June 2015 – Touched by An Angel

22Jun 2015

Aging gracefully with the help of Olay’s Miracle Duo

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

“And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows!” Audrey Hepburn

Turning 58 years old a few days ago was a day to celebrate. I know 58 is just number but it affirms 58 years of trials and tribulations that made me who I am today. I feel positive about my life. I enjoy pampering myself because things can get too busy with my writing commitments. I feel good and beautiful inside and out because I know I am aging gracefully. Feeling and looking beautiful starts with taking care of myself. It means leading a meaningful and active life; maintaining a positive attitude; taking care of my skin and eating a balanced diet. With my skin rejuvenation treatments from my dermatologist-sister, I need to complement it daily with a good skin care treatment.

For the past three years, I have been using Olay Cleanser and Olay Regenerist for day and night time use. My skin care routine is a quarterly visit to my dermatologist-sister who recommends a skin care cream that contains peptides.

One reason I use Olay Regenerist is because it contains amino-peptides.

Peptides are tiny fragments of protein molecules that are found naturally throughout the body. Along with glycerin, peptides hydrate and enhance the stratum corneum, or outer layer of skin. This helps allow for the natural production of collagen, which can help to firm up skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

For women my age, the Olay Regenerist is the answer to aging skin. I still don’t have wrinkles. Though I have brown aging spots , I easily hide it with a concealer.

Recently, I got introduced to the new Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence and Micro-sculpting Cream. ” or the Miracle duo . My skin rejuvenation starts with a good skin care regimen.

Let’s take a look at the Miracle Duo and how it helps me age gracefully.

The Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence is designed to boost the penetration of anti-aging actives of your moisturiser to increase skin cell metabolism and renewal. The first drop starts renewal of a million surface cells and helps visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles, pores and firms the skin.

Its unique auto-dropper packaging ensures the exact and right amount of the pre-essence is delivered in every single application. I apply the Olay Miracle Boost Pre-Essence after the cleanser and before the cream. The smell is refreshing and not too overpowering. The combination of Miracle Boost Pre-essence and Olay’s Micro-sculpting Cream work together to boost renewal of surface cells.

Now, the sculpting cream my skin with a concentrated formula of Amino-Peptide Complex that stimulates my skin to make more collagen and progressively hydrates my skin to lift, firm and micro-sculpt.

Both Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-essence and Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream are called the Miracle Duo .

If you’re like me, I look at the ingredients to understand what each component does to my skin. I have already been aware that my Olay Regenerist cream contained Vitamin B3 and Amino Peptides. There are two other ingredients : the Lys’lastine (natural extract of Dill seeds) which enhances skin elasticity and OliveM (Antioxidant from Olive Extract) which improves penetration of anti-aging ingredients .

I know that as I age, collagen that supports and makes my skin firm, gets destroyed and not replaced—causing winkles and sagging. In fact, collagen production begins to diminish starting at age 21. If you are in your early twenties, it is best to start a skin care regimen now with Miracle Duo. Continue to take care of your skin even as you reach your prime time just like I do with the help of Miracle Duo.

Stay beautiful everyone.

You can purchase the New Miracle duo (The New Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-essence and Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream) at Lazada. Make sure to check out www.olay.com.ph, like Olay on Facebook or follow @OlayPhilippines on Twitter and @OlayPhilippines on Instagram for more updates.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me for Olay. All the facts and opinions are mine since I have been using Olay a for the past five years.

17Jun 2015

There is more to life than increasing its speed

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 1 Comment

It’s a beautiful day here in Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort in Palawan. I am here for work (more on this in another blogpost but the short of it is The Province of Palawan, Palawan Tourism Council, Department of Tourism and USAID-Advancing Philippine Competitiveness Project have collaborated to launch the World’s Best Island campaign in support to the DOT’s Visit Philippines 2015.)

While at the beachfront yesterday, this dog approached me and even sat beside me, so I took a selfie. Cute ! I took the time to enjoy nature with this adorable dog. Just being zen. Enjoy the moment.

The Zen approach: nothing is there to be done. There is nothing to do. One just has to be. Take a rest and be ordinary and be natural.

These days, I find myself getting busier and busier. I have slowed down considerably as health is still wealth. It is not fun when things become to be a burden. Like Douglas Pagels, I think it is sometimes “..important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.”

—–

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I get reminded to just be. I often find myself with my pet cat, Missy who “meowed” asking to be placed on my lap as I watched TV with my husband. My pet never fails to make me smile. I picked her up and placed her on my tummy. She looked so contented. Missy stares at me as if reminding me that I need to be relaxed and be playful. Like always, she massages my belly with her paws. I find it so de-stressing. I am thankful for these quiet times.

I hope you can join me , take a deep breath, relax and enjoy some terrific quotes from Zen masters to soothe your being.

““The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” Baba Ram Dass

““This art of resting the mind and the power of dismissing from it all care and worry is probably one of the secrets of energy in our great men.” Captain J. A. Hadfield

““No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you’d be more productive.” Dr. Joyce Brothers

““Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” William S. Burroughs

““Calm in quietude is not real calm. When you can be calm in the midst of activity, this is the true state of nature. Happiness in comfort is not real happiness. When you can be happy in the midst of hardship, then you see the true potential of the mind.” Huanchu Daoren

““There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Gandhi

““The tighter you squeeze, the less you have.” Ma-Tsu

““When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld

14Jun 2015

I will celebrate me.

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Today I turned 58 years old. I indulged in the joy of celebrating my 58 years. I am proud of where I am and what I am today so I am not iffy about revealing my age. Never mind if certain people will box me , based on my age. Nine years ago, when I first started this blog, I was just heading towards the resolution of my grief journey. Recovery is about knowing I have choices and giving myself the freedom to choose. I chose to enjoy the rest of my life despite the deaths in my family. It meant learning that love lives forever in my heart, which death cannot take away.

I like looking back to what I wrote back then. Here is an affirmation that I took from my recovery notes:

For too long, I have been hard on myself. Others have spilled their negative energy on me. I know it had nothing to do with me. I am a gift to myself and to the Universe . I am a child of God. I do not have to try harder , be better, be perfect , or be anything I am not. My beauty lies in me just as I am each moment. I will celebrate that.

I will take time to pause, reflect and rejoice my accomplishments. For too long, I have listened to admonitions not to feel good about what I have done lest I will fall into the arrogance trap. Celebration is a high form of praise of gratitude to God. To celebrate is to delight in the gift, to show gratitude.

Today, I will also celebrate the lessons from the past and the love and warmth of friends and family. I will continue to enjoy the beauty of others and their connection to me. I will celebrate all that is in my life and all that is good.

I will celebrate me.

I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.

11Jun 2015

Give peace a chance #YogaForPeacePH

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Who does not want peace? Even in my own household, I hate it when conflict is not resolved peacefully. Oh yes, problems crop up now and then causing arguments among family members . Peace is always the answer. Pride has to take a backseat. In our own country, peace is a reality if the whole country enjoys it. For many years, Mindanao continue to struggle through conflicts that have created for the island a reputation of fear and distrust.

“Peace is possible”, shares Nameeta Dargani, Chapter Coordinator for Art of Living Foundation (AOLF). She adds that “regardless of where we are in the nation or the world, everyone has the ability to contribute to it through nurturing our internal peace”. Peace starts within us,

Benefits of Yoga

Some tools to unify the body and mind, creating peace and inner well-being is through yoga, meditation and breathing techniques. “Awareness on the rhythm of one’s breath and on the movement of the air coming in and out of the body can make a big difference.” adds Ruth Owen, AOLF’s Breath and Sound Therapy (BeST) instructor. Indeed, it’s something we can do anywhere and it helps us relax and find our center.

There are so much benefits of yoga as a medium towards achieving and spreading peace among people of all ages and from all walks of life.

June 21 is International Day of Yoga

No wonder there is now a special day for Yoga. On December 11, 2014, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, supported by 175 countries around the world.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2014, the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi had said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”

For me, peace is about connecting with the quiet, calm nature within and that feeling of being at home. Love is such a positive emotion. Having an International Day of Yoga will bring awareness that yoga is a tool to to discover inner peace.

Wave of Peace from Manila to Mindanao and Mindanao to Manila

Right here in Philippines, the Art of Living will use Yoga as a platform to spread peace in a simultaneous yoga and meditation event at their center in Salcedo Village , Makati and at the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. These events are free and open to the public.

AOLF interest in Mindanao started when Sendong hit parts of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in 2011 because they were among those who set up trauma relief workshops at evacuation and relocation centers. The workshops taught simple breathing and meditation execises to adults and children to relieve the trauma from the disaster and help the survivors to move on with their lives. The youth of Mindanao also benefited from meditation and breathing techniques through the Philippine Marines’ Football for Peace Program. Owen who spearheaded the program with the Marines shared , ” Like all our other events, we simply want Yoga for Peace event on June 21 to inspire change and positivity. Session include yoga, breathing techniques and meditation. The collective energies from the session can work to create waves of peace that will spread from one person to another. Together , we can meditate as one for Mindanao” .

The Art of Living Foundation is an international, non-profit, educational charitable and humanitarian organization dedicated to serving society by strengthening the individual. Learn more about the event and their other activities by visiting their website at http://www.artofliving.org or contact 09178400049 or 02-6222-566 or 09175275466

09Jun 2015

Motherhood is sisterhood

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

A year ago, Hey Mom! portal : an online sisterhood for moms, offered a safe haven for mothers, whether they be new, expecting or experienced. I am quite honored to be selected as one of their mom contributors. It affirms my years as a mother, the best years of my life. Most mom-oriented brands prefer the younger moms to engage with their products or services. I believe I have a lot to share about parenting and am grateful for being given this opportunity to share these stories outside this blog.

Moms are very blessed in this day of the information highway. During the eighties, I relied on books and some friends for tips. My mom died when I was a teen so she was not there to guide me. How I wished there were online communities like Hey Mom! I can see how the Hey Mom! Portal is useful for first-time moms who may need some guidance.

Mothers are naturally hungry for information when it comes to parenting and their children but because information is readily available on the internet, it can get confusing for moms. The Hey Mom! portal also wants to acknowledge that there is no single rule when it comes to parenting. What worked for one mom may not necessarily work for another and this where Hey Mom! can help.

Way before that formula company used “Sisterhood of Motherhood”, the Hey Mom! already called their site “Motherhood is sisterhood”. It is built as online community made by Filipino mothers for Filipino mothers. Hey Mom! is an online portal specifically designed to be a resource for moms to access and exchange relevant information that will help in their everyday parenting tasks.

In my own little way, I am sharing my motherhood experience that spans 29 years in Hey Mom! Articles are categorized for expecting, new or experienced moms. Do check them out. You can read my articles here or click the links below.

Experienced:

Prepping your kids for their first day at school

The perfect balance between caring and letting go

Introducing a sibling

Expecting:

Creating a weekly pregnancy menu

New:

Disciplining your child

Having a second baby

Breastfeeding

You can send me an email if you have any questions about my articles whether it be about newborns or teenage angst. We are in this together.

To register and find out more details about Hey Mom, users can visit heymom.com.ph or join us on www.facebook.com/heymomph.

07Jun 2015

There is no po+opo in Cebuano

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 1 Comment

Image via benjaminivanlamiagratitudine.blogspot.com

Mom, you never taught us how to say “Po” and “Opo”, complained my two daughters. I felt guilty. Did it reflect badly on my parenting skill?

Saying “Po” and “Opo” is foreign to me. (In Filipino if some phrases or sentences ends in “po”, “opo”, “oho”, “ho” or has these words, it only means that you do have a high respect or you are very polite to the person your talking to.) I choke on the words. Not that I am rude but being raised in Cebu during my formative years, those Filipino polite words are non-existent in the Cebuano vocabulary.

I often wondered why my parents didn’t teach us either. They spoke in Tagalog. I guess it was because we lived in Cebu and they didn’t want to confuse us with the dialect.

As much as I’d like to attribute every aspect of our submissive nature to the Spaniards, the word “po” ” actually traces way back to our Pre-Hispanic roots. It comes from the Malay word “Pupo”, a sort of verbal equivalent of the Thai greeting and sign of respect that involves joining one’s open palms together. Words, signs, and gestures of respect towards elders and superiors are in fact quite common in Asia; from the Japanese, to the Koreans, to the Vietnamese.” I asked one of my friends who is used to saying “po” and she said that “growing up, the word “po” was never drilled into my head. It was almost as if I learned it through osmosis, like it was just a fact of life, along the lines of hamog or binat. I belonged to a different generation, of course; a generation that still played outdoors every afternoon, back when habulang base, patintero, and piko actually existed in real life and not just in textbooks.”

I remember a conversation between my aunt and dad. My aunt chastised my dad that we were impolite children just because we didn’t address her with a “po” and “opo”. I would have agreed with her but we spoke to her in English and it didn’t seem right to end each sentence with “po” and “opo”. At that time, I wasn’t too fluent in Tagalog (still not fluent but getting there) so how can I labeled rude or impolite?

Not saying “po” or “opo” does not hold value to me. I just wasn’t used to saying it. During my twenties, I tried to get into the habit of saying “po” and “opo” since I already lived in Manila and guess what? I ended up saying “po” and “opo” to the guards, the vendors, my peers, and just about anyone. I embarrassed myself even more.

It’s great that a majority of Filipinos still have words like “po” and “opo.” They’re unique, charming, and truly Filipino. But let’s save them for our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents; people who deserve our respect just by virtue of their existence. Because whenever we over-use these words, we’re only giving other people reason to disrespect us.

Most Filipinos may say “po” or “opo” but are they polite or courteous in the MRT? The ““me first” mentality I see in queues drive me nuts. And don’t start me on the mad driving skills on Manila’s snarled highways.

04Jun 2015

Why do I need to be called “Ma’am, Madam”?

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 29 Comments

A pet peeve of mine is being called “Ma’am”. The first time someone addressed me as “Ma’am” was from a news reporter over nine years ago. Hearing “Ma’am” shocked me mainly because it meant I am OLD. I often cringe when I am being addressed as “Ma’am”. When I became a blogger and met new bloggers, I often requested them to just call me “Noemi”. A few bloggers still call me “Ma’am” which I don’t bother to correct sometimes because I also understand that maybe they are not comfortable calling me by my first name. I understand that our parents often teach us to respect our elders.

But really, why do I need to be called “Ma’am, Madam, Miss Noemi”?

In a reddit discussion, yeh-nah-yeh says “Australian culture values egalitarianism, that is every being equal. An average taxi driver would address the Prime Minister by first name or “mate”. It often results in better outcomes as ideas are judged for their quality not for the seniority of the person proposing them and junior people are free to question and criticise the work of older people leading to improvements.” That’s what I mean. In the internet, people should argue and discuss amiably without the nagging thought that this person has an honorific title.

Sylvia Claudio has a take on the penchant for titles:

The penchant for titles besets other cultures, but Filipinos take it to the extreme. At a recent international conference a Filipino participant put the title “Atty.” before his name. This prompted a Malaysian participant to ask me what that meant. My reply that this was an abbreviation for “Attorney” resulted in a long side explanation – much to the detriment to our appreciation of the attorney’s presentation. Later, my foreign colleagues were even more befuddled by a recitation of titles like “Engr.” (for engineer), and “Arch.” (for architect).

Though we should be proud of our professional attainment, titles do not happen in other countries. There is no “Atty” appended before a lawyer’s name in the United States. Claudio addes that “We are also a society where an atty., an arch., and an engr. may be the first person to have finished college in their entire family and tribe.” Pinoy culture, just like in most of Asia, value hierarchy and seniority.

I agree with Claudio that “Our title fetish is indicative of the social inequality and resulting patronage that plague Philippine society. In a just society, it would not be difficult for anyone to become a lawyer, an architect, an engineer, a geologist, a ballerina, a soprano, social worker, and whatever else they should desire.”

As University of the Philippines professor Tet Maceda observes, senior professors and administrators were addressed by their first names. “Despite our increasing seniority we have not taken to calling ourselves “Ma’am.” There are, after all, many Filipinos who reject these titles. Maceda fondly remembers being answered on the phone with “Emer here” and not “President Emerlinda Roman here.”

Claudio adds that there is a proper use for titles such as President Aquino is called “Mr. President” . She adds that in a democracy, such honorifics should be reserved for the highest government positions.

It is one reason I use the monicker “momblogger” because it is a nickname that anyone can call me. I always believed in using my first name in social media accounts but almost everyone would call me “ma’am” . In 2007, I created my internet name as “momblogger” (well I am a mom plus a blogger) for people to address me in case they felt awkward calling me “Noemi” . How would I have known that it would also be my “personal brand” today?

Now that you know my pet peeve… just call me plain old …Noemi. Or if that bothers you, call me momblogger.

03Jun 2015

Retirement Planning: What do I want to happen in our financial future?

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

When you retire, think and act as if you were still working; when you’re still working, think and act a bit as if you were already retired. ~Author Unknown

(Photo Credit)

“If I can provide a good future for my children they will look after me during my old age.”

This has been referred by some as “Filipino retirement planning”. Truth is, I have never heard of this practice. My daddy old boy, bless his soul, never gave that impression to us, 7 siblings. Even at his semi-retirement at 55 years old till his death at 73, he supported himself and still left enough income for us even after death. He prepared for his retirement the moment he graduated college.

I am following dad’s plan but I am not as liquid as he once was at my age. I had been busy saving for my kids’ college education and paying off two home mortgages that it’s about time I rebuild my liquidity. Ever since the kids left college, I see myself working even past the age of 70. I don’t have a retirement age. My work is fun. The only factor going against me is my health, the diabetes and my spastic heart condition and that’s the future I am concerned about. I need to save up for contingencies like that.

In “Retirement Planning, Pinoy-Style” written by Randell Tiongson, a registered financial planner and writer for Money Sense Magazine, a short survey of average middle class Filipinos was done to look into Filipinos’ view towards retirement planning. Most of the respondents prefer to retire earlier than the usual 60 or 65 years old. It seems many do not see themselves working very long and would like to get out of the rat race earlier than most. I think these are the employees and not someone like me who enjoys work at home. Here’s an interesting revelation from that survey. While most wanted to retire early, many of them do not have any retirement program in place. It makes me wonder how serious they are in early retirement. It might just be wishful thinking.

Most agree that they may not have enough money to retire comfortably. As to the best time to start planning, most were unanimous in saying that “the earlier, the better”, from the time one earns income or at least when one hits 30 years old. That’s the practice I am inculcating to my children. Start saving for your retirement today. The best investments for retirement are real estate, time deposits and savings. Few mentioned sophisticated instruments like life insurance, mutual funds, unit investment trust funds, socks, bonds or structured notes. Fortunately, my father exposed me to all these type of investments but on a more conservative approach.

On the reason why retirement planning is not taken seriously, respondents talked about immediate gratification, mañana habit, lack of funds, low income, increasing expenses, wrong priorities, short-term thinking, lack of knowledge. One respondent even added that “Filipinos are not too keen on preparing for their retirement maybe because of what we call the extended family.” Most parents, including myself, are too busy preparing for their children’s future and they tend to forget their old age which brings me back now to the Pinoy-style Retirement Planning.

I cannot imagine my children supporting me in my old age especially if they have families already which is one reason that I stopped giving them financial support once they started work so I could rebuild my savings. My kids often say that they will help us in our old age but I don’t want them to think that is our plan. If they want to give us gifts, well and good. It is not an imposition but more out of love.

I do have a retirement plan and it starts with a goal and an action plan that started in our first year of marriage.

Each of us today, has a financial future. There are few future aspects of my life I can control, but one part I can play is to assist our family’s future is setting goals. I dont have to obsess about my goals. I don’t have to constantly watch and mark our progress toward them. But it is beneficial to think about my goals and write them down. What do I want to happen in our financial future? What financial problems would I like to solve? What bills would I like to be rid of? What would I like to be earning at the end of this year? The end of next year? Five years froom now? Twenty years from now? I know I am willing to work for these goals and trust God to guide me.

Taking responsibility for my retirement plan enables me to take focus off money. It frees me to do my work and live the life I want. I deserve to have the self-esteem and peace that accompanies financial responsibility.

Do you have a retirement plan?

The question isn’t at what age I want to retire, it’s at what income. ~George Foreman

02Jun 2015

QualiMed Clinic in UP Town Center : Quality care within reach

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Wasn’t it just a year ago that mom bloggers visited QualiMed clinic at UPM-PGH compound? Qualimed is a network of healthcare facilities (multi-specialty clinics, day surgery centers and hospitals) owned and operated by Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI) in partnership with Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI). Their brand promise is “alagang abot-kaya” or “quality care within reach” . They cater to the needs of all markets , yet their affordability makes their services accessible to the broad C socio-economic class.

I have used the diagnostic services of QualiMed when my daughter and I had our digital mammogram taken two months ago. Much as I love the facilities and expertise of QualiMed at the UP-PGH , I find it quite far. There is good news for those who live in Quezon City and surrounding cities. The seventh addition to the QualiMed network is the 186 square meter clinic in the ground level of the UP Town Center in Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. It is very near residential villages, colleges, and two big universities. Last week, mom bloggers visited the inauguration of QualiMed’s newest clinic.

I remember a time when my two girls who used to study in UP and Ateneo respectively , would visit a doctor at the distant Medical City. The Qualimed Clinic in Diliman is focused on providing preventive and promotive primary care for the whole family. Special attention is being given to delivering family wellness through medical consultations and diagnostics checkups; pediatric checkups and adult vaccinations and maternal wellness package.

I am sure you want to know the people behind Qualimed. Dr. Edwin Mercado, is a close friend of Dr. Rodney Dofitas, a surgeon and married to my sister, a dermatologist. Even before QualiMed, Dr. Mercado was already serving affordable health care in their hospital in Tanuan, Batangas. I can tell you with confidence that you are in good hands with QualiMed only because I know the doctors behind this. QualiMed evaluates and selects strategic vendor partners for the most appropriate healthcare systems. They align with DOCTOR PRACTICE GROUPS for long-term relationships to provide medical care through well-qualified and reliable doctors. To partner with QualiMed, practice groups such as AlphaHealth (represented by my brother -in-law during the launch) , Asian Eye Institute, MetroDental, ImageDx Radiology Consultants and University Pathologists Specialists, Inc. (UPSI ) have undergone and passed a strict credentialing process.

(Left to right: Dr. Rodney Dofitas of AlphaHealth and Dr. Edwin Mercado of QualiMed with mom bloggers)Dr. Dofitas and Dr. Mercado took us for a tour around the brand new multi-specialty clinic. The facility format features multi-specialty doctor’s clinics, laboratory, radiology, ECG, drug testing and vaccination services among other services.

My sister, a dermatologist will hold clinics here every Friday from 9:30 am to 4 PM. Other specialists will also hold clinics here such as Family medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obygynecology/Infertility, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Dermatology, Cardiology, Pathology, Surgeon. It is best to call beforehand as schedule can change without prior notice.

QualiMed clinic offers the following services: multi-specialty doctor consultations, laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging services, medical and wellness packages, special procedures , dental procedures and eye care services. Isn’t that Xray machine just child-friendly?

Asian Eye Family Vision center offers eye care services for children and adults such as

1. comprehensive eye checkup,
2. Optical services: contact lens and eyeglasses, sports eyewear
3. Management of lazy eye, eye movement and focusing disorders
4. Basic cataract and LASIK screening
5. Pre-screening for cataract, glaucoma, and retinal diseases

Metro Dental is operated under internationally trained , board certified specialists committed to high quality service and who are continually educated in the latest dental treatment and procedures.

If you live near UP Town Center, drop by for a visit.

Contact details:
QualiMed Clinic
Lower Ground Level
UP Town Center, Diliman, Quezon City
( in front of National Bookstore)
Tel. No. (02) 904-1406 or 02- 962-4776
Clinic hours: 7:00 am-9:00 PM

Other QualiMed Clinics:

1. QualidMed Surgery Center Manila
UPM-PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB)
PGH Compound,
Taft Avenue, Manila
Tel. No. (02) 7080000

2. QualiMed Surgery Center , Fairview Terraces
Third Level Fairview Terraces
Novaliches, Quezon City
Tel. No (02) 9508334

3. QualiMed Clinic, Trinoma Mall
Ground Level, TriNoma Mall
EDSA corner North Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. No. (02) 950-4777

4. QualiMed Clinic- Makati
Ground Floor, McKinley Corporate Exchange Corporate Center
McKinley Road, corner EDSA, Makati City
Tel. No. (02) 8610517

01Jun 2015

Just singing in the rain.. What a glorious feelin’ !

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Singin in the Rain will open on August 20 for a strictly limited season at The Theater , Solaire. You can buy tickets through TicketWorld. Call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph . Tickets start at 1,500 pesos.

I’m singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin’
I’m happy again
I’m laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun’s in my heart
And I’m ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I’ve a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin’,
Singin’ in the rain

Are you familiar with those lyrics? Well if you don’t know it yet, “Singin in the Rain” is an iconic 1952 movie which starred Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly. Set in 1927, it tells the story of the first Hollywood musical, when the silver screen found its voice and left silent movies — and some of its stars behind. I remember watching Gene Kelly on TV tap dance to the rains . There are so many delightful moments in this iconic movie. Sometimes, I can’t help singing along because it is just a happy song. Remember how it was when we were kids and played with the rain?

Here is the “Singin in the Rain” from the movie.

“Singin in the Rain” has been described as “one of the most joyous dances ever filmed”. Gene Kelly explained that his inspiration for the famous street dance scene was the way children like to play in the rain.

The good news is “Singin in the Rain” will come to Manila during the rainy month of August from the producers of box office hits, CATS, Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. I usually dread the rains because of the flood waters but I love the rain in its pitter-patter mode. The song reminds me to be grateful that the rain will kiss the dry soil .

Here is a snippet of the musical.

I was also delighted to be present during the press launch and got to meet the three main characters: Steven Van Wyk, Bethany Dickson , Grant Almirall. They presented “Good Morning”.

From Left to right: Steven Van Wyk, Bethany Dickson , Grant Almirall

The musical preserved much of the iconic movie since it was just important to serve the piece as well as the movie because people come to hear certain things and that’s what the producers want to provide. Expect glorious songs like Good Morning, Make ’em Laugh , Moses Supposes, and the classic Singin’ in the Rain.

Steven Van Wyk (Cosmo Brown)

The wonderful thing about the play is the choreography is flawlessly created with the help of 12,000 liters of water. Definitely the audience will enjoy one of the most famous dance routines live on stage, with some leaving the stage a little wetter than they arrived. The 12,000 liters of water will be poured on the stage over the course of two numbers–, the first one being the iconic SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN , as done by Gene Kelly and they see it again in the finale. All the water is is UV-treated, sand-filtered and chlorinated. It’s the same machinery as in the swimming pool except that this is pouring in the air.

Bethany Dickson (Kathy Selden)

Audience seated in the first three rows will be in for a one-of-a-kind experience because this is the “splash zone”. The audience will get a treat by being subject to a generous amount of rain water from the show during some of the dance numbers. Bethany Dickson , one of the main characters told me that the water is heated. The bonus is the first three rows will be provided with a poncho if they want to protect themselves.

Grant Almirall (Don Lockwood)

Leading the cast of 27 as the charming Don Lockwood is Grant Almirall, Bethany Dickson as Kathy Selden, and Steven Van Wyk as Cosmo Brown. Expect to be showered with everything you wish for in a musical: breath-taking songs and dance numbers, sumptuous set design and costumes with a superb score and joyous story.

Steven Van Wyk , Bethany Dickson, Grant Almirall

So if you want to watch this feel-good musical, you can buy tickets through TicketWorld. Call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph . Tickets start at 1,500 pesos.

Monthly Archives: June 2015