Appreciating Opportunities & Cherished Friends

At times in our lives, we easily get caught up in the busy-ness of our careers, our chores, the things we feel we need to do to progress, which is very human nature. I must admit na merong mga panahon na I let the chaos get to me. I’m sometimes guilty of taking for granted that the million things on my “To Do” list are not so much “tasks” but are in fact blessings. Sometimes I forget that the more I have meetings, the more I have a tight schedule really means more opportunities to grow my business and myself as a person.

When I feel myself beginning to stress, I turn on my Joel Osteen recordings. His words put me back on track.

I also turn to my friends for guidance and comfort. Kapag may mga tanong ako about life and faith, I seek out a special person, my very good friend Ms Kuh Ledesma.

Kuh always has the answers for me. Hindi niya nakakalimutang ipaalala sa akin na ang Diyos ay may plano para sa akin, para sa ating lahat.

Her words uplift me and make me realize how lucky I am to be a part of this universe and to be given a purpose.

In her 25-year career as a prolific musical artist, Kuh has had an image of being a “diva”, “ice queen” and other labels but the Kuh that I sit down with in our long conversations about faith is nothing like her image in showbiz.

To me, she’s a woman who lives to serve the Lord, and she’s not ashamed to admit this. She’s a warrior. In her concerts, she dedicates songs to the Almighty to honor Him.

Years ago, it was my good friend Rio Diaz Cojuangco who encouraged me to renew my faith. Unfortunately, I lost Rio to cancer. But in her place, I feel like in some way God sent me another sister in faith through the person of Kuh.

To you Kuh, may God continue to bless you and your family. I salute you!

Another remarkable woman in my life that I turn to for comfort is my long-time friend, Mila Dela Cruz. I call her Ate Mila but really, she’s been like a second mother to me.

We first met many years ago when she applied for a job as cosmetologist in my salon. And we have been together ever since. Masipag, matiyaga, maaalalahanin, tapat—iyan si Ate Mila.

Kasama ko siya nung unang naging successful ang negosyo ko in the 90s through my first salon on Beverly Blvd., hanggang sa mag-open ako ng ibang branches.

During rough times, especially when my business and personal life collapsed, kasama ko pa rin si Ate Mila.

Dito ko talaga napatunayan ang kanyang katapatan bilang kaibigan. Walang iwanan, sabi nga nila.

Marami na kaming pinagdaanan together. We might disagree sometimes but we know that our friendship is solid.

Ate Mila, I want to thank you for being there for me not just as a valuable employee but as a trusted friend.

Maraming salamat!

I consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by friends who constantly inspire me to be a better person. With all the stresses of life, we get by with a little help from our friends. Let’s not forget to be thankful and to always count our blessings.

Amid all the challenges, keep breathing, keep living, keep loving, enjoy life and praise God!

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Special thanks to the email-senders who have been submitting feedback on my weekly column here on Asian Journal. One of the letters I received was from Christina H. of Riverside. She asked how I find time to do everything from running my different businesses, on top of another Monet Salon branch opening in Las Vegas. I picked Christina’s letter to share with all of you because it’s related to my column topic for this weekend. To answer your question Christina, it’s really a matter of time management and staying focused on the bigger picture. I do what I can and leave the rest to the Lord. Thank you for your letter and please continue to read Hi! Society.

Monet Salon Now Hiring for Las Vegas branch positions

Renowned beauty guru Monet Lu, owner of the Monet chain of salons, is seeking candidates who will staff the soon-to-open Monet Salon Las Vegas branch (inside Seafood City Supermarket).

Monet is looking for energetic professionals – make-up artists, hairstylists, skincare specialists/estheticians, manicurists and receptionists.

Candidates for the position of make-up artists, hairstylists and estheticians must be licensed in the State of Nevada.

Monet Salon offers competitive compensation, professional advancement opportunities and other benefits.

Monet is thrilled to take his popular salon chain expansion to the state of Nevada, in response to the long-standing clamor from the Filipino-American community of Las Vegas.

Monet Salon has branches in Hollywood, Panorama City and Van Nuys in California.

Interested parties may submit resume to jobs@monetsalon.com. Along with your resume, please also include a brief background about yourself and why you want to be considered for the position.

To learn more about Monet Salon, please call 213.216.4923 or visit www.monetsalon.com

WE SUPPORT HEALTHY HAIR!

Women Who Matter

I dedicate this article to the outstanding Filipino women who have made a lasting mark in many people’s lives, including my own, through their chosen profession.

It’s an honor for me to acknowledge two of these women who have contributed so much to the Fil-Am community here in America.

They are strong yet compassionate women who are not afraid to work hard to achieve something worthwhile. Both these ladies have been nominated and have received Reflections Excellence Awards a number of times in the past.

LILY M. LARA, BSN, RN

Tita Lily, as I call her, is truly a modern-day Florence Nightingale. It’s worth mentioning that she won BEST NURSE LEADER in 2006 for the VA Greater Los Angeles Area Healthcare System, West Los Angeles.

I was watching “Boy & Kris” on TFC the other day and to my surprise, they paid tribute to her winning the prestigious BEST NURSE LEADER 2006 Award. I was very gratified to learn that the good work that outstanding Fil-Ams do here in America is also reaching our countrymen in the Philippines.

Last year, Tita Lily marked her 34^th year with the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. She won the Best Nurse Leader Award against nine other top finalists who were deemed the best of the best across the United States.

Her colleague who nominated her for this recognition noted how Tita Lily spearheaded so many quality improvement programs in her ward; how she encourages an open flow of communication among her staff; and how she inspires a “can-do attitude” in the workplace

In addition, Tita Lily has also been commended for taking a leadership role in volunteering for the Filipino Veterans Group in Paranoma City, where she works with veterans and their families in pursuing their healthcare needs.

In her own words, Tita Lily says, “My patients tell me all the time that they don’t want me to leave. I’m confident the work I’ve done here during my time will be carried on by others because patient-centered care is more than a protocol. It’s now part of our personality and I’m proud I’ve been a part of it.”

Mabuhay ka Tita Lily! Keep up the great work!

LUCINDA HERNANDEZ

Fondly called Mommy Lucing, this special lady has endeared herself to Fil-Ams here in Southern California through her landmark Pinoy eatery, Bahay Kubo Natin Restaurant.

Once you set foot inside her restaurant, there’s an unmistakable “feel at home” ambiance. That’s because Mommy Lucing is very generous in dishing out not only her scrumptious food but also her warm smile.

She has been like a mother to me. She always has encouraging words for those who need it. I always enjoy eating at Bahay Kubo because of the familiar, friendly atmosphere. Lalong sumasarap ang pagkain!

Mommy Lucing has become a staple in Pinoy dining and catering here in Southern California. But not without going through difficult challenges.

She had a troubled childhood. Growing up, she had to fight for her right to attend school. In fact, Mommy Lucing married young to a man much older than her who would send her to school.

She migrated to the U.S. in 1978 to explore opportunities here. It was a rough start for her following a robbery/shotting incident that almost left her dead.

With her strong will to live and succeed, Mommy Lucing survived the terrible ordeal. She renewed her faith to God and went on to become successful in her business ventures: a board and care facility in Anaheim and later on, the Bahay Kubo Natin Restaurant on Temple Ave which she opened in 1992.

I hope that we draw inspiration from these two remarkable women—Tita Lily Lara and Mommy Lucing Hernandez. They are truly women who matter.

All The Rage About Enlighten!

SKIN WHITENING BEAUTY PILLS

For some time now, my FDA-cleared beauty product Enlighten Skin Whitening (which contains genuine, grade “A” Glutathione) has been out in the market with rave reviews from people who have tried it for themselves. Sa wakas, many people see my point about Glutathione!

Effective kasi itong pampaputi, not to mention healthy for the body. Don’t just take my word for it. Kahit mag-research kayo sa Internet, even if you ask biochemists and people who deal with vitamins and supplements, Glutathione is a wonderful antioxidant. In fact, it has been proclaimed by many experts as nature’s most powerful antioxidant.

I’ve surrounded myself with people who are well-versed in this, including the biochemists I’ve worked with in formulating my product at a leading laboratory here in California, Dra Vicki Belo, Matet Tostado of Biologica Institute of Anti-Aging Medicine, and other experts who know and have studied Glutathione.

Everyone who knows will tell you Glutathione is good for us. There are people who fear that taking this may damage their liver. But on the contrary, Glutathione is actually an effective liver detoxifier.

It also strengthens to immune system and has actually been used as a defense against cancer.

The bonus of course is that Glutathione serves to make the skin lighter.

During my recent guesting on Kababayan LA with Jannelle So (KSCI, Channel 18), I answered the most common questions that consumers always want to know about Enlighten.

Yes, Enlighten is formulated and manufactured in the U.S.A. at FDA-approved facilities that have been existence for 40 years. And yes, Enlighten contains genuine, grade “A” Glutathione.

Like I said, mag-ingat sa mga poor imitations. There have been reports that some whitening products sourced from parts of Asia that claim to have Glutathione in them are actually laced with traces of chalk. So be extra careful.

I’m proud to say that Enlighten contains pure 500mg Glutathione plus Alpha Lipoic Acid, Rosehips, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Papaya. These ingredients work harmoniously together to improve the skin.

So what can people expect from Enlighten? Besides skin lightening, it also targets to even your skin tone, remove darks spots, erase acne marks, and delay skin aging.

We recommend that Enlighten be taken once a day (one tablet) coupled with 1,000mg of Ester-C (the modified version of Vitamin C) which can be purchased at any of your favorite supermarkets or pharmacies.

Results are usually visible before or within three months of use.

One unit order of Enlighten comes in a package of three bottles, or a three months’ supply. Individual results may vary.

Enlighten is available at all Monet Salon outlets or by visiting www.skinbymonet.com. You can also find Enlighten at the following locations: O’ Skin Care at17808 South Pioneer Blvd Suite 111 Artesia CA 90701 (Tel. 562-897-1445), Biologica at 1492 west Colorado Blvd. Suite D Pasadena (Tel. 626-564-0300, and in Anaheim c/o Jimmy Alvarez (Tel. 714-553-6132).

You can also email me at monetsalon@aol.com for more information.

Teresa & Robert Tostado: Partners in Beauty

BIOLOGICA INSTITUTE OF ANTI-AGING & AESTHETIC MEDICINE

Behind the tandem of beauty experts Teresa and Dr Robert Tostado is a touching love story. Biologica’s Teresa and Dr Robert were both pursuing studies in the medical field when their paths crossed. And ever since, they have been there to support each other. Teresa was firmly beside Dr Robert as he proceeded to medical school.

With patience, determination and the wholehearted support of his devoted wife Teresa (herself a nurse practitioner), Dr Robert obtained his M.D.

So their love really started on this very strong foundation. Together, they have built a very successful partnership that gave birth to the Biologica Institute of Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine.

In my constant quest to discover different options for beauty maintenance and enhancement (as a salon owner and stylist), I’m glad to have found Biologica as a very credible establishment for aesthetic medicine.

Very recently, I decided to pay them a visit and upon my arrival, I was greeted by three of Biologica’s very carinosa staff—Rogvill, Ivy and Ginger. Thank you guys for taking care of me!

First, I consulted with Teresa who made me feel at ease immediately. She explained to me the different kinds of services they offer based on my “beauty needs.”

Let me just comment that I love Biologica’s spa atmosphere. It’s very Zen, very relaxing. And it’s so clean, too. (But stay tuned because they promised to move to a bigger and better location soon).

Teresa recommended to me several options, Fraxel – a unique way to treat acne scars, blemishes, pigmentation, wrinkles and lines. (FYI, Biologica has been deemed Master of Fraxel in LA because of their high number of Fraxel clients).

A new service that Biologica provides is Cosmelan – which treats stretch marks and acne scars that microdermabrasion alone cannot solve. With Cosmelan, there’s a little discomfort pero magdusa ka kung gusto mong gumanda! I say it’s well worth it.

For more info, you can go to their website: www.mybiologica.com or visit them at 1492 West Colorado Blvd. Suite D, Pasadena (Tel: 626-564-0300).

During my Biologica visit, I got to know the Tostado couple a little better. I even asked them why they pursued beauty/skincare as an area of expertise.

I heard from the good doctor himself, Dr Robert, who shared with me his personal experience growing up with problematic skin. He said he was traumatized by its effect on his confidence and self-esteem. And so he felt the need to venture into this field so that he can be the instrument who helps others be free from this horrific experience of having bad skin.

I admire Dr Robert for his candor in sharing with me this very personal story.

As a couple, I think that Teresa and Dr Robert are very admirable as well (they have one daughter, the lovely Amelie).

Theirs is a very dynamic partnership. Teresa oversees the management of the office, the marketing and attends to the clients while Dr Robert also does his part as the skilled doctor in the practice of aesthetic medicine.

Biologica is definitely a beauty/skincare center I would recommend to my friends.

Really, the Fil-Am community is rich with very different options on where to get beauty enhancement and/or maintenance services. There’s also Gandi Villareal, Jocylane Dinsay, Olivia Quido, and Dr Vicki Belo who are worth checking out.

You might see me around sporting my “refreshed” look, well, this time I have Biologica to thank. I needed a little non-invasive lift and they certainly did that for me, very professionally, and painlessly.

If you want more information about Biological, feel free to send me an email at monet@monetsalon.com and I’d gladly forward your query.

Have a beautiful weekend everybody!

Let Go of Acne Problems---Clarifyme™!

I have dedicated myself to creating beauty all around me—as a make-up artist, as a hair stylist, as an entrepreneur, as an event producer, and now, as an exclusive distributor of all-natural beauty products that promote “A Healthier Way to a Beautiful You.”

In coming out with cutting-edge products that are safe and effective, I researched and worked with FDA-approved facilities in California to be able to create my own beauty supplements product line.

It was a very long, exhausting process but eventually, I was able to launch the birth of these all-natural beauty products—-Enlighten™ Skin Whitening, Younger™ Anti-Aging and ClarifyMe™ Anti-Acne. The latter, ClarifyMe™, is a product designed for acne sufferers.

I’m gratified by the response that this product has generated. One client in particular has seen dramatic clearing of her skin from acne that has really deterred her from socially interacting with her peers. As we can all relate, it’s awkward enough being a teenager. But to add acne problems to that can be very aggravating.

Former Ginoong Pilipinas-USA and professional model Chris Friel is another ClarifyMe™ advocate. As a celebrity in his own right, the stresses of a career in entertainment and being photographed all the time sometimes take its toll on his otherwise flawless skin. But with help of ClarifyMe™ and of course, the right diet and exercise, Chris’s complexion has remained camera-ready!

Sabi nila, bawal na raw maging pangit nowadays. As a beauty expert, I believe it’s not just about being “maganda” or beautiful but having the confidence to project yourself in public. When you feel beautiful, confidence normally follows.

My clients have personally testified how much ClarifyMe™ has upped their confidence levels. They have told me that they no longer feel conscious about dealing with people face to face.

So what is ClarifyMe™? It’s a simple multi-vitamin regimen that promotes relief from the most common skin disorder plaguing boys, girls and adult men and women.

ClarifyMe™ is an all-natural dietary supplement formulated to ease and prevent acne.

The ingredients include Vitamin A (as Beta Carotene), Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Zinc (Amino Acid Chelate), Methylsulfonymethane (MSM), Rosemary (leaves), Horsetail (aerial parts), Alfalfa (aerial), Evening Primrose Oil (seed), Sage (leaves), Fish Protein, Cranberry (fruit), Echinacea (root), Dulce (leaves), and Boron (Amino Acid Chelate).

All these natural ingredients working together really do make a difference in promoting healthier skin condition. To be clear, I’m not a dermatologist or a biochemist but in working on this project for a long time, I have learned from top dermatologists and biochemists.

The laboratory who helped me create this product has a very impressive 40 years experience in the supplements industry, and their facilities are operated under the FDA Code of Good Manufacturing Practices and in many cases, exceed the standards of control.

If you wish to learn more about ClarifyMe™, please visit www.skinbymonet.com

When taken as directed, most healthy individuals should have no problems with the use of ClarifyMe™. However, this product should not be taken by people who have hyperthyroidism, cardiac or renal dysfunction, or are pregnant, without supervision of a physician. In addition, people who are allergic to Fish, Soy beans or FD&C Yellow #5 should not take this product.

The Serving size for ClarifyMe™ is up to three tablets a day, after a meal. Each bottle of ClarifyMe™ contains 90 tablets.

Results carried by ClarifyMe™ vary from person to person. For safety purposes, it’s prudent to check with your trusted healthcare expert before you take ClarifyMe™, especially among minors. Other products under the Beau Monet Beauty Line are Enlighten™ Skin Whitening and Younger™ Anti-aging. All information can be found on www.skinbymonet.com or by calling 1-888-MAGANDA (TOLL FREE).