Body Talk with Loren Legarda

A sound mind in a sound body.

The No. l person who comes to your mind when you say that is none other than Loren Legarda who, as per the surveys, is leading the pack of senatoriables.

You wonder: How does Loren manage to look cool, calm and collected on the stress/tension-filled campaign trail? How does she keep herself so fresh-looking and so fragrant in the sweltering summer sun? Does she have any, uh, secret formula?

"None!," Loren told Funfare in a one-on-one when she took a break from the frenzied campaign and met with the movie press at a dinner hosted by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily (whom Loren describes as "My second mom") at the function room of the Imperial Palace Suites (on Timog-Morato Rotonda, Quezon City) where Mother Lily has been endorsing senatoriables from both sides of the political fence (Chiz Escudero from the Genuine Opposition, Tito Sotto from the Team Unity, and independent candidates Kiko Pangilinan and Richard Gomez).

"I don’t have set rules," added Loren. "I think I’m just watchful of my health."

What sort of diet do you follow?

"Well, I drink lots of water; I eat diningding every day — a mix of malunggay, saluyot and okra every morning. No caffeine for me, no soda, just water...more than 10 glasses a day."

What goes with diningding for breakfast?

"Hot rice and dried or steamed fish."

For lunch?

"Pinakbet with rice. Mahilig ako sa rice so I’m putting on weight. I need carbo especially during this campaign season. Normally, before the campaign, I refrained from eating dinner after 7 o’clock so the food is digested by the time I go to sleep. I never go to sleep with a full stomach."

Do you take snacks between meals?

"Yes, I do, not junk food but bananas (lakatan). Bananas are rich in potassium; it’s for energy. I also drink freshly-squeezed orange juice."

And what food do you avoid?

"Oily (fried) food. And meat. I’m a vegetarian but I do eat meat every now and then, but very seldom."

Any vice(s)?

"I don’t smoke; I don’t drink, not even wine."

Is it true that you never sleep with the aircon on?

"Yes, it’s true. Aircon hastens the onset of wrinkles. Besides, I get cold easily. I just turn on the two electric fans, not facing me but facing upward."

How much sleep do you get per night?

"At least eight hours. Otherwise, I feel like a zombie. I usually go to sleep at 11 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m."

What’s your favorite sleep wear?

"Anything white. White cotton is very comfortable. I wear a white, loose duster. It’s soft on the body. Even my bed sheets are white. My pillows have to be white. One time, I was in a hotel and the carpet was red. I had to be transferred to another room because I couldn’t sleep."

What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

"I say the Rosary. Sometimes, I go to sleep clutching the Rosary." (Taking out a Rosary from her pocket.) "This Rosary is my lucky charm. It was given to me by Fr. Fernando Suarez (the healing priest). I can’t leave the house without it. It makes me feel invincible."

And the first thing that you do when you wake up?

"I brush my teeth."

Do you take vitamins and/or supplements?

"Ensure Milk and Centrum."

How do you take care of your skin?

"I use serum which I bought abroad many years ago. I’ve been using it for years. Otherwise, I just wash my face with an orange soap and water."

How often do you see your doctor?

"Very often. I’m vigilant with my health because my mother (Bessie Legarda) died young (of breast cancer). I see my doctor for every ache and pain that I feel. Sa awa ng Diyos, I’m in perfect health. My blood sugar is below 100, my blood pressure is 100/70 but my cholesterol is a bit high because I’m eating a lot during this campaign."

Are you hypochondriac?

"No, I’m not. Just vigilant. Everybody should be, ‘no? It’s better to be safe than to be sorry."

What workout do you do?

"Usually, before the campaign, I did the treadmill every day at home, and did boxing and Pilates in the gym. But now, due to lack of time, my workout takes a backseat, although during the Holy Week I did swim a lot."

What part of your body is your favorite?

"My eyes because they tell it all. When I’m angry, nanlilisik; when I’m flirting, kumukurap-kurap; when I’m intense, parang nananaksak; when I’m sad, matamlay. The eyes are truly the windows to one’s soul."

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

"My head. When I’m hungry, I get a headache; when I lack sleep, I get a headache; when it’s hot, I get a headache."

And what part of your body do you think needs some improvement?

"Oh, a lot! I need Belo and other beauty experts put together. But you know, I’m not a very vain person. I know I’m imperfect physically but I like my imperfections because, well, ‘yan ang ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos, eh! I value my health more than the aesthetics of my body. Health is wealth."

Have you ever undergone cosmetic surgery?

"No. Takot ako sa dugo! Not that I’m against it. If I can help it, I’d rather not because I want people to see me the way I am, I want to look my age (47) and to age gracefully."

How do you cope with stress?

"I sleep in my bedroom. When I’m stressed out, I want to be alone, away from the source of stress. I don’t read the papers, I don’t listen to the radio, I don’t watch TV, I don’t talk about my work. My de-stressings factor is my sons (Lance, 17, and Lean, 14)."

You thrive in silence.

"Yes, I do. That’s why my cellphone is forever on ‘silent’ mode, so I miss a lot of calls and text messages. I don’t like the sound of a cellphone ringing."

What about massage?

"Oh, I love massage. I have a masahista who used to go with me on the campaign. That’s my only bisyo — massage. I want my shoulders and my nape massaged regularly. Hard, bugbog kind of massage."

What about movies?

"Oh, I love watching movies, romantic movies, mga Julia Roberts type. I watch them over and over again. Give me light, romantic comedies anytime, with handsome actors and beautiful leading ladies. The last movie that I saw was Babel (starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett). I watch a lot of movies with Lance (who writes film reviews for The STAR’s Young Star Section)."

What about music?

"I like meditation music. When I’m happy and doing boxing, I listen to music by The Carpenters or Burt Bacharach." (Proceeds to sing: What do you get when you fall in love, a guy with a pin to burst your bubble...followed by Day after day I must face a world of strangers where I don’t belong...). Also, music by Dionne Warwick, Kalapana and Kenny Rankin."

Books?

"I like biographies. I’ve read all Hillary Clinton biographies. Good or bad; pro- and or anti-Hillary. I’ve read the books about Jane Fonda and Aung San Suu Kyi."

Any favorite hideaway (away from your room)?

"I love Northern Palawan. The water is so placid and so clean. Recently, I discovered a paradise — Caluya in Antique, near Boracay. It has white sand and the water is so clear, pristine aquamarine water, that you can see your toenails very clearly."

What’s your outlook in life?

"I worry a lot because mana ako sa mother ko. I’m a worrier but I’m also an optimist. When beset by problems, I try to look at the bright side of life. I tell myself, ‘You’re okay. Your children are okay, your father is okay, your health is okay.’ I look at a glass as half-filled and not half-empty."

Name a guy you think has a nice body.

"Marc Nelson."

And some women...

"Tina Ocampo. She’s lean and long-limbed and I don’t think she has undergone any lipo or something. And Tingting Cojuangco. She has a flat tummy."

How do you deal with intrigues?

"I ignore them. Or laugh at them. Or don’t take them seriously. Or learn from them."

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