Mauie Flores

My trusty Lenovo Y330 just turned one year old! I am so happy not only because it proved to be a trusted work buddy through the first year but also because the day also marks the end of my 12-month installment payment period haha! Finally, I can save up for other things. I am thinking of buying a 1 terabyte external hard drive. We badly need one to store our high resolution photos. Plus, we can't always trust DVD-R's.


By the way, you know why I call my laptop Mc Lelen? Well, that's the name my brother called me before when I fix our broken appliances. I'm a huge Mc Gyver fan and I love tinkering with gadgets. I initially wanted a Mac but my budget last year did not permit me to have one. Now, I don't have a Mac but I have a Mc Lelen(ovo). LOL! At least, I won't have to spend for expensive mac memory upgrades, hehehe.


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I've been suffering from skin rashes since the day we arrived from Bohol. At first, I thought that it was only because of the sudden change of weather. It was raining in Bohol when we left and 'twas so hot in Manila when we arrived. Rashes started appearing on my forearms after a day. Now, even my legs have them. I am able to resist scratching them if I can but I'm sure I'm scratching when I'm asleep. I'm careful not to have blisters and scars, though. That would be a big problem for a diabetic like me.

Aside from washing the rashes with mild soap and putting on anti-itch lotion. I drink lots of liquids to make my skin more supple and less itchy. The hot summer weather is making things worse. Sometimes, I get ice cubes and rub them on my rashes to make the itch go away. We also vacuum our rugs to get rid of the dust and dustmites. I hope the rashes disappear soon. It's becoming bothersome and ugly already.

Hope you can share tips on how to treat these itchy rashes.

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For months, Filipinas across the nation have been joining the Modess Angels Facebook Group Page to share in the chance to help other women in need. Every member sign-up means one comfort kit donation to a typhoon victim. Membership reached over 30,000; thousands of comfort kits were donated to women in evacuation centers.

Today, the group page is a portal of information where women can transform their compassion into action, driving them closer to other women who need their comfort the most. What began as a call for membership, evolved into an online help center for volunteers.

But it doesn’t stop here. The Modess Angels community keeps growing and encouraging the culture of helping. By partnering with socio-civic organizations, we can seek out more opportunities to extend our comforting care to fellow sisters in need.

This Women’s Month, Modess Angels salutes all women who have taken the time to help our troubled sisters. We would also like to encourage all the other women to join and extend comfort to our sisters in need. Together, as Modess Angels, we can spread the goodwill and be well informed on how we can give comfort to other women. Arm in arm, we can make things happen - starting with ourselves, our family, the community, maybe even the world.

It doesn’t take an army to rebuild a nation. It takes Angels. Join Modess Angels on Facebook today.


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I am thankful to God for the infinite blessings. Thankful to Him for introducing me to blogging and to the best blogging friends in the world who taught me how to earn online. Through them I slowly built my network to include online clients who entrust to me their web content writing jobs. I was also able to learn tricks on how to increase my site's traffic plus earning through advertisements.

Though I'm still continually learning, the hard work somehow paid off. I saved my blogging earnings from the month of December to January to buy myself my very first oven. I am proud to say that this is the very first appliance that I bought for our home ever since we got married. I'm not posting the photo of my Elba oven yet because kitchen renovations are still ongoing and my house is an ugly sight right now. I'll probably take a photo of it after I cook baked Cream Dory for my boys this coming Lent. With an oven, I can finally avoid fried food more. So, yeah, there's still no need for me to turn to herbal diet pills for weight loss. My Wii Challenge can take care of the fat, teehee.

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Part of my being a diabetic is having regular eye check-ups. I have my eyes checked every quarter. In October 2009, I was prescribed with glasses to help me with my astigmatism. My vision is still almost perfect although it gets occasionally blurry when my blood sugar levels are high. I use the same glasses up to now especially when I am working in front of the computer because my glasses have anti-UV and anti-glare filters.

It's time for an eye check-up once again by the end of March. Rather than being concerned in buying the best under eye cream to treat my eye bags (haha!), I am always on guard against diabetic retinopathy. Aside from managing my blood sugar level, I make it a point to have my eyes checked to see if the small blood vessels in my eyes are still ok. Apart from diabetic retinopathy, diabetes can also cause cataracts, corneal erosion, and double vision.

Eye problems are just one of the things to watch out for when you're a diabetic. As always, prevention is still better that the cure so it's best to visit an eye doctor regularly.


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Image source: Geneva Sleep-over on Flickr by AlexPears. Some Rights Reserved. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenlight/184261483/)

My husband once took melatonin pills to help him have a restful sleep. There's a brand of melatonin pills that is advertised here in the Philippines and we bought some of those. He took the capsules for a couple of nights and, indeed, he did have relaxing sleep that made him feel relaxed the following day. But he stopped taking melatonin pills after reading about its side effects.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced by the pineal gland which is located in the human brain. The pineal gland is responsible for our body's natural rhythm and patters. One such function of the melatonin is the regulation of our sleep-wake cycle. While Wikipedia states that melatonin has antioxidant properties and may be beneficial to the immune system, there are still reports of side effects from taking melatonin pills.

Users of melatonin pills may have headaches, nausea, depression,itching, and abdominal cramps. They may also have nightmares or dreams that are more vivid. Precaution is advised to people who have disorders of the immune system, kidney or liver diseases, stroke, depression, and diabetes.

Melatonin pills that are sold over the counter in drugstores are commonly used by insomniacs and travelers who suffer from jet-lag. Recommended doses are 3 mg - 5 mg 45 minutes to 2 hours before bedtime.

Personally, I believe that everyone should consult a doctor before taking any kind of pill whether its natural melatonin pills or colon cleansing pills. We should always be very careful of what we are putting inside our system.

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Summer is getting hotter than ever as the hottest and hippest event in town burns more and more calories, the Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge! The second phase of burning has begun, bringing more and more of you hip and young people closer to your desired fit and fabulous bodies.

Saturday, February 27, marked the start of the Road to Fitness of Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge as it hit The Spa, in Fort Bonifacio. A workout session was held at Barre 3, an exercise studio that offers the first and only workout that combines the grace of ballet barre, the wisdom of yoga and the strength of pilates. Here, our participants learned how to have the length of a dancer and the strength of an athlete with a highly effective 60-minute workout.

The following day, our participants engaged themselves in an exciting and fun-filled game of badminton at Smart Shot located in Agoncillo Street, Manila. In this session, our participants learned the importance of exercise and active living, all done while having fun with your barkada.

More sessions are in store for those of you young and hip people who missed the previous two sessions. Just visit the website at www.fitandfabfour.com to get the different class schedules. Slots are limited so hurry, call 02-775-98-51 or text 0928-966-91-24 for your reservations.

Aside from these weekend fitness activities, a series of F.I.T. (Fast Intensive Training) Workout videos were developed with the help of Sports Scientist and Master Coach, Jim Saret for your daily workout. The F.I.T Workout or the Fast Interval Training is a four-minute workout, characterized by bursts of fast-paced intensive exercise designed by Coach Jim. Partnered with Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks, it can help you burn at least 400 calories everyday and it continues to burn even when you’re done with the workout! The best part is it only takes four minutes and you can do this anywhere! For those who want to learn the F.I.T. workouts, you can catch them in fitandfabfrou.com. Every week, we teach you a different set of exercise to help you burn!

Final weigh-in for Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge is on March 26-28 @ ROX Bonifacio High Street and March 27-28 at Gateway Suites, 4th floor, Gateway Mall, Araneta Center.

Remember, your workouts work better with Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks as part of your routine. Look fit, burn RIGHT and be at your HOTTEST this summer!


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Running is the new hit sport among Filipinos and the sight of joggers and runners out on the streets in the morning and evening is becoming all too common. Participation in running events has also increased, making them an effective avenue for gathering people to increase awareness and raise funds for various advocacies.

“Lifestyle change is almost always the key to improvement of life. The health benefits are obvious and we believe that it is also a key instrument in saving our planet,” says Rommel Juan, CEO and President of Binalot Fiesta Foods, one of the sponsors of the upcoming ‘The Green Miles: Run for an Eco-Smart Lifestyle’ – a project of Juan’s high school batch (UST High School’88).

According to Juan, Binalot is known for being an environment-friendly fast food which is why it supports projects and campaigns that are geared towards environmental awareness. “Since we began operations, we have always valued environment-friendliness. Our environmental efforts do not end with our products and packaging; we also try to support as many environmental campaigns that we feel are suited to our advocacies.” he explains.

Binalot is supporting ‘The Green Miles’ by providing meals during the event. “Our products are perfect for environmental awareness events such as this. We use banana leaves instead of non-biodegradable packaging for our food,” Juan shares.

The event will benefit the Meycauayan-Marilao-Obando (MMO) River System, listed in 2007 as one of the 30 most polluted areas in the world by New York-based environmental watchdog Blacksmith Institute. “It’s both embarrassing and disheartening to know that one of our rivers is among the dirtiest in the world. We’d like to do what we can to help fix it,” says Juan.

But “fixing” it requires more than just throwing money at the problem. “The ultimate solution is a lifestyle change, hence the idea of promoting physical fitness and environmental awareness,” shares Juan adding that “lifestyle management” will help ease pressure on our planet.

The Green Miles: Run for an Eco-Smart Lifestyle will be held March 21, 2010 at SM Mall of Asia Grounds. For more information, visit www.thegreenmilesrun.ph.


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"Wellness is the new beauty." The Medical City believes that beauty is more than just skin deep. Thus, the hospital has provided The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics to provide patients with holistic health services that are personalized, seamless, and guided by evidence-based medicine.

The center can cater to patients who usually go to cosmetology centers to avail of dermatological services and aesthetic surgery. In The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics, patients are assured that their doctors are board certified practitioners in their respective fields. Take for instance, these three doctors of the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics, namely: Dr. Rolando Balburias, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor, and Dr. Gerardo Germar.

(L-R) Dr. Rolando Balburias, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor, and Dr. Gerardo Germar of the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics.

Dr. Balburias serves as the consultant and director the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics. The good-looking Doc Oyie, as he is fondly called, specializes in Internal Medicine. He was once part of the show RXMEN on QTV Channel 11 which featured young doctors who catered to the medical needs of Filipinos living below poverty line. Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor calls himself the "Vein Guy." He specializes in Vascular Surgery and Endovenous Laser and Chemical Ablation. Basically, he is the guy to call when your problem is your varicose veins or spider veins. Lastly, Dr. Gerardo Germar does Aesthetic/Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the elite Philippine College of Surgeons. See that picture below? That's one of the nose implants that Dr. Germar uses on nose jobs.


In line with its mission of providing beauty through holistic health, The Medical City's Center for Wellness and Aesthetics provide the following services to patients:

Adult Wellness. Healthcare services for men and women ages 20-59 years old, with packages that are specially tailored to address an adult's changing health concerns as he/she matures.


Healthy Aging. A team of geriatric specialists offer comprehensive health assessments for seniors aged 60 and above, helping them live a healthy and more satisfying life.


Adolescent Wellness. Packages are specifically aimed at adolescents 10-19 years of age, covering everything from sports training to makeovers.

Fitness and Nutrition. Specialists will help in adjusting diet and fitness regimens to achieve fitness goals.



The VIP hospital suite at the Center for Wellness and Health.
Aesthetic Surgery. Board-certified surgeons provide hospital-based services that are supplemented with rigorous counselling sessions, for a more holistic approach that helps patient feel good emotionally as well as physically.


Aesthetic Dermatology. Expert and board-certified dermatologists offer a comprehensive range of treatments which, complemented with sound health advice, help patients look and feel good. You can be sure that you're getting the best acne treatments from the hospital's most reliable medical practitioners.

Regenerative Medicine. Innovative therapies involve the engineering of living cells, tissues, and organs with the goal of improving the quality of life, preventing disease, and maintaining wellness.

Aesthetic Dentistry. Experts help patients get the teeth they've always wanted for a great smile that builds confidence and positive self image.


Spa Services. Gives patients a full holistic wellness experience that benefits both the mind and body.

For inquiries, you may visit the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics at the 6th floor of the Podium Building of The Medical City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City or call 635-6789 loc. 6386 or 6492.


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This is the 3rd day that I haven't done any Wii exercise. Yeah, I know, I've been a busy bee lately. And I dread doing my weekly Wii Fit Challenge summary for this week. I had to prioritize my writing deadlines because I'm saving up for my younger brother's college fund for June. Thank goodness, I already have some spare funds for his summer classes.

So anyway, I thought of exercising while doing my writing tasks. I did my research and here are some of the desk exercises I am now doing either during short breaks or while I'm typing away:

Stretching Exercises - the next best thing to having Yoga when I'm too busy with my articles. First, I put one arm in front of me with the palm facing down. Then, with other hand, I grab the fingers towards me and stretch them for ten counts. Afterward, I repeat the process with the other hand. Next, I raise my arms above my head and slowly stretch my body to the right for another ten counts, then to the left.

Arm Raises - I hold my 500 ml water bottle on one hand and raise it above my head while the other hand supports the elbow. Then, I lower the bottle and raise it up again for 15 repetitions. The same procedure is repeated with my other arm. The first time I did this, I felt my elbow joints cracking hahaha!

Leg Lifts - When I'm on a short break, I put my arms under my knees and do raise my legs for as long as I can. You have to feel the abdominal muscles stretching when you do this because the purpose of this exercise really is to tighten the ab muscles. Now, the easiest of all these exercises is marching in place. This is my favorite so far because I can do it even when I'm in the middle of reading or typing some articles. It can be annoying to others though if you are sharing a work area with officemates. I'm lucky that I have my room all to myself.

You may think that these desk exercises are so simple that they won't even help you get fit. They still burn calories no matter how few they are, mind you. And little things always go a long, long way!

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A week has passed and I just lost half a pound. Hmmm... Actually, I think it's not bad at all considering that I only worked out for four times with a total of 3 hours and 29 minutes. I was not able to work out religiously every day because I had to start early with work to catch up on my deadlines. I am proud to say that I did not overeat during the whole week and I stayed away from junk food. My only snacks are fruit flavored yogurt. By the way things are going, I think I'm on the safe side. Losing weight drastically is a no-no.

Do I feel discouraged because I just lost one pound this week? Nope, not at all. Although sometimes, I wish I were like a fish. Don't you wonder how fishes don't get too big no matter how much fish food they eat. Hmmm... it must be because of all the swimming they do. Should I swim regularly, too?


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Imagine rushing through a lush thicket flanked by limestone walls, a quiet river, and semi-hidden caves while you’re having the best – if not the first – authentic adventure run of your life.

Adventure running is a variation of your typical road running. Instead of setting out on a concrete course, adventure runners cover an assortment of natural surfaces like dirt, gravel, or sand while having the luxury of experiencing nature. Runners who go off-road also benefit from “healthier” runs because they build endurance while running in an environment that has an abundant supply of fresh air. Adventure runners are relieved from the struggle of breathing through the city’s smog or car fumes.

This outdoor sport subjects runners to conquer rambling terrain. It compels athletes to raise the level of their performance from race times, endurance, strength, self reliance, and mental fortitude. This unique and exciting running experience is also the reason why trail running is slowly drawing the attention of both experienced and novice runners.

It also helps that adventure running lets runners enjoy scenic landscapes and a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the hectic cityscapes they usually go past. Instead of having the concrete jungle as a background which only reminds runners of their work or daily grind, racing on trails help athletes concentrate on their performance and form.

On April 17, 2010, Merrell Performance Footwear will host the Merrell Adventure Run at Wawa Dam, Montalban, Rizal. The off-road, all-foot race will let running enthusiasts and adventure seekers feel the thrill and freedom of conquering a natural mountain trail.

Experienced and first-time adventure runners can join the 3km, 5km, or 15km category, and prove to themselves that they too can overcome boulders, dirt trails, river crossing, and steep climbs.

Check out the best trail shoes in the market at Merrell stores at 2nd level, Trinoma; ground floor, Market! Market!; 2nd level, Festival Supermall, Alabang; 2nd level, Marquee Mall, Angeles, Pampanga; and 2nd Level, Active Zone, Ayala Center Cebu.

For more details on the Merrell Adventure Run, visit http://merrelladventurerun.multiply.com or check out its Facebook account.


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