It’s summer.
As much as I would like the boys to indulge in “pogi-pointed” lessons like horseback riding and street dancing, the boys have chosen to play basketball in the morning and swim in the afternoon.
Because of this, I’ve had to buy a stockpile of sunblock from S&R, which cost a lot of money.
I don’t understand why sunblock is so expensive, just like batteries and ink??
Luckily there is a local option from Belo Essentials, with an explanation from the expert herself.
Read through her essay and if you want to win some samples, find out how at the end of this post.

What is the best anti-aging cream?
By Victoria G. Belo, M.D.

I find it fascinating that women are willing to spend thousands of pesos on the latest anti-aging cream, the new miracle laser or radio frequency device. However, they refuse to apply sunblock, which can prevent many of the wrinkles in the first place.
What is even more ironic is that while I educate all my patients on the importance of using sunblock to prevent premature aging, I don’t apply it myself. It’s a classic case of “Do as I say, don’t do as I do.”
I mentioned this to my daughter, Cristalle, in one of our bedroom meetings. When she asked why I don’t wear sunblock, I came up with a litany of reasons.
First of all, I hate using sunblock because they’re sticky and heavy. This, coupled with the humidity of Philippine weather, makes it untenable.
Second, I usually break out with pimples, whiteheads and blackheads because they clog my pores.
Third, most sunblocks are “fragrance free” which translates to an odor that is quite suffocating.
Fourth, I sometimes get rashes and itchy because I’m allergic to benzophenones, a common ingredient of most sunblocks.

Cristalle looked at me quizzically and said, “Why don’t you come up with your own sunblock?”
I was stumped. Why, indeed?
It took us two years to develop my ideal sunblock and now it’s finally out in the market.
Belo Essentials SunExpert is the latest addition to our skincare whitening line.
The treacherous thing about the sun is that it’s sneaky. It feels warm and comforting and it makes people happy. This has been proven in Nordic countries like Sweden, where they have identified a depressive disorder called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which is caused by not enough exposure to sunlight.

Sun exposure damage is cumulative. So if you were exposed to a lot of sun in your childhood and teens, thinking you were young and could take it, think again. Sun damage is like a “computer virus,” it enters your body and starts destroying some of your DNA little by little. The effects can be seen years later.
Have you noticed how Caucasians look so good in their teens and early twenties, then seem to suddenly age in their thirties?
That’s the effect of DNA damage years before.
Just imagine each time you expose yourself to the harsh sun, hundreds of protein-eating “pacmen” are born.
In the beginning, maybe not enough to mount an obvious attack. But over the years, they multiply with every sun exposure until they become a huge army of collagen- and elastin-munching monsters called “free radicals.”

Photoaging is the medical term which refers to a person’s aging prematurely secondary to sun exposure. It is characterized by fine lines, crepe-like skin, some brownish mottling and waxy skin that is rough to the touch.
Belo Essentials SunExpert has created a sunblock that has complete UVB and UVA protection using zinc dioxide, which is a physical blocker. The sunblock is also light, non-sticky and hypoallergenic.
Backed by 20 years of clinical experience by the Belo Medical Group, the product has been tested by independent (non-Belo) dermatologists who are accredited by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
The face sunblock has SPF 40 and the one for the body has SPF 60.

I believe the application of sunblock should be a daily habit and not just a “beach” thing. First of all, it is impossible to avoid the sun in the Philippines. But there are other hidden causes of UV radiation damage. For example, cooking can cause melasma. Bright lights, even the ones used for reading, are enough to harm the skin.
The old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely applies to sunblock.
So remember, a sunblock a day keeps the wrinkles away.

This promo is open to anyone with a Twitter account that is willing to pick up a Belo Sunblock kit at Pepper Lunch Shangri-La Plaza, Greenbelt 5, or Rockwell.
Just tweet:
It’s summer and I need Belo Sunblock!
Follow @jiritajackson to win #belosunblock

Promo ends midnight of April 5, 2011.
Ten winners will be notified via direct message on Twitter and here on Chuvaness.com.

http://www.belomed.com/

You may have already seen the billboard on EDSA.

But it took Dr. Vicki Belo nearly a year to convince Ruffa Gutierrez to undergo an invasive procedure to remove unwanted loose skin on her tummy brought about by childbirth.
Her two daughters, Lorin and Venice, were delivered the normal way, that’s why the TV presenter/actress initially had apprehensions about surgery.
Ruffa admits she had long wanted to get rid of the loose skin on her body.
“I’ve tried different exercises, workout, diet, but nothing seemed to work for me,” Ruffa. “Then I saw Jinkee Pacquiao who underwent the same procedure with Belo.”
Ruffa’s numerous show biz commitments also prevented her from doing an invasive procedure, which she initially thought, would sideline her.
“I thought I would need at least a week to recover, but Dr. Vicki assured me I could work the next day, so that was another factor that convinced me.”

True enough, Ruffa was mobile the day after her Bodytite procedure.
Bodytite or what is known as Radio Frequency Assisted Liposuction (RFAL), addresses the problem of predominantly loose skin seen on some patients after undergoing liposuction.
Bodytite is a minimally invasive procedure which uses radio frequency (RF) energy applied over the skin and into the fat layer to allow simultaneous lipolysis and skin tightening.
Dr. Belo says Bodytite is best for areas that tend to be loose like the inner thighs, arms and the abdomen.
This happens when skin is damaged by multiple pregnancies and stretch marks, which hamper contraction.
Since Ruffa expressed her desire to have another baby, if ever she decides to remarry, Dr. Vicki assured there is no problem in giving birth again even after the Bodytite procedure.

http://www.belomed.com/

You may have heard of BodyTite from the Belo procedure endorsed by Ruffa Gutierrez. You can read about it here.

I had BodyTite on my arms yesterday and tonight I am typing and have no pain.
The only thing I have are sanitary pads taped to my elbows and underarms. I feel a little swollen but overall doing really well.
I’ve always had a thing about my arms, I guess because I grew up seeing my grandma’s arms (she was German-American with red hair and blue eyes), bless her (she is on the right).

So even when I was skinny I was just aware that I had big arms, and frankly, scared it could only get bigger.

1999

2001 with my newborn (body went downhill from there)

2005 (with Ben)

2009 (self-portrait with cropped arms, but you can see the girth)

A lot of people tell me, “but you’re so skinny” or they never knew I had big arms. I do. I’m just really good at deception dressing, hence the 3/4 sleeve tees, blazers, cardigans and giant sweaters. But underneath all that, is what my friend Jude calls my “dolman” arms.

How many times have I vowed to exercise my arms. I have two or three pairs of dumbbells at home but they are hardly used. So having skinny arms (like Ruffa, who was born with it) would always be a dream for me.
So one day I was texting Dr. Vicki Belo about a relative of mine who did lipotomy with another doctor that I stopped going to for reasons that shall not be blogged. I was amazed that it worked because her upper arms were bigger than mine. My relative did say it was more painful than childbirth and did not recommend it to me, knowing my threshold for pain.
Dr. Belo then talked to me about BodyTite, which is a new technology/skin tightening procedure combined with liposuction.
So yes it is invasive, and yes there was blood. Lots of it.
Before I decided to do BodyTite I tweeted Ruffa about. Privately she messaged me to go ahead and do it.
I went to see Dr. Belo at her Greenhills clinic. I could no longer avoid because she made sure somebody followed up my appointment.
I had a short list of questions, the first one was, “Will I die?” Because I do not want to die because of vanity.
She told me all about the difference between lipo now and lipo before, how technology has advanced through the years made things safe, less invasive, etc. And of course she explained the whole process, what to expect and all that.
The thing is, there is Vicki Belo, the socialite you see in parties, magazines and talk to in casual situations—and then there is Dr. Vicki Belo in a white doctor’s jacket who sounds like she knows exactly what she’s doing.
I left with a long list of medical tests I had to accomplish before being cleared for the procedure.
(to be continued)

I’m deathly afraid of all kinds of medical tests—blood test, X-ray, ECG—you name it. But I had to get all of that cleared in order to get BodyTite.
I ended up going to Healthway at Shangri-La Plaza because it’s the least scary thing to do if you need tests. You go in, you fill in a form, pay, wait for your turn. And then you can go shopping and come back for the results if they’re ready. In this case I couldn’t shop because I’m not allowed.
It took me a few days to get that done because I’m scared. So my initial appointment for BodyTite was delayed.
After much fear and praying, I passed all my tests.
I saw Dr. Belo again at Myron’s Greenbelt 5 during a blogger’s event. Then there was no more turning back because she set a date—that was Thursday, yesterday.

A few days before Thursday I started to shake in bed. I couldn’t sleep. On Sunday I told my family I was getting the procedure done.
On Monday, I told Jay and Jude, who called my arms “dolman.” Monday night I had to take Sleepasil to fall asleep.
Tuesday and Wednesday I took 1/4 Rivotril—anything to keep me from shaking at night.
All I could think of was death and how I didn’t want to die for skinny arms. What would my boys think?

On Thursday, nothing by mouth by 8 AM. I woke up at 10-ish (note that I was still sleepless, even with the pills). I was thirsty but not hungry.
I was afraid. At 11 AM, my hairstylist came. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to shampoo for days, so I wanted decent hair.
12 noon, my nurse came. I hire Makati Med nurses as needed, even for home care (tell you all about them later).
12:30 I was at the Belo clinic in Greenhills. Without any anxiety meds to help me, I had to rely on God and myself to keep calm. I prayed the Rosary while waiting.
They let me and the nurse wait inside one of the empty rooms that had a bed so I could relax. Then this other nurse came in for a briefing and gave me the full-on “What To Expect” speech on BodyTite.
I told my nurse to take down notes as I might not remember a thing.
Midway I just had to ask her was, “Will I die?”
To calm my nerves, she told me she had her thighs done and lived to tell. She was so becky and hilarious, she really erased my fears.

We were waiting for cardiac clearance from a doctor. While I was perfectly fine chilling in the room with my nurse, I was told that I could pass the time with a free facial. WT??? I was really shocked. (At the other doctor I don’t want to see again, I would be made to wait for two hours, even though I had an appointment and came on time. They don’t even give you the password to their Wifi—so you really get mad waiting—Cedric can attest.)
I had a nice Obagi facial with the calming scent of lavender and the sound of birds on the speaker.
(I have to add that Belo has a really nice restroom in Connecticut—so I was doubly impressed.)

The cardiologist came and interviewed me. He is from St. Luke’s and knows my dad. I chatted with him for a bit due to nervousness.
I was given a gown, paper panties, hair cover and a fresh pair of Mickey Mouse socks for my feet. I was led into the operating room, where I saw the becky nurse and met the anesthesiologist who would take care of me.
Dr. Belo appeared in her scrubs and slippers—again a completely different person from the Vicki Belo socialite you see in the papers—no makeup, nail polish and all that.
I stripped and got marked on my arms.
I really appreciated the fact that she told me—twice—that I am not fat, that I need to exercise because I’m jiggly (#truth).
She also offered to remove some of my kili-kili fat so I could wear strapless dresses—to which I said, “No, no, no. I would never, ever do that.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“It’s just not me. I just can’t. It’s a fashion choice. I can’t. No.”
“Ok….” she said.
My friends crack up when I get to this part of the story—the thought of me in a strapless Hervé Leger dress just makes them giggle, I can’t tell you.
And then I was off to the Twilight Zone.
(to be continued)

It was 1:45 PM when I laid down on the operating table which was comfy, padded and had a pillow. They handed me the remote control to a Samsung flatscreen TV suspended on the wall. I switched it on to Bagets on Cinema One.

Next door, I could hear the voice of a famous actor who has been going to Dr. Belo for 18 years. No wonder he is amazingly well-preserved unlike his brother.↑
I asked how long the procedure would take, so I texted the driver to go home and come back at 6 PM.
The anesthesiologist plugged the Twilight in. It’s an IV that kind of puts you to sleep.
I watched Bagets. Then my world started to get woozy. It felt like my soul was leaving my body. I was truly scared, just like I was while having my C-section (twice).
My heart pounded and I thought, this must be how it feels to die. I started praying.
They covered my eyes with a dark green towel, if I remember correctly. I could hear them talking and doing stuff to my body, but I felt no pain and the fear was gone.
After some time, they woke me up. Is it done? Yes. It went really well.
I called for my nurse and asked her to massage my feet.
I wondered if Dr. Belo was around. I wanted to thank her. No, I wanted to hug her, but she was gone.
I asked for my cellphone. I wanted to call my dad and Jeroen. I almost called my Dad, but I remembered, husband first.
I called Jeroen to say, “I’m done.” He said he was on his way home from work and asked me what I wanted to eat. I said, I have no appetite.
I saw I had a missed call from my Dad. I called him and said, “I’m OK.” I can’t remember what else was said, but he always says something nice.
Before I left I asked the nurse to take a picture of my fat. Almost 2 liters, I think.
Can you imagine I was carrying that on my arms?

I don’t know how I made it home. But somehow I got myself in the car, up the stairs. I went to bed and felt hungry.
Jeroen fed me Kim Chiu’s diet (three siomais) and I was full.
Then I had an urge to brush my teeth. I felt energized and went to the bathroom with the nurse. While brushing my teeth I saw blood dripping on the sink, on the floor. A bit freaky but we didn’t panic as we were briefed that this would happen, hence the sanitary pads taped on my wounds.
I sat on the toilet lid so that nurse could change my dressing. I started to feel faint and had that feeling my soul was leaving the body again.
I heard voices but couldn’t see. The next thing I was on Jeroen’s side of the bed. How did I get here?
I fainted. Again, we were briefed that I could faint due to the Twilight, so we weren’t scared.
I had no pain, I was in good spirits, until hunger and pain hit me at 10:30 PM.
I asked for Ponstan. For the first time I started to feel sorry for myself and cried. Jeroen told me, don’t cry, the worst is over.
I figured, I should eat something. I had a burger in my mind, but I ate banana chips instead. Banana chips saved my life.
Ponstan kicked in and I felt OK again. But I didn’t and couldn’t fall asleep and so I watched a Bethenny Frankel marathon on iTunes (my idol).
In the morning I was well enough to take a shower without passing out.
(To be continued)

Sundays are made for lying down. The kids are at a children’s party and I’m just chilling with Jeroen.
I sent the nurse home early. She was here to help me shower and remove the dressings. Now I only have a couple of band-aids on my inner elbows.
Last night I couldn’t sleep again because I am used to sleeping on my tummy—and I can’t. I watched two episodes of Real Housewives of New York. Nakakastress and show na ito!

Today I was able to shampoo my own hair. Tomorrow will be the nurse’s last day.
The main problem now is itchiness on the bruised areas, so I took some Benadryl and I’m about to fall asleep in a bit.
Follow up appointment tomorrow plus a few sessions of skin tightening laser.
My appetite is not so great (which is good). I don’t know if this is related to the antibiotic I have to take twice a day for a week.
Though I’m swollen and bruised, the worst is over. Final results from 2-6 months and I’m excited.

Here’s what else you need to know if you want to get BodyTite:
1) You will need big roomy (dark) long-sleeve tops for the first 3-4 days, which will get soaked in blood. For this, I used my husband pajama tops.
2) Try not to use white bedsheets at home. Otherwise, make sure you have bed pads all over.
3) The blood will scare the children under 10, hehe.
4) Try to find a tape that isn’t itchy on the skin. I have to know if that even exists. For the first two days I had to ask people to scratch parts of my body.
5) I just found out that it helps to apply a hot compress to the itchy bruises, as it breaks down the blot clots under your skin.
Buy a hot water bottle in the drug store, wrap in a thin towel or T-shirt and apply to skin.
6) Hire a nurse to care for you at home (will blog this later). This removes stress on you, your family and the rest of the household.
7) Benadryl helps you sleep when it’s itchy. Though Dr. Belo recommends Celstamine for the itch.
8) Banana chips help.
9) It’s not scary.
10) Exercising makes healing faster.
11) Don’t ask me for the price because I might say the wrong thing. But click here to get an idea.
The rest of the stuff will be told to you in detail in the clinic.
To know more about BodyTite, click here.
That said, it’s time for my nap. Zzzzzz……

Almost a month after my lipo + BodyTite, I’m a believer in Dr. Vicki Belo.
Though not completely healed and still sore, itchy, numb, lumpy, and swollen in some spots, overall I’m happy I did it. It is so worth it.
My arms have been shrinking and improving steadily since last week. I’m amazed how my shoulders and biceps suddenly have “cuts”. I can’t wait to see the final result.
Already I can’t stop staring at the mirror. I can wear shirts with shorter sleeves and not be ashamed that I look so thick. Slim arms can really make you look thinner, younger—even though I have not lost weight since the procedure.
(No worries, I am so motivated to exercise and change my diet.)

Do you have a beauty or cosmetic surgery question for Dr. Belo?
Now you can ask the expert herself as Dr. Belo answers questions in a 30-minute live streaming show on the Belo website.

Here’s how:
1. On July 14 at 7:00 PM Go to http://www.belomed.com and click on Ask Dr. Belo.
2. Type in your question/s using your Facebook or Twitter account in the chat box.
3. Stay tuned for the 8:00 PM show and listen to Dr. Belo answer questions.

Here’s more:
Not only do you have an opportunity to have Dr. Belo answer your question, you also get a chance to win Belo Gift certificates. So keep posted and tune in to the first ever online Q&A show by Belo.

http://www.belomed.com/index.php/askbelo

She’s back!
Dr. Vicki Belo goes on her second livestream broadcast of Ask Dr. Belo.
She will be joined by her daughter, Cristalle Henares and Ruffa Guttierez as co-hosts.
This time around the topic will be Cosmetic Surgery. So get your questions ready as Dr. Belo answers your questions in a 30-minute live streaming show on the Belo website.

How to:
1. Tonight at 7 PM, go to http://www.belomed.com and click on Ask Dr. Belo.
2. Type in your question/s on the chat box.
3. Stay tuned for the 8 PM show.
4. Not only do you have the opportunity to have Dr. Belo answer your question, you also get the chance to win Belo gift certificates.

Don’t tell Richard, but between the two Gutierrez twins (a.k.a. The Nestlé Twins), I always found Raymond cuter—although I can’t tell who is who from this vintage photo I bought at Tiendesitas.

Here’s how Raymond used to look back in the day: 2005 at Tim Yap’s event

2006 at a dinner for Nicolas Guesquierre, Bistro Filipino

2006 at Metrowear

Then something happened: Raymond at a Pond’s event, 2010

Fat or thin, Raymond remained adored by his friends and respected by colleagues. But some of his best friends—Georgina Wilson, Isabelle Daza and Liz Uy—felt it was time someone told he needs to lose weight.
At that time, model Georgina Wilson had enrolled herself at Belo Medical’s new Sexy Solutions program. I myself had no idea what it entailed. I just saw it mentioned a lot on Twitter. Naturally I was curious.
Yesterday the two BFFs were presented to the media in a luncheon hosted by Dr. Vicki Belo and daughter Cristalle at Essensa.
Dr. Belo holds up a sample of what a pound of fat feels like

It was passed around the guests

I can’t believe I have 15 of these (unwanted fat) in my body

Georgina (right, with host Raya Mananquil) said she signed up with Sexy Solutions to work on her problem area—her waist.

She felt especially self-conscious, having to model a swimsuit at the Bench underwear show in 2010.

Today, Georgina says she can’t believe she has achieved a 25″ waistline.

Sexy Solutions, a subsidiary of the Belo Medical Group, is a reduction program that offers to get rid of stubborn fat through the combination of diet, exercise and modern science.
For some of us, no matter how much time we exert in eating right and working out, getting rid of those last few inches is the hardest.
Breaking through the fat loss plateau, Sexy Solutions’ first class treatments help make abs tight, thighs firm, and arms toned—without the use of invasive medicine.
Paired with an effective diet plan by Biggest Loser Philippines nutritionist Nadine Tengco and expert consultation from fitness and sports science specialist Edward Mendez, getting to and sustaining the healthier, fitter, and sexier you can become a reality.

Fitness expert Edward Mendez

Sexy Solutions offers four procedures to target fat cells using heat, ultrasound waves, and mechanical pressure:
1) Lipo Cavitation uses low frequency ultrasound to break down stubborn fat cells in common problem areas like the abdomen and thighs.
2) Multi-Firm uses radiofrequency to melt fat, tighten skin, and improve the appearance of cellulite through heat waves.
3) Body Sculpt uses a muscle energy pulse that contracts the muscle layer, causing a “squeezing” effect of the fat layer and accelerating the liquid fat drainage.
4) Tite FX is the newest and most innovative non-invasive body contouring and fat-destroying machine in the market. The Tite FX machine, using a high voltage pulse combined with radio frequency, heats up the skin to tighten and shape the body.

After only one session Raymond said he already saw a change. “Instantly, I lost 2 inches from my midsection. Of course, it’s up to you to maintain it. For me, it was a combination of diet, exercise, and regular treatments at Sexy Solutions.
The treatments are painless because of the amazing new technology they have. But more than anything, it’s really the people behind it. It’s so easy to lose momentum when you’re trying to lose weight. But the staff really took care of me and encouraged me. I feel like I’m part of this new family and I’ll be forever grateful.”

Watch this—the dimples are back!

Gerogina also saw immediate results and got hooked.
“Areas I had practically given up on were immediately smaller. I couldn’t believe the measurements after the first time because they were so drastic. I loved it right away.
Sexy Solutions has been a large part of my commitment to fitness. I’m so happy because I feel like I have a partner in losing weight and maintaining my ideal body. It doesn’t all happen in the Sexy Solutions clinics—exercising and dieting are integral to the program, but I definitely feel like we’re all working towards the same goal: a body I am happy with. Sexy Solutions is my secret weapon to getting sexy and most importantly, staying sexy.”

Sexy Solutions is offered at:
• Suite 912 Medical Plaza Building, Amorsolo corner Dela Rosa Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati (Tel. 0917-860-5120)
• Unit 23 G/F South of Market Residences, 26th corner 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Tel. 0917-867-1329)

Opening soon by March 2012:
• Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato, Quezon City
• Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City

To know more, call 810-SEXY(7399) or go to http://www.sexysolutions.com.ph.

I get swag all the time—but not everything is useful. Some gifts I get to try only when I discover them again in my pile.
Here’s one thing I’ve been using and I think it’s working.
For one, I feel like my skin got lighter. Not that I wanted to have lighter skin, but some people have been telling me my skin looks better. I’ve heard some people say “payat” and all that, meaning my face looks smaller. I don’t know if they’re pulling my leg or trying to make conversation.
I feel awkward with compliments when I know I haven’t lost weight and people say I look thin.

The product is called Belo Nutraceuticals: Glutathione+Collagen. It’s a whitening and anti-aging detox pill that cleans your liver with its anti-oxidant properties (Glutathione) and improves your skin’s resilience (Collagen).
Belo Nutraceuticals is infused with 250 mg of compacted glutathione, which fights dark spots to whiten your skin, and collagen to lift skin from within as it provides strength, elasticity, and resilience.
And hey, it keeps Tim Yap young!

The recommended dosage is two capsules per day, with or without meals. For best results, take two capsules in the morning and two capsules in the evening.
Belo Nutraceuticals: Glutathione+Collagen is available at Mercury Drug, Watsons, and other leading drugstores nationwide, in three sizes:
10 capsules: Php 480
30 capsules: P1,440
60 capsules: P2,700

To know more, click HERE.

Hello!
I did something crazy last Friday, which amounted to two liters of fat. I’ll spare you the details, but this is what I saw before I went home that night.

I’ve been homebound since that time, been very sleepy, and this is the time I think I can sit up and catch up on my work before I fall asleep again.
Apart from fatigue, the reason why I sleep so much is because I want to escape the itching I feel from the healing under the skin—also to make the day pass by more quickly. I can’t wait to recover and see the end result.
That said, I’ve had a chance to watch a lot of movies during my time in bed—some cheesy and some worth seeing.
The first one is Stuck, which I highly recommend to those who have adopted a child or thinking of adopting one.

It follows the stories of American couples and individuals trying to adopt children from other countries, all the trouble and heartache they go through, in order to bring their loved ones home.
This is a 15-tissue documentary, which I hope our lawmakers get to watch to make the adoption process less frustrating.

http://buy.stuckdocumentary.com/

The Housemaid (2010) is a creepy Korean melodramatic thriller, a remake of a 1960 Korean movie of the same title.

The lifestyles of a rich Korean family change drastically when a young housemaid is hired and leads the man of the house to commit adultery. Things go from bad to evil when the women of the house discover the maid is pregnant and plot to get rid of the baby.
The stylish movie makes me intrigued with Korea’s wealthy, and makes me want more and more to visit Korea.
I don’t recommend watching it alone, and please don’t watch it with the youngsters due to very graphic sex scenes.

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thehousemaid/

As a child I loved Disney-esque stories about little creatures and how they creatively convert everyday objects, such as a matchbox into a bed, or an empty spool into a sidetable.
The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) is another masterpiece by Studio Ghibli, creator of Grave of The Fireflies and Spirited Away.

Arrietty is a 14-year-old “borrower” or 4-inch-tall creature who lives with her mom and dad, under the house of human “beings.”
They survive peacefully by “borrowing” ordinary things such as sugar and biscuits, until they are discovered by a lonely and sickly boy named Sho who wishes to befriend Arrietty.
When Sho’s evil caregiver finds out about the borrowers, Arrietty’s parents are forced to leave and find another dwelling place in order to find other borrowers and survive.

Watch this especially if you have kids. It will warm your hearts.
http://disney.go.com/arrietty/

Pardon me for the hiatus.
It is now 7 days post surgery (the plastic kind) and I find it awfully tedious to go online.
I’ve been feeling tired, sleepy and very itchy.
Meet my best friend, Arnica gel. (Available at Healthy Options)

It was recommended by a doctor friend who’s also a pole dancer in Hawaii. Arnica gel is your best friend if you’re bruised, swollen, and itchy.
But so far today I got a glimpse of my tummy and it is seriously flat. It’s gonna take 3-6 months before I see the final result, but for now I’m saying goodbye to Coke and cake.
I’m going to spare you the details of what I’ve been going through, but I do hope to gain my energy soon so I can get back to blogging regularly.
As the Japanese would say, thank you for waiting

Get your bikini body ready for the summer with Belo’s Laser Hair Removal system.
Unlike other IPL machines used in other clinics, Belo uses the gold standard Light Sheer Diode Laser—
specially designed to permanently reduce unwanted hair faster and more effectively, with less discomfort than many other methods.
Depending on one’s needs, it can be used by men and women, young or old who want to get rid of excess and unwanted hair.

How it works:
Light emitted by the Light Sheer Diode laser is well absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, vaporizing the pigment and significantly impeding the hair’s regrowth.
The laser treatment itself can cause a slight tingling sensation compared to an insect bite or a snap of a rubber band against your skin.
The Light Sheer Diode’s special cool tip protects and cools the upper layer of the skin before, during and after each pulse while directing the heat energy to the hair root. This allows for a safe and effective treatment of different skin colors.
The new system also allows the treatment of larger areas within a shorter period of time, plus an improved absorption of energy at the target follicle by increasing the depth of penetration.

As a special promo, enjoy special discounts on Laser Hair Removal (LHR) packages this February 24 to March 23, 2012:
1-2 sessions: 20% discount on LHR (any area)
3-4 sessions: 20% discount on LHR (any area) + 50% off on ZO Peel Armpit
5 or more: 30% discount on LHR (any area) + FREE ZO Peel Armpit + 20% off on Botox Hyperhidrosis

http://www.belomed.com/

Is Picosure the fountain of youth?
You know something/someone is hot when everybody talks about it, and in terms of beauty treatments, everyone is talking about Picosure, described as the world’s fastest laser treatment.

Dr. Hayden Kho, Dr. Vicki Belo, and Picosure’s Michael Byers at the Picosure media event

Michael Byers, clinical research director of Picosure maker Cynosure, explains it is a non-surgical laser skin treatment for “those seeking a more youthful appearance.”
It can get rid of or minimize wrinkles, melasma or hyperpigmentation, birthmarks, pigmented lesions and freckles on the chest, face, hands and other parts of the body in less time than any other treatment. It also addresses sagging skin. Picosure is so powerful it can even erase tattoos.
“Picosure can also turn a woman’s areola from brown to pink,” says Dr. Vicki Belo, whose Belo Medical Group is introducing the treatment to the Philippines.

The treatment is called Picosure because it operates in picoseconds unlike the conventional nanosecond laser machines. The patented Pressure Wave technology uses light pulses instead of heat so the surrounding skin of the area being treated is not damaged. Pressure Wave breaks down skin pigmentation and induces collagen production for skin rejuvenation and improvement of scars.
Focus Lense concentrates light pulses in targeted areas in the face and neck. To remove tattoos, Picosure breaks down the pigments into sand-like property so it is easier to remove from the body.

During the event at Greenbelt Residences to introduce Picosure sure to members of the media and other special guests, Belo Medical Group received the World Picosure Award 2015 for having the highest number of Picosure treatments done in a month for the single machine. In February, 200 patients availed of Picosure at Belo Medical Group clinics.
The Picosure treatment only takes minutes per area (five minutes for acne scars) without any downtime. Your face won’t be swollen although some people will experience a bit of redness.

Actress Lovi Poe at the Picosure media event

“To be 45 and to look beautiful is a challenge,” says Alice Dixon, Belo’s model for Picosure. She wanted to improve the appearance of her neck, a problem that Vicki Belo calls “turtleneck.”
Byers says a Picosure machine costs $350,000 so the treatment is way more expensive than Revlite, which is also very popular at Belo. Revlite is a fast and very effective procedure that erases skin pigmentation like sun spots, freckles, dark spots and the like. It also reduces the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores.
Watch this:

For more information about Picosure, go to www.belomed.com.

There seems to be a misconception that boys can be left raise themselves. I personally feel bad whenever I see a young boy that needs a haircut or needs to be taught how to shave, cut nails, clean ears, what to wear, or go to the dentist.
Boys need a lot of help. They need to be taught how to use the toilet as well as respect women, elders, household help.

I am very conscious of my boys’ needs. I remembered a mom I met a couple of years ago through Vicki Belo, whose teenage son had the clearest skin. She told me Belo took care of him, so I made a mental note.
When my son Ben turned 13 last year, his skin became problematic, so I took him to the Belo clinic in Greenhills.
During the first appointment he was very scared, but the staff and Dr. Guada were so nice, he quickly became comfortable with the environment. Now he looks forward to his treatment every three weeks.

Ben’s skin has improved tremendously after three sessions. He’s nowhere near perfect skin, but at least he doesn’t look like a leper anymore—just kidding! No offence to lepers
But going to Belo every three weeks can be stressful for me because I don’t want to be late. Once we were late and missed an appointment. You can never tell with this traffic…
So today after Ben’s treatment, I forgot to set our next appointment.
Luckily, Belo just recently launched a new app that will allow you to make an appointment through your Apple or Android phone.

I just downloaded it an found it easy to use! Just waiting to receive a confirmation.
Aside from making an appointment, you can check out which Belo treatment suits you, and get updated on the latest promos. You can also find the Belo clinic nearest you.
If you’re a member of Belo Privilege Club, you can log in and get access to special features like selecting your doctor and keeping track of points.

Getting Belofied just got easier. To know more about the app, click HERE.

As far as Botox and Juvederm dermatological fillers are concerned, Belo Medical Group once again proves they’re on top of the game, as Dr. Vicki Belo, Founder and CEO of Belo Medical Group, recently received an award from Allergan Healthcare Philippines for being the number one account for Botox and Juvederm in the country.

Dr. Belo received the recognition from Marcus Tan, Business Unit Head for Facial Aesthetics and Neuroscience of Singapore Malaysia and Philippines, Yinyee Tai, Senior Marketing Manager for Botox, Jiamin Chung, Medical Manager for Facial Aesthetics and Ceejay Jornacion, Sales Manager.
The awarding was held last week at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas.

L-R: Jia Min Chiung, Medical Affairs Manager for Facial Aesthetics of Allergan, Dr. Raj Acquilla, Global Key Opninion Leader and Master Class Trainor for Facial Aesthetics, Marcus Tan, Yinyee Tai.

These recognitions are a testament to Belo’s unparalleled medical expertise in the field of beauty.
Belo Medical doctors undergo training both internationally and locally as specialists from around the world go to Belo to train its doctors.
Dr. Raj Aquilla, Masterclass Trainer, UK Ambassador and Global Key Opinion Leader in Facial Medical Aesthetics was also in town to train Belo doctors.

L-R: Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dr. Vicki Belo and DJ Tony Toni of Boys Night Out

In order to be globally recognized, Belo Medical Group is equipped with only the best medical practices, services and technologies from around the world.
To know more about their services, go to http://www.belomed.com/.

When it comes to my looks, I have issues thicker than September Vogue. That’s why I don’t like having my picture taken. I would rather be behind the camera than in front of it.
One of my most scarring moments in college was when a schoolmate of mine made a comment about my full cheeks. (Karma got her; she’s got the full face now.) Because no matter how skinny I was, I always had full cheeks (read: siopao face). I blame it on my love for ice-cold Coke.
Also the first time I heard I had a double chin was shocking. My sister told me.

When I studied at Parsons New York, our illustration teacher told us how small faces were an asset. Even if you were tiny, a small face can make you look taller (read: Mary Kate and Ashley) while a big face would make you look shorter (read: Oompa Loompa).
I became conscious of my face. I didn’t know then it had something to do with my Coke intake. Years later I realized that if I stopped drinking Coke for four days I actually had a smaller face. But not drinking Coke made me grumpy.

Enter 2016.
In 2015 I tried very hard not to drink Coke. But three of my friends died last year—ages 37, 50, and 50. Life is short. I don’t want to go through life without that one thing that can pick me up in an instant. How do I give up Coke? So I didn’t. My face continued to puff and age and one day I woke up and I was haggard. I dreaded looking at my face in the morning. But I didn’t know what to do about it.
One day I texted my friend Patrice who was having lunch with Cristalle Belo. She talked about a new machine Dr. Vicki Belo was launching soon. It can make your face smaller!! They sent me this before and after picture of one of Belo’s staff.

That was it. I showered and hauled my ass to Belo Greenbelt at 2 PM.
Still didn’t know what the procedure entailed but I was up for anything. I was desperate.
Dr. Belo was there to interview and assess Patrice and I.

We were given a choice to do it awake or sleeping.
Sleeping would mean we had to take blood test, get cardiac clearance, and come back when ready.
Awake means we get local anaesthesia and a squeeze ball. But I could do it that same day. I chose awake!!

From Greenbelt we transferred to the Medical Plaza building (near Makati Med) for the procedure. I was not scared at all. Dr. Belo filled us in on what would happen.
I changed into a hospital gown, hair cover, and fresh socks and walked into the operating room.
It was already evening. The OR was filled with nurses, Dr. Belo, another doctor, and a photographer.
I laid down and held a squeeze ball and a rosary.

In preparation, they injected my face maybe 50 times (not sure) with local anaesthesia. Yes it hurt!! I felt my face swelling up and I was scared. I finished one rosary. Then Patrice came in to hold my hand.
There was a TV screen which reflected the temperature of my face. They made five incisions using a long but tiny canula. This goes under the skin. It heats up and tightens the flesh under your skin, like RF (radio frequency tightening). And yes, I felt it. It felt hot under the skin and I was scared.
Good thing Patrice was there to hold my hand, while Dr. Belo and I talked about the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to pass the time.
Two hours later, I was done. And I survived!!

Next they gave me a face massage using special gloves to reduce the swelling. It felt so good!! These were the kind nurses that helped me.

They wrapped my face in bandages. By now it was 9:30 PM and we were starving. Patrice, Dinna and I had a quick McDonald’s at the clinic before heading home.
I got home at 10:30 PM, swollen and covered in bandages. My husband Jeroen opened the door and told me not to see the kids because they might get scared. So I went straight to the room.
That night I couldn’t sleep because I was itching, but no pain.
The following day my face looked like that Danboard character (read: a box), but I was OK.
I had a blowdry and stayed home. I had no pain.

(To be continued)

It is now one month after ThermiLift. I don’t want to brag. Some people say I look ten years younger, but I really feel I look 20 years younger!! I don’t mind looking in the mirror anymore.
I had ThermiLift on January 6.
On January 12, I had a shoot with Rexona, still swollen (photo on the left).
On January 21, I took the right photo. I am still healing by the way, but I’m loving it!

This was taken during the Rexona event on January 19. My double chin seems to be gone!

If you’re a man or woman in your 40s or above, you probably feel the beginnings of ageing on your face and body, such as fine lines and sagging skin.
During the ’70s, facelifting was popular. But it made the patients look even older or dated, with the skin stretched backwards.

Lucky for us, new technologies have been developed. They are safer, less painful, and have better results.
Belo Medical Group is the first company in the Philippines that offers ThermiLift. It’s an injectable facelift that last for about two years, unlike other procedures that last only 6 months to a year.

“You can use Thermilift to tighten and contour certain areas of the face and body that are sagging or have excess fat,” said Dr. Vicki Belo during the launch of Thermilift in the Philippines.
Present at the launch were Dr. Bryan Kinney, board-certified plastic surgeon and chairman of the Thermi Clinical Advisory Board, and Barry Rigby, vice president for international sales of Thermi Aesthetics.

During the launch, Belo showed images of men and women showing varying degrees of ageing—like jowls, beer bellies, and droopy cheeks. ThermiLift is a machine that heats and repairs sagging and loose skin from within. As a result, it tightens the skin, reduces fat and relaxes frown lines on the forehead. Basically, ThermiLift is an injectible RF that sculpts the face and the body.

Belo explained that as Filipinos age, their faces get bigger as opposed to Caucasians whose faces usually become gaunt as they get older.
“When we talk about ageing, we talk about skin. But underneath the skin is fat, and underneath that is muscle. Other machines really only target the skin. They don’t do anything about jowling, fat and muscle. As you get older, muscle on the face goes from being round and cute to becoming long and sagging. ThermiLift is the only thing that can go inside the skin and target the muscle.”

ThermiLift can be done with using Twilight or local anesthesia. Pain depends on your threshold. Some people say it is painless, but I experienced a lot of pain during the procedure but not after.
There is very little downtime except for mild swelling and discoloration. You go home with a bandage around your face but the next day, you can resume your usual activities.

Kinney said Thermilift is not just about ageing.
“You can have it done when you’re 25, 35 or 45, depending on the laxity of the skin.”

Cristalle Belo, Dr. Bryan Kinney, and Dr. Vicki Belo at the ThermiLift launch at Makati Shangri-La

So how is it done? The doctor inserts a micro needle into the skin, delivering a controlled, consistent dose of RF energy while watching a TV screen with an infrared image of your face.
This way the doctor can view exactly how heat energy is being transmitted to your face or body. The procedure takes around two to three hours. After Thermilift, you’re given a relaxing, lymphatic massage by a nurse.

Cristalle Belo and Tom Rodriguez talk about ThermiLift next to an infrared image of a patient.

Results are gradual and may take from three to six months to see maximimum effects of the treatment. The best part is that effects can last up to two years.
For more information, go to http://www.belomed.com/.

I didn’t make it to my Belo appointment because the maid used the driver to buy bread without telling me. While waiting for the driver to come back, I got three calls from the Belo Shang clinic asking where we were. I tried to explain that sorry we are on our way, but you know how Pinoys are, you get a 15-minute grace period, and if you’re not there, sorry ka na lang. Never mind if you’re a good or potentially good customer).

I got so pissed I don’t think I can ever show my face there again. But why does it have to come to this?
In this day and age of horrible Manila traffic, there should be some humanity when a customer begs for you not to cancel their appointment.
How many times have I waited for my turn at a doctor’s clinic, say, at St. Luke’s or Medical City?
If you’re on time, you usually have to wait for your turn. If you’re late you still have to wait anyway because that’s life. Things and emergencies do happen. Traffic happens.

In Tokyo where people are incredibly polite, they always say, お待たせしました (Omataseshimashita) or thank you for waiting. In Roppongi, I was surprised when an Uber driver waited for us for ten minutes when we couldn’t find him, instead of cancelling our trip.
When we were late for our reservation at our favorite Barbacoa restaurant, I was afraid we would lose our table. But nobody cancelled our reservation and it remains our favorite restaurant.
We try not to be late but things do happen especially if you’re managing teenagers.

Love this place

So yes, I’m still home and tomorrow I’ll take my kids to Dr. Murad at Shang instead. We will not be late. I hope the kids like the service there.

Growing up in the ‘70s, we used to get all sweaty running around, playing both indoors and outdoors.
It was normal to see a yaya running after her ward, with the intent of placing a small towel between the child’s sweaty shirt and back. T-shirts would be changed, but not before toweling off and dusting with baby powder.
When I was younger, using baby powder meant talcum powder.
At that time nobody cared.

No internet: Playing outdoors in the ’70s with my siblings and cousins. I’m the kid in white shoes.

When my nephew Mickey was born in 1990, I remember his pediatrician telling his parents not to use powder on the baby. It was the first time I heard a doctor say that.
Most powders were made with talc, which is a mineral.
As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and cuts down on friction, helping keep skin dry and prevent rashes.
But in its natural form, talc contains asbestos. That’s why the use of talcum powder has been linked to certain cancers.
Now moms can thank Belo Baby for making talc-free powder that is all natural, with 0% harmful chemicals.
Watch this!

#BeloBaby Talc-Free Powder is made from finely milled rice and maize (a special corn) powders that leave skin fresh and soft.
Best of all, it’s formulated without talc.
Finely milled rice and maize have bigger particles than talcum powder. That means they are less likely to be inhaled or absorbed into the body via inhalation or swallowing.
#BeloBaby TaIc-Free Powder is “crafted with care for the most delicate skin, for the most meticulous moms.”
I also love the packaging.

Find them at leading supermarkets and department stores nationwide.
Or buy online at https://tackthis.co/shop/Belo/category/belo-baby.

Now just because you’ve read up to here, you can join my giveaway!
I’m giving away three pink train cases filled with Belo Baby products.

You’ll get all these #BeloBaby products, and I’ll ship them to any address in the Philippines.

It includes three tubs of Belo Baby talc-free powder!

How to join:
1) You must have a Philippine address and an Instagram account.
2) Make sure your Instagram account is unlocked.
3) Follow @belobabylove on Instagram.
4) Make an Instagram post about my giveaway at chuvaness.com and use the hashtag #ChuvaxBeloBabyPowder.
5) Don’t forget to tag @chuvaness and @belobaby.
6) Register HERE.

Winning:
1) Promo period is from June 2-8, 2017, after which three winners will be chosen electronically via random.org.
2) Make sure your Instagram account is unlocked so I can check your entry/post. If your account is locked, your entry is invalid.
3) The winners will be informed via email or text to verify their shipping address. Winners will also be posted at chuvaness.com. If I don’t hear back from you, I’ll just choose another winner via random.org.

To know more about Belo Baby, go to https://www.belobaby.ph/ or follow them on Facebook.