Life is a Pair of Shoes

Is Forever a fantasy?

2012-01-28T08:02:00.001+10:00

(as published in the February 2012 issue of Sense and Style)

Lust is easy. Love ishard.

Carl Reiner

The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.

Anthony Robbins

When Februarybegins, thoughts turn to romance and relationships. I, myself, am slightly startled to realizethat this will be the 32^nd Valentine’s Day I will be celebratingwith the same man. Yet a swift lookaround showcases how much the exception my husband and I are. Many of our friends who started out togetherare no longer a couple, and a few who are still with each other are less thanenthusiastic about the month of hearts. Arelasting relationships passé? Is forever truly a fantasy?

As a publichealth physician, I love data, so I looked up the statistics on marriage andrelationships. The numbers are not atall encouraging – in the USA, for example, about 50% of marriages end up indivorce. It seems the likelihood ofhaving an enduring relationship is just like the flip of a coin. Yet healthy relationships have so manybenefits.

In1858, a Britishepidemiologist named William Farr decidedto research the effect of relationship status on health and longevity. He assigned the adult population of France intothree distinct categories: the “married; the “celibate,” (never married – atthat time, they assumed that sex happened only within marriage….); and the“widowed.” Farr then proceeded to studybirth, death and marriage records to determine death rates of the three groupsat various ages. This pivotal study demonstrated that the unmarried died fromdisease “in undue proportion” to their married counterparts. And the widowed faredworst of all. Married people, accordingto the data, lived longer, healthier lives. “Marriage is a healthy estate,”Farr concluded. “The single individual is more likely to be wrecked on hisvoyage than the lives joined together in matrimony.”

Today, Farr’s study would beconsidered woefully incomplete — his three categories exclude couples livingtogether, gay couples and the divorced — but his conclusion about the healthbenefits of marriage seems to be supported by newer research.

For example, numerous recentstudies repeatedly demonstrate that married people are less likely to get pneumonia,develop cancer or have heart attacks. They are less likely to have surgery, andrecover faster when they do get operated upon. Swedish researchers found that being married or cohabiting at midlife isassociated with a lower risk for dementia. In the Netherlands, scientists found that invirtually every category of cause of death, ranging from violent deaths likehomicide and car accidents to certain forms of cancer, the unmarried were atfar higher risk than the married.

Back then....

In 2009, The Journal of Health and SocialBehavior published a study tracking the marital history and health of nearly9,000 men and women in their 50sand 60s. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that when married people becamesingle again — either by divorce or because of the death of a spouse — theysuffered a decline in physical health from which they never fully recovered.These men and women had 20 percent more chronic health issues, like heartdisease and diabetes, than those who were still married to their firsthusband or wife by middle age. The divorced and widowed also had aged lessgracefully, reporting more problems going up and down stairs or walking longerdistances.

...and today, 25 years after

But what about unhappy marriages? Are they still beneficial to physical healthwhile wreaking havoc on one’s mental and emotional health? Apparently not; sociological research shows thatmarital strain erodes physicalhealth, and that the negative effect of marital strain on health becomes greater with advancing age. Unhappilymarried couples are at higher risk for heart attacks and cardiovascular diseasethan happily married couples. Women inunhappy relationships and the women who remained emotionally hung up on theirex-husbands had decidedly weaker immune responses than the women who were inhappier relationships (or were happily out of them). Some of these findings come from the work of Dr. Jan Kiecolt-Glaser and herassociates at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, demonstrating thatpoor maritalquality has been associated with compromised immune and endocrine function. Kiecolt-Glasershould know what she is talking about, having been married to Dr. Ronald Glaser for over 30 years.

So what’s the recipe for success? What are the secret ingredients for a longand happy relationship? Reflecting onour personal experience (my life partner, Dr.Joel Marc Rubio, and I are celebrating our 25^th weddinganniversary this June), Joel and I can think of at least 5 things that havebeen pivotal.

1. Love yourself. It seems counter-intuitive that self-love should be an essentialpre-requisite for a successful love relationship, but it really isn’t. The relationships that fail are those whereone partner looks to the other to fill something lacking in him or her.

In the movie Rocky,Sylvester Stallone says about hisgirlfriend: “she's got gaps, I got gaps, together we fill (each other’s)gaps.” And who can forget Tom Cruise when his character, JerryMacguire, tells Dorothy: “You…you complete me”? And yet, Hollywood is not reality.

Truth is, if youexpect someone else to make you feel complete, you will never be happy becausethe only one who can complete you is yourself. It’s difficult to love someone else if your self-esteem is lacking. As writer Patricia Fry said, “Anintimate relationship does not banish loneliness. Only when we are comfortablewith who we are can we truly function independently in a healthy way, can wetruly function within a relationship. Two halves do not make a whole when itcomes to a healthy relationship: it takes two wholes.“

To be secure in a relationship, you need to start by being secure withyourself. True love, the kind thatlasts, is not for the immature or the insecure.

2. A lifetime of love requires a lifetime ofwork. There are no short cuts or quick fixes fora happy relationship. It’s “… a work inprogress with a lifetime contract,” according to Phyllis Kos, author of Getting Back to Life When Grief Won’t Heal.

Diane Sollee,founder of the Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, said itbest when she wrote: “Marriage isn't supposed to make you happy - andsatisfied. It's your job to make your marriage happy - and satisfying. Samegoes for sex. It isn't supposed to make you passionate and ‘hot’. It's up toyou to make it passionate and ‘hot’ - and intimate.” So true; just like your retirement portfolio,a relationship is an investment. Themore you put into it, the greater the dividends you reap. (By the way, this also applies to your sexlife!)

3. It’s about the art of the deal. Healthy relationships require “give-and-take.” Negotiate with respect, compromise where youcan and accept that some things about each other you will never be able tochange. One thing that worked for Joeland me was establishing our joint stand on key issues, like child rearing,household management and finances. Sincemarital discord involves one of these 80% of the time, it’s vital to agree as acouple how to handle these matters upfront, from the start of the relationship. Too bad business mogul Donald Trump didn’t bring his negotiation skills into hismarriages….(he is now with wife # 3, former model Melania Knauss-Trump).

4. Make time for each other. Like a garden, relationships flourish when partners dedicate time to nurtureeach other. In my mind, one of the bestindicators for a successful relationship is if it has contributed to each ofthe partners’ personal growth. Thecorollary is also true – when a relationship demeans you, stunts your potentialand makes you less than what you can be, it’s time to get out.

You need to maketime for your sex life, too. While doingresearch on sex as an anti-aging secretfor the UP College of Medicine 2011 Alumni Homecoming, I uncovered numerousinteresting research studies that scientifically demonstrate that sex isnecessary for health. The more sex youhave, the longer you live, and global surveys document that married coupleshave the most sex. Conversely, peoplewho ceased having sex prematurely died at an earlier age than sexually activecounterparts. But the benefits werestrongest when sex happened within the context of a monogamousrelationship. Researchers at theUniversity of Frankfurt studied over 21,000 autopsies over a 20-year period;they discovered that dying during sex happened almost always among men, andmajority occurred when having sex with a woman other than their wives. Fidelity prolongs life; cheating (on yourpartner) kills.

An active sex lifealso assures you of youthfulness. Dr. David Weeks has said on record thathaving sex 3 times a week on average can make people appear 7-12 years youngerthan their actual ages. Dr. Mehmet Oz went one step further bystating sex makes women feel 2 to 8 years younger and men can achieve the sameyouthfulness by having 150 to 350 orgasms annually. This works out to an average of one sexualencounter with your partner every day each year, with a 15-day annualholiday. Which requires dedicatedtime. So make the time. And live longer and look younger.

5. Finally, celebrate “us”. Comedy writer Gene Perret (Welcome Back Kotter, The Carol Burnett Show,Three’s Company) hit it on the head when he wrote: “Our wedding wasmany years ago. The celebration continues to this day.” Even the most stupendous trials and tribulationsbecome surmountable when the relationship remains fun and positive. You have to inject surprise and enjoymentoccasionally, whether it’s spontaneous dancing in public or dressing up as anun with French underwear on your 22^nd wedding anniversary. Spice up your relationship, and celebrate it!

Whichis what Joel and I will do this Valentine’s Day – celebrate and have fun -as we have frequently done over the past 32years! With the diamonds of my new Bulgari Serpenti double coil watchglinting in the sun (Joel’s latest gift), I’ll dance with this man with as muchenthusiasm and more love than when all we could afford were his and hers Swatch watches…..

Dancing for Life

2011-12-06T23:02:00.001+10:00

There is a bit ofinsanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.

~Edwin Denby

Backin med school, the nights when my classmates and I traded dengue fever fordisco fever were some of the most joyful times in a highly stressfulexistence. It didn’t matter who wasdyslexic; we could all spell “Y.M.C.A.” (by the iconic Village People) on the dance floor.

Dancingmakes one happy. Vicki Baum, the Austrian writer who is considered one of the firstmodern bestselling authors, claimed: “There are short-cuts to happiness, anddancing is one of them.” Certainly, muchanecdotal evidence appears to support this. In the United Kingdom, Dr. Sarah Cook, a faculty member at theCenter for Health and Social Care Research, University of Sheffield, reportedin 2004 that dance evoked a positive transformation in 19 women with mentalillness. The results of her study weresufficiently compelling for her to conclude that dance was better thanpsychotherapy: "Dance is a way of dealing with feelings and releasingthem, instead of locking them in and going to the doctor with depression andanxiety." Other studies report thatdance reduces pain in cancer patients, facilitates emotional healing in victimsof trauma, and improves mood in persons with depression or schizophrenia.

Notsurprisingly, dance therapy is now recognized as a legitimate form of expressivetherapy. Dance therapists work with peoplewho have many kinds of emotional problems, intellectual deficits, andlife-threatening illnesses. Dancetherapy began as a profession in the 1940s with the work of Marian Chace. Chace was a modern dancerwho began teaching dance after ending her career with the Denishawn DanceCompany in 1930. In her classes, she noticed that some of her students weremore interested in the emotions they expressed while dancing (loneliness,shyness, fear, etc.) than the mechanics of the moves. She began encouragingthem by emphasizing more freedom of movement rather than technique.

In time,doctors in the community started sending her patients. They included antisocialchildren, people with movement problems, and those with psychiatric illnesses.Eventually, Chace became part of the staff of the Red Cross at St. Elizabeth'sHospital. She was the first dance therapist employed in a formal position bythe US federal government.

Dancetherapy is a now recognized field in clinical psychology, with strict codes ofpractice, training and certification. Dance therapists work not only with clients suffering from emotionaldisorders but also with individuals who have eating disorders, adult survivorsof violence, sexually and physically abused children, dysfunctional families,the homeless, autistic children, the frail elderly, and substance abusers. An evolving area of specialization is usingdance/movement therapy in disease prevention and health promotion programs andwith those who have chronic medical conditions. My own daughter, Katrina Rubio,is about to complete her Masters in Expressive Therapies with a focus on DanceTherapy at Lesley University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

But whatabout just plain dancing? Does it haveany impact on health? Ask Jocelynn Camacho from Guam. At one point, she was 269 lbs and wore size22 clothes. But she acquired a passionfor dancing, and in a year’s time, she lost 100 lbs. and was down to a size 12! Today, she is a certified Zumba instructor, combining work andfun.

In fact,the Zumba phenomenon is a fascinating one. Zumba was an accident. Colombia-born Alberto "Beto" Perez was teaching an aerobics class inhis native Cali in 1986 and discovered he had forgotten his usual music. So hedug through his bag of tapes and grabbed a mix of salsa and meringue music hepersonally liked to dance to. "Ijust said, 'Class today is different,'" says Perez. "Everybody lovedit." Now, there are an estimated 4million Zumba enthusiasts and 25,000 instructors in 40 countries. And Zumbaexecutives continue to feed the frenzy. The brand also offers music andchoreography; a clothing line; Zumba Gold classes, geared to seniors; ZumbaToning, a sculpting class using weighted sticks that sound like maracas; andZumbAtomic, a program for kids aged 5 to 12.

I guessZumba is to our generation what ballroom dancing was (or is) to ourmothers. Over and above thephilosophical discussions about ballroom dancing as a means to leverage sexualpower in Filipino marriages, dancing with a DI (Dance Instructor) guaranteed acardiovascular workout for previously sedentary society matrons. No wonder Filipina wives tend to outlivetheir husbands---their choice of social intercourse was physiologically moreadvantageous for health!

Whateverform it takes, dancing is good for the soul and for the body. It’s exercise, but it’s fun, so it is easierto maintain over a period of time than gym workouts. Plus, there are added benefits, such as thesocialization that happens in parallel to the dancing. No wonder fitness centers are now hostingZumba events as they heed Zumba co-founder and CEO, Alberto Perlman of Hollywood, Florida, when he says: "We sayditch the workout; join the party."

So this Christmasseason, whatever your taste --- hiphop, disco, samba or zumba --- take outthose dancing shoes (Manolo Blahnik’sCale or Turo come to mind) and quite literally dance for your life! Exercise has never been so much fun….

A happyand healthy Christmas to everyone!

Retail Therapy for Health

2011-11-06T17:46:00.001+10:00

Whoever said moneycan't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.

~Bo Derek

When women aredepressed, they eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It's a wholedifferent way of thinking.

~ Elayne Boosler

As October morphs into November, our shoppinginstincts rev up into overdrive in anticipation of the Season’s round of giftgiving. Hence the month’s challenge fromaesthetically cerebral editor AA Patawaran – give retail therapy ascientific spin.

I have always been in absolute agreement withTammy Faye Baker (with her signature 3-inch long false eyelashes), whenshe averred: “I always say shopping is cheaper than apsychiatrist.” To that I add, “and youhave something to show for the money you spend!” While pundits stereotypically depict shoppingas happy pastime for women and mental and financial anguish for men, today,women have purchasing power independent of the men in their lives, and thestereotype no longer holds.

Sohow to shop happily and healthily?

Oneway is to shop for healthy products. Thegrowing plethora of health food stores and vitamin shops testifies to thegrowing consumer demand for health supplements and organic food. But food pales in comparison to fashion, sowhat does one search for in pursuit of healthy fashion?

Plenty, as in this age of technologicalinnovation, science and fashion are slowly merging. For example, have you heard about the smartclothing that prevents fashion faux pas from diverse things such as excessivesweating and the swine flu virus? Australian company KingGee has developed a fabric that incorporates nanotechnology to absorb bad body odor,leaving the wearer fresh despite the humid tropical air. Haruyama Trading Company fromJapan recently introduced a men's suit that looks like a common suit, but canfight the swine flu virus. The fabric isimpregnated with titanium oxide, which when combined with sunlight is deadly toviruses.

Thepopular UK brand Aristoc has a range of tights that claim to improve theappearance of your legs. The tights contain microcapsules with vitamin E that has a moisturizing effect, ginkgo biloba extract to stimulatecirculation, deep sea mineralsthat fight with fat cells and make your skin look smother and younger. Also thegraduated compression of the tights works by increasing blood circulation,which helps to deliver all the right nutrients to the skin surface.

Fashioncan be good for the environment as well, as demonstrated by the collaborationbetween diffus.dk, AlexandraInstitute, The DanishDesign School andembroidery company ForsterRohner. They produced a haute-tech Climate Dress that can monitor the CO2levels in a given environment, displaying the data using flickering lightpatterns in the dress bodice. Carbonmonoxide detectors in LED lights are embroidered into the fabric; these reactto carbon dioxide in the air. Michel Guglielmi and Hanne Louise Johannesen of Diffus say: "Different light patterns are staged asdramatic 'micro events' embedded into clothes." First presented at the Bright GreenExpo in Copenhagen, the goal of the dress to make people aware aboutenvironmental problems through fashion.

However, it is difficult to spot thesehealth-promoting products when one is uncomfortable while shopping. Manila’s highly competitive shoppingatmosphere invokes the desire to always look trendy while perusing the malls;frequently this translates to becoming a victim to fashion’s unhealthyeffects. Consider the curse of the heavypurse: "Sometimes I see a womanwalking down the street with high heels and a two-ton bag, and I want to stopher and make her aware of what she is doing to her body," said AmericanChiropractic Association president Dr. Richard Brassard. In New York City, Robin Ehrlich, the directorof the Eastside Massage Therapy Center on the Upper East Side, has observedclients old and new staggering under the weight of huge purses and gripingabout neck pain. “It’s an epidemic,” Ms. Ehrlich said. “We’re busier than everbefore right now and big bags are the reason.”

For years,women complained that designer bags were too small to hold anything. “Well,”says Sasha Charnin Morrison, the fashion director at US Weekly, “the designersare finally listening up. If you go to Yves Saint Laurent or Prada or Tod’s orChanel or Hermès this season, there are three different versions of the samebag: mini, regular and oversize.” Unfortunately, nature hates a vacuum, so those of us who succumb to thelarge bag trend stuff it with everything but the kitchen sink. No wonder then, that women who shop withheavy purses fall prey to all sorts of musculoskeletal complaints, fromshoulder and neck pain, to nerve compression of the forearm and shoulder andpersistent low back pain. It has becomeso universal that there is now a field called “handbag ergonomics.”

Hereare some tips to prevent “heavy purse syndrome” while on shopping expeditions:

· Go for smaller bags, with less hardware, toreduce the weight you have to carry. Bold hardware screams “nouveauriche” anyway, so opt for simpler, understated styles. For example, choose the PM (smaller) size of Louis Vuitton’s Monogram Empreinte Lumineuse, or better yet, do as Idid and opt for the Inspirée,which is smaller and lighter but very spacious.

• Select a shopping bag or purse with a wideadjustable strap. Ideally, the strap should be long enough to place over thehead. This evenly distributes the bulk of the weight across the body.

• For top handle bags or totes, switch sidesfrequently to avoid placing the burden of the weight on one side of your body. By the way, an absolutely luscious tote is Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière’s 'PaperA4' black and white embossed bag, which just came out this Fall season---verygeometric, sharp and just the right size for those impulse shopping tripsduring lunch break. Also very practicaland stylishly versatile is ChristianDior’s Panarea handbag, especially the version in bronze canvass.

• Take the time to empty unnecessary items fromyour bag. Ideally, a bag should weigh nomore than 10% of your body weight. And placeall necessary items-such as wallets and cellular phones-in the front pockets ofthe bag. Stretching around to reach for your wallet can result in a pulled neckor back.

• And keep your shoulders back and your backstraight, to counteract the strain from your purse.

Asyou go forth and multiply your credit card purchases this pre-Christmas season,in your fashionable maxi dress, delightfully comfortable flat sandals andbeautiful but light hand bag, walk briskly and enjoy the psychological benefitsof looking good and shopping wisely!

Music matters

2011-10-04T21:05:00.000+10:00

“Music's the medicine of the mind.”

John A. Logan

“Simply put, music can heal people.”

Senator Harry Reid (Democrat-Nevada)

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." 

Bob Marley

“I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."

Billy Joel

Traipsing through the cobbled walkways of Central Europe this summer afforded us the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with favorite musicians and composers, both of the classical school (think Mozart, Haydn and Strauss in Vienna and Salzburg) and classically contemporary (we were lucky enough to catch Carlos Santana in Budapest). What a feast for one’s auditory faculties! Listening to Mozart’s Requiem performed by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in the imposing and historic Karlskirche, it is impossible to imagine a life without music.

All cultures, past or present, have some form of music. Music has been around us since humanity made an appearance in this planet. Thus, it is not inconceivable that music plays a pivotal role in mankind’s well-being.

Ancient philosophers considered music as a powerful cultural force, for good or evil. The ancient Greeks and Romans, including Pythagoras, Democritus, Aristotle, Galen, and Celsus, recognized both beneficial and harmful effects of music. Plato, Cicero, and Seneca all believed that music profoundly affected the behavior of entire societies and espoused regulating the performance of music and prohibiting certain types because of their potentially harmful effects. Their paternalistic attitude may seem extreme, but when one reads about present-day mass murderers and their affinity for violent music, one can’t help but wonder of the ancients had it right.

Today, research documents the impact of music even on plants and animals. During the 1960's, researcher Dorothy Retallack determined that sound frequencies around 5000 Hz appeared to stimulate plant growth. These frequencies were best administered in the form of classical music (compositions of J.S. Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and other European 18th and 19th century composers; traditional North Indian music performed on sitar and tabla). Plants exposed to these types of music intermittently for several hours per day thrived and grew lushly. Retallack also experimented with various types of rock music to see what effects they would have on plant growth. Plants "listening" to selections from Led Zeppelin, Vanilla Fudge, and Jimi Hendrix became stunted or gangly, with long stems and sparse leaf growth, some bending away from the sound source; after 16 days, most of these plants died! In one animal study, hens produced more eggs when played calming music. In another, rats learned to traverse a maze better when exposed to classical music .

Indeed, there is research that documents how background music can inconspicuously but effectively affect human behavior. A survey by the Psychology Department at Leicester University in the United Kingdom showed how music influences shopping choices. For a set period of time they played French music at a wine shop, and demonstrated with a video camera a significant increase in the number of bottles of French wine sold. They then switched to a German tune, which resulted in higher sales of German wine. Ironically, the buyers seemed unaware of the influence of the music. (Upon reading this, my husband fervently stated he hopes they never, ever play French music when I go shopping for shoes or purses!) Even the global giant, McDonald’s, did their own research into music and human behavior. Their findings showed that the speed of background music affects the rate at which we eat. Therefore, when a restaurant is busy, with a queue building up, McDonalds plays fast music, thus ensuring that the customers will eat quickly and leave the restaurant sooner, freeing up the table for waiting customers.

Music can also enhance memory and learning. The "Mozart Effect" is based on research by Frances Rauscher et al., who determined that listening to 10 minutes of Mozart's "Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major" briefly increased scores by 48% (relative to control groups) on a component of the Stanford-Binet intelligence test. The results seem to be unique to the music of Mozart, whereas music not as highly structured did not have measureable effects. Bulgarian psychologist George Lozanov found that playing baroque instrumental music (such as that of Handel and J.S. Bach) in the background while teaching foreign language vocabulary greatly increased a student's speed of learning and degree of memory retention. Music with a metre close to 60 beats per minute was found to be most effective; this rate closely matches that of a relaxed pulse rate. (Handel supposedly composed his famous "Water Music" at the request of King George I of England to aid him with his poor memory; whether the music helped or not is not known.)

Given these findings, it is not unusual to learn of strategies and attempts to use music and sound to improve health. Music as a healing influence affecting health and behavior is expounded in the writings of Aristotle and Plato. In the east, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) refers to the qualities of specific instruments and sounds and their beneficial effects on various organs. Several studies have shown that listening to music can help alleviate chronic pain and reduce the need for pain medication. Other research has documented that music can help lower blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety in heart-disease patients. Music therapy has been shown to help people who have lost speech skills due to stroke or other brain injury recover their ability to speak. Neuroscientists also report that music can help people with motor-skill deficits from stroke or diseases like Parkinson's regain balance and coordinated movement. Even among young children, music can be healing: Israeli researchers have shown that music therapy — games with drums, singing games and listening to simple songs — can help toddlers who have received cochlear implants to recoup hearing and pick up speech skills more quickly than with speech training that does not involve music.

In fact, the state of knowledge has evolved so much that today, there is actually a clinical field known as “Music Therapy.” Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. Music Therapy is an established health profession with its own Certifying Board, and is a recognized specialty field in clinical psychology. The first music therapy degree program in the world was founded at Michigan State University in 1944. The American Music Therapy Association was founded in 1998 as a union of the National Association for Music Therapy and the American Association for Music Therapy. Today, you can apply for a doctorate degree in this field at Temple University in Pennsylvania!

Dr. Mike Miller, a research cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, has been studying the effects of music on cardiovascular health. He points out that the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, uses music as part of its cardiovascular surgery healing program to "promote relaxation and reduce tension, stress and anxiety." Because music helps these patients relax, it decreases their pain, improves their moods and helps them to sleep better, especially during recovery. Miller has not only seen these same results in some of his patients who use music therapy, but he said he also believes music can be so relaxing that it can actually keep the body young. "We would like to believe that it may slow down the aging process," he said.

Classical is a common pick among doctors and therapists who use music as a healing tool. But what about rock, jazz or hip hop? Country, R & B or house? Does the body react as positively to Lady GaGa as it does Mozart? Should you go for Beethoven or Bruce Springsteen? Tchaikovsky or Taylor Swift? “I recommend listening to joyful music as part of an overall prescription for maintaining good heart health,” said Dr. Miller. Joyful? “Music that brings out a natural high in order to maximize endorphin release,” explained Miller, whose research (presented last November to the American Heart Association) showed that hearing your favorite song can cause tissue in your blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow.

Relaxation, better memory, a healthier heart and prolonged youth? Time to load up the iPod with joyful music, and listen your way to better health!

Sleeping with the Enemy

2011-10-04T18:39:00.000+10:00

"When you're green inside, you're clean inside."

Dr. Bernard Jensen

Summer in Vienna recalls the dynastic opulence of the Hapsburgs, and among the most iconic of them all was Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898). Popularly known as Empress Sisi, she was young (crowned Empress of Austria at the age of 16), beautiful and fashionable (she was an avid shopper at the Budapest fashion house Antal Alter, now Alter és Kiss). She was also very concerned with fitness and hygiene. In fact, she had a bathroom installed at the Hofburg Imperial Palace in 1876, the very first member of the imperial family to do so.

Personal cleanliness is pivotal to well being. Louis Pasteur’s 1860 discovery of germs – creatures so small you can only see them clearly with a microscope - established the link between hygiene and health. There are 4 kinds of these invisible or barely visible creatures: bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. “Germs” are those microorganisms that cause disease, to differentiate them from the “good” microorganisms that enable us to make wine, beer, cheese and yoghurt, bake bread, break down waste, and generate vitamin B and antibiotics like penicillin (which is derived from bread mold).

The truth is that microorganisms are everywhere, and it is not unusual for every square inch of our bodies to be covered with millions of germs. Your Frette bed sheets, the salad you ate for lunch, that pair of Christian Louboutin Shelly pumps you just purchased at Barney’s New York, the keyboard of your Macbook Pro – they all abound in microorganisms. In one experiment, one out of 33 computer keyboards showed levels of bacteria higher than on a toilet surface! Living bacteria have even been found frozen in Antarctic ice after 32.000 years, while one species survived temperatures of 175ºC in the crash of Columbia space shuttle.

Not all microorganisms are harmful, so we don’t need to panic just yet. Dr Aaron Glatt, president and chief executive officer of New Island Hospital in Bethpage, New York, states: "I think we have to say that there is overwhelming evidence that this is not a danger for most people. People can't go crazy about the worry and concern of being exposed to bacteria." In fact, if our immune system is healthy, and these germs don’t break through our body’s natural barriers, they rarely cause disease.

Still, it is disconcerting to realize that when it comes to germs, we are actually sleeping (and eating, and living) with the enemy. This is periodically highlighted when disease outbreaks happen, like the recent E. coli outbreak from cucumbers in Germany and the bedbug infestation in New York city. So what can we do to minimize our risk in a world full of germs?

For starters, we can follow the example of Empress Sisi, and maintain a good regimen of personal hygiene. Daily bathing and frequent handwashing with soap are probably the best preventive actions against many diseases caused by germs that normally inhabit our skin and environment. "Handwashing is the single best, cheapest, most effective way to limit your exposure you have throughout your life with potentially dangerous bacteria," says Dr Glatt. "It's amazing how this basic, basic advice is ignored by huge numbers of people every day." It is especially important to wash hands after using the toilet---this sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people fail to do this. In an experiment where researchers observed people in public bathrooms, the results were simply disgusting: 50% of men and 25% of women didn’t wash their hands after doing their business!

In the bedroom, make sure to change your bed sheets regularly. A poll of 227 readers on mothering.com reported only 1 in 3 people washed their sheets weekly. Thirty percent changed sheets twice a month, another 29 percent washed sheets monthly, and 9 percent did it even less frequently – horrors! In general, sheets should be changed every week (twice a week if you sleep in the nude). Use hot water, at least 130 to 140 degrees (Fahrenheit), to kill germs and dust mites. You can use bleach or a bleach alternative as well. Remember to wash and change pillows, blankets and mattress pads at the same time.

In the bathroom, regularly clean surfaces with a disinfectant solution. If you have pets or young children who have frequent ‘accidents,’ immediately mop up body fluid spills and then disinfect the area using a commercial solution like Lysol or make your own solution with 1 part bleach and 9 parts water (NOTE: When using bleach, always work in a well-ventilated space and take care not to splash any on your skin.) Frequently clean shower curtains and other surfaces where mold is likely to grow to prevent accumulation to levels that may become dangerous. Never share toothbrushes and razors; change toothbrushes after 1-2 months. And keep your bathroom dry; moistness encourages mold and fungi to grow.

Follow proper hygiene in the kitchen. Wash hands before and after handling raw foods especially meats and poultry. Decontaminate surfaces before and between food preparation activities. Don't allow raw meat juice to come into contact with cold or uncooked foods, and don’t put cooked food on surfaces that had raw meat on them previously. Meat should be prepared on a separate cutting board from other foods; cutting boards can be sanitized with hypochlorite bleach. Wash dishes promptly, and make sure the sink is clean and free of food debris. Disinfect regularly. Avoid raw meat juice contamination in the sink, too. Clean surfaces with detergent rinse with hot water, and dry thoroughly. If rinsing is not possible, clean with detergent, followed by application of disinfectant.

Cook meats thoroughly, and store leftovers in a shallow pan and refrigerate quickly. Do not leave food or garbage exposed and don't leave pet food or water out overnight. And remember to clean your fridge regularly, too! Before the days of frost-free refrigerators, defrosting, and cleaning the refrigerator was a weekly event. Now most people just wipe up spills, let it go until company comes and more room is needed, or deal with the bad stuff when it’s spoiled. A thorough cleaning – defined as emptying out the fridge, cleaning out the interior surfaces, removing the bins and shelves, and washing and drying them – is needed twice a month, as recommended by most food safety experts. The areas showing greatest levels of contamination are the fruit and vegetable bins, the bottom shelf, and the meat bin.

At work, regularly wipe down work surfaces, including your computer keyboard, with a good disinfectant wipe; make sure the wipe is not too wet or you may damage your keyboard. A survey of more than 4,000 people conducted in January and February 2008 revealed that only about half of respondents cleaned their computer keyboards at least once a month – no wonder there were so many germs on keyboards in that New York experiment! Other surfaces to regularly swipe with disinfectant include your phone, cell phone, and any other devices you handle frequently.

We may live in an invisible sea of germs, but we don’t have to become sick because of them. And the measures needed require little more than diligence and some effort. So make the time to clean up; after all, it is difficult to be fabulous when one is unwell. Until next time, good health and blessings to all of you!

A Feast for the Senses

2011-10-04T18:32:00.000+10:00

Live with all of your senses.

Sue Townsend

Fashion Week 2011 in New York City was about sensory overload. Even erstwhile minimalist Rag & Bone caved in; their spring/summer 2011 collection was anything but. Models sashayed down the runway displaying pieces awash in prints, metallics, buckles, harnesses, suede, crochet and eyelet (often all at once). The sheer number of materials and techniques employed by David Neville and Marcus Wainwright was astounding, and guaranteed to overwhelm the senses.

Truly outstanding fashion is a feast for the senses, in every way. Thus, fashion houses spend hours deliberating over the best music to complement the visual runway treats, and designers agonize over textures and other tactile elements as much as color and line and form. Models usually don the fashion house’s signature scents, and après show, designer chefs take over with their innovative cocktails and canapés. Sight, sound, touch, smell and taste---all accounted for.

Even art is transforming from static expositions to more interactive and sensually encompassing exemplars. Take the latest installation of Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. Entitled "the transfinite," it immerses the viewer completely in a sound and video environment, an audiovisual and hauntingly poetic reminder of our constant sensory overload in the digital age.

In truth, everything we experience in this world is accomplished through our five senses. The senses-sight, smell, sound, touch and taste-are the physical means by which all living things collect information about the world and detect changes within the body. Both people and animals get all of their knowledge of the external environment from their senses, highlighting the importance of the sensory system for survival. Each of the 5 senses consists of organs with specialized cells that have receptors for specific stimuli. These cells have links to the nervous system and thus to the brain. Sensing is done at primitive levels in the cells and integrated into sensations in the nervous system. Sight is probably the most developed sense in humans, followed closely by hearing. Jim Morrison (1943-1971), lead singer and lyricist of the American band, The Doors, captured it succinctly when he said: “Blake said that the body was the soul's prison unless the five senses are fully developed and open. He considered the senses the 'windows of the soul.'”

Most people experience each sense separately. Conventional neurologic theory postulates that each sense organ has its own specific set of receptors that connect to specific areas in the brain through the nervous system. Thus, most people see visual stimuli, hear sounds, taste flavors, smell scents and feel tactile sensations. But there are people whose senses overlap, and for them, sensation can be multi-dimensional. The neurologist Richard Cytowic in his book “The Man Who Could Taste Shapes,” describes his encounter with Michael Watson, who tasted shapes whenever he ate food (chicken was sharp points, mint tasted like a cool glass column.) Michael had a condition known as synesthesia, in which one sense (for example, taste) is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additional senses such as touch.

Synesthesia can involve any of the senses. The most common form, colored letters and numbers, occurs when someone always sees a certain color in response to a certain letter of the alphabet or number. There are also synesthetes (people with synesthesia) who hear sounds in response to smell, who smell in response to touch, or who feel something in response to sight. Just about any combination of the senses is possible. There are some people who possess synesthesia involving three or even more senses, but this is extremely rare.

Neurologists explain this condition by hypothesizing that some brain areas involving the different senses can be cross-wired. Babies are born with a highly interconnected brain. As they grow older the cross-wiring is trimmed down naturally. Sometimes, faulty genes can impede the process of trimming. People born with these genes grow up with areas of cross-wiring still intact.

Neurologist Vilayanur Ramachandan argues that this cross-wiring of the brain leads to a greater propensity for metaphorical thinking and creativity. Statistically, synesthesia appears more common in creative people like artists, musicians and novelists. Vincent van Gogh, David Hockney and Wassily Kandinsky (art), Vladimir Nabokov (writer), Olivier Messiaen and Franz Liszt (music), Ludwig Wittgenstein (philosophy) and Richard Feynman (Nobel prize-winning physicist) all had the condition. Contemporary artists such as Carol Steen and Marcia Smilack openly acknowledge how they use their synesthesia to create their artworks. Indeed, synesthesia has inspired artists, composers, poets, novelists, and digital artists to stretch the frontier of their artistic media to encompass multisensory experiences.

In fashion, synesthesia researcher Monico Murgia speculates: “Looking at all these synesthetic artists, I can’t help but wonder if artist and fashion designer Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979) had synesthesia, too. Sonia, along with her husband Robert, developed a color theory called simultaneity – the sensation of movement when contrasting colors are placed side by side. She also referred to her garments from the 1920s as robe poemes, or dress poems.” Back in 2005, digital artist Daniel Brown collaborated with synesthete Nick Ryan to produce an audio recording of sounds inspired by Ryan’s perceptions upon seeing Nicolas Ghesquiere's Spring/Summer '06 collection for the House of Balenciaga. Earlier this year, emerging designer Iris van Herpen, who trained under Viktor and Rolf and Alexander McQueen, titled her show at London’s 2011 Fashion Week “Synesthesia.”

There must be something to perceiving the world in multiple layers of sensation. Born under the sign of Taurus, I rationalize my fascination with highly crafted shoes and purses to the inherent sensual nature of my astrological sign. There is something so deeply and emotionally gratifying about the combination of Chanel’s visually pleasing classic lines, the buttery soft feel of its veau lisse lambskin and the sharp but solid chink of its gold chain. It evokes a heady 2009 Château Rauzan-Ségla, with its dark and intense fruity bouquet and that quintessential creamy fruit flavor (by the way, in 1994 the Wertheimer family that controls the fashion empire of Chanel bought the estate that produces this wine). And when it comes to sex, in Jim Morrison’s words: “When sex involves all the senses intensely, it can be like a mystical experience.” You get the picture, right?

Indeed, a full appreciation of all the senses can make for a sublime life. When combined with the sixth sense---my middle child Kara, an incipient fashionista, declared: “Mom, there is a sixth sense, and it is the fashion sense!”---then one is equipped to live a life of sense and style!

Back to Basics

2011-05-31T20:54:00.002+10:00

When we look at what's causing the obesity epidemic, it doesn't look like it's our biology gone bad, it's the environment acting on our ancient biology.

Dr. James Hill, University of Colorado

June is traditionally the month for weddings, but nothing will eclipse the April wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton (now Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge).

Despite the profusion of outstanding and outrageous hats (Viva, milliners Philip Treacy and Rachel Trevor Morgan!), the bride’s gown stood out as a homage to simple elegance and the enduring wisdom of sticking to tradition for the greatest “wow” factor---her beautifully cut off-white lace gown, designed by Sarah Burton from the fashion house of Alexander McQueen, reminds us that even for the Royals, “back to basics” is the best strategy.

What’s true for weddings proves equally true for health. Even those of us in public health who were temporarily diverted by online discussions about the would-be princess’ dramatic weight loss eventually re-awakened to the reality that for many countries, obesity is the problem of the day. And with obesity come all the chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.

The curse of being too big spares no one, as my friend and public health servant in American Samoa, Palanitina Toulupe wrote: “Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO Director General, told me: don’t ever be threatened by anyone telling you that you are small islands. Your NCD (noncommunicable diseases) issues are as big as any other country.” In fact, the Asia and the Pacific Islands have some of the highest rates of obesity and noncommunicable diseases in the world. According to the World Health Organization, worldwide, obesity has more than doubled since 1980, and 65% of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. The Philippines hasn’t been spared, either (yes, despite liposuction and mesotherapy, unhealthy fat prevails).

Some scientists blame the rising epidemic of obesity on our genes. In fact, the “thrifty gene” hypothesis, first elaborated in the early 2000’s, postulates that some people, especially those from Africa, South-east Asia and Polynesia are prone to obesity because they are more likely to have inherited the genes that encourage the storage of fat. These people were traditionally hunter-gatherers who lived in environments where food was only sporadically available and the risk of famine was ever-present. "In such an environment, genes that predispose to obesity increase energy stores and provide a survival advantage in times of famine,“ according to Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, an obesity specialist at the Rockefeller University in New York. Unfortunately, in modern times, where famine is rare and calorie-dense food is readily available, the so-called thrifty gene becomes a liability, predisposing one to put on the pounds.

So were ancient people also prone to the diseases linked with obesity? Captain Cook, while travelling around the Pacific, wrote in his diaries: “…Its inhabitants…are strong, robust, active, well made people. They seem to be as free from disease as any Nation whatever; I neither saw a sick nor lame person among them, all appeared healthy and strong…” Oliver Sachs, in his book Island of the Colour Blind, where he talks about health on Guam, stated “Pigafetta writing in 1521; Legazpi in 1565; Garcia in 1683; and half a dozen others…concurred in portraying Chamorros as exceptionally vigorous, healthy and long-lived. In the first year of the Spanish mission…more than 120 centegenarians were baptized---a longevity ascribed to the ruggedness of their constitutions, the naturalness of their food, and the absence of vice….” It would seem that historical documents attest to an enviable state of health of ancient people in the Asia Pacific region.

This is validated by the Kitava Study, conducted in 1989, on one of the last populations on Earth with dietary habits matching what would have been the case for the population of Homo sapiens in their original habitats on the island of Kitava, one of the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea's archipelago. The researchers discovered that residents of this island had no indications of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, or dementia, even among the very old. There were no residents who were overweight, and all had excellent blood pressure. (Coincidentally, they also noted that these residents had good skin, with no acne.)

What was their secret? For one, their diet was pretty much unchanged from ancient times. Secondly, their level of physical activity was quite high, necessitated by their hunting-gathering lifestyle. Thirdly, tobacco and alcohol use were not prevalent. Finally, they lived pretty much in sync with their environment, taking only what they needed without depleting their natural resources.

The ~2,300 residents of Kitava, 6% of whom were 60 to 95 years old, lived exclusively on root vegetables (yam, sweet potato, taro, tapioca), fruit (banana, papaya, pineapple, mango, guava, water melon, pumpkin), vegetables, and fish and coconuts. Less than 0.2% of the caloric intake came from Western food, such as edible fats, dairy products, sugar, cereals, and alcohol. The intake of vitamins, minerals and soluble fibre was therefore very high, while the total fat consumption and salt intake were low, as was the intake of salt. They were also pretty much tobacco and alcohol-free. These characteristics of the Kitava peoples diet parallel those of what is popularly called “paleolithic nutrition,” referring to mankind’s diet in prehistoric times.

It appears that for good health, we need only to go “back to the basics” - a healthy diet, adequate exercise, and a lifestyle free from addictive substances like tobacco and alcohol. Sounds simple, right? So why aren’t we healthier? Why is fatness superseding fitness?

The morally righteous claim that health is an individual choice, and that people who are fat and unhealthy have made irresponsible choices. But a more conscientious review of the data indicates that there is more to obesity and the epidemic of chronic diseases than individual choices. Increasingly, studies are showing that the social determinants of health play a crucial role in influencing the health choices that people make, and that disadvantaged communities tend to have socio-political environments that make healthy choices more inaccessible. For instance, there is a large body of evidence that the tobacco industry has deliberately targeted vulnerable populations, with a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region. One model filming a tobacco ad, upon noticing that none of the tobacco executives watching the filming were smokers, asked them why they didn’t use their own product. The reply: “We don’t smoke that shit. We reserve that right for the poor, the young, the black and the stupid.” Data is also accumulating that documents how communities with lower socio-economic profiles are less likely to have food outlets selling fresh fruits and vegetables, and higher numbers of fast food outlets. No wonder, then, that obesity is increasingly more prevalent among the poor.

In the end, people need supportive environments to make healthy choices. Therefore, the hunger for health is intricately interlaced with the hunger for social justice. There is nothing more basic than that.

So as you struggle to fit into that size 4 corseted dress from Dolce e Gabbana or Vivienne Westwood, spare a thought for the less fortunate whose dress sizes are increasing not because of an abundance of healthy food, but because poor governance ensures they are not able to make the best choices for their health. And like the quintessential princess, the late Princess Diana, do what you can to make a positive difference for health.

Flowers and Health (as published in the May 2011 issue of Sense and Style)

2011-05-06T01:36:00.001+10:00

Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul.

The Koran

It’s May, and flowers are everywhere! Indeed, spring fashion is an avalanche of flowers on dresses, shoes, lingerie and accessories.

Alberta Ferretti, Krizia and Peter Som chose bucolic nature to inspire their Spring Summer 2011 skirts, blouses and peasant dresses that open in pleats and origami like real buds, in colors that recall the tulips, primroses and violets of this season. Even the iconoclastic Jean Paul Gaultier, who usually favors edgy clothing in black and grey, succumbed to spring fever by dishing out a few floral motifs, including that deliciously rose-colored one-shouldered trench coat!

Fashion is art, and art reflects life; floral fashion merely reinforces the enduring value that we humans have imbued flowers with. Flowers hold a special place in people's lives---observe the frequency with which floral motifs emerge in art and literature. Throughout the centuries a rich symbolism has grown up around plants and their flowers. We use flowers to communicate love and desire, to provide comfort, to beg forgiveness, and to celebrate special events. As my favorite cousin and Philippine Floral Architect Rachy Cuna avers: “Flowers add DRAMA!”

In fact, there is an entire nonverbal language built around flowers. Known as “floriography,” this "Secret Language of Flowers" was introduced to Europe by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, in the early 18^th century. Flowers had long been an integral part of romance, even in the outwardly staid and proper pre-Victorian and Victorian age, but with floriography, lovers were able to send secret messages to each other through floral arrangements. Each flower had a specific meaning and the order of arrangement had much to do with the intended "message".

Apparently, speaking through flowers became so popular that in 1819 a French woman writing under the pen name of Madame Charlotte de la Tour (Louise Cortambert), wrote and published "Le Language des Fleurs" which offered seasonal floral and anecdotal advice to those wishing to send "secret" messages to each other. When Queen Victoria ascended to the British throne in 1837, she was reputedly so enamored with this floral means of communication that she spread the tradition throughout the British Empire.

But what about flowers and health?

Healing with flowers is not a new idea. Early societies, from those in ancient Egypt and Rome to many Native American tribes, used flowering plants for medicinal purposes. In the early 1930’s, Edward Bach (pronounced Batch), an English physician and bacteriologist, founded the modern tradition of healing with flowers, now known as Bach Floral Therapy. Bach had worked for years trying to find treatments for patients that were less toxic than the therapies of his day. During his search, he came across the idea of giving liquid tinctures prepared from flowers.

Bach was a maverick for his time because he believed that a person’s mental state and emotions played a pivotal role in most illnesses. Over the years as a practicing physician, he observed that many of his patients displayed various emotional and psychological difficulties before the onset of physical disease. These same emotional states, such as fear, anger, jealousy, and anxiety, complicated the patients’ physical disorders, making them more challenging to treat. Bach hypothesized that if one could help rebalance a patient’s emotions, then his or her illnesses, regardless of the cause, would most likely improve. He also felt strongly that remedies borrowed from nature, especially from flowers, provided an effective and safe means to achieve emotional, and eventually physical, well-being.

Why flowers? Bach believed that the life within a plant is concentrated in the flower. Flowers are where seeds are located, thus containing the regenerative properties of the plant. Eventually, he isolated 38 floral essences that in various combinations are claimed to be able to re-balance all forms of emotional turmoil.

Does Bach Floral Therapy work? Systematic reviews of the scientific literature conclude that its effect is no better than placebos, but it did not seem to be associated with increased harm, and there were a few studies that indicated it alleviated anxiety.

Regardless, many of today’s pharmacologic remedies are derived from flowers and plants, all of them scientifically proven. Digitalis, a time-honored treatment for irregular heart rhythms, comes from the purple flowers of the foxglove plant. Vinblastine, a chemical discovered in the Madagascar periwinkle in the 1950s, is the drug of choice in many forms of leukemia; since its discovery, it has increased the survival rate of childhood leukemia by 80%. There are, in fact, seven plant and flower-based drugs that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for cancer.

Still, perhaps the healing power of flowers emanates not from complex chemistry but from the simple pleasure that derives from the visual, tactile and olfactory beauty that flowers provide. Colorful, attractive and sweet-smelling, flowers are certain to please even the most cantankerous among us. In a 2008 study, 90 patients recovering from appendectomy were assigned to different hospital rooms; some rooms had flowers, while others had no plants at all. During the study period, doctors made notes on the length of the recovery period, heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, perceived pain, degree of fatigue and anxiety levels. The researchers found out that patients living in rooms with plants had faster recovery from abdominal surgery, took fewer medicines against pain, and had lower anxiety levels. These patients left the hospital much more satisfied with their care. So yes, send those flowers when someone you love is sick or in the hospital!

Back in my UP Diliman days, I received a single yellow rose on my birthday. It wasn’t the first floral offering I’d received, and it certainly wasn’t the most extravagant, but that single bloom evoked a burst of joy that I’ll never forget, because it came from this sweet and funny guy I was half in love with. Thirty-one years later, I look at the man who gave me that rose, and the magic is still there. Maybe that’s ultimately why flowers are a healing balm: in this oftentimes frenzied and dispassionate world, flowers remind us that people still care.

Yes indeed, stop and smell the roses, slow down, regain your emotional balance, show your love with flowers and savor the sense of well-being that comes from knowing that you are loved. And, just for fun, do it all with a new Dolce e Gabbana floral top or flower printed mules from LV!

Shoes, Supremacy, Style and Sense

2011-03-31T22:15:00.001+10:00

(As published in the April edition of Sense and Style)

You put high heels on and you change.

Manolo Blahnik

Always wear expensive shoes. People notice.

Brian Koslow

It was lust at first sight. Giuseppe Zanotti’s chain sandal with its 4-½ inch heels beckoned, conjuring up images of domination and danger. Despite its hefty price tag, I had to have it, and so I bought it. Unused but much-loved, it occupies pride of place in my shoe closet.

Why do platforms empower? What is it about stilettos that evoke supremacy? Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City), the 21^st century’s epitome of the empowered woman, was largely defined by her 4-½ inch Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos. And who can ignore that uber-cool icon of the 20^th century, the still fabulous (and still powerful) Mrs. Imelda Marcos? Her lifelong love affair with shoes (“I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty”) eclipsed every other memory of pre-Cory Aquino Philippine politics.

Today, high heels have become synonymous with authority and prestige. You can’t aspire to be a power woman without killer heels. And boy did they abound in New York’s fashion runways during this Spring’s fashion week: Thakoon’s high-heeled lace up booties, Prada’s technicolored woven 5-inch Mary Janes, Louis Vuitton’s giraffe stilettos, Dior’s be-feathered, be-ribboned espadrilles on heels and Chanel’s 5-inch “flatforms.”   Not to be outdone, Christian Louboutin launched his “Pik Pik” this spring – a nude patent-leather slingback with 5 inch-heels and a 1-inch platform, a peep toe, assorted silver, black and gold studs across its see-through PVC front panel, and of course, the signature red sole. Simply irresistible, it is truly a pair of “killer” heels.

William A. Rossi in his book “The Sex Life of the Foot and Shoe” argues that feet and shoes are intrinsically imbued with sexual symbolism. He cites one of America’s top designers, who said: “Shoes aren’t merely sex symbols. They’re sex motivators because they help give a woman the look, the poise, the carriage, that conveys a sensual language.” In other words, sexy shoes sell because they make the wearer feel sexy.

The attraction of high heels comes not only from making you taller, but also because they exert a slimming effect on your body. Slip on pair of stilettos and you can be transformed from drab housewife to dominatrix; no other fashion accessory has such dramatic results. This miracle happens because high heels thrust you forward; forcing your back to arch and pushing the bust and butt out. Consequently curves become more noticeable and your feminine silhouette is exaggerated. Stilettos make your confidence soar. No wonder, the sex goddess Marilyn Monroe once said: “I don’t know who invented the high heel, but all women owe him a lot.”

Unfortunately, high heels have a dark side---“killer” heels can also, quite literally, kill you, and your feet. The most dramatic case I can recall involved a young Japanese nursery school teacher, who fell while ecstatically parading in her new super-high platforms. She cracked her skull and subsequently died. Less extreme, but no less painful, are the non-fatal but serious foot and leg injuries arising from the use of these elevated heels. In fact, foot experts estimate that about 70% of all foot problems are caused by ill-fitting shoes. Women have four times as many foot problems as men; podiatrists attribute this to a lifetime of wearing high heels!

The foot is an intricate structure containing 26 bones with 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and multiple tendons that hold the structure together and allow it to move in a variety of ways. It is so exceptionally structured that Leonardo da Vinci referred to it as “a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” Physical examination of the feet of non-shoe wearing people reveals an astounding paucity of foot problems. Dr. S. J. Shulman, who studied several thousand shoe-less people in China and India several decades ago reported that not a single corn, bunion or ingrown nail was found, leading him to conclude: “People who have never worn shoes have very few defects…These figures prove that restrictive footgear causes most of the ailments of the human foot.”

That contrasts markedly with those of us whose closets are bulging with shoes. One of the most common problems among the well-shod are painful, aching bunions -- those bony protrusions that usually pop up at the base of the big toe and distort the shape of the foot. High heels don't cause bunions, but they can aggravate them. Both the heel height and the point of the shoe can play a role. Moreover, some women who have bunions also have a displaced bone on the bottom of the big toe joint, which changes the way the foot "tracks" or acts during motion. If the foot is then placed in a high heel, and pitched forward, the pressure on these bones increases and bunion pain grows worse, leading to a cycle of exacerbation, chronic pain and foot deformity.

Two other problems commonly encountered are corns and calluses. These thickened layers of dead skin usually occur on the toes or sides of the foot and are actually the body's way of defending your feet against assault. Unfortunately, with high heels, your shoes are the enemy. Another shoe-related foot problem is the "hammertoe" -- a condition that causes the bone of the affected toe to curl under, leaving the top to rub against your shoe. When that shoe is a high heel, problems and pain are intensified.

Other common problems that arise from being fashionably shod include:
•       Pain in the ball of your foot, a condition called metatarsalgia, can stem from excessive and prolonged pressure on this area from high heels.
•       Ankle sprains are more likely because your foot position in heels and the often-narrow heel width can make ankles unstable.
•       Achilles tendinitis is a risk. Frequent wearing of heels shortens and tightens calf muscles. This can lead to painful inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the back of your heel.
•       Benign tumors of nerves, called neuromas, can grow between toes. Symptoms may include sharp pain and tingling or numbness of the toes.
•       "Pump bump," or Hagland's deformity, has been linked to women who often wear high heels. This painful bump on the back of the heel bone occurs when the bone rubs against the shoe or a narrow, pointed shoe makes toes curl up.
•       Lower back pain can result when your spine bends backwards to compensate the forward push of your body when you walk in heels.

So what do we fashion-conscious women do? The strict podiatry experts recommend that we invest in “sensible shoes” with a flat or low (under 2 inches) heel, a rounded toe, and a body that fits high around the foot, preferably laced up. Horrors! Will I discard Manolo, Jimmy, Miuccia, Coco and Louis for Doc Martens? The battle cry is “NEVER!”

However, we can take sensible steps to minimize the adverse impact of killer heels.
•       Mix in flats and low pumps to your daily shoe wardrobe. Save your high heels for special occasions. Instead of Louboutin’s Pik Pik, choose the Couche Nodo with its 3-inch heels; it still has the feisty look minus the pain.

•       Wear flats for walking distances. You can bring your heels to change into once you get to where you're going.
•       Get the best-fitting high heel possible. While this may seem like a given, stop and think: How many pairs of high heels cause your feet to slide to the front, leaving a gap big enough for a small cell phone behind your heel? High heels that don't fit properly cause the front of the foot to fly forward, creating more pressure -- and pain -- on toes. Look for narrow heels with a snug but not tight fit to correct the problem.
•       Alternate short, chunky heels with plenty of room for your toes with your pointy-toes stilettos. Lower heels usually give you more stability, better shock absorption and greater comfort.
•       Cushion the insoles of your stilettos to protect the balls of your feet. Use inserts that you can purchase from most shoe stores.
•       Avoid wearing backless heels for any length of time because they strain your muscles. A strap or laces over the instep will also keep feet from sliding forward.
•       Stretch your calf, heel and foot muscles to help them relax and increase range of movement. Treat them to a soak or massage at day's end.
Lastly, if you suffer foot or ankle pain, see a doctor. Foot problems are harder to treat once they become chronic.

The bottom line is: no matter how sexy the shoes, you’ll still look graceless if you are constantly tottering and stumbling (remember Naomi Campbell’s awkward fall on the catwalk in the 1990’s because of her 10-inch Vivienne Westwood platforms?). More to the point, sexy shoes will never compensate for ugly, deformed and painful feet. So show some sense while retaining your style, and keep those feet well-shod and healthy.

Favorite quotations about shoes

2011-03-15T15:21:00.001+10:00

Famous Shoe Quotes

I like Cinderella, I really do. She has a good work ethic. I appreciate a good, hard-working gal. And she likes shoes. The fairy tale is all about the shoe at the end, and I'm a big shoe girl.
Amy Adams

I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot!
Marilyn Monroe

Give a girl the correct footwear and she can conquer the world.
Bette Midler

I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty.
Imelda Marcos (Source: http://www.quotesdaddy.com/tag/Shoe)

You put high heels on and you change.
Manolo Blahnik

Terrorism, hurricanes, and acts of God can’t part a true Imelda from her shoes.
Jane Blahnik

What becomes of the broken-hearted? They buy shoes.
Mimi Pond

AND MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE:

Always wear expensive shoes. People notice.
Brian Koslow

Sunshine, skin and strong shins

2011-03-06T16:15:00.004+10:00

(As published in the March 2011 edition of Sense and Style)

It’s March, and according to the runways – think Oscar de la Renta’s yellow chrysanthemum frocks, Vera Wang’s cherry blossom dresses and Carolina Herrera’s botanical block print skirts – Spring is here! The greys and dark tones of winter have given way to the lighter colors of the season, as Marc Jacobs artfully demonstrates with his palette of yellows, pinks, oranges and reds. The colors of Spring, the colors of sunshine. Indeed, Spring is about sunshine.

No wonder the general mood is moving towards ebullience. Psychiatrists tell us that happiness is linked to sunshine; not surprisingly, depression prevails during dark and dreary winter. There is even a scientific name for it: Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD…how apt! We in the tropics are spared this, but our OFW friends in the temperate zones know that winter brings about shortened daylight. Sunshine exposure causes our bodies to produce serotonin, the “feel good” brain chemical; in the winter, with markedly reduced hours for sun exposure, the levels of our serotonin dips. Scientists also say that darkness stimulates melatonin, which makes us want to sleep and stay solitary. Hence, too little sunshine, not enough gaiety, no fun! Maybe that explains why Manila is such a party place---we have sun year-round.

But wait one second…those of us with high BQ (Beauty IQ) know that sun exposure is one of the deadly sins of dermatology. Thus, we slather ourselves with SPF 1000 sunblock, wear long sleeved shirts, pants, and gloves (don’t forget the big hat and ‘bangaw’ shades) while playing golf and carry our umbrellas everywhere. Excessive sun exposure causes ultraviolet damage (or “photo” or light-induced damage) to skin, leading to premature aging, wrinkles and skin cancer. The world agrees that Asians tend to look younger than their age compared to Western ladies, and some people postulate this is because of a genetic advantage. But I believe there is epidemiologic evidence that this could also be because Asian women hide from the sun, while their Australian, American and European counterparts actively go for tanning sessions. Think Imelda Marcos versus Camilla Parker-Bowles (now the Duchess of York)---who would you rather look like in your mature years?

Ironically, a number of the solutions to sun-damaged skin involve light itself. Known as photofacial or photorejuvenation treatments (“photo” = light), light-based therapies are used today to treat freckles and sun spots, and other consequences of too much sun damage, including wrinkles. Dermatologists use Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) machines to deliver high intensity pulses of broadband light without any damage to surface skin. These treatments use specific (non-damaging) wavelengths of light, and often have little, or no, down time and can produce amazing results.

So the sun, in excess, can damage but in moderate amounts it can also heal. Quite recently, this belief has been reinforced by research that links sun exposure to better outcomes from cancer, and lower risks for cardiovascular disease and other illnesses like diabetes and tuberculosis. Actually, the protective effect is believed to be mediated through Vitamin D, the ‘sunshine vitamin,’ which our bodies generate after sun exposure. We can also get Vitamin D from food, but it is present in only a few things (mostly eggs and fish oils), and a person is more likely to get Vitamin D from the sun than they are from their diet.

Vitamin D serves many roles in the body. It is essential for absorbing calcium from the gastrointestinal tract and determines bone growth and strength. Also, many of the body’s cellular processes that control immune function, nerve and muscle interaction and inflammation need vitamin D. In the past century, Vitamin D deficiency was fairly common, and gave rise to a condition known as rickets. Children with rickets have weak bones and a pronounced bow-legged gait. In the United States, the prevention of rickets was a major factor for fortifying milk with Vitamin D. It is uncommon to see rickets today. Now it is making a resurgence in countries like the United Kingdom, where in 2007, health data revealed that up to one in 100 children born to families from ethnic minorities suffer from this condition. Medical experts in the UK believe that this Vitamin-D associated problem has been further exacerbated in ethnic communities by women wearing hijabs or burkhas that cover all of their bodies and block out virtually every beam of vitamin-stimulating sunshine.

So just how much sunlight is safe for us? And which is the greater risk: skin cancer or diseases triggered by vitamin D deficiency? Photoaging or weak bones? As with most things in life, the key lies in moderation and balance. Drink your Vitamin-D fortified (non-fat!) milk, take your calcium and vitamin D supplements, and continue using your sun-block but don’t hide completely, vampire-like, from the sun. After all, no amount of fashion and stylish shoes can compensate for bowed legs!

Blood red musings on Valentine's

2011-02-11T21:09:00.003+10:00

[As published in the February 2011 edition of Sense and Style]

How do I stay so healthy and boyishly handsome?

I drink the blood of young runaways.

William Shatner, actor

February – the month we celebrate Valentine’s Day and the color red…the color of blood. In 1897, Irish-born author Bram Stoker published his novel Dracula, and our fascination with vampires, blood and eternal youth began. Today, we have Twilight, Vampire Diaries and True Blood, showcasing our ongoing absorption with the bloody, the erotic and the perpetually young. Even fashion refuses to be spared, as demonstrated by Fall 2010’s Georges Chakra fashion show, where MAC makeup artist Gregory Arlt kept models very pale except for their lips which sported the MAC Diva lipstick in a color he describes as “….the color of dried blood. I call it glampire beauty.” In Asia, the 2010 graduation gala at the prestigious Raffles Design Institute of Shanghai featured vampire-inspired fashion by designer Zhou Yifan.

The essence of life, blood nourishes every cell in our bodies, bringing oxygen and nutrients while carrying away waste products. A typical adult has about 5 liters of blood; this makes up 7 to 8 percent of a person’s body weight. Blood has two components: plasma, the liquid portion, and cells. Blood cells float in the plasma, which also contains nutrients like vitamins and electrolytes, hormones, and proteins like antibodies to fight infections. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets make up the cellular portion of blood. Red blood cells are primarily responsible for bringing oxygen to our tissues. White blood cells help fight infection, while platelets protect us from excessive bleeding. Smoking seriously impairs our bodies’ ability to extract oxygen from red blood cells, weakens white blood cells’ ability to resist germs and makes platelets behave abnormally. Thus, being tobacco-free is critical to having healthy blood.

But is blood the secret to eternal youth? Vampires have notoriously long lives, provided they maintain a healthy diet of regular blood-sucking. (Of course, they also avoid the sun assiduously; no doubt, this helps them stay wrinkle-free.) In our real world, scientists and medical practitioners are looking to blood to find the answers in the fight against aging.

Stem cell therapy is a controversial but fascinating application of using blood (or a specific component in the blood, known as a stem cell) to reverse the damage from a diverse set of medical conditions, including cancer, degenerative diseases like arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, diabetes, and heart disease. Stem cells are very primitive cells found in blood that can self-renew and give rise to more differentiated types of cells that carry out a specific function, such as in the skin, muscle or blood. A stem cell therapy is a treatment that uses stem cells, or cells derived from stem cells, to replace or repair a patient’s cells or tissues that are damaged. The most established stem cell therapy is a bone marrow transplant. A patient’s diseased bone marrow is killed off with radiation and/or drugs, and replaced with healthy marrow from a compatible donor. Other stem cell therapies are actively being researched. In one method, stem cells are harvested from a patient’s own blood, processed in a laboratory, then re-injected or re-transfused into the patient.

Stem cell therapies are growing in popularity because of the promise of self-regeneration. However, at present, the range of diseases for which stem cell treatments are proven to work is extremely small. Some blood cancers and blood disorders and the loss of normal bone marrow function can, in some instances, be treated effectively with blood stem cell transplants. Other stem cell therapies are still experimental – that is, the scientific evidence for their effectiveness has not yet been conclusively established. In the US, stem cell treatments are NOT approved for conditions other than blood cancers and loss of marrow function. In fact, just a few months ago, the US Food and Drug Administration shut down a clinic that was using stem cell therapy for joint problems. However, the lack of scientific evidence has not deterred centers in other countries like China, Mexico, some European nations, South Korea and even the Philippines, from offering stem cell therapy. Eventually, with sufficient data and experience, the value of stem cell therapies may very likely be recognized by the medical and scientific community. However until then, “caveat emptor” – let the buyer beware. (Also keep in mind that these therapies tend to be very, very expensive.)

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) recommends that individuals considering stem cell therapy for any condition should ask the medical provider for evidence that:

· Preclinical studies have been published, reviewed and repeated by other reputable experts in the field.

· The providers have approval from an independent committee such as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethic Review Board (ERB) to make sure the risks are as low as possible and are worthy of any potential benefits, and that a patient’s rights are protected.

· The providers have approval from a national or regional regulatory agency, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the safe conduct of clinical trials or medical use of a product for this disease.

(Source: ISSCR website at www.isscr.org)

“Vampire therapy” is another trend arising from the concept of blood as a source of healing. This modality involves removing a small amount of blood from a person, subjecting it to ultraviolet (UV) light, then returning it to that person’s blood stream. Also called UVB Photo-biological Stimulation therapy, the idea is to “cleanse and re-energize” the blood with UV light. Its proponents claim this strengthens the immune system and improves skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and allergies. This unusual treatment is available in Germany and Russia, and just recently arrived in the United Kingdom. However, it, too, is not yet backed up by solid scientific evidence for efficacy and safety. And it is also expensive, costing anywhere from £150-200 (approximately P10,000-14,000) per session, with repeat sessions required indefinitely.

I did encounter one FDA-approved blood-based therapy for looking younger. The “Vampire facelift” or “Dracula therapy” involves having your face injected with your own blood to smoothen out wrinkles and deep nasolabial folds (those bothersome vertical lines running from your nose to your lips). The idea behind it is to harness the ability of platelets in the blood to stimulate cell proliferation in those areas of the face where wrinkling, loss of elasticity and/or scarring have occurred. In this procedure, blood is taken from a patient and put in a centrifuge to separate out the red blood cells. The remaining serum is rich in platelets that release growth factors. When the serum is re-injected into the patient’s face, the growth factors stimulate healing and new collagen production, smoothing out wrinkles, scars and nasolabial folds from within, and voila!---it’s like having a natural facelift without surgery, synthetic fillers, Botox , lasers or chemicals. Because it uses a person’s own blood, the risk for allergic reactions is almost non-existent, and its makers claim that no allergic reactions have been reported. The system for extracting and processing the blood is known as Selphyl® in the United States, and unlike the previous therapies, it is FDA approved for clinical use. In most cases, one treatment costs about $1000-2000 (P44,000-88,000), and one treatment can last for 15-20 months.

So, when I reach the twilight of my youth, and I need to eclipse wrinkles, what would I choose? With its FDA approval and solid scientific evidence to back up its effectiveness and safety, I would go for the Vampire facelift. In the meantime, this Valentine’s day, I’ll put on my blood-red Balenciaga sandals, a fashionably flirty dress and go dancing with the man who, after all these years, still makes my blood sing. After all, at the end of the day, what keeps us eternally young is true love.

A healthy, tobacco-free and happy Valentine’s day to all of you!

Sex and Shoes

2010-12-10T10:01:00.003+10:00

Pain and shoes....what a pair! From the museumofsex in New York City....

Wicked shoes

2009-08-27T11:44:00.002+10:00

Found these at Vic Barba's luscious shop in Greenbelt 5, Manila, Philippines.

Dorothy's Red Shoes: Yes, Toto, you can always go home to Kansas...

2009-07-09T19:02:00.004+10:00

Re-connecting: the past 2 weeks have been a swirl of events that had us reconnecting with family and friends---our pre-med friends from Psych Soc, Joel's med school classmates from UERMMMC '85, Upsilon friends, A11 art circle friends, WHO friends, Andy's high school classmates, etc., etc., etc.

Some of these friends we hadn't seen in over 25 years, yet the connection ( or reconnection) was immediate. Old memories revived, old jokes resurrected...each one better and brighter for the re-telling. Truly, some friendships stand the test of time and distance.

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and Toto found their way home through the magic of the Red Shoes. I guess in our case, the pair of Red Shoes was Facebook---that amazing social networking site that magically linked up friends from long ago, and re-ignited friendships lain dormant with the years. Out of nowhere, we're touring Medical City with Bambi, Ruben, Chito S and Paul M; paying a visit to (Mother) Linda, Susy PM and Wang Xiangdong at WHO; hobnobbing with Liza, Teng, Adette, Marivi, Neal, Ariel,and Janette at Podium while Macky and JJ and Joel are reminiscing about frat days; having merienda with Ferdie, Bing, Stella and Joel S; bumping into Gyp at Joji's atelier where Tito Tom, Eric, Pidge, Albert, Bingo and company are all assembled; running into Mike Sarabia at Serendra; celebrating Dondie's birthday with UERM Classmates Ella, Niel, Bambi, Norlyn, Bobby, Debbie, Ethel (and getting a whiff of all the scandal and gossip in Manila to boot!); reuniting with dear friends and frat buddies Doddy,Louie and Cesar M from San Francisco...how cool is that?

Friendship and Facebook---an unbeatable combination! With these Red Shoes, yes, you definitely can "go home" once again. To our friends and family who have made the past 2 weeks so much fun: MARAMING SALAMAT!!!

Old shoes are the best: Friendship and shoes

2009-07-05T13:38:00.004+10:00

Yesterday, after a hiatus of almost 27 years, Joel and I met up with friends from our college days. More specifically, we met up with our Psych Soc friends from our pre-med days at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Psych Soc was pivotal to us as a couple. We met in Psych Soc, had our courtship within the Psych Libe, shared our first kiss at the Psych nook.....with all of our Psych Soc friends cheering us on (well, not during the kiss...).

What an amazing thing friendship is. Not having seen many of these friends in over a quarter-century, we approached the reunion wondering how it would turn out. Needless worry---as soon as we got to the meeting place, it was as if the years dissolved and we were all energetic adolescents once again, chatting away furiously and laughing up a storm. How comfortable, and comforting.

And immediately, an insight into friendship and shoes popped up in my mind---the best shoes are your old shoes, the ones that have known your feet from way back. You slip into them, and immediately it's like coming home---no twinges, no tight corners, no awkwardness. Just a feeling of rightness and comfort.

So here's to old friends and comfort; may your shoes always feel this good!

If the Shoe Fits: Love and Shoes (Trinette, this one's for you!)

2009-06-26T17:38:00.004+10:00

En route to a shoe shopping expedition in a posh Atlanta suburb, my young Singaporean friend and colleague asked, "Is it possible to love one person for the whole of your life?" Later that afternoon, while perusing the racks of shoes at Nordstrom's and Stuart Weitzmann's, I was struck by the parallels between a good shoe and a good partner.

As a lifelong purveyor of fine shoes, I know the initial lure of good looks---those sexy mules, that gorgeous pair of ballet flats, the glorious pumps...tres chic! But as a shoe shopping veteran, I also know that regardless of looks, if the shoe doesn't fit well....eventually, we let it go... The ones we hold on to are the ones that fit, the ones that feel good. And if they look as good as they feel, we hang on to them forever.

I have been in a relationship with the same person for 29 years (minus 3 weeks and one half-day of stupidity---3 weeks of his, one half-day of mine.) Yesterday (June 25!), we celebrated 22 years of marriage. Plus 3 kids, 1 dog, 14 household moves and a whole room-full of shoes (his and mine, ok?). It's been great, though not always easy, but it gets better each year. Passion and parenthood, partnership and camaraderie, comfort and adventure...the 29 years have been that, and more. It's a constantly evolving thing...

Last night, cocooned within the warm waters of an outdoor jacuzzi, sipping a crisp chardonnay while watching a sliver of moon traverse the tropical night, I realized yet again how lucky I am to have found my "perfect fit." And I look forward to the next 29 years, and beyond....

Yes, Trinette, it is possible to love only one person for the whole of your life. Just find the one who fits you.

Dr. Maria Paz Annette M. David - WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia

2009-05-30T11:08:00.001+10:00

Dr. Maria Paz Annette M. David - WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia

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Can you fill your mother's shoes?

2009-05-13T09:38:00.011+10:00

Who are the significant women in your life? Who are the women you look up to? Queen Victoria or Imelda? Therese of Avila or Cher? Gloria Steinem or Coco Chanel? Regardless, inevitably, indubitably, we all go back to that one woman...the source...Mother.

This year, Mother's Day was a day of reflection. When I was younger, I never thought of my own mother as a particularly noteworthy person. After all, she chose to be a housewife after marriage. No career, no profession, no singularly spectacular achievement. She was always there, of course, but more as a background figure. And boy, was she strict! And she sure could get mad, control you with guilt and make your life miserable ...But she sure had some memorable shoes in her closet....

Today, as someone who has endured and survived 22 years of marriage and raising teenagers, my perspective has changed radically. I now recognize my mother for what she was, and still is---a woman of immense personal strength, patience and selflessness. No, she wasn't perfect, but she was faithful, and she stood by my dad (not an easy task) and 4 children through the tumultuous shifts and milestones of our collective life. She kept us together as a family despite all the difficulties we encountered. Prayer and patience were her weapons, and love. Even sometimes (oftentimes) at the expense of her own wants and needs.

I look at my mom, and I hope that I am at least half the mother that she was and still is. You are my hero, Mom! (And you still have great taste in shoes....)

Shoes and Fitness in the Urban Jungle

2009-04-20T17:45:00.013+10:00

10,000 a day. That's the magic number. Take 10,000 steps a day and you've met the minimum activity requirement for health. Sounds simple, right?

The shoe industry, of course, has cashed in on the fitness craze. Running shoes. Walking shoes. There are enough varieties out there to match each of the 10,000 steps you need a day. Myself, I've tried to acquire a pair of the Yohji Yamamoto Y3 Adidas walking shoes, repeatedly, without success, despite trying 10,000 times.

But are trendy shoes and will power enough to guarantee fitness in the urban jungle? Not according to Freudenberg, Galea (no relation to my good friend, colleague and blog reviewer, Gauden) and Vlahov. In their book, Cities and the Health of the Public, they theorize that in urban areas, it's living conditions---the environment---that are "the most important determinant of population health."

Two weeks ago, I realized they were right. You see, three weeks ago in Manila, my 77-year-old father-in-law had a stroke, but my physician-husband could get to him only after a week (all flights our of Guam were fully booked for the Lenten holidays). By the time Joel reached Manila, his dad was well on his way to recovering, and had resumed his daily 5am walk at the Marikina Sports Center. Marikina, the "City of Shoes" is an amazing tale of urban renewal. Once an urban blight, under the political leadership of the Fernando couple and proper urban planning, Marikina has re-created itself into a city where walking is fun, easy and safe. The Sports Center was completely renovated and now boasts numerous sports facilities available to the public, including a huge track for walking. On Good Friday, when the Sports Center was closed, my father-in-law and Joel opted to use the Marikina River Park, now lushly landscaped, with well-maintained walking trails. Where a 77-year-old man recovering from a stroke can walk. Safely away from vehicular traffic.

Two weeks ago, on Guam, a healthy 32-year old was walking along Route 16. He had probably taken at least 7000 steps that day, but no more, because as he was walking, a drunk driver mowed him down and fled the scene. Unlike Marikina, there are no walking paths on Guam, and many roads don't have sidewalks. In the rush towards "development," the island's government forgot about sensible urban planning. On this island, taking 10,000 steps a day is no guarantee of fitness.

Two weeks, two urban areas, two men, two outcomes. Two thumbs up for fitness buffs with fashion sense in the urban jungle, but only if our local governments have the sense to build safe environments where 10,000 steps a day is not an invitation to death.

(The photo of Marikina's River Park is taken from the website Http://www.marikina.gov.ph.)

Shoes, Sublimation and Sexuality

2009-04-11T20:01:00.016+10:00

It was lust at first sight. Prada's Naplak Sfumato, size 37.5---deliciously wicked, in glistening black patent leather, sharply pointed toes, slim heels---conjuring up visions of domination and danger. I had to have them, so I got them, promptly packed them in my bag, and hopped on a plane with Joel for our annual holiday escape, sans children and sans inhibitions. It was magnificent....

There was a time when my shoes and my sexuality were sharply divided. Or rather, my sexuality was sublimated into my shoes. I was younger then, with a Superego that overwhelmed my Id (strangely, my Superego often had my nanny's disapproving face, and my grandmother's stern voice...). Growing up in a traditional (read: conservative) Filipino Catholic home, I was taught that sex was sin, at least until after marriage, and after marriage, sex was duty. And that good girls never, ever had anything to do with sex. So I repressed my sexuality, and channeled it into shoes. With nearly disastrous results.

There was this young man, you see, who meant all the world to me. And while I opened up my heart and my mind and my soul to him, when it came to the physical aspect of a relationship, foolish virgin that I was, I held back. Instead of exploring my sexuality with him, I bought wicked shoes...hoping that the spindly stilettos would convey what the rest of me could not. Or would not.

But there were other girls who were not as restrained. There was one, in particular. (I think of her, still, as the Wicked Bitch of the West). She knew how to conjure up that potent mix of flattery and alcohol and lust, and she used it on my young man. And so, for a while, I lost him. I had my 4-inch stilettos, but I lost the man.

The moral of the story, of course, is that while shoes may mean many things, they should NOT be a substitute for living. Life and coming to terms with one's sexual side (or any other side) are not meant to happen vicariously though our feet, subliminally through our shoes, but instead, experienced actively and courageously and with joy. Let us have shoes, but let us live life, as well.

(I'd love to hear what you think...leave a comment or email me.)

Shoes can change the world!

2009-04-03T10:18:00.009+10:00

Shoes that bind, shoes that imprison. The ancient Chinese practice of foot-binding was so prevalent that in the 19th century, 40 percent to 50 percent of Chinese women had bound feet. For the upper classes, the figure was almost 100 percent. (William Rossi, The Sex Life of the Foot and Shoe). Qing dynasty pornographic books list 48 different ways of erotically playing with women's bound feet. Breaking the toes and binding them underneath the sole was sexy? Ugh! In my view, eroticism be damned; foot-binding was about the subjugation of women. With tragic results, both for the individual and for society.

Amartya Sen, the Nobel winning economist, argues that educating women is the key to socio-economic well-being. In his book Development as Freedom, Sen argues that many impoverished societies have dismal maternal and child health indicators. When women in these societies are educated, these indicators improve, and concurrently (voila!), the level of development rises.

But what do shoes have to do with this? I recall a story about a boy whose family was poor, but they valued education. This kid, his biggest dream was to own his own pair of shoes. His parents could only afford to provide him with a pair of the lowly 'bakya'---wooden clogs, roughly made, and cheap. Still, because he had his 'bakya', he was able to walk the ~2miles to the nearest school. Eventually, the boy completed his primary education, and went on to become a Brigadier General in the Philippine Air Force, with 3 Masters' degrees. He was my dad. And his footwear, lowly though they were, enabled him to get to school, and from there, on to a decent life.

If shoes can bind, they can also liberate. If they can subjugate, they can also empower. Give women the chance for a good education, but also, give them the shoes so they can get to where the education is provided. If educating women is development, and development is freedom, then shoes can save the world!

(The photo of the "lotus shoe" used in Chinese foot binding came from http://www.heyokamagazine.com/chinese_foot_binding12.jpg)

Visit http://www.samaritansfeet.org/ to see what a single pair of shoes can do to change a child's life somewhere in the world.

Revolution and Shoes

2009-03-28T23:59:00.003+10:00

Defiance was in the air. Oppression was out; revolution was in. Philippine-style. The year was 1986. And 20 years of Ferdinand Marcos' authoritarian rule was over. With minimal bloodshed, courtesy of the 1st People Power Revolution---the "revolution that surprised the world," and a defining moment for the country.

I remember those days clearly. We were med students, at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. In the days leading up to the People Power Revolution, we cut class to join endless rallies, manned first aid booths at mass protests, and gave up drinking Coke and San Miguel beer in sympathy with the boycott of all companies owned by Marcos cronies. Those were heady days. We felt we were making a stand, making a difference. Not in the hospital, but on the political stage. And doctors (and, by association, med students) were supposedly apolitical....we proved them wrong that time.

On the night that the Marcoses finally conceded defeat (fleeing to Clark Air Base, and from there to Hawaii via Guam), the people stormed into Malacanang Palace. Where, for the first time (gasp!), the public saw Imelda's 1000 pairs of shoes (give or take a few dozen pairs). In a country where majority of the population was barefoot, this was disparity in your face. And a fitting reminder of why the revolution had to happen.

Shoes and democracy; revolution and shoes. Today, the younger generation of Filipinos are too young to remember the revolution of 1986, but they know of Imelda's shoes (and to be fair, she had good taste in footwear). It is rather startling...something so cataclysmic as a revolution forgotten, but not the memory of the shoes....

(The photo of Imelda and a small sample of her shoes was taken from http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/10/16/imelda.court/. Her shoes are on display today at the Marikina Shoe Museum.)