The living room of the suite accommodation given to us before heading to Shanghai.

What a beautiful place to stay…

Before going to my first trip abroad, hopefully…

(L-R): Miss Philippines-Air: Michelle Martha Braun (Aklan), Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism and Miss PAGCOR: Adie Adelantar (Victorias City),  Miss Philippines-Water: Miss Philippines-Earth 2009: Sandra Seifert (Negros Occidental), Miss Philippines-Fire and Miss Science and Technology: Patricia Marie Tumulak (Quezon City), Miss Philippines-Water: Catherine Loyola (Fil. Sydney)

The recently concluded Coronation Night of Miss Philippines-Earth 2009 which was held at the The Arena Entertainment and Recreational Center of the People, San Juan City on May 10, 2009 glorifies the Reigning Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism 2009 and Miss PAGCOR 2009, Grizelda Enis “Adie” Adelantar.

Adie, to her friends, is very kind and sweet. Way back our freshie year in UP Diliman (Centerfold, Kalayaan Residence Hall), she used to be the “ate” of everyone else. Ever since, she has already that role-model image to all of her friends and colleagues. She is a very diverse woman. She loves to participate in events for a cause (she was one of the UP Corp of Sponsors), she loves to dance (she participated in the Cheerdance competition that was organized by UP Pep Squad), she speaks so well (when aspiring men court her, she politely turns them down explaining that she has priorities), she loves to do so many things, she just can’t help it! But, above all these, she’s a colleague, a friend, and a sister to every Centerfold lady (Go UNGASTIG!).

Familiar with the lovely pictures? Of course. Who cannot recognize the Pink Empire of the Queen City of the South, Cebu? The grandeur Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa owned by the legend, Manny Osmena (he also formerly owned Waterfront Hotel).

Early this evening, I got a chance to meet and interact with this multi-millionaire for an hour in CAV Wine Shop-Cafe in Fort Bonifacio, Global City, Taguig. The setting: job interview. Yes, he interviewed me! What was he offering? Wine Ambassadorial position. The perks? Monthly salary, house and lodging, food and transportation allowance. Basically all. Plus the opportunity to be personally trained by him in countries like France, China, Singapore and Hongkong. As a wine ambassador, it is expected that you handle everything that is asked of you. You travel anywhere in the Philippines, day and night, if the need arises. You talk to media, promote the wine products. “You do this, and many more, with sophistication” — these are his very words I could not forget.

Wine, for him, is a lifetime business and even beyond. The learning experience continues every single day. Wine, for him, is never tainted with negative vibes, as those compared to beer, vodka, tequilla, etc. Wine is never an alcoholic drink. It is a drink that invigorates the soul, releasing the positive energies of your being. It is all about sophistication.

As his final words, “think about this, and if you decide to work with me, I will personally train you because I know that you belong to the Class A circle. Someday, you will achieve more than you could think of.”

We thought of something else for April Fool’s Day. So, instead of fooling around and be fooled at the same time, we just commemorated it as April Fool’s Day.

April 1 is April Boots Day

Thanks to these friends, my April 1 is worth remembering for!

A Gossip Girl-Like Pose Along the Corridor

Few more days to go and it’s February. And on the fourteenth of the month, the world celebrates St. Valentine’s Day. But how do St. Valentine gives significance to mankind? Well, we all know the answer to this. This crazy thing we call love.

Maybe you are wondering why I begin to blabber about love, it’s not that I am romantically in love and involved now (because I am seriously not), but rather I decided to elaborate on this matter because I am fascinated with how the world actually celebrates Valentine’s Day in different ways.

It has already become a trademark during Valentine’s Day that we give flowers and chocolates to our loved ones – may it be our parents, our friends or our romantic partners. But do you know that flower-giving during this special day, more particularly rose-giving in some parts of the USA , may actually take a lot of interpretations? Americans say, the color of the roses tells you the kind of message they want to impart to the person they are handing the flowers. So that if you hand in white roses, it means you are truly in love with that person, red roses for passion, yellow roses are for friendship, and black roses, if it means goodbye.

But let us not be saddened with that tradition, after all we’re not all Americans, right? Let’s consider another country. Japan . The Japanese celebrate St. Valentine’s Day in a rather unique fashion. Women, take note, women give chocolates to men during this day. It has been their tradition that every February 14, women do something for their loved ones and in return, men are actually obligatory to give something to their women on the fourteenth of the next month, so that every March 14 is a celebration known as White Day because all men give chocolates to their partners, and these chocolates are actually wrapped in white boxes, that’s why it’s White Day.

Moreover, in Scotland , the singletons who are looking for partners can actually participate in their festival known as the Teh Festival. These single and unmarried men and ladies will have to write their names on a sheet of paper and drop it on the box they provide. The men will have to pick one rolled-paper on the box and whoever gets who, well, they can be partners for life.

See, people have various ways on celebrating this occasion. In other words, there are millions of ways on how to shape up or ship out of your relationship. It actually depends on how you deal with it. Traditions, personal perspectives, it doesn’t matter. That’s the very irony of love.

Long hair isn’t for everyone. Short on patience in the morning? If you are not up for spending extra time washing, conditioning, blow-drying and styling your hair, like me, then stick with above-the-shoulder locks. While ponytails are always an adorable option, long hair can also be a drag for girls who play lots of sports. According to a particular fashion magazine, long hair looks best on girls with oval faces. Square and round face shapes can also pull off long hair, just be sure to add layers to break up the lines. Girls with long and heart-shaped faces look best with shoulder-length hair.

Below are some guides to a healthy hair. Remember, this doesn’t only pertain to ladies with short long hair cuts, but to men as well.

Cut your hair. The secret to long hair? Strong hair. And that means getting rid of all damaged ends. So, believe it or not, your first step is to suck it up and head to the salon for a good snip. How much is enough? Unless your hair is very thick or very curly, have the stylist trim until your hair is all one length, as short as the shortest layer in your hair. All-one-length hair stays healthier and that means you can grow it without having as many trims from here on out. Thick- or curly-haired ladies will want to keep a few long layers to help weigh hair down. You don’t want to look like a mushroom-head as your hair grows out. Of course, for men, it is also, but, necessary to have your hairs cut, primarily to prevent from getting dandruffs.

Eat right. You know that expression “You are what you eat”? Well, it happens to be true. It seems very unbelievable and odd but really true. Hair can only stay long and healthy if you eat well-balanced meals. Foods rich in vitamin A (dairy products, fish, squash), vitamin B (meat, fish, bananas), vitamin C (citrus, melon, tomatoes and potatoes) and vitamin E (nuts, whole grains, broccoli) are essential for truly healthy hair. Feel like eating a steak tonight? Perfect. Red meat is rich in iron and zinc, two nutrients proven to help your hair grow fastest.

Stress less. Studies show that hair actually grows slower when you are stressed to the max. Your hair also needs a good night’s sleep. So, chill out, and get some shut-eye already. Not only good for your body, but unconsciously, for keeping a nice hair to add up to your charms.

Keep your hair clean. Oily roots and product build-up can clog follicles and prevent your hair from growing as quickly as possible – the maximum is about a half-inch per month. So be sure to shampoo daily and give your hairbrush a weekly cleansing so you don’t rebrush in old dirt and oil.

Be kind to your hair. The longer your hair is, the older it is. So treat it with the respect it deserves. When you lather up, use gentle shampoos formulated for your hair type. Conditioners will also help, of course. For men you are into rasta fashion, treat your locks once a week to a leave-on conditioner or hair mask. And try to lay off your blow-dryer, hot curlers and flat iron as much as possible. For ladies, throwing your hair up in a ponytail to disguise growing-out layers? Be careful not to pull too tight – you’ll risk breaking your hair. Yikes!

Get your regular trims. After eight weeks, your hair could be up to an inch longer. The tendency is your hair may result to a type which you really don’t want. So please your hair, treat it the way you treat yourself. We should keep in mind that a healthy hair is also a clear manifestation of a healthy lifestyle; thus, a healthy personality.

Is a bud pirating all your answers? Sneak a peek at this…

You studied all week for your Philippine History test, while your friend spent his study time coming up with clever text messages for his girlfriend…and now he’s glancing at your answers. The other day, he asked you if he can borrow your Chemistry Laboratory report because he can’t spare the night before the due because of some inconsiderable reasons. Last week he pleaded to copy your Mathematics homework and you caved, but you don’t want him bogarting all of your hard-earned work! Do you rat him out or what? Based from my personal experience, I will show you how to keep your pal’s prying eyes from your paper…without busting up the friendship. Friendship is still friendship, of course.

Outta the hot seat. You know a set of wandering eyes has been making its way to your quizzes, and it is making you totally uncomfortable. One way to keep those answers to yourself is to ask your teacher if you can change seats, and move to another spot. If occasions like you are not allowed to stray from your assigned seat, then you can always use a blank piece of paper to cover your work as you go, the least, you can use your arms to shield your answers. After all, your answers are still your property. It may seem sneaky but, hey, cheating is way sneakier! The issue here is not about selfishness but of professionalism and dedication to your career life – it’s always good to start it the right way.

Denied. What if you still cannot stop it? Well, I guess: be blunt. Tell your friend you don’t want either of you to get in trouble, so the cheating’s got to stop! You want to be buds, but you can’t do his work for him. Let him know you will gladly pair up for some problem-solving practice but you are not giving out any free answers. It’s just too much. Tell him to do his part as you are doing yours. In that way, both of you will benefit, a two-way learning experience in one hit.

Study hall. Fine. If the stuff has not been resolved yet, consider theories about why such thing is happening. If your friend has become a pro at dissing his studies, one of two things is likely going on: 1) He is having trouble grasping some of his classes, or 2) he has terrible study habits. Offer to be a study buddy during some structured homework sessions to coach your friend through the tough spots. If, however, he spends the time pressuring you to do his work, suggest he work instead with a tutor or teacher after school. In this way, at least you have done your share as a friend to him. Again, let him realize he needs to exert effort for himself too.

Keeps on Cheating. If a copycat classmate continues to eyeball your work. You are going to have to draw the line. Ratting a bud out is always a last resort, so let him know you don’t want to have to blow the whistle on him. Make sure he understands that he’s violating your trust and taking total advantage of you. If he doesn’t get the message, he’s only cheating herself out of a friendship. Talk to him. Now.

Do I really need to drink eight glasses of water a day?

Fiction. Well, kind of. Eight glasses are recommended by the American Dietetic Organization, but there haven’t been studies or anything. The best way to figure out if you are drinking enough water is to look at your urine. It should be a very light shade of yellow. If it is darker, then drink up. Also, let your first thirst guide you. On a mild day, you might not need eight glasses to feel hydrated. If it is hot or you are exercising, you could crave for nine or ten glasses. The bottom line? Your body is 90 percent water and needs it for digestion, healthy skin, blood circulation, temperature control and lots of other valuable reasons. So drink to your health!

I am getting headaches almost every day. I take ibuprofen, but it seems like they get worse. Why?

Believe it or not, some medicines for headaches can actually cause them. This is called rebound headache, and it’s common especially to people dependent to painkillers. Over-the-counter meds, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil), help in the short term, explains Dr. Mark Green, director, Columbia University Headache Center, Columbia-Presbyterian Eastside, New York. But they can make matters worse if taken more than once or twice a week.

Caffeine, sleep deprivation and stress also cause dull, thudding brain pain. The best way to rid headaches for good is to ditch the drugs and make a few lifestyle changes. Dr. Green suggests going to bed and waking up at a set time daily: “People with headaches find that they’re worse when they sleep late.” Whenever you go to far places or you attend time-consuming activities, carry snacks with you because your hunger can trigger the problem. And of course, exercise regularly to release endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. Still, if nothing works, a doctor can prescribe medicine in safe doses.

Whenever something really stressful happens, I feel like I am going to throw up. How can I make this go away?

Nausea or the desire to vomit because of stomach pain is a natural response to stress. When you are under pressure due to an oral report or an interview, family issues, friendship strife or whatever, your body secretes hormones into your bloodstream, raising your heart rate, dilating your pupils and, well, making you want to hurl. Dr. Andrew Spooner, director of pediatrics, University of Tennessee Medical Group, Memphis, recommends relaxation techniques: Breathe deeply, make sure it doesn’t rise. “Your belly will stick out if you’re doing it right,” says Dr. Spooner. Breathe and tell yourself, “I’ll be fine; I can handle this.” Next, imagine a serene scene, like walking in the shore or lying in the beach. Aaahhh… So comforting, isn’t it? But still, if your anxiety is interfering with your life, I think you should see your doctor. Some medications might help you ease that pain you are feeling.

Cross-cultural bumps! Whew! Just last night I felt so bad for myself. I felt I didn’t do a good cultural mediator- act. Basically because the persons involved, which include me, lack awareness of conversation topic taboos.

I felt bad for myself because all the while I have been talking about intercultural communication and explaining its concepts and principles to the best of my knowledge, at least from what I learn in class. Yet, I violated it myself; I didn’t even totally apply it. Now I realize that it is harder to play than to plan a game. I realize I was purely theoretical so that still, application would be best. Experience really counts.

This was what happened: a really strange encounter in such a conventional situation.

I have a new friend named Michelle Booth. She is a Filipino-American and is currently studying in one of the campuses of University of California. She is in her final year in college and is working on her thesis, which scopes the Filipino Culture. For her study to be realized, she needs to take up a two-month crash course in the Philippines together with some fifty Fil-Am students who have the same goal as hers. And they took it in UP Diliman. Just before they go back to their respective universities abroad, I thought of treating her somewhere interesting in Manila – to relax, to enjoy, to know each other even better. I just felt it essential because this girl happens to be the daughter of my aunt’s best friend (both their families now live in California, visiting the Philippines once in a while). My aunt entrusted her to me, at least during her stay in UP. So I thought of bringing her with me to Greenhills Shopping Center hoping that she may be interested to purchase cheap products she will bring back home.

And so we went there. Because my phone was broken, I had to have it fixed, so we went to the Cellphones Section. While the technician was about to give me my repaired phone, he spoke in a very “calm” manner to my friend and spill a word to her, “Are you a gay?” And simultaneously I answered a sshhh!!, gave him an odd stare and returned my eyes to my friend hoping that she didn’t noticed it. But she did. She was confused so that all she could say to the technician was “What?”

Honestly, I didn’t know what to do. I was not prepared for that situation to possibly happen to us, but it happened. I was kind of shifting the topic to another, something that popped up to my mind at that time. I felt I had to, to neutralize the scenario. Just before we left, Michelle commented, “It’s my first time to hear that!” I didn’t speak up. Instead, I gestured her not to mind it. Really, I didn’t know what to say, or how to react to it…so all I could say to the technician was “she went to Boracay that’s why she got a tan. And we left!

Whew! What an awful experience. But even though, I didn’t regret it. I shared this to my Speech professor and these were the things she said:

“Filipinos are a curious lot! Many times, we don’t know personal space because “personal” items or topics to foreigners are not personal at all to us. Your technician doesn’t know only a privileged few can ask the question “Are you a gay?” He’s not even anybody to your Fil-Am friend. I think what you did was just apt and smart of you. It’s not your fault anyway.

Cross-cultural bumps. With this experience, it helped me a lot to be aware intercultural communication. I hope that by next time, I can already become an effective cultural mediator. I hope so. I will.