Angel Locsin: Where She’s Putting Her Money

Angel Locsin: Where She’s Putting Her Money

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA PUBLISHED MOD August 2010

ANGEL Locsin has already proven herself well in showbiz so she endeavors on a new enterprise where she is putting her well earned money. And she is taking with her the things she learned from the entertainment industry as she fulfills a new role of an entrepreneur.

The actress recently ventured into the food industry by opening her own bar and KTV in Quezon City, which is called Fuel Up. “It’s my first time to do this, to engage in a business, specifically a bar. Lately I’ve been going out a lot because I really don’t know what the people are looking for. The crowd in Makati is different from the crowd in Quezon City, right?”

It is not only research that Angel is doing, as when it comes to her business, she is hands-on. “There are times that I go to the bar and oversee things. I even mix drinks. Of course it’s just a new business. I really have to assist my staff and we need to work hand in hand. We are like one big family there,” she says.

She fondly recalls one incident when she gladly helped out. “There was one time we were shorthanded, and our bartender needed assistance. Our customers wanted some drinks and to take pictures with me. Then, I thought, hmm… why don’t I help out? I asked them, ano gusto n’yo? Our sales went double that night. Every time someone would take a picture they would need to drink beer or take a shot first. It was fun, tapos na-enjoy naman nila, kasi ako ‘ yung nagmi-mix talaga,” she says.

Of course like any regular establishment, Fuel Up also encounters some dilemmas. She shares, “One time, there was a group who went on a field trip in our bar. We didn’t know what to do. Kasi ‘di ba, why would you have field trip in a bar? They were all minors. If we turned them away, they would be offended. Also, our regulars and walk-in customers were there. Even though they were so many-- a bus full! --they weren’t really ordering much. Probably because they were still minors. So we just talked to them and stated our rules. Of course some were offended. But we really needed to do that.”

“Success is not all luck. There are certain opportunities that pass us by, may mga tsamba, but then you also have to prove yourself,” Angel says. Of course we know that Angel proved herself well by not passing by opportunities such as the youth show Click, and in the fantasy series Mulawin where she played Alwina. Even more, she proved her acting prowess via an Emmy nomination for her role as she-wolf in the teleserye Lobo.

Up next for Angel is a movie with Aga Muhlach, tentatively titled Huling Sayaw, where she plays the role of a pole dancer ."When I was offered the role, my reaction was, ‘Are you sure that it is me you want to cast?’ In this movie, I had to do everything that I didn’t want to do, as in lahat.” Angel says. To prep up for the role, she had to take up pole dancing lessons.

“You wouldn’t be able to last in the entertainment industry if you don’t have the talent, proper attitude, and if you don’t work your fingers to the bone,” Angel says.

With this kind of outlook, it is no wonder why she has many projects and endorsements, among them top retail brand Folded and Hung and canned goods giant Century Tuna.

“Some think that showbiz is all glitz and glamour,” she says. “No, it’s not just that. There are days when you don't feel the emotion the director calls for, but you just have to emote it. That’s how draining the work is.”

Problems such as having minors in a bar you own or being cast in a challenging role may be a regular rough patch on the road, but this girl can seem to solve them well, with a dose of talent and a shot of perseverance. “It just takes hard work for you to do your job well. Research, be on time, and be professional,” she says.

Angel Talks Fitness and Money

What’s your daily diet like?

I have to have a cheat day, where in I eat whatever I want. Before, I chow down on a lot of junk food, but now, I don’t eat as much anymore. I stopped eating junk food this year.

Do you have a sports regimen?

I do biking and belly dancing.

How about your exercise regimen?

I jog. I work out. There’s a video called Insanity. You should watch it. The workout is super intense. It is not that new, but it is slowly gaining a following.

How do you budget your money?

I have an accountant who helps me with my budget. I don’t spend that much. I only treat myself with food actually and, oh yeah, shoes. If I don’t need something then I won’t buy it. I keep my payments in the bank and withdraw cash only if needed.

What is one thing that you are saving for?

I already have a house, so I’d like to have more investments.

Define Wealth

I am rich in family and friends. I consider myself blessed for having that kind of family who supports me. At the same time, they don’t tolerate the bad things that I do. They treat you as a normal person and not as a celebrity

Skin Assets

Skin Assets

BY ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

PUBLISHED MOD AUGUST 2010

“MOST of us have insecurities. Sometimes an insecurity is not that even big a thing, like having a chicken pox mark. It may be small, but then it’s a kilometer scar on the heart because it affects your life. It affects how you feel about yourself, your self-confidence,” says Dra. Vicki Belo.

These insecurities hinder us from showing a side of the cheek when smiling in a picture, donning sleeveless blouses, or wearing pencil cut skirts. This is probably why one of the best investments today is having good skin as it also boosts one’s self confidence. “Having a good skin is important. It is routinary for people go to beauty institutions every month to make sure that they don’t have whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples.” she says. “I think people should pay more attention to skin care especially because we put so many products on our face like makeup and lotion.”

“The universal features that I consider beautiful are beautiful hair and clear skin,” says Dra. Belo. “Other people have different taste and requirement. For example, the Americans like us for our flat nose. They find it beautiful. Some people like chinita eyes, some like deep-set eyes. But the one thing that everybody agrees on is beautiful hair and clear skin.”

Dr. Belo helps us achieve that clear, flawless skin with these treatments that her clinic offers. Be advised that these treatments are case-to-case basis, and that good skin can never be achieved without follow-up and maintenance.

Glycopeel Cleaning

A skin treatment which makes use of different concentrations of fruit acids and glyocolic acid, it extracts pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads, and exfoliates dead skin cells. Best for oily and acne-prone skin.

Time Needed: Treatment takes 30-45 minutes, and regular cleaning can be done once a week.

Power Peel

Power peel or microdermabrasion makes use of corundum oxide crystals to gently remove dead skin and vacuum deeper layers. This is recommended for acne scars and fine lines. This can be used to improve marks and is best for teenagers and those in their early 20s.

Time Needed: Treatment takes around 20 minutes. Regular cleaning can be done once a week

Botox

Botox is used widely for the elimination of wrinkles which can be found between the eyebrows, horizontal forehead lines, and smile lines around the eyes. It relaxes the muscles around the area where the botox was injected. Fine lines are not guaranteed to be removed with this treatment. The patient can see the effect after a week’s time, and usually lasts for three to six months, depending on maintenance.

Time Needed: Treatment may be done two to four times a year

Thermage

This is a one-time treatment which makes use of radio frequency technology which has been clinically proven to tighten ad gently lift the skin to smooth out the wrinkles and renew facial contours. It has been approved by the Bureau of Food and Drugs for the non-invasive treatment of facial wrinkles. Full results may be seen after three to six months and can last up to two years depending on maintenance.

Time Needed: May be repeated after six months

Fraxel

Fraxel laser treatment is a new technology which exfoliates and improves scars. It is a nonsurgical procedure used for the treatment of the acne scars. An erbium glass laser is used for fractional resurfacing procedure to stimulate the scar. Patients have the option of procedure to be done with either a cream anesthesia or a sedative for those sensitive to pain,

Time Needed: 20 minutes each treatment, 5 to 6 sessions from two to four weeks

VBeam

A versatile pulsed dye laser that treats a wide range of vascular tension such as facial veins, facial, neck, and chest redness, blue spots on lips, leg veins, warts, scars, and stretch marks, the VBeam has a unique Dynamic Cooling Device which sprays cryogen into the epidermis for a quick and effective cooling and protective effect.

Time: Two to four treatments performed six weeks apart.

Body Scrub with Bleach

The body scrub exfoliates the skin, making it supple and smooth. Most of the patients who go for a body scrub also opt for body bleaching. Sea salt and honey almond scrub are used to gently remove dead dry, rough skin, while grapeseed extract, AHA, and licorice are used to whiten the skin. This procedure can be followed up with whitening creams and lotions that patients may apply at home.

Time: The procedure takes about 45 minutes and can be done one to three times a week for 10 to 12 sessions

Young—and Millionaire Already!

A story that must be told:

Young—and Millionaire Already!

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

MOD August 2010

SUCCESS and wealth are two different things. One might have all the money in the world but not necessarily loving what she does or having worked hard for it. Yet, the important question is: how does one achieve them exactly? It might be being open to new ideas or even learning the value of putting aside some money for future use. Here are two young women managed to hit two birds with just one stone.

Catherine Ilacad

Posh nails owner

“MY dad, who owned Octoarts and Virgin Café, wanted me to head the marketing department of our businesses right after I graduated from college. At first, I was reluctant to the idea of being someone’s boss. So I started out as a marketing assistant.

While doing research for one of our projects, I thought of opening a restaurant or a nail salon crossed mind. My dad agreed to the nail salon venture. At the time, there weren’t many nail salons in Greenhills, where I live. People had to go to parlors just to have their nails done. So I thought, ‘Yeah, this could be a very viable location for a business.’ We got a space in north Greenhills, which served as the first branch of Posh Nails which opened in 2002.

I was only 22 when I started. Age was an issue because I found it hard to put my foot down and implement rules among my employees who were all older then I was and most of the clients would not believe that I owned the place. Thankfully, the nail technicians were all cooperative and our clients were pleased with our services as Posh Nails grew through the years.

We have been in this industry for eight years already. And I can say is that we are a mover for we continuously introduce something new to the market like the concept of couches for comfort for the clients and the themed pedicures. I make it a point to be always one step ahead of everybody, like we already offered green tea pedicures and the competition is only offering it now.

Now, Posh Nails is open to franchising. Today, we have eleven operational branches and only one is company-owned.

Posh Nails grew because I was brave with my idea. A little idea may seem silly, but its’ not. It is how you make it into a reality. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You never know if that might be your money maker, or if that might make you a millionaire. Don’t be afraid to be ahead of the pack. Love your work, and love the people you work with.”

Eleanore :

Stockmarket darling

“SAVING money allowed me to invest in the stock market and now my net worth is more then three million bucks. I really have to thank my mom, because ever since I was a kid, she has imposed upon me to have a compulsory savings plan---set aside a part of my weekly allowance and birthday and Christmas gifts to my own bank account. When I graduated, I was shocked to discover that the amount my mother saved for me was a whopping P136,000.

At first, I was at a crossroads. I didn't know what to do with the huge amount of money. I thought about opening my own business, but the capital required for the business I had in mind was way out of my budget. I thought of letting my savings grow in the bank, but then banks offered only a small interest per annum. So I decided it was best for me to invest my money in stocks as my dad had been trading stocks for almost 25 years. I decided to learn how to invest my pesos properly by attending a stock market seminar and understanding investment methods.

I began slowly, so I first took out P6,000 to put in one company. Then after two months, I slowly bought shares of three good companies consistently, every month. I studied the right investments strategies and was careful on what companies to place my money in. Now, from an initial capital of P136,000, I have a profit of 2,189.70%.

Anyone can invest in the stock market since the required capital is minimum. Most people just listen to tips and buy stocks based on speculation, not on analyzed research. When looking for options to make your money grow, keep yourself well-informed. Choose stocks wisely, make sure that these are fundamentally strong companies and recommended by top stock analysts.”

Rainy Day Diseases

Rainy Day Diseases
By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
published MOD July 2010

SEE nimbus clouds darkening what used to be the bright summer sky? Hear the rain falling hard on your roof? See your streets being swamped by rainy water? Well, with the return of the rain season comes a storm of infections.

According to Dr. Dennis J. Garcia of the Makati Medical Center, flu, dengue, and leptospirosis, among others, are diseases that have a high occurrence during the rainy season. These diseases can strike children and adults alike and could even be deadly all because of the unclean flood.

MOD COLLECTION

What To Look Out For

Influenza

Symptoms: Fever for one to three days, headache, runny nose, cough, achy muscles and bones, weakness

Recommended treatment: Dr. Garcia suggests that the patient take enough rest, as well as medicines like paracetamol for fever and pain, decongestants, and phlegm-liquifiers

How it can be prevented: “Avoid public-enclosed areas at height of flu season, keep sick kids away from each other, get vaccine treatment, especially now that we have one that is against AH1N1,” he says.

Lower respiratory tract infection (like Pneumonia and Bronchitis)

Symptoms: Follows a bad cold or flu after three to five days, continued fever after three to four days, from start of cold or cough rapid uncomfortable breathing, much decreased appetite because of child’s effort to breathe, deepening of skin in between the ribs with each breath, flaring of the nostrils

Treatment: If you display those symptoms above, Dr. Garcia recommends rest and that you take paracetamol or antibiotics if you are not sick enough to be admitted into a hospital. He also recommends chest and back physiotherapy or chest clapping so as to help you expectorate phlegm.

Prevention: Dr. Garcia advises on avoiding public-enclosed areas at the height of flu season and getting vaccine treatment.

Dengue

Symptoms: Three to seven days of fever, flushed or reddening skin, headache, weakness, decreased appetite, positive tourniquet test

Treatment: Dr. Garcia suggests confinement in hospital for bleeding (nose, mouth, intestine or stomach, urine, brain). In the hospital, IV fluid is given to maintain a good blood pressure. Plasma and other blood products should be given if the clotting test and platelet count become abnormal.

Prevention: Dr. Garcia advises the use of mosquito repellants and mosquito nets. He discourages storing water in uncovered pots or bins as mosquitoes may lay their eggs there. Avoid outdoor play when you know that there are dengue cases in your neighborhood.

Leptospirosis

Symptoms: Fever, calf pain, congenital redness, jaundiced or yellow skin, stiffness, dark urine

Treatment: Penicillin is the drug of choice

Prevention: Dr. Garcia highly suggests not walking in flooded streets especially if you have a bruise with exposed skin.

Typhoid fever

Symptoms: Prolonged fever for more than five days, headache, weakness, decreased appetite, nauseas, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Treatment: If ever you feel any of these warning signs, Dr. Garcia recommends prescribed medicine from your physician.

Prevention: According to Dr. Garcia typhoid fever can be acquired through bacteria called salmonella. Other common sources are dirty water, poorly cooked chicken, and ambulant street vendors.

Walk your Butt Off

By Ana Valenzuela

Published July 13, 2010 Gablifestlye.com

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates once said that walking is man’s best medicine. Recent studies have confirmed this to be true: walking as exercise benefits the brain, heart and bones. Furthermore, it also helps prevents a number of diseases such as diabetes, breast cancer and colon cancer.

In today’s world where physical activity is beginning to be taken for granted and health standards are constantly falling, spending hours in the gym under a strenuous workout plan seems inefficient. Meanwhile, walking is now picking up popularity as a gentle, effective, convenient, and cheaper workout option. Ultimately, walking has been the unparalleled vote of many, due to its greater assurance of safety, and higher levels of health and fitness, minus the shelling out of cash and rigorous training.

Though it is pretty much a win-win situation for anyone who decides to engage in it, before you even plan your regimen, here are a few important reminders that you might want to consider:

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