Nourishing Habagat's Victims

Growing up in the province of Masbate, and eventually living in Manila for my college education,  I am used to living with regular visits of strong typhoons.  I grew up knowing that there are about 20 typhoons that visit and devastate our country each year.   Typhoons, used to have women's names, (Reming, Juaning, Neneng) until we ran out of local female names that the weather bureau held a name-that-typhoon contest.  We now have more variety of names to choose from like Falcon, Dodong, Egay, Kabayan etc.

Photo by Annie Maliclic Leonardo

The worst thing, for me, as a kid,  the rainy season coincides with the school year opening.  Most of the times, we haven't started our lessons, and there will be announcements of several days of No Classes.  Sometimes, when they suspend classes late,   I would to school in slippers because I don't want to ruin my new school shoes.  Then, go home again, walking in floods to my thighs.  That's they early 80s in the Chinatown, Manila.  Nowadays, the flooding in Manila is chest-deep!

My hometown in Aroroy, Masbate runs right smack into the typhoon path coming from the Pacific.  We are a mountainous region, there's not much flooding but we would have typhoons that blew rooftops away! 

In my adult life, the most recent worst typhoons was in 2009 (when I just 8months pregnant with my youngest girl),  Typhoon Ondoy (International name : Ketsana) left almost 400 dead, Tyhoon Sendong (International name Washi) left almost 1000 dead.   Recently, there has been an anomaly in nature, we didn't have a typhoon but we had a strong Southeast Monsoon or Habagat.  In fact, we didn't even have a name for it, so we just called it Habagat. 

Photo by Marianne Siason

Habagat devastated Manila and nearby suburbs last August 7-8 with relentless strong torrential rains.  We had more than 10 days of continuous rains. There were flooding all over the city.  People were evacuated into schools for temporarily shelters.

Photo by Mary Martinez

Eventually, various organizations and individuals mobilize themselves to reach-out to the victims of typhoons. Relief packs are distributed by the thousands.  A relief pack usually consist of instant noodles, rice, sardines, corned beef, and used clothing. Filipinos are really good at this!  Even if people say we have crab mentality and all.... the Bayanihan Spirit still reigns.

Photo by Dan Pagulayan

This brings me to my next point.  After all our initial relief efforts,  I hope our organizations would consider a more nourishing sustenance for the children of these calamities. Let's face it, many of our children in the slum areas, and even majority of our public school pupils are malnourished.  Many of them are underweight, easily get sick easily and don't do well in school.

There's this initiative of Nu Skin Enterprises, called Nourish the Children.  It hasn't gotten much publicity because they're not under media spotlight.  They have a product called Vitameal.   This lentil-based food is especially formulated for malnourished children, even senior citizens who need nourishment.   It was formulated by scientists in the US, as a complete meal.  No need for viands, or "ulam."  Their product brochure says, it contains:

• A balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber
• Essential fatty acids required for normal brain development, skin health, and immune defense
• Electrolytes necessary for maintaining normal fluid balance and muscle function
• 25 essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A for normal sight and immune functions, as well as nutrients for normal growth and skeletal development*

VitaMeal is vegetarian and non-dairy, and allows for the easy addition of ingredients to fit every taste and culture. It is a meal by itself, but some would cook it with spaghetti (substitute the beef), porridge, sweet snacks with coconut milk, among others.   Each VitaMeal package can be use for 30 child-sized meals, or enough food to provide a child with one nutritious meal each day for a month.

The cost is 1,600 php per bag.  A bit costly, but if you will consider that it's not just a meal, it's a multi-vitamin in itself, it's really worth it. Besides, there's really improvement on the overall health of the child.  This has been tested in feeding programs in Africa and China. 

If you're interested,  you can buy the Vitameal pack for yourself or for your organizations.  Alternatively, you can just sign a donation form and your donation will be given to Feed the Children Philippines.  It's the organization that conducts the feeding all over the country.

You can just talk to the person who sent you this link or  contact directly  Nu Skin Enterprises Philippines with offices at 15th floor Octagon Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines, with telephone numbers 632-8-NUSKIN.

"If you can't feed a hundred people, feed just one." - Mother Theresa

xoxo,

ripemango

Exfoliating ~ the next best thing to Molting

One of our often overlooked regimen is exfoliating. Let's face it,  humans are the only species that don't molt as well as the other animals.  Molting is the periodic shedding of hair, skin, shells and even horns of animals. Snakes and lizards are the most prolific when it comes to shedding of old skin.  Twice a year, they literally and beautifully acquire bright clean and shiny skin as if they're re-born.

Humans' skin do shed as well, but not as drastic.  Our skin cells have a lifespan of 35 days. So, technically,  we are shedding off and getting new skin month after month.  But then again, if we don't exfoliate, those dead skin cells will literally stick like stubborn barnacles in body.

Most neglected areas are undersides of the nose, upper forehead,  elbows, ankles, underneath the butt, breasts and those prime real estate that doesn't get sunshine.  (If you know what I mean!)

Two of my super favorite exfoliating medium are from the American  personal care company Nu Skin, with offices at 15th floor Octagon building, San Miguel avenue, Pasig City, Philippines.

For my face, I use Exfoliant Scrub extra gentle.  It's made from marine phytoplankton and aloe vera.  I like it because it's not harsh and doesn't leave my skin feeling scratched.  I have huge pores, and I normally have white heads and black heads if i neglect to exfoliate 3x a week.

Nu Skin Exfoliant Scrub

But then again, I'm careful not to overdo exfoliating because it  also strip  skin's natural moisture and stimulate further oil production.  If you have oily skin, it's a fallacy that you should use face wash with exfoliating beads daily.

Once your skin gets strip of moisture, it sends the signal to the cells to stimulate more oil, thus, your oily skin aggravates.  Just be cool with it.  Use 2-3 weekly or every other day.

Most of the time, when I burn the midnight oil for deadlines, I get dull, dry and flaky skin.  I use this scrub and I unearth my bright skin again.. in an instant!  Luv it!

For my body, I'm absolutely crazy in-love with Nu Skin Liquid Body Lufra.  It's a body scrub made from walnut shells / husks and aloe vera.  I use it 3x a week instead of my bath soap or body wash.  I love how it sloughs off, thick layer of dead skin on my feet, ankles, knees and elbows.  Actually,  I use it all over my body except my neck and face.

Nu Skin Liquid Body Lufra

This body scrub leaves me feeling like a pampered newborn, all the time!  Remember to follow-up with your favorite moisturizers! 

Now, moisturizers are another field of discourse altogether!  I have moisturizers to just feel sexy, moisturizers for dry cold weather, for warm climate, for firming and tightening the skin.  Oh, those moisturizers deserve another fabulous blog entry!  

'til next time!  happy scrubbing!

xoxo,
ripemango

*Should you be interested in any of the mentioned products, Nu Skin has offices at 15th floor Octagon Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines, with telephone numbers 632-8-NUSKIN.