Friday, November 16, 2007 Serna: Smart Melanie By Roger Serna Sound and Images
NOT too long ago, I wrote in the sister publication of this paper, SuperBalita that is, on whether jeepney stops have gone out of style. That’s due to the fact that commuters just embark and disembark wherever they please. That’s also because jeepney drivers willingly accede to their whims and wishes.
Lately, however, I noticed traffic enforcers doing their thing! Yeehey! Looks like chaos in the streets are on the way out. Or is it?
If these things are enforced continuously without letup, observance of traffic rules will no longer be followed because enforcers are in sight but because, hopefully, it has become a way of life of Cebu dwellers. Hopefully.
***
The Visayan term alibyo, which means relief or alleviate, will take on a bigger meaning in a few days. A new boutique spa will open on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the second floor of the i2 building at the Asiatown IT Park. And you guessed it right—it’s called Alibyo.
Proprietor Johnie Lim and his wife Flor (they own the franchise of Body and Sole) say that the spa specializes in traditional Filipino hilot, which is currently being promoted by the Dept. of Tourism itself. Why not? If Thailand has its Thai massage, why can’t the Philippines have its hilot as a kind of massage?
Beauty queen, actress, entrepreneur, evangelist and writer Pilar Pilapil will grace the occasion as its celebrity guest. Pilar has been a guest in many openings of Body and Sole branches including that in Baguio City.
So what differentiates Alibyo from the other massage spas in the metropolis, including Body and Sole? It is very Filipino. Better still, check it out.
***
The Psalmstre anniversary show held at the Parklane Hotel last weekend was a success. The show was impressive as was the attendance.
Psalmstre exec Jim Acosta was at the entrance of the Victoria Hall to welcome his guests. His show on RPN 9 was highlighted as it featured the beauty and health products of the company as well as its German consultant, Dr. Dietmar J. Rummel.
In the fashion show segment, we saw beautiful and wearable creations from Cebu designers who featured Cebu’s beautiful and handsome faces. We wished Melanie Marquez’s exposure was not limited to only one exposure. She had the audience in the palm of her hand in that brief appearance and was such a joy to watch on the runway.
The way she projected herself, the way she carried the gown (playing with the boa in the process as if she’s performing a magic act), the way she walked (seemingly gliding)— everything was simply amazing.
No wonder she once captured the hearts of New Yorkers during her stint as a supermodel and was voted on the Internet as the most beautiful Ms. International a couple of years or so ago.
***
Speaking of Melanie, she awed some members of the Cebu press with the way she answered questions during the luncheon presscon. She’s not the dumb beauty queen pictured by some Manila scribes.
She does talk with a lot of sense. She’s true and real, down-to-earth. She’s sincere and humble. She has so much faith in the Almighty.
It’s no surprise why, despite the years that have passed since she won Ms. International and as Supermodel of the World runner-up, she still continues to gain admiration for her ageless beauty, gait, grace and wit.
To digress a bit regarding the Supermodel tilt, she believes she won but was just deprived of the honor to spite her for refusing to represent the USA in that contest. Her reason? She is a Filipina and not an American.
Would you believe that despite being a former beauty queen and still a sought after ramp and commercial model, she frowns on two-piece swimwear in white that beauty contestants wear these days. It almost leaves nothing to the imagination. That’s a form of exploitation, she adds.
She even believes that many who had the potentials to win both in local and international tilts ended with shattered dreams simply because they felt uncomfortable in those very revealing swimsuits. Thus, they were unable to project themselves accordingly on the runway.
She wished aloud that beauty contest organizers would decide to go back to the one-piece swimsuit like it used to be during her time. Is anyone listening out there?
