Recycling Unused Facial Creams

It is not uncommon for women to indulge beauty in regimens. By so doing, this entails buying beauty products and creams… sometimes, only to shelf them later.

I have creams at home that I can no longer use on my face or body due to certain reasons. Some caused me allergies; some were already expired because they were shelved for a long time; and some were imported freebies with foreign labels I couldn’t read and understand (What if I used a product on my face when it’s supposed to be a shampoo or a vaginal wash? Eeww!).

To ditch or not to ditch – this is my question. Of course I don’t want to clutter my cabinet with stuff that are no longer useful to me. But if you think of saving mother earth from the forever accumulating human garbage, you’d consider recycling.

So how do you recycle your unwanted beauty products? Simple. Use them on your FEET.

Sometimes, people tend to neglect washing their feet well when taking a bath or taking the shower because they are in a hurry. In the long run, having dirty and calloused feet would definitely call for pampering. This is something that you can now immediately address by simply applying your barely used creams on your feet before sleeping, and then covering it with socks.

I learned this tip from an old friend who loves to hoard lotions and beauty products. She keeps these in the fridge and totally forgets about them eventually. When she remembers to check her collection, she would see her branded stuff expired. Too upset to throw away her expensive creams to the bin, I’d see her applying the products on her feet instead. According to her, the foot t is the safest body part to apply expired facial creams on.

Do you also have expired or unused vanity products at home that are just accumulating dusts on your beauty table? Use them on your feet tonight.

Real Talk: Beauty Is Power

I love what Christine Jacob said once in CNN’s “Real Talk.” She told her mommy-viewers, “You have to take care of yourself from Day One because no one’s going to do that for you.” Since hearing this, I have been retelling the same thing to mommies I know, who I notice are no longer paying attention on how they look.

More than the purpose of keeping your man smitten on you, the benefit of taking care of oneself is to have power from the inside. Moms are often too busy taking care of others’ needs that they neglect to take care of their own. One day they’d wake up, they would look closely at their reflection on the mirror and would ask themselves, where did their youth go? Well, it went to housekeeping and other modern day mommy duties.

When Nanay Mareng was still alive, she told me over one breakfast that even if ladies are already married, they should make an effort to keep themselves lovely. Perhaps she noticed that I have ceased being conscious about how I appear.  I didn’t contradict her remark although deep in my heart I wanted to ask, “Why do old women have to tolerate and even encourage a sexist culture?” Sadly, I also used to naively grip on the “you’ve got to love me for what I am” motto. Her ‘wisdom’ made sense after I faced some ‘inconvenient’ situations.

Looking back, after I gave birth to my son, my young family became my utmost priority. I stopped buying clothes, bags, and shoes for myself. I skipped facials and salon visits. Instead, I spent the little money I have to expose my son to various social interactions and experiences – play pens, Jollibee kiddie activities, trick or treat events, etc. I wanted him to be competitive. While me, I have neglected myself even if I have an image to “protect” being a former local beauty queen. My fashion sense became dull.

TODAY, my hair is dyed. I watch my diet. I now wear the clothes that I deem okay (for I no longer needed the approval of this fashion guru who ruined my sense of style). I know how to apply make-up. I exercise. I am loving myself more. And it feels good.

I DOLL UP NOT BECAUSE I wanted to seek attention from the opposite sex.

I consciously make an effort to look good and feel good because whenever I feel beautiful, I gain positive outlook in life and everything appears brighter to me. The positive energy from within me radiates and it simultaneously passes good vibes to the people I encounter. The happy experiences I earn, in effect, make me feel more empowered.

Trust me, beauty is power.

Mommies, do you pay yourself a “me-time?” If no, you better start now. This is a healthy and a practical advice. (Wink!)

Miss Universe in Manila 2016: The Dress Rehearsal

One of the perks of doing your job well is being given the opportunity to experience once-in-a-lifetime events that are just wished for by many. In my case, I had the chance to get three complimentary tickets to watch the dress rehearsal of the Miss Universe candidates just a few hours before the most awaited coronation day!

Upon receiving the tickets, I contacted a number of relatives and friends who I thought might be interested to go with me at the Mall of Asia Arena on a Sunday. Those who were almost instantaneously free to give in to my short notice invitation were my two single friends from U.P. – Tim and Cling. Tim is my daughter’s godmother, who’s an excellent photographer and a marketing strategist in a private firm. Cling on the other hand is a junior professor at U.P. DSCTA who used to help me sort my paper during my last attended M.A. class.

 

With Tim

With Cling

Not too many people watched the dress rehearsal. So even if our seats were located in a not so comfy side of the arena, we were able to move a bit to have a better view of the stage. Some of the audiences I noticed include model-like Caucasians, fabulous ladies in gown, tons of gays who were obviously pageant enthusiasts, Miss U fanatic teenagers with their families, women-government employees, and familiar faces from Valenzuela who perhaps were given free passes too.

I’d say Steve Harvey is really a seasoned show host. His voice inflection and intonation were very professional sounding, and I could see that he’s so much eager to correct his past mistake through this pageant. Pia’s scripted gesture in trying to help him become more careful in announcing the finalists worked so well at the rehearsal so I wasn’t surprised when their witty tactic really made some buzz on the news and the social media.

Unlike other beauty pageants that I have watched before on television, I noticed that this time, the stage design didn’t include a lot of steps for the candidates to catwalk on. The stage was almost bare of physical ornamental yet it remained posh and colourful because of the fabulous computer effects that play on the background. The lighting and the video coverage were impeccable as well.

The Candidates at the MOA Arena

Until the end of the dress rehearsal, I remained ecstatic for having seen all the beautiful candidates on the Miss Universe Pageant 2016 in person! My thrill was doubled for in one free show, I have also seen the live performances of Flo Rida and Boyz II Men.

What I Realized After Judging the Mr. & Ms. PRSES School Pageant

Before, I thought that my flare of being a local beauty queen would last only until I have turned over my crown to the next winner. Unlike my co-candidates before in Binibining Valenzuela who pursued their career in pageants, I have stopped joining such kind of contests when my strict boyfriend then did not allow me to try Miss Earth. He said that beauty queens are high-class prostitutes.

And so I shifted focus.

My boyfriend and I dated and dined. I gained tummy fats. Then I had a child. And so my gorgeousness meter dropped by 60%. Mommy duties robbed me my “me-time” and I became a “Manang Losyang” constant contender on the succeeding years.

At the time when I reverted back to working at the city hall, old acquaintances recognized me as the city’s former beauty queen. Some sheepishly commented that I have already neglected taking care of myself. I just laugh off at their comments while deep inside, I was a little ashamed that I have not sustained people’s expectations of an ambassadress. I am not remorseful though because I wouldn’t trade motherhood to glamor, of course. It is just that, my image at my home city is already connected to my past achievement that I could no longer erase in the memories of those whom I used to wow in the pageants I joined.

Now that I’m old, I have not expected that there will be a continuity of my life in local pageants – not as a candidate anymore, but as a judge!

I have been a pageant judge in countless occasions already. My latest was at PR San Diego Elementary School in Barangay Arkong Bato. I was invited by the PTA President to judge the Mr. and Ms. PRSES on December 16. The candidates were the cute and talented pupils of PR San Diego Elementary School.

Determining the candidates' fate.

It was a great experience. In fact, my student in one of my English classes was also there to be my co-judge. I was the oldest among the jurors who were all title holders in either local or school pageants. They were all slim. And I was so pregnant. Haha!

 Panel Of Judges

(I was their Mama Sang. Haha!)

I was very impressed to the organizers of the affair. It was so polished that it would definitely beat other like events – the over-all program, accommodation of guests and audience, trophy designs, prizes, and of course, the candidates, almost everything was impeccable! I even experienced what we call “LSS” or last song syndrome of Meghan Trainor’s single “Me Too” because it was repeatedly played in several production numbers.

Well Set!

Judging at that pageant made me realize that even if I am no longer young, the Miss Valenzuela image is already etched in my personality, hence the branding of this blog site. Whether I like it or not, prettifying my self has to be my thing even if this is laborious, costly, and tiring sometimes.

For Miss Valenzuela, will always be Binibining Valenzuela; and thank God, this is a cute additional income source for me to raise my kids. (Wink!)

Matchy-matchy Fashion in a Budget

When I was still in college, I used to enjoy budget shopping every Christmas and yet I was able to buy gifts for all the people who are close to my heart – my immediate family. With just 500 pesos, I already have something to wrap for all of them.

I also reckon one time when I was able to buy one set of Christmas outfit with the same amount of budget at the then existing Ever Gotesco in Caloocan City. My bargain wardrobe consisted of one off shoulder blouse for 100 pesos, one maong pants for round about 250 to 280 pesos, and brown, kinda heavy, wooden sandals at 100 pesos also. I was then accompanied by my cousin, Kuya Chrisvert. (That time, I was earning a little extra for selling Avon products to my classmates.)

Now that I’m a mom of two, I am happy to experience being my old self when shopping – a budget shopper who pays in cash and not through credit cards. I used my Christmas bonus to buy matchy-matchy outfits for myself and my kids: white top, blue maong shorts, and white sneakers. (I was doing mental Math while I was putting the clothes in the cart, haha!)

After the Christmas Mass

Thank God, my kids are good looking. They can pull off the plain clothes they wear. (Sorry to brag. I'm the mom. You understand, right? Hehe.)

For some reason, I am always mesmerized to see people wearing the same outfit whether they’re partners or parent-and-child. My latest inspiration were the photos of foreign parents with their “mini-me” children in their fabulous and similar get-ups which I just saw on Facebook a few months back.

Perhaps, I have adopted this particular inclination for uniform outfits from my mama.

My Mom & Her Grandkids

I remember when my sisters and I were little, she would often shop clothes of the same design for the three of us.

There was also one time when I joined an elocution contest in kinder, my mother hired a dress maker to create doll dresses for me and my sister Lavinia. Both of us were in red. Mine was bloody red, hers was polka dotted red.

While relaxing at my sister's place a few days ago, we were also happily reminiscing our childhood in Bicol. We were having a good laugh at how mama used to buy Kerokeroppi shirts and shorts for my siblings and my cousins for Christmas. On our way to the church, all of us cousins (eight kids) were like on a parade because we were wearing alike outfits. It was real fun! And I think we were getting public attention. Perhaps the people were thinking that mama and papa didn’t practice family planning because my cousins could really be misconstrued as our siblings too. Haha!

Until now, mama and papa still often wear their classic white tees and maong pants when attending church masses together. They ain’t flashy when it comes to style but as their child, I find them cute and sweet as I look at them from a distance. Isn't it nice to see couples who wear similar shirts outdoors?

During Vladimir’s 5^th party, I have also demonstrated my love for matching outfits. On his minion-themed, his dad and I wore yellow shirts and maong pants.

Vladimir's 5th Birthday (2014)

I wish for more matchy-matchy days with my children for it always brings a lovely feeling to the old soul in me.

‘Tis the Season to be SEPHORA Glammin’

     If there’s one thing that I like best about being single again, I’d consider learning how to use make-up as the most beneficial to me. During mornings that I wake up feeling ugly, I simply turn to my make-up set and put a little color on and voila! My “feeling ugly” day is whipped away in seconds.

     This Christmas, I am not very excited at all to attend parties because I’m big (I’m six months pregnant to the same dad of my two kids, and soon they will be three). But then I recall that glam is not only for skinny girls. It is also for all the women out there who thinks and believes that they are gorgeous too. It’s a state of mind.

     It was announced earlier in the office that we will have a Christmas party soon. It’s going to be an overnight affair of merry-making in a private pool somewhere here in Valenzuela. One of my dear old friends joked that he couldn’t wait to have a glimpse of my flawless and varicose vein-free legs again. Haha! Funny guy. His comment lingered a bit and so I thought, yes I may be big but I still have that sex appeal even if I’m very, obviously, pregnant.

     I’m the kind of woman who’s into neither flirting around nor getting men’s attention but I suddenly felt excited that I can still catwalk and collect compliments from my admirer-friends. I didn’t get three crowns in beauty pageants some 12 years ago for nothing. Hahaha! And well, we just love giving compliments to one another to keep us happy and united at work.

     For our upcoming Christmas party, I checked the photographs of pretty and pregnant Filipina celebrities online for some inspiration. I got particularly interested in Andi Eigenmann’s look on a cover magazine in 2011. She looks dazzling, happy, and reserved on the photo – the kind of look that I would also like to have for myself.

Source: http://www.noypistuff.com/

     We have the same mestiza feature so I think her choice of make-up colors would also suit me well. Since I’ll be attending a night party, I might have to experiment a bit. I’m looking forward to use SEPHORA products to make sure that I will look radiant at our party.

     I’m on my early thirties and signs of ageing are inevitable. Again, good thing there’s make-up, and here are my simple make-up tricks:

     First, I simply conceal my facial skin imperfections. It would be nice if I could cover my entire face with BECCA Ultimate Cover Complexion Crème.

BECCA Ultimate Cover Complexion Crème

     I am also convinced of the power of HOOLA Bronzer to enliven my face even better.

HOOLA Bronzer

     This is my ultimate wish: to use the ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set of make-up brush for my eye shadow and for my brows. Filling my brows with dark brownish color works for me.

ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set

     I was taught by my old, self-acclaimed, make-up guru-friend to wear pinkish lip color to look younger. That's the same shade Andi was wearing on the magazine. For my lips, I prefer to use TOO FACED Melted Matte Liquefied Long Wear Matte Lipstick – Misso Pretty shade.

TOO FACED Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick

     I could go ahead and complete my desired Barbie-like face by applying TWO FACED Love Flush on the apples of my cheek. It worked for Andi. I'm quite sure it would work out fine with me as well.

TWO FACED Love Flush

      To finish off, I would simply apply put final touches of face powder to look fresh, softer, and ready for fun!

     Imagining all these stuff, I can't wait to to start collecting compliments again to feel better about myself.

     Do you also want to look good and fab on your upcoming Christmas party? Shop more make-up products on Sephora PH here!

Binibining Malinta Twelve Years Ago

Last Friday, I was invited by a good old friend to judge the pre-pageant of “Binibini At Ginoong Malinta 2016,” held at the VCCPA Auditorium.

It was a pleasant experience seeing young confident ladies and gentlemen ramp on stage.

Yours truly was a title of the same beauty contest in 2004 and 12 years after, I am still being invited back, this time to judge the pre-pageant.

Former Title Holders

My cousin, Angelo Fulgencio, the reigning Ginoong Malinta title holder, was also there accompanied by his ever supportive mom, Tita Cel. He will be passing the crown to the next winner in the next couple of days.

Ginoong Malinta 2015 with his mom

Binibining Malinta has been running for over two decades now. It is more consistent that its city-wide counterpart, the Binibining Valenzuela. The Ginoong Malinta on the other hand is already on its ninth year according to its founder-organizer, Boc Clariño.

Bb. Malinta Swim Wear Competition

Ginoong Malinta Swim Wear Competition

Bb. Malinta 2016 Intermission Number

Ginoong Malinta 2016 Intermission Number

It was nice to see familiar faces on stage. Two of the candidates were my former students – both were good looking and smart in class. I also saw another one who is a regular customer at my small internet shop. Despite my familiarity with some candidates on stage, of course, I am setting aside my bias. Deep in my heart, I am just wishing them luck, hoping that this community activity could also help them gain more guts.

Looking back, although joining beauty searches is not my cup of tea, I could say that being a winner of local beauty pageants is still helping me become a better person. Once in a while, it reminds me to become a little more of a beauty junkee which is somehow essential for women in the field of teaching profession and public relations. There is some sort of an invisible force telling me to live by my three titles because it’s easy for people to judge how others look. People easily associate being kind or nice to being pretty. On the contrary, it’s easy to regard people as incompetent or unimpressive if they look plain.

Although it’s ideal not to care about how people think, somehow, image management is a must for me because beauty is already etched on my personal branding. It’s already in me that I could no longer erase even if most of the time, I prefer to be invisible and I’d rather go unnoticed. It’s not that I am bragging nor am I thinking highly of myself. I am a simple person who’d rather read books and write articles than put make up on. But then again if my ‘reputation’ is helping me put something on the family table, why not carry on?

Beauty is not everything though. As you age, skin deep beauty fades away too. It’s a good thing that I was raised in a household that puts premium on education. While beauty is an amazing accessory, it is still your character and substance that will define you better. 

Clan of Volunteer-Models

It is not new in our office that if we need talents for our photo or video shoots, we would maximize our connections first before we look for models who would ask for professional fees. So, it is either we tap willing people to post before our cameras or we, employees, will take the job as the subject for the shoots.

On this blog entry, I will just parade my helpful relatives who had been very supportive to me each time I need models. Their photos were used in various IEC (information, education and communication) materials of our local government.

My Son

Vladimir as Book Cover Model

My son in press release photo:

http://www.wingatchalian.com/news-and-research/article/tuition-hike-suspension-in-private-schools-to-ease-burden-of-parents

My Nieces

Arwen
Valenzuela Ngayon Magazine
Education 360 degrees PowerPoint presentations

Yan-yan
"Nanay-Teacher" Calendars

My Cousins

Eugene and Angelo (boys only)
Responsible Pet Ownership Flyers

Myself

Alagang Valenzuelano Women's Dental and Wellness Mobile Clinic Sticker

First Version of the Mobile Clinic Sticker

Second Version

For those of you who would like to add a documented project on their set cards or modelling portfolios, and at the same time are willing to extend a hand to our local government promote its social services, you are most welcome to become one of our volunteer-models! Just contact me on twitter @LizFulgencio .

‘The Value of Women’ According to Bb. Bigatin 2016 Title Holder

Valenzuela City folks love beauty pageants. Perhaps this could be attributed to the rural-like practices of people who live in District 1, who are still very much engaged into Catholic’s ostentatious traditions such as the flores de mayo, fiestas, sagala, sayawan sa calle, and the likes.

In flores de mayo and sagala events, pretty young girls with their handsome escorts are paraded on the streets at night. They are accompanied by their supportive relatives and friends who are proud of their beautiful and voluptuous physical appearance. Over time, the people’s fascination to flores de mayo and sagala gave way to the birth of community beauty pageants, now being joined by young ladies and gents, who perhaps once dreamt of claiming a spot in the limelight business.

Amidst the city being plagued by community runway shows and pageants that further reinforce the notion of commercial beauty – the perception that only those who are skinny or only those with nice make up and poise are pretty – the local government of Valenzuela came up with a beauty pageant intended for plus-size women, the “Binibining Bigatin 2016.”

See related post here: http://missvalenzuela.blogspot.com/2016/03/talent-night-memories.html

This was the first time that horizontally-gifted women ruled the local social media site of Valenzuela. Netizens were supportive of the endeavour which they find both hilarious and meaningful.

The Bb. Bigatin winners were:

Bb. Bigatin 2016 Title Holder:       Miss Joan Calip (Brgy. Maysan)

First Runner-up:             Miss Rea Donna Regondola (WIN Youth Club Pinalagad Chapter)

Second Runner-up:         Miss Leni Gene Dichoso (Brgy. Rincon)

Third Runner-up:             Miss Rodalyn del Rosario (Brgy. Coloong)

Fourth Runner-up:          Miss Rona Tayao (Brgy. Gen. T. de Leon)

During the coronation night, one could read from Miss Calip’s facial expression that she was not expecting to bag the grand title at all. But because of her response during the Q & A portion, she won the nod of approval of the scrutinizing judges.

The question to her in our local vernacular was, “If not beauty and body, what is it in women that men should look for?” She immediately answered, “Value.” She further explained, “Men should find the value of women. They are the lights of the home, the caretakers of the family. Our society will not be essentially complete without the women.”

Bb. Bigatin 2016 Miss Joan Calip & Miss Valenzuela

I couldn’t agree more. While a lot of men would be chasing ladies who seem to be more eye-catchy, they also seem to forget that beauty is only skin-deep and that it also fades as time goes by. Women, who are mothers, have proven their capability to shower love around by simply taking care and protecting their families.

Her message should echo not only to men but to other women also, who are being unhappy in their domestic circumstances. Ladies, know your worth. When you know how to value yourself, you can’t be easily shaken.