tea spa

Tea for spa, anyone?

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
December 10, 2013

A hot cup of tea after every meal works as a digestive aid as it also detoxifies our body. Hence, the sudden influx of milk tea shops around the metro was not surprising. But tea for a spa treatment? Now that is something innovative.

And why not.  Did you know that two cups of tea are as effective as seven cups of orange juice? Moreover, a tea plant as an antioxidant is 200 times more potent than vitamin E. Thus, it helps erase the signs of aging by neutralizing the free radicals (from air pollution, smoke, drugs) that damage our skin’s elastin and collagen. This perhaps explains the flawless complexions of Korean and Chinese women.

So, off I go to Sofitel’s Le Spa to experience its newest and exclusive range of treatments that utilize the power of teas called Themae, (or temae in Japanese, a term for tea preparation ceremony), which is dubbed as the best in French cosmetology.

Themae honors the benefits and powers of tea and uses them to concoct relaxing and soothing formulations such as creams, balms, and scrubs for my facial and upper body massage session. The spa experience uses the natural powers of four tea extracts as the main ingredients, which are the regenerating white tea, stimulating black tea, soothing red tea, and anti-oxidant green tea.

“White tea is the most expensive among them because of its sophisticated way of harvest. It must need proper timing and perfect weather conditions,” my personal massager, Elvie explains, while I loll, almost half asleep, thanks to the tea aroma and its therapeutic effects.

Elvie started by cleansing my skin and rubbing it after with minute granules that stimulated my blood flow as well. The process utilized the soothing effects of red tea. Then, in between facial massage was a calming eye cream that used white tea extracts. A detoxifying facemask topped off my facial spa.

Also, my rejuvenating Instant Glow Facial included a massage of neck and décolletage, “so the face color matches the neck”, which is a common boo-boo among women who only focus on face whitening, Elvie said.

What sets my Themae experience apart from the various facials I’ve experienced is its injection of traditional Asian practices like the use of nuat naa (Thai facial massage technique), which is a facial roll with two Tiger-eyes (marbles). The nuat naa does not have tiny needles for pricking acnes but just a stick with two cold marbles on the end, which stimulate pressure points while inducing sleep.

I woke up feeling fresher and cleaner, just the same feeling as drinking a cup of tea after a hearty meal.

Softiel’s Le Spa also offers other signature facials, body scrubs, and massages. For inquiries visit www.sofitelmanila.com.

let's go to the gym, gym

Gym class heroes

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
December 10, 2013

Shaking an exercise ball 10 times as big as your head with sand in it sounds so fun—but it’s not that easy. It eventually gets so hard to do as each minute passes by. But on the bright side, you can feel your flabby arms and not-so-flat stomach core swaying to your own rhythm. Then, it feels so good afterwards.

An hour or two of body torture should be this fun and engaging. Alas, for the traditional, exercising at home or going to the gym has always been blah, always been the same, always been on routine: a 30-minute treadmill run, 20-minute barbell, and then an hour of push-ups and then the cycle goes on and on until you find yourself fed up.

Fortunately gym routines nowadays are more free style, made easier and more charming but produce the same—or sometimes better—results of having fitter and healthier body within months.

“The free style and unorthodox gym exercise is very engaging and its novelty will not wear off that easily,” says Fitness First Free Style Master Trainer Archel Gabaleo.

He adds that free style exercises let you train your own way, which allows you to hit your target by cutting your workout time but gives you the desired results.

Yes, exercising and hitting the gym is now made easier thanks to these new heroes:

All the Freestyle equipment are available at the Fitness First RCBC Plaza, Makati. For more information, check www.fitnessfirst.com.ph.

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ViPR

The Vitality, Performance, and Reconditioning freestyle workout is said to be the “revolution of free weights”.  The equipment is like a huge bamboo. It is actually a fusion of barbell, dumbbell, Kettlebell, speed ladder, medicine ball, and stability ball.

Target/s: whole body

Benefits: strength, stability, vitality, flexibility

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Battle Rope

The battle rope works by pulling the strings, which weigh 20 kilograms, together until you create waves. It sounds so easy and fun but don’t let it fool you, nobody can last for more than five minutes of nonstop rope pulling.  The trick is to pull the ropes fast and hard while swaying your hips for easier maneuvering.

Target/s: arms, core, hips whole body work out, speed/strength

Benefits: strength, balance, endurance

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Suspension Cables

The suspension exercise lets you defy gravity and lets your arms or legs test your body resistance. The possibilities are endless with these two suspended straps: you can swing, hang, twist, or do combination poses.

Target/s: arms, legs, core

Benefits: endurance, strength, balance, resistance

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Monkey bar

A monkey bar inside the gym? Yes please. Swing and hang yourself and let your inner kid-at-heart enjoy the benefits of ripping your arm and leg muscles.

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Balance Ball

The balance ball utilizes your arm strength and endurance.  Shake the ball as fast as you can while maintaining the balance of the sand inside, which means they should stay on the middle of the ball. Shake it to the front, to the side, or both.

Target/s: core, shoulders, triceps, biceps, chest

Benefits: endurance, balance, muscle stretching, stability

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RIP Training

RIP training banks on the idea of uneven or asymmetrical load we carry every day. So, the training utilizes a lever bar and resistance cord, which you can pull to test your balance and resistance. The RIP training bar integrates rotational movement (like rowing a boat or hitting a baseball), which is an effective method to training your arms and core.

Target/s: arms, core

Benefits: stability, coordination, balance, strength, control

Do more!

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
December 10, 2013

Photo shows (at left) innovator Rolando Dela Cruz, president and CEO of Darwin International School System in Bulacan and (at right) the artist winner and peace muralist AG Saño.

An artist, an innovator, a challenger, a luminary, a civic hero, a digital vanguard, a social entrepreneur, and a global Pinoy welfare advocate in one room do not mean a clash among philosophies. Rather, together, they inspire Filipinos to do more than they are asked for and then create a ripple of change toward a better self and nation.

The eight achievers were recognized in the recently concluded Do More Awards brought by Rexona and Rappler. The awarding ceremony serves as an apt reminder that there are still do-gooders who are willing to help beyond the call of their duty. They are in the personas of ordinary citizens who do extraordinary deeds. Aside from recognizing them and their inspiring stories, their innate compassion reminds us that there is something to celebrate and there a lot more to do.

The essence of doing more according to our winners:

“Doing more is about not being content with just liking or sharing posts. It’s not just about reading the headlines and the first paragraphs or articles. It’s about learning more and arguing about things that you want to understand more about,” said Red Tani, the founder of Filipino FreeThinkers Organization, a platform for free thought sans the constraints of dogma and tradition. Tani is the winner under the Digital Trailblazer category, which recognizes online users who utilize their clouts for change.

The Rexona and Rappler team together with the winners

Meanwhile, for the Innovator category winner, Rolando dela Cruz, doing beyond what is asked for means, “it is not enough that we are always contented with ‘bahala na’ or ‘pwede na ‘yan’. Every school must be involved with the idea of social re-engineering”. Dela Cruz is the founder and CEO of Darwin International School System in Bulacan. As a staunch education advocate, he wants to inject nonconformist ideas to our education system like including the studies of Humanities as early as Grade 11 and thus produce world-class students. For him, to be innovative is risky. One risks his/her resources, relationships, and even own life all with the goal of a better tomorrow. Dela Cruz is a columnist of the Manila Bulletin, Schools Colleges Universities (SCU) section.

Doing more and contributing change meanwhile runs in the Saño family. Remember the Filipino UN representative who recently made a tearful plea during the Climate Change Summit in Warsaw? That was Yeb Saño, older brother of the Artist category winner AG Saño. The awardee, clad in a bandana, is also an environmentalist. AG paints dolphins to symbolize his advocacy on saving them and rainbows that translate to world peace. Apparently, while working as a marine researcher back in 2010 he found out that thousands of dolphins are slaughtered annually. Thus, with the help of his brush, willpower, and advocacy, he and his supporters paint the town with hope and positivity.

The other winners are:

The Global Pinoy: OFW-welfare advocate, President of the Blas Ople Policy Center, Manila Bulletin Panorama Columnist Susan Ople

The Luminary: UNTV CEO Daniel Razon

The Civic Hero: Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Luis Oquineña

The Challenger: SEA Games medalist and triathlete Mimi Lucas

The Social Entrepreneur: Co-founder and president of Hapinoy, a Sari-Sari store program, Mark Ruiz

All award winners were given a cash prize of PHP 50,000 to be given to their chosen charity.

Senator Bam Aquino, one of the panelists, gave the night’s closing remarks and said that the Do More Awards is “a call to action for those who don’t do more.”

A total of 200 inspiring stories were nominated in the Do More Awards, which only means there are community heroes within us, who are ready to do more. How about you, what are you willing to contribute?

staycation!

A whole new meaning to ‘staycation’

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
October 8, 2013

WACKY YOGA SHOT! Participants of the weekend wellness activity held at the Discovery Suites

“Clasp the hands together on your forehead so you may think of happy thoughts, on your lips so you may speak of kind words, on your chest so you may grow love… Namaste.” Words to this effect are as refreshing and rejuvenating as an early weekend yoga class with professional instructor Bee Marfil.

According to yoga gurus, hands pushed together means the union of the brain hemispheres, which promotes positive thinking thus, happy and healthy wellbeing.

It was before sunrise, while the city was still in slumber, when we found our bodies slowly yet surely following Bee’s instructions and poses (arms stretched, legs apart, downward facing dog, forward bend, and meditation poses). It was also a Saturday morning, just what one needed to shake away the stress from yesterday’s hard work. The twisting, lifting, turning, curling of the bodies were a labor for a first-timer but turned out therapeutic after some time. Yoga promoted relaxation of the mind, body, and soul.

The one-hour yoga session was at the highest floor (42nd) of the Discovery Suites Hotel in Ortigas Center, a perfect setting for a weekend ‘staycation’ with friends and families.

Bee Marfil makes a Vinyasa pose seemingly easy.

This basic Vinyasa yoga utilizes proper posture and breathing exercise. The Sanskrit word literally means to place (nyasa) in a special way (vi) or a breath-synchronized movement. Bee said it can relax the yin and yang energies. Moreover, it aides in re-energizing and detoxifying the body, as well as in muscle toning.

Then, a Yin yoga session at the Balance Gym with Flow Surf Yoga Samba co-founder Monica Eleazar-Manzano came next. Yin yoga is a slow-paced exercise, each position lasts for five minutes or less. The poses—happy baby, butterfly, and toe squat—for instance, encouraged deep stretching of the connective tissues in the spinal area, hips, and thighs.

Both yoga classes uphold the relaxation of the tired bodies, weary souls, and confused minds.

HEALTHY GOURMET. The hotel houses Restaurant 5 and 22 Prime.

Healthy food and therapeutic massage

In between the yoga sessions were healthy gourmet food fair, therapeutic massage and retail therapy. Discovery Suites houses Restaurant 5 and 22 Prime, which offer fine dining with nutritious food selections.

After a fulfilling meal, a therapeutic spa session comes next. After all, a ‘staycation’, or vacation for that matter isn’t complete without a visit to spa centers. Though a series of yoga classes can be therapeutic on their own, a trip to Discovery Suites’ exclusive Terra Wellness Spa is as calming.

Its spa treatments include the Terra’s Touch Signature Massage, which combines slow and graceful strokes applied to pressure points to relieve muscle tensions and aid proper blood circulation. For sports lovers, the Deep Tissue massage is a winning combination of sports massage and healing techniques to warm or repair the muscles from lactic acid build up. The traditional Hilot Massage meanwhile renews the ancient Filipino art of healing though kneading with the use of banana leaves.

Before the one-hour spa treatment, each customer is asked to choose between a lavender or orange-vanilla oil to soften callous and rough skin. The professional therapists are all licensed and trained.

Happy tummy and relaxed mind and body, these and more define a perfect staycation.

For further inquiries or reservations, call (02) 7198888 or visit www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com.

make a healthy switch now!

Make a healthy switch today

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
December 17, 2013

Glasswares provide a safer alternative to plastic containers in terms of being used as food storage

The country is slowly becoming plastic-free. Many Metro Manila districts and provinces are implementing the ban against plastic bags, all for the noble reason of saving our planet earth.

Plastics are synthetic materials made from a wide range of organic polymers. Owing to their long-lasting quality, they are utilized in almost everything—shampoo bottles, credit cards, cellular phone and computer parts, remote controls—that we use. However, the problem lies on how we take care of them.

According to research, some plastic materials, especially the everyday plastic kitchen utensils and ware, can pose dangers to one’s health because they release toxic materials as they wear and tear through time.

According to the dailymail.co.uk article, “Poisoned by Plastic: Chemicals in water bottles and food packaging have been linked to infertility and birth defects,” written by Steve Bogan,  research has shown that compounds such as the Bisphenol A (BPA), “can leach from plastics into the food and drinks that we consume—more so if they are heated to high temperatures, raising additional concerns about the kinds of plastics that are used in containers in microwave ovens.”

Furthermore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2004 found traces of BPA in 93 percent of urine samples taken from 2,517 people. BPA’s have been found to be the sources for reproductive health illnesses, brain defects, and prostate gland problems, among others.

Also, there were news reports saying that plastics especially made in China had been allegedly found with high lead content. Studies say that lead poisoning can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, anemia, liver damage, and hearing loss among children. Meanwhile, it can also render poor muscle coordination, increased blood pressure, and reproductive health problems among adults.

Chef Katherine Jao demonstrates a healthy approach to cooking by using glasswares in food preparation. (Photo by Jim Guiao Punzalan)

HEALTHY SWITCH

Given these facts, today is perhaps the perfect time to switch from plastic to glass especially in food and beverage preparation and storage.

“While everybody knows the importance of proper nutrition and exercise, healthy lifestyle starts from our house, on what kitchen wares we use to prepare fortified and delicious meals,” Culinary Consultant and Food Stylist Chef Katherine Jao says.

With this, Jao sampled some healthy feasts (Spicy Chicken and Clam Noodle Soup and Fresh Mushroom and Sausage Stew) using world-renowned glass products from Corelle, Corningware, Pyrex, and Visions during their recently concluded “Healthy Switch” campaign held in SM North Edsa.

“The health of family is our topmost concern. Healthy eating does not start and stop with healthy food but with healthy preparation,” Director for Corporate Marketing of Raffles and Co. Inc Lorie Acop says. Raffles is the distributor of brands above mentioned.

PLUSES OF GLASS

Chef Jao says cooking using glasswares comes handy. Given their transparency, one can see right through a pot or pan if a meal is about to cook even without constantly opening the cover and peeping inside it.

“Also, food styling is an important component in eating because we initially eat with our eyes, the other senses come secondary,” she says.

Good thing, the glass products from Raffles vie for sophistication in food preparation and storage. Each product comes in different patterns, designs, and colors. The product lines are also long lasting, microwave-friendly, hygienic, non-staining, and safe. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves Corelle dinnerware hence, each kitchen and dining piece meets the highest global safety standards for food contact.

Also, each glass item is not a heat conductor and non-porous, which means it does not absorb odors and after-tastes from the previously prepared meals.

The downside of glass products though is their vulnerability to break hence they must be handled with constant care.

travel trends for 2013 and 2014

Manila is it!

Filipino Travel Trends for 2013 and 2014

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
December 22, 2013

Manila Bay (Photos by Ronald Jayme)

Manila, Singapore, and Hong Kong are the Top 3 go-to cities for Filipino travelers who love to explore and experience exciting things.

According to Skyscanner, the world’s fastest growing travel search website, Filipinos love to explore these places and their top tourist attractions.  The trending lists are based on the actual flight searches conducted on the website and its mobile app.

While Manila remains to be the top popular destination among the locals coming from the provinces in search of jobs or leisure, provinces or islands known for their immaculate beaches and world-class festivals have also attracted travelers.

Meanwhile, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan which are shopping and dining destinations, made it to the outbound Christmas and summer destinations for this year.

“Travelling has become part of the Filipino lifestyle. The trends we saw this 2013 prove that Filipinos are becoming more reasonable yet adventurous travelers,” Skyscanner Philippines Manager Janet Ranola says.

According to Ranola, the increased popularity of domestic and international travels can be attributed to the lower air fare rates among airlines, inauguration of long international flight routes, long holidays, place accessibility, the social media visibility of a tourist spot, and innate penchant of Filipinos for travel and exploration.

“The results of our study show that traveling is already part of the Filipino lifestyle. In 2014, we are expecting an increase in the number of Filipinos booking and searching for top destinations and must-see places around the world,” she adds.

One of the most awaited prospects for 2014 is the Holy Week season, when majority of the Filipino families and barkadas travel and enjoy a week-long holiday. With these, the Skyscanner released a travel trend for 2014 based on the searches of travel for April 13-19, 2014. Based on their study, the well-loved Singapore and Hong Kong made it again to the top spots.

Skyscanner provides online comparisons for cheap airfares on millions of flights in over 1,000 airlines. It helps travelers organize and locate specific flight schedules, hotel availabilities, and holiday deals. The search engine can also enable vacationers to see flight prices per month or for the entire year by simply selecting a route.  

The top 10 domestic destinations for 2013 are:

1. Manila
2. Cebu
3. Davao
4. Tacloban
5. Puerto Princesa
6. Iloilo
7. Kalibo
8. Bacolod
9. Tagbilaran
10. Cagayan de Oro

Asakusa, Tokyo

The top 10 cities for Christmas destinations for 2013 are:

1. Singapore
2. Hong Kong
3. Bangkok, Thailand
4. Los Angeles, U.S.A
5. London, UK
6. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
7. Seoul, South Korea
8. Tokyo, Japan
9. Dubai, U.A.E.
10. New York, U.S.A

The top 10 summer destinations (booking between March-May 2013) are:

1. United States 2. Singapore
3. Hong Kong 4. United Kingdom
5. Japan 6. Thailand
7. United Arab Emirates 8. Canada
9. South Korea 10. Australia

The top 8 outbound destinations for Holy Week 2014 are:

1. Singapore
2. Hong Kong
3. United States
4. Japan
5. Thailand
South Korea
Australia
United Kingdom

Singapore sparkles in my eyes

by Nickky Faustine De Guzman
December 15, 2013

Indoor garden in Gardens by the Bay is now adorned with Christmas accessories. (Photos by Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman)

Singapore’s collection of glass and monolith skyscrapers never fails to amaze. But the towers of intricate architectural designs are lovelier and happier come night time, especially now that the streets, particularly the shopper’s haven Orchard Road, are adorned with Christmas lights that seemed to dance and accompany locals and tourists on their shopping, eating, and sightseeing expeditions.

The Orchard is embellished in white and blue lights, following this year’s theme of White Christmas. Majority of the Singaporeans are Buddhist so the Yuletide season for them is commercialized, which means more shopping options for Filipinos!

We hopped on the HiPPO (Hop On Hop Off) Sightseeing Bus Tour for thirty minutes and roamed around Orchard Street. It was delightful and dizzying at the same time to see the dancing lights and the people in a Christmas rush, towing their shopping bags and cameras.

The Orchard annual lighting ceremony, managed by the Orchard Road Business Association, aims to share blessings and give back to the community via each shopper’s transaction with the participating malls and boutiques.  The stunning Christmas lights display will end in January.

Daytime is another story.

Singapore is a busy corporate district. But the highlight of our day tour was the back alley trip, where stories Singaporeans would rather choose to forget, resurfaced, including one of the oldest occupations in the world: prostitution. Our tour guide towed us to the red-light district of Geylang. Contrary to the sophisticated and fast-paced uptown, Geylang has a different kind of vibrancy—women clad in short shorts arms intertwined with their men, sidewalk vendors offer sex paraphernalia that sell for a song, and brothel after brothel after brothel. Our tour guide said that since the government cannot stop prostitution then, regulating it is the best option. Indeed, Geylang is an interesting and eclectic part of Singapore every tourist must see and experience.

Here are the other unordinary tourist options you can try:

Dig in!

Singapore is never short of restaurants and food hawkers. One of its must-try dishes is the Dried Laksa. The common favorite Laksa is usually spicy noodles in coconut milk and curry soup. However, Violet Oon’s Kitchen serves dried up Laksa, which tastes like creamy pesto pasta and the usual Laksa sans the sharp taste.

Meanwhile, the famous Tim Ho Wan restaurant, which is originally a hole-in-the-wall café in Hong Kong, finds another home in Singapore. The Michelin Star recipient offers all-time favorites like baked buns, dim sums, and steamed egg cake, among others. The Michelin Star award is a stamp of fine dining quality. We had our reservation on a Sunday night and boy, was it jam-packed!

Then of course, there are the traditional cuisines like the Chicken Rice, Wonton, and Bak Kat Teh (Pork Rib Tea) available from hawkers.

Shopping Spree

If Orchard Road is too high-end for you, the Bugis Junction is definitely a shopping haven for inexpensive stuff. What’s good about Bugis is you can haggle lah! Aside from the famous Bugis Street, Singapore has a plethora of shopping depots like the China Town Square, Funan, Vivo City, and Plaza Singapura among others.

One Singaporean dollar is 35 pesos; it won’t hurt your pocket that much so shop, shop, shop!

Fit for Kids

Singapore is also very kid-friendly. Sentosa in particular, has a Universal Studios, S.E.A. Aquarium, which is the largest marine life park, luge and zip line options, and 3D and 4D entertainment shows. Then of course, the famous Gardens by the Bay and its Super Trees are now adorned with Christmas lights, lanterns, reindeers, and Christmas trees.

Instagrammable Lion City

Singapore has proven itself as a tourist hub for shoppers, foodies, and kids. What adds to its allure is that everything about the Lion City is Instagram-ready! So the next time you visit Singapore, do not forget to carry your cash, flat shoes, DSLR camera or smart phone and Instagram your snapshots. Take advantage of the Christmas rush, mall sales, and must-see tourist destinations. Indeed, Singapore is a chic place to see and be seen.

Orchard Road adorned with Christmas lights in time for the Yuletide season.

The S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa houses thousands of marine life species.

The indoor garden in Gardens by the Bay is now adorned with Christmas accessories.

This glutinous and sweet delicacy is a common Singaporean merienda.

Singapore is also a kid-friendly tourist spot. Bring your kids to Sentosa and enjoy its offerings like the luge, zip line, and obstacle course.