"You won’t believe it," he said as soon as I stepped into The Skin Shop at the ground floor of Virra Mall (Greenhills), owned and managed by Claire dela Fuente, "hair is growing on my head!"
I looked hard and, true enough, dozens of strands were sprouting on the shining pate of Ernie who said he had thrown away all kinds of hair-regrowing concoctions he has been using on his head these past 20 years or so, to no avail. Just when Ernie was ready to give up, guess who came to his rescue – yes, his good friend Claire who has come up with a "magic formula" which she called The Perfect Skin Hair Tonic that has given Ernie new hope – and new hair.
I hadn’t seen Ernie for several weeks so I noticed the big difference on his pate when I saw him the other night at Claire’s shop opened only a month ago.
"Some people swear by horse’s shampoo," said Ernie who refused to wear a wig ("Too itchy," he said. "Besides, e kung humangin ng malakas at tangayin ang peluka ko?"). "I’ve tried everything in the market, except having a hair transplant, but nothing happened."
Claire invented the Hair Tonic only four months ago. She guards the "magic formula" with the ferocity of a tigress, the way owners of formulas for such products as Mrs. Fields (cookies) and Coke or Pepsi do.
"My Hair Tonic is a hair and scalp treatment fluid that acts as a catalyst in the regeneration of hair," was all that Claire would volunteer. "I created it from different plant extracts, mixed with 12 active ingredients. How was I able to mix the ‘magic formula’? I surfed the Internet, did a lot of research, read literature on hair."
That was more than four months ago.
Claire’s husband, businessman Moises "Boy" de Guzman (by whom she has two sons, Gigo, 18, and Mickey Boy, 12), served as Claire’s "guinea pig" for her Hair Tonic.
"I let him use my Perfect Skin Hair Grower Shampoo and then apply my Perfect Skin Scalp Cleanser, followed by my Perfect Skin Hair Grower Tonic, on the balding spot of his head. Three days later, Boy woke up screaming, ‘My hair has stopped falling!’ Five days later, bits of hair started growing on Boy’s bald spot."
And the rest is hair-story.
When Dr. Vicki Belo tested The Hair Tonic, she told Claire, "I don’t know how you did it. It’s dermatologically illogical but it’s working!"
It took Claire four attempts before she came up with her "magic formula" using, she smiled, "Logic."
After Boy came Ernie Pecho and Claire’s other (balding) friends.
Still fondly remembered by the public as The Karen Carpenter of the Philippines (her song Sayang is a favorite FM piece up to now), Claire decided to put up The Skin Shop in the space once occupied by an electronics store. A tenant (who holds the rights to several store spaces) for more than 23 years, Claire is a director/treasurer of the Virra Mall Tenants Association. (She is also the president of the Integrated Metro Bus Owners Association or IMBOA.)
Besides the hair-growing tonic, Claire’s shop also sells whitening creams and other skin-care products. (The scalp is part of our skin, or didn’t you know?)
Before we parted, Claire checked out a tiny spot on my head she thought needed some "attention."
It’s been five days now since I started using Claire’s Hair Tonic. Two or three more weeks and I intend to meet with Ernie Pecho again. I wonder, will he notice, ehem, "the difference"?
(For inquiries, call The Skin Shop at 724-4566 or 721-0816.)
HER EXCELLENCY
MRS. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang, Manila
Dear President Arroyo:
First of all, we would like to convey our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the fresh mandate you have received from our people as President of the country during the last May 10 elections. We look forward with optimism that the next six years under your very able leadership will bear significant changes that will ultimately redound to the betterment of the lives of each and every Filipino.
We would also like to extend our profound gratitude for your continued personal support for the local film industry which has helped bring about renewed vigor and passion among its members to create better quality films.
In this regard, we would like to take special note of the appointments of competent officials in your government that have significantly helped the film industry. Most notably, we would like to single out the present chair of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Ms. Ma. Consoliza P. Laguardia, who has instituted meaningful reforms within the said agency since her appointment last March, 2003.
In behalf of all the member producers and film distributors of the Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association (PMPPA) and the Movie Producers Distributors Association of the Philippines (MPDAP), we would like to commend Ms. Laguardia for her distinguished leadership of the MTRCB and to acknowledge with gratitude her sincere desire to help restore the viability of the local film industry. She has instilled discipline and a sense of responsibility among filmmakers without necessarily curtailing their artistic freedom of expression.
Madame President, at this crucial time when the local film industry is besieged by numerous problems that threaten its very survival, the reappointment of Ms. Laguardia as chair of the MTRCB will be of utmost help.
Thank you and more power.
Very truly yours,
PHILIPPINE MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION: ESPIRIDION LAXA, Chairman of the board; MANUEL NUQUI, President; ORLANDO ILACAD, VP for Internal Affairs; and MA. LOURDES SANTOS, VP for External Affairs; and the MOVIE PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES: LEONARDO MONTEVERDE, Chairman of the Board; WILSON TIENG, President; WILLIAM LAO, VP for Internal Affairs; and JOHN SUAREZ, VP for External Affairs
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)