Philippine Holidays 2013, time to plan!!

As early as August, P-Noy has already declared via Proclamation No. 459 the regular holidays and special non-working days for the year 2013. Alas, unlike this year's seven long weekend breaks, 2013 has only four long weekends - - specifically, three 3-day weekends and one 4-day weekend. It would be great if the government can either move the Tuesday holidays (April 9 and August 21) to a Monday.

Here's the regular and special holiday for 2013:

January 1 (Tue) - New Year's Day

February 25 (Mon) - EDSA Revolution Anniversary (only for schools)

March 28 (Thu) - Maundy Thursday
March 29 (Fri) - Good Friday

April 9 (Tue) - Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valour)

May 1 (Wed) - Labor Day

June 12 (Wed) - Independence Day

August 21 (Tue) - Niony Aquino Day
August 26 (Mon) - National Heroes Day

November 1 (Fri) - All Saints Day
November 2 (Sat) - Additional special non-working day
November 30 (Sat) - Bonifacio Day

December 25 (Wed) - Christmas Day
December 30 (Mon) - Rizal Day

The national holidays for the observance of Eid'l Fitr and Ediul Adha shall be announced after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined with the Islamic calander (Hijira) or the lunar calendar.

Eat right for your blood type, not cohen

This 'eat right for your blood type' diet is definitely less expensive than Cohen at PhP 1,980 for three months! @RezzyWezy mentioned this new diet called CGN - which stands for chrono-geno-nutrition. Her main motivation for dieting is, I quote - "I don't want to be a size XL on my wedding day!!"  She found Dr. Claude Chauchard who founded CGN through one of her numerous online deals.

Since I've been packing a few pounds lately, yes, believe it or not, I went online and signed up too. It's actually quite easy because I don't have to do any blood work or go to a clinic for a face-to-face consultation. Everything is done online. I filled up a form where I indicated my height/weight, blood type and eating behavior - specifically, eating out and gluten-free.

Here's a sample meal plan which I would've started today (well... no time to shop).

First week's Chrono-Geno-Nutrition diet

Chauchard Tea (photo from CGN site)

The meal  portions are quite small and measured in grams and/or a cup. As a bonus, 70% dark chocolate is recommended daily as a snack; however, the amount is limited to two squares only. And Chauchard tea is to be taken with every meal.

This tea must be the secret of CGN (?!?). It's easy to prepare and the ingredients are available in the supermarket or organic store.  Just mix one piece star anise, 5 sprigs of thyme (or tarragon) and 5 sprigs of rosemary in one liter water and boil.

In the video shown online, Dr. Chauchard guarantees a 5-pound weight loss in the first week. Hmm.... and I only need to lose six pounds.

Yogabody Detox with Lucas Rockwood

Lucas Rockwood

Lucas Rockwood was in Manila last weekend and conducted a "Yoga Detox Retreat" at Yoga Plus. The program consisted of yoga exercises, breathing techniques and a 3-day 100% liquid diet. Yup, no solids! He said that  the program is designed to reboot our bodies and "one of the most exciting things this process is, changes can happen very quickly."

Very quickly indeed. In three days, I lost four kilos and didn't feel weak at all. I experienced a slight headache though on the second day which may be a withdrawal symptom from no coffee.

It's actually safe to do the detox program on your own. He gave us three simple steps. First is elimination through yoga-based breathing techniques, sweating through yoga and the all- liquid diet guaranteed regular treks to the bathroom to pee out all the toxins.

Second is through proper rest. Mind you, this is not through sleeping or being immobile. How then? Rest by not eating any solids.  Yup, no solid intake. He said "On any given day, digestion takes 40% (or more) of your body's energy and resources... by cutting your digestive demands by 75%, your body can devote the same energy toward self-cleansing." The all liquid diet requires only 25% of the usual digestive energy to process.

one of the six juices

And lastly, through superfood nutrition to simultaneously detoxify and rebuild body. He defined 'Superfoods' as those loaded with vitamins, minerals, nutrients and phytonutirents.
We were provided six bottles of freshly made juices and one uncooked soup taken every two hour intervals throughout the day. The juices contain dark greens, fruits, grains and seeds and essential fat acids (e.g. flax seeds). 

Pre-tox tips: reduce or eliminate anything made with wheat, dairy and caffeine;  increase water consumption to at least three liters a day; and, add green vegetables to at least two meals each day. And to break the fast,  he recommended to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and to eat slowly.

the detoxers

Lucas said that we all have toxins inside us that need to come out. I guess from everywhere - the air we breathe, foodstuff, pesticide sprays, etc. As a parting word, I'm sharing his advise- - 'how you choose to live your life before and after the cleanse is totally up to you; but right now, I'd be smart to take some action because when you lower your toxic load, you feel better - - a LOT better."

Claudio Bravo in Manila until October 20

After 44 years, the Manila paintings of Chilean national artist Claudio Bravo can now be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum Manila until October 20, 2012.

Trust me, the exhibit is such a rare treat! The 35 portraits have remained in private collections throughout these years and the first and last time these portraits were seen was way back in 1968, during a 10-day exhibit at the Luz Gallery.

Mr. and Mrs. Zobel next to their Bravo painting (original in Spain)

Bravo was born on November 8, 1936 in Valparaiso, Chile and relocated to Madrid in 1961 where he was a celebrated  portrait artist sought after by royalty.

As the story goes, in Madrid in 1965, businessman Jaime Zobel de Ayala saw the portrait that Bravo did of his uncle  the artist Fernando Zobel and commissioned Bravo to paint him and his wife as well (the portrait is behind Mr. and Mrs. Zobel, left photo).

Back in Manila, upon seeing Zobel's portrait on a Christmas card, then First Lady Imelda Marcos loved it and invited Bravo to come visit. However, it was only in 1968 that Bravo was able to make the trip to the Philippines. He came together with the Spanish royals who were invited to the Ruby wedding anniversary of Eugenio and Pacita Lopez. He then stayed on for six months doing commissioned portraits for Manila's society.

After his sojourn in Manila, he was catapulted into international recognition. His first exhibit in New York in 1970 was critically successful. It was reviewed by the New York Times as an "art dealer's dream" and marked Bravo as a hyperrealist artist.

Baby Araneta-Fores 

If you have a chance, take a close look at the portraits and you will see his technical genius in action. The portraits are so life-like, they look like photographs. The proportions between the body, limbs and hands are in perfect symmetry. Gaita Fores said that her mom Baby Araneta-Fores (right photo) didn't even know that she had a slight bump on her forehead until she saw the portrait done by Bravo. That's how perfect his portraits are.

In a video interview, Bravo recalled his experience in Manila: "I think the Philippine portraits are, perhaps, my most lucid paintings, because it was a different race, beautiful! .. The Philippines was the tropics, a different vision of the world and light. There I began to use more 'electric' colors and enjoy color."

Curator Tats Manahan said that Bravo's stay had a great impact on his later works, noting the boldness of color as seen in his portraits and the use of light. She said "he was practicing on everything here for the paintings that eventually made him famous. That's what makes his stay here [in Manila] important." She added "It's an honor and we should be proud to be Filipinos that we inspired somebody as good as Bravo."


These Manila portraits are actually important in Bravo's career. These were his last big body of work before he concentrated on doing still life objects like his famous crumpled paper and packages; and figurative works.

Here's some of the portraits with the sitters (or children and grandchildren):

Cedie Vargas next to Pacita Lopez, her grandmother's portrait 

Berta Feliciano next to her mom's portrait, Chita Lopez-Taylor

Amb. Mercedes Tuason next to her portrait

Techie Ysmael-Bilbao next to her mom's portrait, Chona Kasten

Lia next to her mom's portrait, Tingting Cojuangco