Last September 26, 2025, I attended the Ngiting 70:20 Chapter 4 Launch at Seda Abreeza Hotel in Davao City. The event, organized by Kenvue Philippines together with the Department of Health, was all about reminding us how important it is to take care of our teeth and gums. The Ngiting 70:20 Program has one simple but powerful goal: for every Filipino to keep at least 20 healthy, functional teeth by the age of 70.

Oral Health Hits Close to Home

I have always valued oral health. In fact, people often tell me how surprised they are that I still have all my teeth at my age. Many say that by now, most people have already lost a few. I take that as a compliment, but I also know it is not just luck. I make it a point to practice good habits. I brush properly, I make time for regular dental checkups, and I have always believed in using fluoride products to keep my teeth strong. For me, it is not about vanity. Oral health gives me the confidence to smile freely and it allows me to enjoy the simple things like eating without discomfort.

Teaching My Kids Good Habits

As a mom, I also carry this responsibility for my children. I want them to grow up with the same strong, healthy teeth and the same confidence. That is why I teach them how to brush correctly, remind them to take their time instead of rushing, and make sure they use fluoride toothpaste. Regular dental checkups are part of our routine too. After this event, I feel even more encouraged to add fluoride mouthwash to their habits at home. It is such a small step, but it can go a long way in protecting their oral health as they grow.

What I Learned at the Event

One thing that stood out to me was when Dr. Manuel V. Valeesteros, Chief of the Oral Health & Nutrition Care Division of DOH, shared some eye-opening facts. Brushing alone only cleans 25 percent of the mouth. On average, Filipinos brush for just 48 seconds instead of the recommended two minutes. Flossing is still rare as well. No wonder oral health problems are so common.

This is where fluoride-based mouthwash comes in. Studies show that adding it to our daily routine can reduce plaque, gingivitis, and bleeding gums up to five times more effectively than brushing and flossing alone. It is now part of the World Health Organization’s 2025 recommendation, which makes me feel even more reassured that this is the right step for my family.

Oral Health is a Shared Mission

What inspired me most was seeing how this advocacy is being supported not only around the world but also here in the Philippines. Kenvue recently presented at the FDI World Dental Congress in Shanghai, proving how important oral health is on a global scale. At the same time, hearing from respected Filipino dentists like Dr. Ella Roxas-Trinidad and Dr. Ralph Salvacion here in Davao made it feel very personal and very relevant to our own community.

My Key Takeaway

The event was not just about statistics or lectures. It was about realizing how much oral health truly affects our lives. For me, it was a reminder that the care I give myself and my children every day will pay off for years to come. It is about more than just keeping teeth. It is about health, confidence, and quality of life.

The Ngiting 70:20 Program is proof that small, consistent habits make a big difference. I feel proud that I have taken care of my own teeth all these years and I want the same for my children. Every time I remind them to brush properly, every dental visit we take, and every effort to build good habits is an investment in their future.

In the end, a smile is not just about looking good in photos. It is about living a healthier and happier life. And for me, it all starts at home, one healthy smile at a time.

Photo from Clea Banal

As a family, we love staycations. There’s something about checking into a hotel, setting down your bags, and knowing you don’t need to think about chores for a while. But over the years, I’ve learned that what really makes or breaks a hotel stay are the little details. And because I’ve had both wonderful and disappointing experiences, I’ve become more mindful of what matters to me.

Before it is confused as entitlement, please remember that you are paying for an experience, you are paying for a service. Just like when you buy shoes or clothes, you pay what fits and suits you. It is not asking to be worshipped but to simply get at least the minimum satisfaction from something you paid for. Sometimes that is just a good night’s sleep or a good breakfast.

The Essentials I Always Look For

I always thought that when I got my passport stamped for the first time, I’d be giddy, excited, maybe a little overwhelmed but mostly, just thrilled to finally go somewhere far. What I didn’t expect was how emotional it would be. Because my first trip abroad wasn’t just about seeing a new place. It was about fulfilling a quiet promise… one my late mother never got to see come true for me.

She always talked about taking me to Hong Kong. She travelled a lot and Hong Kong was one of the first ones she ever visited. For as long as I can remember, my mother talked about taking me to Hong Kong. Not in a flashy, bucket-list kind of way, but with a soft sense of longing. She’d mention the skyline, Disneyland, the food, the night markets, and how alive the city felt. She’d say things like, “One day, you and I are going to go there. Just you and me.” She wanted me to try international travel because in all of hers, she said I was the missing piece. 

Life, as it does, got in the way. Between responsibilities, family, time, and money, “one day” kept getting pushed further and further out. Then came the illness. Then came the loss. And just like that, the trip we always talked about became something that could never happen. At least, not with her.

So when I finally had the chance, it felt different

I didn’t expect the weight in my chest as I packed my bags. I didn’t expect to secretly cry in the airport bathroom as my kids were outside. I definitely didn’t expect to feel her presence so strongly in my unguarded moments.

But she was there.

She was in the way I marveled at the city lights from the Star Ferry.

She was in the bowl of steaming noodles that tasted like comfort. Some I knew she would consider too spicy and some just up her alley.

She was in every moment I stood in awe, whispering, “Ma, we made it.”

It was more than just a trip. It was a form of healing.

Being there without her hurt in a way I didn’t anticipate. But it also felt like a quiet victory. A way of honoring her dream of taking me there by actually living it. I realized I wasn’t just going to Hong Kong for her. I was going with her. Carrying her memory through crowded streets, amusement parks, and moments of stillness. Roller coaster rides that would seem to go slower as I closed my eyes and imagined her watching me by the gate, cheering me on because she would be too scared to get on. Carrying her with my kids... Hugging her through them. 

There were tears. There was joy. There was laughter at silly things she would’ve said. And there was this overwhelming sense of closeness that surprised me every step of the way. How can it feel like she's right there with me?

Grieving someone doesn’t stop when you board a plane. In fact, sometimes, it shows up more loudly. But so does love. And love will sneak up on you in the form of a breeze, a view, a smell from a food stall that makes you pause and say, “She would’ve loved this.”

In the end, I didn’t go alone.

I went to Hong Kong with a suitcase, my kids, and DBS fam, and a heart full of memories. I touched a place she dreamed of taking me to, and in doing so, I touched part of her longing that still lives in me. This trip was more than sightseeing. It was ticking off a plan from our bucket list, a tribute, a prayer answered in its own unexpected way.

We didn’t make it there together. But her simple dream of taking me there did. And so did my kids.

And that’s the most beautiful part-- dreams don’t die with people.

Sometimes, they just wait for us to carry them home.

Hi, Glamazons! Before we start, here are just some of the stuff I've picked up from heaven knows how many hours on hairtok. The rule is to always start with damp hair. The sweet spot is when your hair is about 70 to 80 percent dry, with roots already dry and the lengths and ends still slightly damp. This is the science part. The hydrogen bonds in your hair need to be broken with heat so they are flexible, then re-locked with the cool shot. If you start with dry hair, it is already set which means your curls will fall before you even take that perfect selfie.

When I first got my Dyson Airwrap, I honestly thought it would be a magic wand that would give me Victoria’s Secret waves in ten minutes flat. But if you have baby fine, straight hair like mine, you know it does not work that way. The first time I tried it, my curls looked gorgeous for about five minutes. Then they melted into soft waves, and by the time I left the house, it looked like I had not curled my hair at all. SOOO tragic.

After a lot of trial and error and many mornings of re-styling when I refused to give up, I finally got the hang of it. And now my Dyson and I are besties. If you want curls that actually last, here is the glam arsenal you need to increase your chances of getting those curls to stay.

1. Heat Protectant

2. Volumizing Mousse (do not hold back)

This step is a game-changer. At first, I was being too careful with mousse and used just a tiny amount. No wonder my curls slipped out. With fine hair, you need to load it up. Now I apply a generous amount to damp hair from roots to ends. It gives my hair the grip and body it needs to hold onto curls. Mousse is the difference between curls that last one hour and curls that last all day.

3. Duck Bill or Alligator Clips

4. Velcro Rollers

5. Hairspray

The final touch that locks everything in place. I used to avoid hairspray because I hated crunchy hair, but fine hair needs it. The key is finding one that is lightweight but still has strong hold. I mist it all over once my curls are down, and sometimes give the roots a spritz too. It keeps everything in place but still touchable. No helmet hair here.

It took a lot of trial and error and a few mornings of pouting over curls that disappeared before brunch, but now I know how to make my Dyson Airwrap work for me. The trick is to think of it as teamwork. Mousse for grip, clips and rollers to set the shape, hairspray to finish, and that cool shot to lock it it in.

So if you have been frustrated with your Airwrap because your fine, straight hair will not hold a curl, do not give up. With the right prep and a little patience, you will finally get curls and waves that last.

Thanks for dropping by, and may the glam be with you always! :)