Good news from Vicki Belo

Here’s good news from my good friend Vicki Belo, who with her clinic has become synonymous to beauty.

The Belo Medical Group has introduced three new procedures that will benefit women who give a high regard to aesthetics.

First is the Lipo Dissolve Injection, which involves a series of injections of a drug called Lipostabil into problem areas to dissolve unwanted fat. Although this is not an alternative to liposuction because it only melts minimal amount of fat, it is perfect for those who want to lose that last five pounds on the thighs, stomach, armpit or those fat pads under the eyes, without having to undergo anesthesia or surgery. And the beauty of it is that there are no apparent side effects, other than an initial swelling and bruising in the treated areas. In fact, you can resume various activities immediately after treatment.

If there is aerobics for the body, then the Belo Medical Group introduces aerobics for the face called Lift 6 Cosmecanique. This is relaxing connective tissue that reinvents, refines and develops the manual squeezing, twisting and kneading therapy technique of the skin, which increases blood circulation resulting to a firmer, tighter, younger-looking skin. Lift 6 is recommended for men and women with sagging skin who want a stimulating firming treatment without the aggressiveness of surgery. It is a quick 30-minute facial workout that can be done as often as thrice a week.

Then there’s Ionithermie (Super Detox and Anti-Cellulite Treatment). This is a detoxifying and slimming treatment which makes use of galvanic and faradic currents to stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation and muscle contraction. It is recommended for correction of cellulite and improvement of skin and muscle tone, with the added benefit of inch loss and reduced fluid retention.

The Belo Medical Group has clinics at the Medical Plaza in Makati, at the Alabang Town Center, at West Tektite in Ortigas, and at Connecticut Greenhills and Tomas Morato. If you want to be beautiful, dial 817-7178/817-9283.

Fr. Manoling’s Thanksgiving Concert

Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ, who gave us popular liturgical songs like Hindi Kita Malilimutan mounted a thanksgiving concert of contemporary Filipino liturgical music in support of the "parish without a church."

The concert, dubbed as Pista ng Pasasalamat, featured Nolyn Cabahug, Jett Pangan and May Bayot, accompanied by a 16-piece chamber group and a 100-member choir from Ateneo de Manila and Marikina. Paolo Bediones and Janelle So hosted the event, which was directed by Al Quinn.

A project of Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (OLPP) in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, the concert thanked its parishioners and benefactors who have been supporting the parish and have contributed to the construction of its church.

"We started May 1999 with no lot, no church, no office, no convent," explained Father Steven Zabala, OLPP’s first parish priest. "We held daily Masses in a garage of a borrowed house and our Sunday Masses were celebrated in a basketball court." The borrowed house was the temporary chapel, office and convent in the first three years of the parish.

Last year, the parish moved to a modest house at 12 De La Rosa corner C. Salvador. The sala became the chapel, the dining room the parish office and the master’s bedroom was transformed into a conference room. The rest became the convent. Just this year, the parish acquired a 981 square meter property across its present chapel on which it plans to build the parish church.

"In four years, we have achieved a sense of community, a sense of family event. It’s time to build a church that will be the center of our pastoral activities," said Father Steven. "We need a place dedicated for worship and fellowship, and facilities to develop social and pastoral projects."

Fr. Manoling Francisco composed a Marian song for the parish titled Maria, Ina ng Pentekostes. Anther parishioner, educator Onofre Pangsanghan wrote the lyrics.

I’m proud to be part of this family and parish.

The Q Club London Lifestyle

"The British are coming! The British are coming!" Shouted American patriot Paul Revere as the American-British war broke. Well, that was what my good friend Mylene Co seemed to be shouting when she organized club tours for Q Club London and instead of a war, Mylene Co declared fashion liberation. Q Club London is a clothes line that is described as a free-style clubwear.

The Q Club London club tour featured a fashion show with young stylists JC Buendia, Michael Despues, Frank Nuñez and Sander Andan. "Q Club London fashion is very relaxed and free. It’s casual but it smacks of hipness and chic. You can use Q Club London shirts as the foundation for a carefree fashion style that creates different moods with a change of hairstyles, sunglasses, pants or overshirts. It’s the Euro-look that crosses continents and ignores racial limits. And it’s so now!"

The Q Club London club tour went to bars like Il Ponticello, the Basement, Acquario Bar and Temple Bar. Seen at the club tour were Q Club London’s Marketing Manager Alex Sta. Ines, Nicole Hernandez, Amina Aranaz, Andrei Felix, Ysobel Aboitiz, Chase Tinio, Miko Valenzuela, Eric Edralin, Michael Edralin, Dale Villar, Pinky Webb, Maribel Dario, Robby Tarroza, Charina Scott, Robbie Carmona, Tim Yap, Pepper Teehankee and Anton San Diego.