An Italian feel in the Philippines | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

An Italian feel in the Philippines | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

An Italian feel in the Philippines

By Marane Alvior Plaza

June 8, 2009, 3:20pm

Losing weight, nourishing skin and releasing stress are three separate things that most people would want to do all at the same time. Taking care of the skin and saying goodbye to the daily pressures are quite attainable though, thanks to the prevalence of spa centers and wellness products in the country today. But minimizing one’s waistline is kind of excruciating, if one would consider crashed diets, slimming teas, working out in a gym, or even surgeries.

All these three can be done with the newest non-invasive state of the art slimming and pampering treatment from Italy: the European Para Fango. Bioessence, the Philippines’ premier skin, slimming and spa beauty center, launches its new line of slimming and relaxing treatments from the number one spa and skin care fashion in Europe, Jean Klébert.

Bioessence meets Jean Klébert’s

“Jean Klébert is very careful in choosing the right spa center to give its brand name to, and Bioessence is the perfect feat here in the Philippines. We’ve found the competence and the professionalism that we’re looking for, and we are very happy to collaborate with Bioessence. I am very happy to represent my company and work with Bioessence and bring this very unique Italian slimming treatment in the Philippines,” says Rossana Irace, Jean Klébert’s International spa consultant and technical adviser, during the launch held recently.

Irace has visited different parts of the world to share the magic of European Para Fango like Amsterdam, Monte Carlo, London, and some parts of the United States. She met Dr. Emma Guerrero, owner and president of Bioessence, in one of the international exhibits for spas they’ve attended, and the idea of bringing the prestigious Italian slimming treatment here in the Philippines has been conceptualized.

Jean Klébert has been one of the most prestigious and recognized brands on the professional beauty treatment market since 1954. Under the management of Antonio Baldan, dubbed as the “King of Beauty Farms,” Jean Klébert has been renowned for its constant technological evolutions in over 3,000 wellness centers in Italy. Jean Klébert’s cosmetic products for face and body beauty treatments are constantly evolving in order to keep abreast with the latest research and fashion trends.

Three years ago, Jean Klébert pioneered the mud slimming treatment and glycolic acid services in the international wellness scene. In the effort of bringing the international standards in spa and beauty treatments, Bioessence is bringing the principle of the European Para Fango, which greatly depends on it draining effect that removes excess fluids in the body.

The Mud Effect

Fango, which is the Italian term for mud, is the star ingredient of the non-invasive slimming and nourishing spa treatment.

“What’s exciting is that there are different types of mud in the market right now that are all coming from Europe. There are types (of mud) that have no thermal effects, and what you get from them is just vitamins and minerals," tells Dr. Guerrero.

She continues, "The type of mud that we’re using in this treatment helps in the circulation of blood in the body, has detoxifying ingredients, and at the same time, draining effects that help in releasing fats and toxins in the body.”

The preparatory procedure of the European Para Fango treatment is the body scrub. The purpose of the scrub is to take away dead cells in the skin. This cleanses and removes impurities in the skin, while promoting the absorption of minerals that penetrates and nourishes the skin cells. The salt micro-granules used in the scrub penetrate all types of skin.

After nourishing the skin, two kinds of Fango is then used in the treatment. Hot Fango, which is first applied on the body, helps in the circulation of blood, while the Cold Fango has draining effects that release fats and other toxins inside the body.

This Fango is composed of active substances of Mediterranean origin, natural minerals, rich mud and seaweeds from the sea, and Selenium, an ingredient that can help in fast metabolism and has detoxifying effects. This mud has also lymphatic drainage effects that help in taking away excessive fats. Both Hot and Cold Fango is put on the skin for 30 minutes.

The Italian lymphatic massage is the final touch of this non-surgical slimming treatment. This stimulates the valves of the skin so that excess fluids can come out of the body. Usually when one gains weight, there is water retention in the body. The toxins that one metabolizes are not balanced, plus there’s excess water.

Through the lymphatic drainage, excess water and toxins that are not flushed out properly are removed out of the body. When the water is taken away from the body, the massage helps in releasing the water by fixing your urination and perspiration.

Basically, European Para Fango is an osmotic treatment, and what makes it special is that it has unique techniques.

The client can also choose the second type of European Para Fango treatment, from which pinda ball is used instead of the fango. It’s a ball made of different herbs like lemongrass, which when used on the body have the healing and slimming effects.

Slimming Effects

“This Italian non-invasive slimming treatment is perfect for people who don’t really like to exercise but do like to lose weight. A client can identify how many centimeters are lost even on the first session,” says Irace.

The client can see the leanness of the legs, and the body is less bloated. Anyone will feel lighter, and the skin is evidently lighter after the treatment. The treatment has effects on the entire body, not just on particular areas. Best results can be seen within 10 to 12 sessions. For only P3,500 per session, one can say buh-bye to unwanted fats, get one’s skin nourished and a feeling of lightness and calmness in one visit.

“Basically, the union of a very good product and a special technique makes European Para Fango treatment special. The professional standard of Bioessence meets the standard of this Italian treatment, and the desire and humility of Bioessence to learn more, to do better, and to offer quality spa and slimming services inspire Jean Klebert to share this Italian treatment to the Filipinos,” Irace concluded.

With its 40 branches in the country and 15 years of giving quality skin care, slimming and spa treatments, Bioessence has indeed given Filipinos a taste of international spa treatments without going out of the country. “If you can’t go to Italy, Bioessence will bring Italy to you through the European Para Fango Slimming Treatment,” Dr. Guerrero ends.

Being Human and Being Healthy

Source: Manila Bulletin- Well-Being Section

Date: November 19, 2012

Author: Marane A. Plaza

Photos by: Rudy Liwanag

Manila Bulletin articles:

Nov 19, 2012—Being Human and Being Healthy

Being Human And Being Healthy

By MARANE A. PLAZA, Photos by RUDY LIWANAG

November 19, 2012, 3:27pm

With the busy lifestyles that most of us lead nowadays, it is quite difficult to regularly stick to  some measures that will make us healthy and fit all the time.

But not for Luis Manzano.  Juggling a handful of projects like hosting "Kapamilya’s Deal or No Deal," "ASAP," "Sarah G Live" and VJ-ing for Myx Channel, plus an upcoming movie to boot, you’d definitely wonder where on earth does he get his energy, while still cracking jokes at that?

As funny as he is, Luis does not make his health a laughing matter at all. In fact, he is more than serious about maintaining a healthy lifestyle all the time. For him, a good physique does not necessarily equate to great health.  “We always have this notion that (having) muscles is equal to being healthy, and a smile means you arehealthy. There is so much going on inside our body. It’s a whole new story, “Luis started.

“Just because you look healthy, does not mean you are also healthy on the inside. You might think you are invincible because you don’t ever get sick, but that does not excuse you from taking genuine care of your health.”

And for Luis, taking real good care of one’s health means taking a conscious, serious responsibility into incorporating good nutrition, taking vitamins and maintaining exercise routines into one’s everyday life. Being busy should not be an excuse for neglecting one’s health.

Being one of the leading and in demand male stars today means facing an arduous schedule every day that can really take a toll on his health, and Luisacknowledges that. "People have no idea how we really work, and what goes on with our bodies.  Artists don’t even have regular sleep patterns,” says Luis. “We have our physical and emotional stress that we have to deal with everyday. Sometimes, we work for 20 hours straight. Once we are on set, we only get to sleep two to three hours, plus the dishes being served on set are not necessarily always healthy nutritious. There are times that there’s really nothing to eat. All you see is junk (food) around you.”

It’s all in the mind

“One very important key factor is you have to try to eat healthy,” said Luis.

When it comes to nutrition, Luis emphasized that it is all about making smarter choices all the time.

“As for me, as much as possible, I stick with my day-to-day diet which is low carb and high protein,” he added. “I also see to it that I take my daily vitamins.”

“Three months ago, I also started drinking Enercal Plus milk. I’ve noticed that I don’t have cravings anymore because I seriously don’t lack nutrition anymore, and second, my energy’s always up,” said Luis. “It’s a lot better than boosters, when all you can get are basically just sugar and caffeine, na  when you take them, in an hour or two, bagsak ka na, “Luis shared.  “All in all, it is really having a state of mind that you’d always, always take better choices when it comes to your health.”

As physical as it gets

If you think that Luis’ secret to having good health and a perfect bod lies solely on his diet, you are dead wrong. When it comes to exercise, Luis literally does a little bit of everything, especially in martial arts.

“When I was younger, one thing that’s always instilled in me was to practice martial arts. I’ve tried so many forms of martial arts, God knows how many,” Luisquipped. “I’ve started with Taekwondo, then I also tried Taikido, as well as boxing—name it, I’ve done it!”

Among all those forms of martial arts, Luis has developed a long standing affair with Muay Thai, having been at it for six years now. “For me, Muay Thai is the most practical among all of those forms of martial arts in terms of striking, and it’s basically all you need when it comes to fighting.” Luis trains at least three times a week, mixing Muay Thai with Jui-jitsu and mixed martial arts. Sometimes, he also trains with his girlfriend, Jennilyn Mercado, proving that it’s always easier to have a tag team partner in maintaining a regular workout.

“It’s really cool when you have someone who loves taking care of her health as much as I do,” said Luis. “Although, one frustration ni Jen in terms of our healthyactivities is yung,  matalo niya ako sa Jui-jitsu.  She had never made me back out sa Jui-jitsu.  In other words, never pa niya ako natalo,” Luis muttered with a light laugh. “I am very proud of her. Jennilyn has an unbelievable stamina when she runs or when she bikes. She’s just really sports minded.”

As if those were not enough, Luis continued with his daily typical workout routines. “I bike with a trainer, I run, I swim-- name it, I am bound to do it,” Luis stated casually. “If I have a late call time, that means I would train earlier. If I have an early call time, that means I need to work out later in the day. If the taping finishes early, I automatically train in the afternoon or the evening. Or when I get home, I am on the bike for at least 30 to 45 minutes.”

Indeed, Luis is a paragon of health and fitness. He cannot reiterate more that maintaining good health all boils down to having a special brand of self-discipline. And of course, it really helps if you’d set some personal goals too. And  Luis has certainly extraordinary goals for his physical endeavors.

“I have personal goals in my physical activities. Like for my scuba diving-- right now, I am already a Dive Master Candidate. But my goal is to still do some Tec Diving (technical diving),” this health buff shared. “One thing I’ll be doing very soon also is skydiving in Dubai! For sky diving, my goal is to reach at least 300 to 400 feet. I’m going to be happy to check off that item in my bucket list.”

Seems like for Luis, any kind of goal, be it in health alone or life in general, is always, always healthy…and attainable. “I also wanna try free diving. Free diving is basically diving with no gear! My goal is to hit at least 80 to 100 feet, with no gear at all. So it’s basically just me and my guts!”