“I am in the world to change the world.” —Muriel Rukeyser

Inner peace is the real frontier. In our personal quest to find a steady life purpose, we choose friends who stay with us for a reason, a season or a lifetime. As we celebrate International Women’s Month, let this inner circle help fuel our mind, body and soul to stay fully focused on our goals and aspirations.

March is the perfect time to focus on building confidence and empowering ourselves with our physical, mental and emotional health in top condition. We need to fuel our body with nutritious foods that provide energy and stay hydrated with plenty of water.

Keeping fit is something I truly enjoy. Staying active is key to maintaining a healthy heart and overall well-being. Apart from my Zumba classes with Robby Nee, Bikram yoga with Ollay Aninion, Hatha Yoga with Francis Flaviano and golf, I recently discovered ballroom dancing. On the invitation of my Usana family and friend Duday Mandanas-Gaston, I attended the grand opening of Savannah Party Place at Corby Building on E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue in Quezon City.

The truest luxury for me now is quality sleep. Aiming for even six hours of restful sleep is a challenge these days. Knowing sleep is the body’s recovery and repair processes, I try to establish a relaxing phone-free bedtime routine.

I learned more about the power of rest at the Association of Image Consultants (AICI) Philippine Chapter seminar titled “EmpowHERed by Purpose” at Collab, Sheraton Manila Hotel. The guest speaker, Bianca Brandner, a personal mastery and well-being coach, shared her life lessons that centered on creating a work-life balance with clear intuition, an inner compass and firm
boundaries.

Empowered women

The event was graced by members of AICI Philippine chapter, business and corporate leaders. Three women from diverse backgrounds shared their stories of being empowered by purpose.

First speaker was Tati Fortuna, president of AICI Philippine chapter and circular fashion advocate. Being the owner of a corporate uniform business, Tati is aware of the toxic waste of fashion. She founded Ucycle Inc. with her daughter to repurpose old clothing materials.

Jane Walker, founder of Upskills Foundation, gave a jolting presentation on the impact of her foundation in Tondo. As a tourist witnessing the poverty in Tondo, she decided to establish a foundation which addresses the health, nutrition and educational needs of the community. She proudly said that the foundation has helped many students graduate from college. The foundation also has a livelihood center where the volunteers make fashionable items from the tabs of soda cans.

Beauty comes from within, but obviously, beauty is seen externally. For those living in the south, check out the newest salon, Lithe Lounge (call tel. +63966-9381143) in Alabang West Parade. Raising the standard in beauty and grooming, Lithe Lounge promises a transformative beauty experience with a comprehensive range of services and exclusive offerings. The salon boasts a team of skilled professionals committed to providing a pampering experience like no other, tailored to each client’s unique needs.

The salon has a curated selection of services that embody the essence of timeless beauty, including personalized hair care and styling experiences: Hair Artistry, from precision haircuts to vibrant hair colors, and Beyond Hair, extensive hair care services and beauty needs, including hair and makeup, waxing, threading, eyelash extensions and hand and foot care.

Lithe Lounge also offers advanced options such as hair transplants, exosome treatments, PRP therapies and bespoke toupees, setting Lithe Lounge apart in the beauty industry. Conveniently situated at the second Level of Alabang West Parade, Lithe Lounge welcomes clients daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Eating right

A big part of wellness is eating right. Since Japanese food is my favorite, I was glad to host the launch of the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) Seafood Festival at Mitsukoshi BGC. Ongoing until March 15, the festival aims to increase public awareness about Japanese food and beverage products while also showcasing the rich culinary history and culture of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Jetro partnered with three of the best Japanese restaurants in the metro as well as Mitsukoshi Fresh: Prologue d’Fined by chef Hiroyuki Meno, Bijin Nabe by Tsukada Nojo and Sen-Ryo from the same restaurant group that brought a popular Japanese sushi chain to Metro Manila (Genki Sushi).

Making the Seafood Festival more special was the visit of Japan’s State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Suzuki Norikazu, at Mitsukoshi Fresh to celebrate the various fresh produce and seafood items available for diners to enjoy.

The participating restaurants prepared special dishes exclusively available during “A Seafood Festival,” highlighting the freshest and most delicious catch of Japan’s waters.

At Prologue d’Fined, diners chose from the Hokkaido Octopus, Kujukushima Oysters Ahijo and Hokkaido Scallop Risotto. At Bijin Nabe, a Special Seafood Combo awaited diners where they can choose between Hamachi or Scallops, which came with premium Crab Sticks, Tofu, Shiitake Mushrooms, Mizuna, Radish, and Cabbage. And at Sen-Ryo, foodies enjoyed Premium Snow Crab Nigiri, Fried Hokkaido Cod and Seafood Yakiudon.

To kick off the festival, Prologue d’Fined prepared a five-course dinner menu for guests Feb. 22. The welcome meal started with Hamachi Carpaccio using a silky Yellowtail from Kagoshima paired with Nippon Premium Chu-Hi. For the main course, the culinary team prepared a show-stopping Gindara Coulibiac which paired perfectly with a glass of Kaze no Etude by Coco Farm & Winery. For dessert, the sublime richness of the Matcha Tiramisu from Kagoshima ended the meal.

Embracing the energy that may come after recognizing self-worth, we should learn to stand up and act with truth, grace and compassion. When all is said and done, we will thank ourselves for the opportunities we had and the places they took us. INQ

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