Fitflops Your Way to Sexier Legs

Manila Bulletin

Well Being

Admit it; you are one of the girls who want to have well-toned legs and perfect bums that can land to Billabong shorts endorsement deal. Going to the gym is the best way to achieve it.

But with all the demands women has to accomplished in the daily grind of life, its almost impossible to keep up with a regular exercise routine. The easiest way then is to practice regular walking, the daily recommended is 30 minutes brisk walk a day, five times a week.

Why Should We Walk?

Generally, working is the most natural form of exercise that doesn't entail so much physical exertion but comes with numerous health benefits. Walking is proven to help in weight control and management. A 30-minute brisk walk can make you 150 calories sexier and if you do it in a faster pace, you'll burn more calories.

Walking control blood pressure and decrease the rate of heart attach for 30% because it boosts the production of high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol while helping you avoid stroke, diabetes and breast cancer at the same time.

Walking away from depression takes on a literal meaning after a study of 156 patients with major depressive disorder conducted at Duke University revealed that regular walking is as effective and sometimes better than taking medication.

Moreover, it protects our bones from osteoporosis and fractures and helps alleviate the burden of arthritis.

Stride in Style

If that's not enough reason for you to "start walking", then FitFlops, the latest craze in footwear that promises the comfort of wearing slippers while acting as a regular athletic shoes will probably entice you more.

Marcia Kilgore, cosmetic and skin care mogul, developed FitFlops for women "who wanted to have shapely legs while attending to a multitude of tasks" including going to the office, taking care of the family and doing household chores.

The founder of Bliss Spa, a wellness center that produces its own line of beauty products in uptown New York, set our to make initial research with UK-based universities, podiatrists, reflexologists and footwear manufacturer in an attempt to find the most logical approach to firming up through the feet.

"Marcia knows what she wants but doesn't know how to do it," says David Goulding, FitFlops' vice president for international sales.

She sought the help of Dr. David Cook of the Academy of Sport and Well-being at the London Southbank University and Scott Thomson of shoe design and manufacturing company PDFootwear/Law Trading to engineer a type of footwear that will enhance the effect of walking by working out the muscles even more. They experiments on the impact of multi-layered and multi-density sole to the leg muscles.

The collaboration resulted in a hybrid shoes based on a micro-wobbled board technology that extends that amount of time that the slow twitched muscles are engages during a step by approximately 10-12%. Slow twitch muscles produce energy by converting fats into energy aerobically.

"FitFlops are incredibly soft do it destabilizes your foot a bit, making you feel slightly unstable," explained Goulding.

According to Goulding, wearing FitFlops gives a feeling of "walking barefoot in the sand" because of its multi-density mid-sole that slows the eversion rate and requires the wearer 15% more energy while walking.

FitFlops absorbs 36% more shock that normal footwear while the firmer toe areas promotes faster toe push-off to maintain speed walking. This means that while walking on it, you also get a sort of a workout for the gluteal, hamstring and calf muscles which tones your legs and make your bums firmer.

Wearers also reported that Fitflops helps ease their back pain and prevents swelling and aching legs after standing and walking all day. It also promises to improve posture.

Kilgore's company began manufacturing FitFlops in January 2007 and in less than two years, worked its way to become the number one footwear choice in the United States and United Kingdom.

Hollywood is raving about it with no less than talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, along with film luminaries Jessica Alba, Hilary Swank, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Garner, Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel strutting on FitFlops.

Jade Johnson, the Olympic long jumper who suffers from a painful foot condition was also spotted wearing them and said that she gained the same benefit from wearing them as exercises recommended by her physiotherapist.

According to Kilgore, FitFlops were orginally intended as vanity shoes, designed for shaping the legs but the overall impact on the body suggested that it significantly improves chronic back pain.

"If you look at how we stand in terms of our product, it's a category which mixed well being and footwear, the two biggest industries where women spend their money. We are not a fashion brand but we are very fashionable and very affordable if you consider it's well being effects," Goulding further adds on.

Fitflops comes in a variety of colors and style including gladiator shoes and winter boots. Sadly, either those are only available for celebrities or is not being sold in the Philippines. Because of the tropical climate, Filipinos can only avail of the regular design.

Wearing Fitflops takes getting used to. My feet had small bruises from the first time of walking on it because of the nylon strap but overall it is way more comfortable than walking in a regular shoes or slippers. Also surprisingly, I didn't get muscle sores after a full day of walking and even running with it.

FitFlop is available in Res|Toe|Run (Trinoma, Ayala Cebu, Gateway and Robinson's Galleria), Shoe Salon, The Spa, ROX and selected Bratpack stores.

The new fizz in town

Manila Standard Today
Food
January 7, 2009

If you have a choice between the regular cola drink with all its familiar tastes and ingredients (and the additional pounds that come with it) and an herbal drink disguised as a cola but with organic elements, which would you prefer?

With the current clamor for anything organic, healthy or natural, manufacturers are starting to come out with alternative products that carry these requirements but with a certain degree of similarity to the rather unhealthy choices.

Joining the bandwagon is the newest health drink called Mojo Organic Fizz, said to be a nutraceutical drink that has a fun taste but is good for your body. Compared to other health drinks in the market, Mojo Organic Fizz is specifically good for the respiratory system because of four main herbs infused in it.

“What we like the consumer to think is that they are drinking something beneficial to their respiratory system and at the same time they like the flavor, something that is good for the body but it’s still fun to drink,” said Todi Sales, national sales manager of Renovati Pharma Inc., the official distributor of Mojo in the Philippines.

Bursting with the components of asparagus, dwarf lilytubers, honeysuckle flower and Chinese licorice, Mojo Organic Fizz will be the first-of- its-kind beverage drink that will offer healthy benefits while deceiving your taste buds of the herbal taste which is usually unappealing.

Asparagus acts as a cooling agent, moisturizer for the lungs and cleanser for the kidney while dwarf lilytubers helps produce body fluids to clear the throat. Honeysuckle flower helps remove heat and toxic substances that cause sore throat and Chinese licorice reinforces the function of the spleen, eliminates heats and counteracts toxicity, dispels phlegm and relives cough to alleviate spasmodic pain. These key ingredients provide an overall cleansing function from the throat down.

“The nice thing about Mojo is everything you like about other beverages is in Mojo and everything that you don’t like is not on it.”

The drink is inspired by mojo, an African magic charm usually worn under clothing, a mojo is believed to have the power to dispel misfortune or bad luck. In this modern age, mojo is used to refer to a person’s life force or energy, that often elusive quality that sets a person apart from everyone else.

People who are wary about their figures, moms who don’t want to give their kids unhealthy drinks and even diabetics who are restricted to a sugar-free diet will consider Mojo because of its one-calorie, zero caffeine and zero sugar offering. According to Sales, Mojo Organic Fizz uses sucralose, a non-caloric sugar alternative, so it’s safe for everybody and would not have any side effects no matter how much you drink every day.

Packaged in a pep bottle but cola tin can top, Mojo Organic Fizz will give you an illusion that you are actually snagging cola bottles in the supermarket because of its similarity in packaging and color. At the first taste, you would not know the difference between the two products although Mojo Organic Fizz leaves a distinct aftertaste comparable to the medicine-like taste of Sarsi cola.

“It’s the herbs and it’s a very mild drink which doesn’t hurt your throat when you take it,” explained Sales, who revealed that there will be two upcoming new flavors of Mojo Organic Fizz. Lime and orange flavors will be launched early next year. Despite being a China-made product, Sales quickly dispels possible worries among consumers.

“The production of Mojo adheres to very strict pharmaceutical standard so it’s really very safe for the consumers,” he adds. Mojo is manufactured by Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in Hong Kong.

A Home by the Lake

Manila Standard Today
Travel
February 28, 2008


Now that the Holy Week and summer is just around the corner, Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas is getting more and more reservations. In fact, a pharmaceutical company has already blocked out one of their villas for a 90-day booking and they expect their 60-80% occupancy rate will increase in the next couple of months. But Club Balai Isabel would not stop building more villas and cottages to accommodate every one who wants a piece of nature as a sanctuary from workplace pressures and hurried city life that is just an hour drive from the big city.

Owner Nelson Terrible, who is a native of Talisay, saw the potential of the area for tourism because of its strategic location, overlooking the enchanting Taal Volcano, and bought the 10-hectare property in 2005 together with his partners. They built the condotels in 2007 and opened the same year. As a property developer in his first venture in resort industry, Terrible made Club Balai Isabel into a residential resort. Their company sells the villas mostly to immigrants who only go back to the Philippines for vacation, usually from November to February. During the times that the villas and houses are vacant, they lease it from the owners and use the rooms for accommodations in the resort.

Among the resorts accommodation facilities, in addition to residential houses, are two boutique style clusters Sampaguita Manor and Ylang-Ylang Villa. Sampaguita Manor has 6 hotel-type rooms nestled on a garden of different trees and ornamental plants. Staying on the balcony is relaxing enough with its view of green, wooden chairs and dimly lighted with Spanish style lamps. The rooms are neat and complete with facilities, including mini-refs and hot and cold shower. Meanwhile, Ylang-ylang Villa also offers six studio units furnished with kitchenette ideal for the whole family. The units also have a second floor with a single bed where you can tuck in the children after a full day’s play and recreation.

The Club House with its magnificent view of the lake and the Taal Volcano especially during good weather has two function rooms, Kasay-kasay and Kasili Halls. The ground floor serves as lobby for clients, which also has a restaurant and gift shop. Here the guests can spend the day swimming in the pool; readings books or just enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. For the more adventurous and sports minded, Club Balai Isabel also has the Balikatan Course which facilitates 5 different obstacles mostly used for company team buildings. Apart from swimming, the resort also has tennis, badminton and basketball courts, while for a more muscle challenging activity; guests can rent a kayak to go around the lake. Meanwhile, for those who opt for less physical acitivities, Club Balai Isabel also has packages for lake tours. Their 32 accredited bangkas which can accommodate 7 persons each are equipped with good quality life vests to ensure full safety of their guests.

Since the 400-meter shoreline is not recommended for swimming because of the murky and deep water, Club Balai Isabel put in the Mobideep, an inflatable swimming pool with separate pools of different depth. Its deepest pool which measures 21 feet is even used for scuba diving trainings.

But more is in store for Club Balai Isabel’s guest for 2008, as evident with the on-going construction works inside the resort. According to Terrible, they are building a 98-room condotel called Lakeshore Suites Cluster 1, 2 and 3 and targeting March 2008 to finish the first 66 rooms. These condominium units will be available for individual and corporate buyers and they are given options to lease out the units for hotel operations. The smallest unit measures 3,659 m2 while biggest is 5459 m2 and ranges from 2.5 to 11 million pesos.

Club Balai Isabel is also adding more facilities to the resort, including a recreation center equipped with videoke machine,a movie room, billiard tables, Wii and Play Station 3 rooms, internet Shop, Tea Lounge and a library for the use of their guests. Wi-fi will also be available in the public areas. Water sports will also be promoted in the area with the resort building facilities for skim and wake boarding.

Aside from the wellness center which will offer medical spa and traditional medical facility for tourists and guests, they will also open non-invasive therapies and executive check ups. Terrible is particularly excited about the opening of the Spa Suites, which guests can avail for P8,500 a night. Each of the eight huts have a queen-sized bed, private bathroom and a private Jacuzzi in a lush garden setting. The room can accommodate 2-8 persons. To add to the luxurious packages, Club Balai Isabel will soon offer the Taal Lake Cruise with their 20-passenger Cancun equipped with washroom and mini-bar which will go around the lake. The full completion of the project is expected in 2009.

“But our primary concern is the environment,” said Terrible at the end of the interview since nobody remembered to ask about their community projects. Since water shortage is among the biggest environmental problem that the country has to be faced in the coming years, Terrible cited that the water being used in the swimming pool as well as in Mobideep is all filtered lake water ideal for irrigation and safe for swimming. They also make sure that they are using low energy-consumption equipment in the resort.

Meanwhile, to encourage the same effort in environment protection and conservation from the community, the resort started a Solid Waste Management project. Residents of Talisay Batangas can avail of support from the resort, which can be load or financial backings in community projects if they are able to turn in a certain amount of recyclable materials to the resort. According to Terrible, this concerted effort will make people realize that nature and the lake should be protected to be able to retain their livelihood, especially fishing and tourism.

The versatile multi dress

Malaya
June 17, 2009

The key to remain stylish nowadays is not only having an updated wardrobe but also by being a smart shopper. Women are re-inventing their clothes to suit their fashion needs and avoid additional expenses.

Gone are the days when the little black dress was limited only to evening events, it can also be an office wear when paired with a blazer. It is with this philosophy that Get Laud came up with the multi dress, an updated version of the versatile dress that can be worn not only in two or three styles but in 20 different ways.

"This is our way of helping our clients with their budgets. What could be more practical than a single dress that can be converted into 20 different looks? This is for women who are both stylish and practical. Who are looking for more value in a brand and a dress," says Gigi Laudencia, owner of Get Laud.

Here are some ways to wear the multi dress:

• Wrap over. Wear it as a wrap-over dress for the office. This dress is suited for curvy and big-busted women as it flatters their figures and hides the stomach.

• One-shoulder toga dress. If you are attending a wedding, debut and other formal parties, styling like a long, one shoulder toga gives the wearer an instant Greco-Roman look.

• Strapless dress. Whether you are attending a party or meeting friends for a sit-down dinner, convert the multi dress to a strapless one by removing the ribbon and upper part.

• Sleeveless dress with v-neck line. From sexy to sizzling, create a sleeveless dress with a v-line in a jiffy. This makes you ready for the next party.

• Grecian halter dress. Another formal way to wear the multi dress for your evening events.

• Skirt. The multi dress can be rolled down to be worn as a skirt and be paired with a nice body-hugging top for a casual get-up.

• Spaghetti strap dress with a sexy back. The classic way of wearing the little black dress.

• Criss-cross halter dress. Make a bold statement by wearing the multi dress with a criss-cross halter. This highlights the natural curve making the tummy look smaller.

• Cap-sleeve dress with straight neckline. This covers the wearer’s shoulders while exposing enough skin in the bosom area that exudes elegant sexiness.

• Cap-sleeve dress with deep v-neck. Add more spice and allure with this sexy look.

The multi dress comes in black, red, white, brown, violet and other earthly tones. For store locations, log on to www.getlaud.com.ph.

Create 20 styles with one dress

Philippine Star
June 17, 2009

Dress me pretty: Get Laud’s Multi Dress can be worn in different ways: criss-cross halter dress, one-shoulder toga frock, sexy back dress, halter or cap-sleeved dress.

MANILA, Philippines - Women are now re-inventing their clothes to suit their fashion needs and budget.

Get Laud, the preferred store of smart dressers, introduces the Multi Dress, an updated version of the versatile dress, which can be worn in 20 different ways.

“It’s stylish and practical,” says Gigi Laudencia, owner of Get Laud.

Here are some ways to make the most out of your Multi Dress.

• Wrap-over. It’s perfect for curvy women as it flatters the figure.

• One-shoulder toga dress. This Grecian-inspired frock is perfect for formal events.

• Strapless dress. Convert the Multi Dress into a strapless frock by simply removing the upper part of the dress and ribbon.

• V-neck sleeveless dress. The Multi Dress can be converted to a sleeveless v-neck frock.

• Grecian halter dress. This halter dress is perfect for cocktails.

• Wear it as a skirt. Just roll the Multi Dress down and pair it with a body-hugging top.

• Spaghetti-strap dress. This dress never goes out of style.

• Criss-cross halter dress. The Multi Dress has never been this sexy.

• Cap-sleeve dress with straight neckline. This dress covers the shoulders while exposing enough skin in the bosom.

• Cap-sleeve dress with deep V-neck line. You can also wear the cap-sleeve dress with a deep V-neck line.

The Multi Dress is available at Get Laud branches in Festival Supermall, Market Market!, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Metro East, NCCC Mall of Davao, and Sta. Lucia East. For other store locations, visit www.getlaud.com.ph.

TV ads linked to increased drinking

Manila Bulletin
Well Being
June 2, 2009

A recent study conducted at the University of Radboud, Nijmegen Netherlands directly linked television advertisement to the increase of alcohol consumption. The experiment participated in by 80 young Dutch people from ages 18 to 29 years old concluded that watching television with heavy alcohol portrayal actually increases drinking by twice as much compared to those who do not have. Published at the Alcohol and Alcoholism Journal at Oxford University aimed to find out whether television advertisements have a causal effect on alcohol consumption.

Participants composed of young male friends were split into four groups; each was made to watch a film for an hour in a comfortable living room setting at two in the afternoon. Soft alcoholic beverages like beer and wine were available in the refrigerator for free with chips and nuts to go with it while participants are also allowed to smoke.

The first group watched American Pie, a movie heavily laden with alcoholic drinking instances, and put alcohol advertisements in between scenes while the second group watched the same movie but without the advertisements.

The third group was made to watch 40 days and 40 nights, a film with lesser alcohol drinking but more references, with the same alcohol commercials and with the fourth group the commercials were removed.

The experiment yielded a very significant result especially for countries like the Philippines were alcohol commercials is not strictly monitored and drinking is an accepted form of social interaction especially among men and teen-agers.

ALARMING RESULTS

According to the result, the first group who watched American Pie with alcohol commercials consumed almost three bottles of alcohol compared to the consumption of the fourth group, who watched 40 Days and 40 Nights without the commercials.

“Our study showed that the portrayal of alcohol and drinking characters in movies directly leads to more alcohol consumption in young adult male viewers when alcohol is available within the situation,” researchers said.

“All in all, it can be concluded that, for young adult males, the portrayal of alcohol on a television screen might lead to incre ased alcohol consumption.”

However, the researchers composed of Rutger Engels, Roel Hermans, Rick van Baaren, Tom Hollenstein and Sander Bot, point out that the results might vary with circumstances like culture, limitations on drinking locations and brand consciousness.

This study maybe well related to another research by Synovate, commissioned by the Department of Health, which revealed that Filipinos, especially the richer ones, are the heaviest drinkers in Southeast Asia consuming 37 percent more alcohol compared to countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. The figure says that 11 percent of Filipinos 15 to 74 years old regularly drink alcoholic beverages at the minimum of four times a week while 20 percent of age group 15 to 19 years old is already current drinkers. This fact is both alarming and scary since it involves the youth who are even below the allowable drinking age and merits immediate attention from parents, lawmakers and the society.

Other countries like in the European Union that applies stringent rules on alcoholic commercials where the alcohol cannot be promoted using children, as an aid to social, sexual success or therapeutic aid, Philippine television has a significantly high content of alcohol commercials.

The presence of famous celebrity endorsers, depicting drinking as a way to interest the opposite sex, have fun with friends, impress superiors or achieve success in alcohol commercials in our country also plays a considerable influence on drinking.

“When in real life, anticipation on others’ reactions may be among the causes of imitation. Since viewers are aware that characters from a TV screen will not evaluate them, this imitation will take place independent from this anticipation. This adds to the evidence for the assumption that humans are wired to imitate,” the Dutch research further stated.

Celebrating 50 years of health and beauty

Manila Standard Today
Money
May 14, 2009

The Year of the Ox signifies more than the usual celebrations for Amway Corp., perhaps the most successful multi-level marketing company in the world, as 2009 marks half a century of product distribution through direct selling. What started out as a basement business selling health supplements in 1959 is now a multi-billion dollar company, employing three million people in 80 countries/region around the globe. It carries five major product areas under its wings including personal and home care, food supplement, cosmetics and cooking wares and has captured a big market interest even in the most traditional countries like China.

On a recent tour of Guangzhou where Amway houses its biggest factory outside of the US and Shanghai, the center of Amway’s research and development, the company opens its door for select Filipino and Taiwanese journalists to share some secrets of its success in the land of emerging superpower China. Amway, after all, has its history connected to this country because this is where Charles Rehnborg, developer of Nutrilite Dietary Supplements, Amway’s first product, started the idea and first conducted his research for this nutritional pills.

Capturing the Chinese market

China is Amway’s biggest market so far, beating Europe and America for a total of 30-percent share of the global sales while on the local direct selling front, Amway has 50 percent of the total industry.

Gan Chee Eng, regional president and chief marketing officer of Amway China, attributes this success in their strategy of adapting to the Chinese market and communicating with the local culture. As a result, Amway China has 90-percent favorability in terms of brand awareness and is raking more than $4 billion in annual sales. This impressive performance allows the company to further develop its resources and continuously update its state-of-the-art research and development facilities.

“We are always looking for products, what the consumer needs. We are open to intellectual property sharing with the Philippines. Our focus worldwide is on environment-friendly child, health and beauty products. Our cookware requires less energy to cook; our homecare products are recyclable and biodegradable. Amway China employees and distributors are active in Greenway, an environment Web site in China,” Gan adds.

Built from 1992-1994, the 141,000-square-meter Guangzhou factory complex and logistics centers carries up to 25 truckloads of products every day for distribution in Southeast Asian countries like Taiwan, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Korea. The Guangzhou factory, which cost around 500 million renminbi in construction, is kept at 22 degrees temperature all year round to maintain the highest quality of its products and adhere to global standards. These strict compliances earned Amway China’s facilities ISO 9002, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points and Good Manufacturing Practices certifications. They also have ISO14001 for Environmental Management Standard, and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety.

“Our products are melamine-free. We do our own lab tests on materials before using them. We have that capability. Presently, we are not exporting any products abroad. We have earned the trust of the public and we have gained the confidence of the market,” the well versed, newly appointed regional president assured the writers.

Meanwhile it’s Shanghai office, which also houses its Research and Development center in One Corporate Avenue, 222 Hu Bin Road, which costs a monthly rental $2 million, is another testament of the company’s strong foothold in the direct-selling industry. According to Amway’s officials, the sales from its 13 shops in Shanghai alone are more than enough to cover rental fees.

In terms of taking care of its people, Amway China has stepped up to further the benefits that its distributors get from the company. Last year, Amway has posted an annual sale of $8.2 billion and a big chunk of it went to its distributors as commissions and bonuses.

“We have increased our bonus packages for our sales representatives, as well as increased our budget for the construction of new buildings and for investments in research and development. We therefore have the confidence and trust of our numerous sales representatives. We have brand building in place for 2009,” ends Gan.

Success in technology mining

Speaking briefly on Amway’s R&D undertakings, director Jia Chen emphasized on the company’s commitment on technology mining and innovation as its main vehicles in producing their top-selling products especially in beauty and health category like Nutralite and Artistry. Their team consists of professionals who have attained master’s degree from prestigious universities all over the world and a scientific board who regularly monitors the results of each and every experiment and study undertaken by the R&D team.

“It all depend on technology mining but tech mining can’t be built in one day. It takes a long way to research and collaborate with other organizations. Our R&D is focused on the Chinese market. In Amway China, we have a lot of ideas but we have to innovate, we eliminate bad ideas as well.”

Amway is concentrating on the direction of optimal health and healthy aging rather than the temporary solutions offered by other products in the same category. They are ahead on using organic components harvested mainly from four organic farms that Amway maintains in different parts of the world, California and Washington, Central Brazil and Jalisto in Central Mexico. These farms use seawater for the soil to integrate minerals that are more useful in the end products.

Chen cites Artistry’s Crème L/X, which is endorsed by no other than top Hollywood celebrity Sandra Bullock who swears on endorsing products that she only trusts. Crème L/X active formula primarily targets the mitochondria, considered as the engine of the cell, to restore or increase cell energy, which results in visibly younger-looking skin.

“We focus on health and beauty, we do both product lines. Skincare is the first part of it but we have other products [to go with it] that we encourage people to take as well so in the end they will have optimal health,” says Chen.

Strong in the Philippines

In the Philippines, Amway’s biggest selling brand is Nutrilite, which puts in 45 percent of its business last year while 15 percent is contributed to its skincare and cosmetic line, Artistry. Aside from these main lines, they also offer a wide variety of home care and personal care products.

In Makati, Amway has its own Brand Experience Center where people can have a firsthand experience of its products while in Visayas and Mindanao, they offer organically complex agricultural products which also help the farmers to increase their harvest.

Amway Philippines is one of the first in the direct-selling business locally, started in 1997 with a vision to enable Filipinos to live better lives. Today, it has over 40,000 independent business owners who are continuously promoting entrepreneurship among Filipinos while benefiting financially from their endeavors.

They also participated in Amway’s social responsibility efforts and lend a helping hand to those who are in need. In 2004, Amway Philippines launched the One for One Campaign for Children which is aimed at children’s right and literacy. Among their projects are regular story telling sessions inside the library of F. Benitez Elementary School in Makati and renovation of the library in South City Central School in Cagayan de Oro where they also donated story books. This year, the plan to partner with the Department of Education in expanding their campaign in Cebu City is also pushing through.

An unconventional guide to Amsterdam

MST Travel

March 19, 2009
Article Link


If you suddenly find yourself in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and perhaps one of the most liberated cities in the world, rejoice because you are in heaven. But if you have only limited time to go around and enjoy the city, don’t be confused by all the things that can be done because there are hundreds, from shopping, sight seeing and dining out. The best time to go is in the morning when there aren't so many people crowding its streets. During the afternoon, at around 3 p.m., there is an outpouring of people and you’ll never guess where they come from—Asian, Westerners and Europeans alike.

Here are some unconventional guides on what to do and not to miss in Netherlands.

1. Party, party, party—The Dutch DJs are the best in the world. Think of Tiesto, Armin van Burren, etc. The bars in Amsterdam are some of the most lively and exciting compared to others around the world. Not even New York City would rival the kind of party that the bars and clubs in Amsterdam offer. So make sure you have enough moolah because the entrance fees are certainly not cheap.

2. Eat a herring—If you can swallow it. Herrings are one of the Netherlands’ local street foods that must be eaten raw, headfirst with lots of garlic on it. I haven’t had the heart to go for a second serving because the smell of onions alone makes me dizzy but eating a herring is one thing you should not miss in Amsterdam or any part of the Netherlands for that matter.

3. Smoke some marijuana—Yes, you read it right, score some pot! It’s your chance to try something naughty and get away with it. In the Netherlands, the selling of soft drugs like marijuana is allowed and thousands of foreigners flock here just to get this stuff. All over Amsterdam, you can find different coffee shops (where they sell marijuana in the form of rolled in like cigarettes, hashes, space cake etc.) that sells it for 3 euros apiece or more depending on the kind you want to have. But never take it out of the country because you will get arrested.

4. Hire a prostitute from the window—This will only work if you are a guy or a lesbian and you have money to burn, because in the Netherlands, prostitution is legal. Ever heard of the Red Light District? Amsterdam has the best, with prostitutes displayed on windows, literally, dressed in their kinkiest clothes (if you can ever call it that) urging customers to come in. Now, if you are not a man or a butch and you don’t have money for these hookers, then just go walk on these streets, feast your eyes and satisfy your inner voyeur with these women, of all sizes and ages. There are also gays in the lewdest of attire. And mind you, these ladies/lads have health insurance, medical certificates and working permits. One word of advice though, don’t attempt to take pictures of them otherwise you’ll just see your camera floating in the canals.

5. Shopping—Like in other capital cities, shopping for goodies in Amsterdam can be real fun especially during sale season like February and March when shops lower their prices up to 70 percent. Boots can be had for 10 euros in shops or a stylish coat for only 30 euros. There are even shops that sell all items for five to 15 euros and you are assured that they are of best quality

6. Rent a bike and drive around— Another cheap way to get around Amsterdam is by bicycle and there are a lot of bike rental shops in the city costing around eight euros for a day’s use. Biking is safe with numerous lanes allotted for bikers. The Dutch are famous for their bikes, as they say, there are more bikes in the Netherlands than people.

7. Take a boat tour around the city—The Netherlands is famous for its canals and dikes which were built for defense, water management (to keep the water off the lands because the Netherlands is below sea level) and commerce. Boat tours around the city cost around 8 to 10 euros depending on the package and is the most economical and convenient way to see the beautiful buildings and landscape.

8. Shop at the sex shops—Yes, the windows are always near sex shops and you won’t have a hard time choosing the device of your choice and size to sizzle your sex life. They have funny-looking condoms, S&M accessories like chains, whips, ropes etc., all sizes, designs and colors of vibrators, strapped vibrators even for the lesbians wanting to satisfy their lady loves, fake vaginas and butt holes, kinky underwear, role playing customs (they have from the conservative nuns and priests to the school girl and hookers), lubricants, DVDs of soft and hard porn, and everything about sex which I haven’t even encountered.

9. Have a museum tour. Start with the Sex Museum—First, it’s the cheapest for 3 euros per person, second it’s so informative, and third it’s more fun than all the museums in the Netherlands combined. Not even Madame Tussaud which puts 21 euros tab for entrance and the Van Gogh Museum which demands 22 euros entrance fee would make you laugh and enjoy museums like the Sex Museum does. It provides vast information on the evolution of sex, from the pre-Catholic era to the modern-day porn with its three floors full of articles, photographs, paintings etc. Don’t forget to have your picture taken with the Two Giant Penises, the Fat Nudist and the Horrible Nude Monster. Maybe you would also like to check out the Bag Museum for its collection of unique and beautiful purses and of course the Ann Frank Museum to torture with the same kind that did this poor Dutch Jew girl during the Nazi time.

10. Try the Magic Mushroom but don’t jump off a building—Magic mushrooms are another kind of soft drugs being sold in Amsterdam but since early this year they put a ban on selling these in the coffee shops. There are still some shops that sell them or their alternative all around Amsterdam. Again, beware, this stuff is lethal if you took more than what is tolerable by your body. The effect is not immediate so don’t rush and make sure that you have someone sober by your side. Do not fly off of a building like some French teenagers did some years ago.