'A positive attitude makes a woman beautiful'

Sister speak with Carla abellana:
'A positive attitude makes a woman beautiful'
By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA MOD July 2010

WITH her skin's pinkish, white glow, Carla Abellana could have easily bagged her dream gig during her pre-showbiz, modeling days: to appear in a Pond's television commercial. According to the actress, she always wanted to appear in an ad for the beauty product. She even tried her luck in three VTRs. But Carla's dream never came to be. Little did she know that she would be in for a much bigger break: the lead role—the title role, if we may add--in a prime time television series. That, as most teleserye fans know, was Rosalinda, a local adaptation of a Mexican telenovela. And the bonus part? She did get the commercial of her dreams as she's now the newest endorser of Pond's.

Now, as one of the most recognizable faces on TV, Carla makes a conscious effort not only to look good but be good in her craft. Here, the star of Basahang Ginto spills some other beauty and career secrets.

Away with negativity. “Confidence and attitude is what makes a woman beautiful. Kahit sino ka pa, kahit hindi maganda ang skin mo or what, basta masayahin kang tao at positive ka, that’s what will make you beautiful. Although there are low days, I manage naman to maintain that positive attitude. Importante 'yan to keep me going. At sa trabaho ko hindi naman puwedeng nakasimangot at nagsusungit ka.”

Her happy pill. “Happiness is just a matter of counting your blessings, and seeing what matters to you. Kahit anong problema ang ibigay sa 'yo alam mong nandiyan 'yung family and friends mo. That's what makes me happy always--family and friends talaga, plus I have a good career and that I’m given so many opportunities and blessings.”

Taking the challenge head-on. “I think the toughest challenge that I have faced in show business was the adjustment phase, and that I had to start from scratch. Nandoon 'yung ‘O sino siya? Sa'n siya galing?' Kasi normally ang artista, tini-train 'yan, bini-build up, nag-iipon siya ng experience. Ako wala akong ganyan, wala akong bala. Right away, I was given a lead role in my own show. Ang daming expectations from the network pa lang, all the more from the public. So I had to maintain an image. I had to really learn to sing, dance, act...everything. In such a short span of time, kinailangan kong humabol sa ibang artista and deal with the pressure, the schedule, and everything else. So nung umpisa nangangapa pa ako.”

One step at a time. “I told myself na kakayanin ko with the blessing and the support of my family, and that I’ll take it one day at a time--'yung kailangan kong gawin today, 'yun lang muna. Hindi ko na masyado inisip ang future. Sucessfully, thankfully, nagawa ko 'yun. I was given enough time to prepare, so I’d like to believe that I was able that to prove something in that one year I was in showbiz. Acting has helped me a lot. Doon ko nadaan ang emotions ko.”

Newbie forever. “It’s been a year since I entered showbiz and I can say that I've adjusted. Hindi nga ako makapaniwalang its been a year, eh. I’ve learned to really enjoy my job now and madami na akong ka-close sa industriya. Dati kasi syempre nandoon 'yung pressure kasi baguhan ka. But I will always see myself as a newcomer and that will always make me humble--kung paano ako nag-umpisa, saan ako nag-umpisa, at kung ano ako dati. What’s important is nalampasan ko na yung stage na 'yun--'yung puno ng anxieties, kaba, pressure, and stress.”

The backup plan . “I have a degree already, so no matter what happens with my showbiz career, I have a job pa rin, may fallback ako. I can go back to teaching, or to the corporate world.”

Derek Ramsay: Dodging Rumors

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
MOD JULY 2010

A STAR’s popularity can be measured by the number of rumors floating around him. Derek Ramsay isn’t an exception, as he is hounded by rumors left and right.

“May issue na peke ang katawan ko, may issue din daw na may gay sex video ako,” says the Century endorser, used to all this brouhaha. “Wala akong tinatagong asawa sa ibang bansa, wala akong tinatagong anak that I know of, at wala din akong gay sex video.”

He adds, “’Yung pinaka-nakakatawa ay ‘yung peke daw yung katawan ko,” he says. Can’t blame him. After all, he worked out for his body? More than eating the right kind of food, he works on his physique through his passion for sports like ultimate Frisbee, and now mixed martial arts (MMA) in preparation for his role in the teleserye Magkaribal which started airing recently. "Nag-training kami sa URCC (Universal Reality Combat Championships). I had some good trainers sa Mojo Gym who helped me out. Parang crash course in MMA, which I really, really enjoyed. So when I get back from South Africa, I might step away from Frisbee for a while and strengthen my body through MMA. Parang wrestling, boxing, and ju-jitsu caught my interest," he says.

Derek’s calm approach to intrigues, however, stops once his family gets involved. And actress Angelica Panganiban, his longtime girlfriend, always seems to be dangled along, with some rumormongers insinuating she doesn’t get along with his family. According to Derek, not only him, but also his family, like the Rubi star.

“We’re not just partners, we’re also friends,” Derek says on what keeps his relationship with Angelica strong. “We help each other grow in our careers, given na ‘yun na you’re supposed to trust each other. Anyone can say that, but in our relationship, we let ourselves grow. I don’t set rules for Angel when she became my girlfriend, or when I became her boyfriend. I’m not going to set rules, if she wants to change for me, or if I want to change for her, we do that by ourselves. We don’t impose on each other. She’s growing as a person, as an actress. I’m growing as a person, I think. That’s the reason why happy ‘yung relationship namin.”

When Sex Hurts

When Sex Hurts

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Published MOD July 2010

SEX hurts. Many say it hurts the first time women do it. But then you’ve already done it several times, yet a feeling of discomfort and pain manages to outdo your sexual satisfaction.

This problem is called painful intercourse or dyspareunia. Dr. Judy Ann Uy-de Luna of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of St. Luke's Medical Center, says, “Dyspareunia is a sexual dysfunction that frequently has an organic basis regardless if it’s your first time or not.”

Dyspareunia can be caused by many reasons. Says Dr. Uy-de Luna, “Factors such as poor lubrication results to vaginal dryness; vaginal infections; urethritis or inflammation of the urethra which is difficult urination; cystitis or inflammation of the urinary bladder; trigonitis, a condition of inflammation of the trigone region of the bladder; episiotomy or poorly healed vaginal lacerations; and diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis can all be attributed to these organic causes.”

Lack of foreplay can also cause painful intercourse. “Sexual response problem or lack of arousal decreases the woman's ability to become sexually aroused and to become vaginally lubricated,” says Dr. Uy-de Luna. “It could also be secondary to Vaginismus or a condition that is secondary to involuntary spasm usually in the vaginal introital (or the opening of the vagina) and levator ani muscles resulting to painful or impossible penetration.”

Birth control pills not only affect ovulation as some side effects can cause certain mood swings. “Certain oral contraceptive pills can cause adverse mood changes such as depression, irritability, tension, and fatigue which affect a woman's sexual behavior,” Dr. Uy-de Luna warns.

One technique that Dr. Uy-de Luna recommends to lessen the pain is by experimenting with your sexual positions. “There are instances that dyspareunia can be relieved by changing coital position. Couples should be encouraged to experiment with female-dominant and side-by-side positions to see if the pain can be prevented,” she said.

If you experience pain during intercourse, it is wise to see your obstetrician immediately. Dr. Uy-de Luna also advises that the physician should obtain a careful history when the dyspareunia occurs, whether during insertion of the penis, at the mid-vagina during thrusting, or with deep penetration of the vault to pinpoint the organic cause and subsequently treat specific pathologic conditions.