or even villages.

I sincerely hope that this is the first time if not the only time that this will happen to drivers on NLEX. What a bummer if everytime you go to Subic, it takes about 4.5 hours which is more than what it used to take when there was no new highway to begin with.

Regardless, kudos to BCDA for this project!

Toll Fees you need to pay for a trip to Subic:
NLEX Tollway (Marilao) - Php 36.00
NLEX Tollway (Dau) - Php 138.00
SCTEX Tollway (Subic) - Php 112.00
Subic Bay Freeport Zone Tollway - Php 18.00

Okay, so now I am ducking for fear of being struck by lightning. Forgive me, but don’t you believe that it is frustrating to be this bosom-blessed in our own country? The main reason? There is no decent local brand that manufactures brassieres that fit C-cup and beyond. Not that there are no stores selling those, in fact many imported brands do. Check out Wacoal, Maidenform, Marks and Spencer, La Senza. These brands offer sizes that go until the 4th letter of the alphabet and even double that because these days, anything considerably less than that is looked at with pity.

For a nation inhabited by not-so-flat-chested females, I wonder why local manufacturers never thought to make money out of such a necessity to women. With women being a strong (if not strongest) consumer population, I’ll bet it will make some businessman a ton of money to actually focus on such a product. Stop with the flip flops, we know they’re great already! Start selling gorgeous bras that actually fit and make tons of money!

For years, I have had to put quite a bit aside so I could get myself some proper support. But really some of these products cost about Php3K! Each! Imagine buying one for everyday of the week, that’s Php21K! That would be all good if I could actually afford to spend that kind of money. Alas, belonging to the working class does not allow me to indulge in expensive lingerie. And good luck getting the hubby to buy me one. He would rather buy me my most coveted elba cooking range than spend on something that you would think he would enjoy looking at (or.. well, wink wink).

I just recently found out though that Bench Body has actually beefed up their line of brassieres and now offer sizes up to 38C. With their cute designs and affordable prices, I now think that there is hope for the locals. I haven’t actually bought one yet but I do love the designs and colors of their new line. Check it out ladies, it costs less than Php500. Now that’s a steal!

** Oh and before I go, the title of this post is just that, a title.

The pages of this month’s issue is filled with many goodbyes and many memorable and heartwarming articles on women and their journeys and strengths. So as a tribute to my favorite women’s mag, I am listing out some articles I have written that have been in one way or another been inspired by the articles, the women, the stories behind each issue of Marie Claire Philippines.

Au Revior MC! Here are some inspired posts that I have written. There are more but I have chosen those that clearly have been tagged specifically as being inspired by a particular article or issue.

Thanks MC for the good years and the good times. Cheers!

This ad is Lifestyle Network’s way of celebrating International Women’s Month. I did a whole essay on my incredible experience in our company’s celebration of IWD, where I met 3 empowered Filipinas who conquered Mt. Everest. This year, I am riding on Lifestyle’s method of celebrating it by publishing my numbers.

I am 33 years old
I am the 2nd of four siblings
I have 2 sons and 1 husband
I stand 5′2 in 3 inch stilettos
I used to own 75 pairs of shoes
I competed in 7 different sports and earned medals in 4
I danced at different performances of 3 famous musical artists
I was number 4 in my graduating class
I drink at least 1 cup of coffee a day
I have been driving cars for 11 years now
I wear a -3.75 prescription lens
I manage 7 projects and perform 3 roles
I have had more than 5 serious relationships and 1 fubu
I follow a 6-step makeup routine everyday
My car’s plate number ends in 7
I keep 8GB of music files of old songs and 14GB worth of pictures
I write for 3 blogs (apples-pie, kubiertos, and mother of 2)
I am active in 7 social media network sites
I am online 24 hours a day everyday

How about you? What are your numbers?

Because I have not traveled for a while, I had sent a shout out to my friends and contacts to get input on where we can spend our "second honeymoon". Truth be told, that thought is a thousand times more glamorous than the reality of my husband just needing some de-stressing.

Several suggestions later, I was told that there was this great place that could be found in Pampanga. Thanks to Wyatt’s recommendation, I found a link to Nurture Spa and the day after found me on the phone trying desperately to get us a reservation that weekend. I almost begged that it was a life and death situation to the girl on the other end of the line, but I did not want to sound as desperate as I was. You see, it is for my (or our) benefit that my husband de-stresses quickly and immediately. Go figure. Fortunately, there was something for us so we prepared for our trip that weekend.

The trip took almost twice as much as it really should have taken due to several frustrating encounters. First and really the most frustrating of all is the heavy traffic along Edsa that started just after crossing Boni Serrano and ended at the entrance to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). It wasn’t only due to the construction of the LRT or MRT or whatever but it really was caused by the lack of discipline of drivers as they took up 90% of Edsa northbound because they wanted to up everyone else who was doing a U-turn. Geez!

The next frustrating event is entirely my fault. I am a great driver but not much of a navigator. My eyes have a tendency to become clearer when I am the one behind the steering wheel than when I am in the passenger seat.

We arrived for our appointment an hours later than our schedule but the clean air and the quiet surroundings made us quickly forget the tension that the drive over gave us both. The compound was located at the far end of a dirt road at Barangay Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga. The lot was abundant in trees, plants, and flowers. The airy cabanas that could be seen scattered around the place were made to complement the lush greens. As if the they were designed to be engulfed and protected by the forest that surrounds them. Yes, it was quiet indeed. But isn’t that what we came for (aside from the pampering treatments)?

Our chosen package was called Haven of Love. It includes overnight accommodation in an airconditioned cabana with full meals (dinner, breakfast and lunch), a couples massage and natural facial. Sound lovely eh? It was indeed. But we soon found and realize that time seems suspended when all you have to do is sit, relax and think of nothing else. We had done dinner and conversation by 7PM and 30 minutes later, our eyes turned heavy on us as we sat on lounge chairs outside basking in the cool air and the sound of crickets.

(This is where we hung out for hours)

The next day found us enjoying much of the same and by noon we were raring to go back to the loud and chaotic streets of the metro. We had gotten our rest, relaxation and so much more.

(This is where we took our meals. This restaurant is part of the LJC group of restos. Think Abe, Larry’s Bar, Cafe Adriatico etc.)

Nurture Spa at Abe’s Farm in Pampanga has been open for less than a year and there is limited opportunity for overnight accommodation but I highly recommend you snag a getaway soon before the word gets out and people start heading out to get their own experience.

Nurture Spa at Abe’s Farm Pampanga
Barangay Ayala, Magalang Pampanga
For reservations call: 838.0073; 839.2196; 838.3646
Email: infor [at] nurture [dot] com [dot] ph
More pictures here.

There have been quite a bit of buzz lately about the supposed closing of Marie Claire Philippines (including Seventeen and T3). Aside from those bits that I have read online, I have not read anything on the Summit Media website or on the Female Network. I even wrote the customer service department of Summit to ask them about it but I have not yet gotten a response. I am sure they have millions of emails so while waiting for my email to get read and responded to, can anyone officially confirm that this is true? Anyone from Summit Media or Marie Claire?

The picture below confirms how much of a fan I am of this glossy. And those are just the back issues. There are more of that scattered in my room and around the house. Are you like me?