This is my personal page - expression of my thoughts on events, articles, movies, fashion, products, experiences, etc. This is the part of me I share to you as I journey towards "cronehood".
"Crone-hood is a phase in life where you become more authentic, more capable of making a difference in your family, and in the greater world. Women in her crone years, are in amazing position to make an influence....". - Jean Shinoda-Bolen
There are many times in my life when I surrendered and let go.
(1) when father was diagnosed with CA and we barely able to make ends
meet -I surrendered and let go - - - our family was able to shoulder the
expenses of the treatments until God decided "it's enough"
(2)
when after several years of trying to get pregnant, all possible means
exhausted but still to no avail - I surrendered and let go - - - God
finally blessed us with a beautiful daughter.
....and so on....
Today, i have doubts and fears, and I say to myself "surrender and let go".
"Life should be touched, not strangled. You don't have to know exactly
where you're going, to be headed somewhere great. Everything in life
is in perfect order. It just takes some time to connect all the dots". -
Marc Cernoff
Right after college graduation, I would like to dress up to look a
little mature and give the impression that I am capable and responsible.
When I turned 40, my style changed and I would prefer to wear clothes
that will take some few years off my age to look young. Not that I lost
the passion to look more credible, but I guess my visible gray hair and
the reading eyeglasses I wear will somehow give the impression of my
wisdom.
Reaching the stage of mid-life, I hope
I have gained the experience necessary for me to share wisdom and make a
difference in a person's life. I hope to reach a level where I can
easily laugh at myself and find humor in every day's life. I hope to
reach crone-hood and grow old gracefully.
"Crone-hood is a phase in life where you become more authentic, more
capable of making a difference in your family, and in the greater world.
Life gives you experience, and when you draw from it, that's true
wisdom. Women in her crone years, are in amazing position to make an
influence...to change things for the better, to bring what she knows in a
situation, to be able to say 'enough is enough'". - Jean Shinoda-Bolen
It’s very seldom that I watch a movie.Simply because there’s not much of a good quality Pinoy movie nowadays (and I say Pinoy because I am not a foreign movie enthusiast).Recently, I watched No Other Woman because of positive feedback from officemates and good reviews from various blogs/ webs.I don’t watch this kind of movie because I hate stories of extra-marital affairs and love stories of couples who came from different relationships and ended up happy together after messing up the lives of their partners (nyah) …..true love I believe should come at a right time, right place and with the right person!
What did I like about the movie?
#1: the timing
It’s my hubby’s 7-day-off from work, perfect time to watch a movie with him, although he prefers Praybeyt Benjamin.
#1 Friend of Derek:“Pare napanood mo ba yung sa youtube?Nahuli nung misis yung asawa at kabit nya sa mall… ayun para kang nanood ng WFC… duguan!”Very true and funny indeed.True and trusted friend will not always support us in what we do… they will also tell us the consequences of what we’re doing.
# 2 Cristine to Derek: Tuwing umuuwi ka at nakikita mo ko… nakikita mo pa ba ako na babaeng minahal mo at pinakasalan… o nagsisi ka na, nagpatali ka kaagad?Galing!Right question to ask sa hubby mo na di pa umaamin ng kalokohan!
#3 Christine to Derek:Ang bababoy nyo!Binaboy nyo ko!You will really feel the pain of being betrayed from this line and how Christine delivered it (complete with iyak and pagwawala)
# 4 Christine to Derek: (referring to herself wearing the sexy swimsuit) Eto!Hindi ako to!Hindi ako to!Pero ginagawa ko dahil mahal kita! Mahal na mahal kita!This is the wife’s admission that she is trying to change herself just to please her husband when in fact there’s really nothing wrong with her.This is very common because in any relationship, women usually think that there is something wrong with her kaya siya iniiwan or pinapalitan…Christine continues with…di ba masarap ang luto ko?Pangit ba ko? This line made Derek realized na… oo nga no? wala naman mali… bakit ko ginawa to?Simple!He failed to resist the temptation.
# 3: the characters
Beautiful, loving, caring… simple and plain wife (played by Christine) VS beautiful, sexy, carefree woman (Anne Curtis).In the middle, a man .. handsome, sexy, happy with his wife but is vulnerable (Derek)!
It’s one good thing that these characters were portrayed by our young actor and actresses.Can’t imagine if you had Christopher de Leon or Gabby Concepcion portraying as Ram (nothing against these veteran actors, I’m just trying to make a point).Dina Bonevie and Sharon Cuneta as Kara and Charmaine… wala lang… maging limited lang ang audience.But, having the young genre here… able to capture a wider market… from the young to young once... girl or boy.. bakla tomboy…married or single…separated or happily married…
# 4: Derek Ramsey
Grabe!Very handsome and sexy!Need I expound on this?Acting wise – it’s ok.I felt his pain when finally he realized that, yes, his wife is leaving him.Sayang lang, the movie failed to include sana some scenes that will show that he tried to avoid temptations…or that he set limits with his dealings with Anne.Huli na… when finally he revealed that he is married… he is alone already with a beautiful and sexy girl trying to seduce him that whole day
# 5: Christine Reyes
Never liked her… esp. after the Rayver/Sarah issue (affected?).Until now, I still do not like her… but I must commend her acting… esp. the part where she confronted Anne at the pool, where she broke down in tears and threw the line to Derek…”Ang bababoy nyo”… it must be really painful for any wife when finally you confirmed that your husband had an affair.
# 6: the lessons that you can derive from the story
-Avoid vulnerable situations.Even if you’re into sales or whatever job you have, it is but right that we always avoid vulnerable situations… situations, habits, people, place, thing or event that will make us lose our mind and our values/principles.In the movie, Derek removing his wedding ring every time he meets his client is a habit that puts him in a vulnerable situation.I think if you want to sell a piece of furniture, you should focus on the qualities of the item… yourgood looks only a plus or a come-on strategy for the people to take a minute and see what you can offer… plus you need to be a good conversationalist… there are people who can sell a million even if they’re not good looking or single… it is how they deliver their messages and how they defend their stuff/item
-Set limitations.If you’re job requires you to flirt…(di ko matanggap to, flirting while you’re working!) as what is claimed in the movie as Derek being a salesman - know when to stop… how to stop…why you should stop!You don’t want to be like your unfaithful father… then be faithful!You don’t want to ruin your marriage… then don’t do anything that will lead to that
-Be careful with your actions/ decisions:intentionally not wearing your wedding ring… spending more than the usual time/ intimate time with your client or officemate (of course from opposite sex )...doing favors for her/him (designing her bed…nyah!)….THESE will surely lead you to something else… One wrong decision or action... BOOM! … surely ruin your life or whatever you have!
-Be committed to your marriage… and stay committed at all times!I remember one person I met in a training and he shared to me during the sharing moments (official to! part of the training) that when he got married, he decided to be committed.May I quote what he said, “Ngayon, tumitingin lang ako sa menu pero hindi ko tinitikman”.
My most favorite line:“5 years of hard work (referring to his marriage)… with one stupid decision…nasira lahat… nawala lahat!
Hubby asked me, “Mahal, nakaka-relate ka?”My answer, “Hindi… naawa lang ako sa mag-asawa (Derek and Christine)”.Nakakaawa talaga…It always make me happy seeing couple getting married.. knowing that a friend is getting married.Pero nakakalungkot at nakakaiyak pagnaghihiwalay sila or even just the thought of it happening to me or to my own relationship… “mapapatay ko yung kabit… silang dalawa actually” (nyahaha!!!)
Friends, you will never find a perfect person to make your life perfect…but you can be that perfect person for your spouse... if you stay committed to your marriage and to your vows.
I am not really the kikay type pero mukhang I’m a late kikay bloomer! Now that I’m nearing 40, I started to focus on keeping myself healthy and pretty. Not that I am becoming sickly or whatever, but I just realized that I need some changes….. in my lifestyle and in how I take care of myself. Some will say it’s part of mid-life crisis he he.. but maybe because I can afford now to spend some money for these extra curriculars!
Just a month ago, I started focusing on losing weight which I have been putting aside for the past 10 years. I also started exploring beauty treatments and procedures to take care of my skin esp. the face. Let me focus first on discovery #1 --- the DIAMOND PEEL.
It was only this year that I had my first taste of diamond peel . I had it at Lynderm (Los Baños). Staff was courteous and the one that attended to me was gentle enough to make me relaxed during the whole procedure. Actually, I did not notice any significant change after the procedure – maybe because of the pricking that I needed to endure and made me shed tears as if I watched a telenovela. Or maybe because, one treatment is not enough to get visible results!
One good discovery at Lynderm facial salon is their tea facial wash which the receptionist recommended to me (I’ll have separate articles for beauty products). It suits my skin type and helps control pimple breakouts. Actually, the reason why I return to Lynderm is to buy the facial wash and not the diamond peel. I’ve been salon hopping after my 1st diamond peel session because I want to find out the spa that will give me the best service at a good price. Thanks to my ensogo/metrodeal subscriptions, I am able to spot the facial spa which offers diamond peel at a discounted price. At least I get to try the service at a cheaper price… kung sakaling di maganda service, at least mura lang bili ko. Later this year, after my salon hopping, I’ll select the best facial spa … good service and reasonably priced!
I searched the internet to get more information about the diamond peel. One site said that diamond peel will make your skin younger looking and healthier. Well, true enough! After about 4 sessions from different facial salons, I get to appreciate and notice changes in my skin texture. Softer now, less pimples, and I think smaller pores!
What are the benefits of diamond peel? My reference says:
Good Skin Tone
Even Skin Color
Refined Skin Pores
Fewer Breakouts
Softer Skin
Healthy Glow
Younger Appearance
Renewed Elasticity
Diamond peel is best if you have the following skin problems:
Aging and sun-damaged skin.
Some types of acne scarring and acne.
Altered pigmentation.
Stretch marks.
Fine lines.
Enlarged and clogged pores
Well, I have slightly sun-damaged skin because of the field works I had during my younger years. Also, it is only now that I included sunblock in my “kalan” (short for kalandian, sabi ng Ninang ko). I also have some scarring due to pimples, fine lines and enlarged pores.
Now, let me share how diamond peel is being done especially for those who have not tried the procedure. If it is a diamond peel with facial, procedure will be:
·Cleaning (to remove your makeup or dirt in your skin)
·Scrubbing (further remove dirt from your skin)
·Steam (to prepare your skin for the pricking)
·Pricking (remove pimples and white/black heads)
·Vacuum/Microdermabrasion (actual diamond peel procedure using a special sterilized wand with gentle suctions to rub off dead skin cells)
So, if you like to try this, first check if the diamond peel service being offered in a spa includes facial. They say, it is best to have facial and diamond peel together. Lynderm offers diamond peel at P500 and adds P250-400 pesos for facial. So, that will costs you about P900. At Orange Peel Spa – diamond peel with facial costs P 1,200. Of course, I did not avail this at their regular price. I had peels for about 3 sessions (every 2 weeks) for only P600 per visit (special 50% discount). Why Orange Peel Spa? Well, it’s just located at the ground floor of the condo where I am staying during weekdays. After that, I tried the diamond peel of Flawless (SM Manila) – P700 regular price. Between Orange Peel Spa and Flawless, I prefer the procedure at Orange Peel – mas maingat and mas matagal yung time devoted to vacuum and the actual microdermabrasion. In terms of facilities and ambience – Flawless is better – less chaotic and with better sense of privacy sa treatment rooms. Lynderm is okay but expensive than Flawless.
For me, having diamond peel once a month is a good “bisyo”. My skin is smoother, unlike before that even it is oily, texture is rough. I noticed that my face has even skin tone/ lighter and smaller pores. At Lynderm and Flawless, the attending staff showed to me the dead skin cells removed from my face!
Next on my list of spa hopping? Dermcare (I have 2 vouchers bought from MetroDeal at only P250 each!) and Diana Stalder. To be continued….
