Cosmetic surgery procedures are usually done to correct a physical abnormality or to enhance a normal physical feature to improve and boost appearance – such as to smooth out wrinkles, augment or reduce breasts, or reshape a nose. According to Dr. Jose Artemio “Joey” Luat many Filipinos have become open about the procedure in recent years. He credits Dr. Vicky Belo and Dr. Manny Calayan for spearheading the industry and paving the way for Filipinos to be open about cosmetic surgery in the country. Dr. Joey Luat, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Luat with hius colleagues at  Cosmetic Surgery Institute “Before, people would not admit having undergone under the knife while most are afraid to undergo even a single, simple procedure,” Dr. Luat said. Coming from a family of doctor -- his dad is the famous internist in Cubao whose clients included the family of the late showbiz’ star builder German Moreno and his sister is an anesthesiologist – the amiable doctor said he has done e...

Have you ever wonder why the country’s artists and performers we see daily on the boob tube look good all the time despite challenging roles and schedules? Oh well, primarily because  they know how to take care of themselves – they really find time and they have the money, of course – to make beauty and wellness part of their daily life. After all, it’s their work to entertain and along with it is to look good at all times. As for ordinary citizens like me, worry no more because beauty and relaxing regimen with the help of natural stress reliever such as the   therapeutic   massages   and aromatic treatments now abound in the metro. Most important, they don’t cost much and definitely won’t leave holes in your pocket. Nuat Thjais Hillcrest receprion area The NUAT THAI Foot and Body Massage could be the “cheapest” but quality spa service there is providing purely authentic Thai massage and Thai aroma therapy. The good news is the newest branch and ...

Most people think acne or pimples to be just part of any teenager’s life. It’s just a stage of life, most parents say. It’s there on your face because you’re young and you have overactive oil glands that cause them. In due time, your oil glands won’t be very active and your acne would heal naturally.  Well, we can only wish this is true. Because acne is a skin condition that must be taken seriously. Consider this:  Pimples can last for months. Non-inflammatory acne (whiteheads and blackheads) can last for a long time if left untreated. Inflammatory acne (papules, pustules, cysts, nodules) usually last between four days and two weeks. However, if you pick or pop it, it will last even longer and be more likely to leave a mark or scar. What Causes Acne?  The hair follicles, or pores, in your skin contain  sebaceous glands  or oil glands. These glands make  sebum , which is an oil that lubricates your hair and skin. Most of the time, the sebaceous glands...

Today’s young go-getters are all about self-expression, letting their unique personalities shine through in everything that they do. They play by their own rules and go beyond the average, pursuing the passions and interests that define their individuality. Now, young professionals and families can get a preview of how living in their very own home would look and feel like as Avida Land, an Ayala Land subsidiary, introduces the Interactive Showroom, located at Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.  A first in the Philippines, the Avida Interactive Showroom is equipped with a touchscreen kiosk where prospective homeowners can log into their Facebook account. Once logged in, the system will access their most recent publicly-posted photos and display them on the digital picture frames located in the model unit of Avida Towers Turf BGC, thus providing an interactive peek into how the home would look and feel like when it’s theirs. “We take and treasure ...

This year's theme for SM scholar-graduates' presentation  Giving dignity to oneself – rising from poverty, putting food on the table and sending siblings to school – is the main goal of every ‘poor’ student who graduates from college. Among other circumstances, a poor student is one whose family does not have funding for his or her education, who lives in a place of conflict or is at risk of conflict or who may be vulnerable to violence on his long and hazardous journeys to and from school and one who suffers hunger and malnutrition – all because of poverty. Most of the 225 scholars of the SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) who graduated this year knew this, having grew up in situations like these, and at one point in their lives had gave up hope for a brighter future. Indeed, the road to success is bumpy but they persevere with the help of SMFI who shouldered their tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses upon enrollment and afforded them with monthly stipend all throughou...

I don’t consider myself a good cook. But the fact that my kids enjoy whatever food is available and served them (cooked with tender loving care), I’m more than happy that I can be a good one. What do I mean cooking with TLC? Well, I see to it that I have the best ingredients, (but not necessarily the most expensive), I take time to cook, (no-no to short cut, if it should be slow cooking, I will lovingly do it), and I focus and enjoy my cooking. Oh well but as a working mom, I simply can’t cook with TLC every meal time. That’s why it’s a great idea that cooking ingredients are readily available nowadays. But mind you I still go for the original and the instant ones are only used to further enhance my cooking. One of the easiest yet complete dish to prepare is the Sinigang which is traditionally tamarind-based. Variations of the dish, however, can derive their sourness from ingredients such as guava, kalamansi, or kamias. Seasoning powder or bouillon cubes with a tamarind base a...

Text and photos by Leony R. Garcia Imagine a young man in his early 20s trying to eke out a living and raising a family by knocking from one door to another selling shampoos and retractable clothing lines among others. He also peddled products on the streets with items such as non-stick woks and video cleaners in the streets of Penang and East Malaysia. In 1984, the enterprising Malaysian went to the Philippines to promote his invention, the Super Slicer, to test his unwavering resolution to succeed in a foreign land. He started demonstrating his kitchenware product in shopping malls. Sooner than he expected, Sam Low Ban Chai and his products became household names. Slowly but surely, Sam Low has successfully adopted the network marketing business model in his company, Edmark Philippines, Inc., and has brought hope and the opportunity of entrepreneurship to thousands of Filipinos nationwide.   Now a multi-million dollar company with market presence in 26 countries,...