A story of a Filipina World Champion Defining Fitness Holistically The society today has defined the idea of being fit by six-packed abs, toned body, leaner figure, and balanced muscular structure. Then comes Maria Evans, the game changer, the woman who confidently redefined "fitness" in her own way - being fit not only physically but psychologically as well. The 34-year-old Filipina coming from the city of Victorias in Negros Occidental, ventures the wonders of Fitness and Psychology as a Pro Fitness Model Champion and a Psychologist. Yes, you read it right -a champion in a Pro Fitness Modeling of the prestigious iCompete Natural (ICN), an international federation that promotes natural bodybuilding, modeling, fitness, and bikini events. THE BEGINNING OF PASSION "It started in 2010 when I finished university and landed my first job in clinical psychology. I wanted to be an all-rounded and fit psychologist and I know health is important in order to perform my job well. I was a beginner in the gym and had a personal trainer that helped me in doing exercises without causing any injury," Maria tells the start of her fitness journey in an exclusive written interview with TCI. It was such a beautiful blessing in disguise as the goal of Maria to be a fit psychologist holistically, brought her to the ramping stage, to medals of achievements, and to be a legend in the world of fitness. Year 2017, under the spotlight, in front of the international crowd, Maria won her biggest title in natural bodybuilding as Miss Pro Bikini World Champion in Bali, Indonesia. For her, it was "a surreal moment", she did not expect the award and was contented already gracing the world's stage, but as she wore the medal, she realized that the real award was not given on that stage with spotlights and shutters of cameras, it was waiting down the platform - a medal of love from her husband, who was then her boyfriend, after the event. "The best feeling was coming off stage and getting a hug from my husband, who was there with me the whole journey. A celebration with your loved ones is the best feeling! The trophies are just the icing on the cake," she shares. When asked why she chooses ICN as the platform for her competition, she answers "it's like choosing a university; you would only choose the university that is referred to by someone you trust or look up to. My coach supports natural bodybuilding and as an athlete, I do too." "Moreso, ICN is a drug tested federation, meaning drugs or steroids are prohibited, which I greatly respect," she adds. ICN played a big role as to what she is right now, not only as a champion but as a person as well -it gave her more confidence and discipline in her holistic well-being, discovering things in her inner self that she did not know she had, and changed her perception on determination. Indeed, it was a written fate for her to be a champion in her passion. THE BALANCE BETWEEN PSYCHE AND PHYSIQUE Before creating a legacy in the stage of fitness modeling, Maria first experienced the challenging processes of natural bodybuilding. Healthy and disciplined lifestyle, proper nutrition, workout trainings, and time management became her culture of living. The world champion also reveals that there were times when she wanted to stop her fitness journey. "Our lives do not naturally evolve around looking good, having a 6 pack, and always training and eating healthy...there will be times where I just want a break," she admits. With all the intense workouts in preparing for her competitions, her fitness program includes "a break", where her body can restart, because she perceives fitness as "a journey and all journeys have bumpy rides", so taking a break is necessary for her. As she continues to take the route of her chosen career, she finds motivation in setting realistic goals, by knowing what she wants, usually by seeing an inspirational show or someone she looks up to, as Maria believes that "you must first be inspired in order to get motivated". When out of the ramping stage and not facing the international crowd for a competition, Maria spends her time advocating about mental fitness and motivation, she also gives psychological talks to people about taking not only the physique but also the mindset in a much healthier condition -these all nourished from her finished degree in Psychology. The psychologist is also a certified bookworm, reading 1-2 books every month, according to her interview with Focus Magazine New Zealand. "You think because you understand 'one', you must also understand 'two'. Because one and one make two. But you must also understand 'and'", this was the quote of the book Maria read entitled "The Fourth Trimester" by K.A. Johnson shared on her Instagram account. The quote reflects her lifestyle, the value of the conjunction "and" was emphasized in her passion, it was not only her figure that was well-toned and healthy but her mindset as well. Her psyche and physique are both trained to be fit. MOTHER: THE GREATEST TITLE SHE WON August 2020. It was not with spotlights, heels, and bikinis, but with a hospital gown and in a private room that she won her greatest recognition -giving birth to her first child and officially becoming a mother. "Being pregnant was an amazing journey, how your body goes through all the changes, how my waist came from 23cm to almost 10 times the size. But it was all worth it, bringing a child out into this world is a huge blessing," she says. Becoming a mother encouraged her to adjust her goals and to adapt to the changes of her responsibilities; it was not easy for her to suddenly alter her 3 to 4 years of training and competing into a completely new routine, training days were exchanged to cuddle days with her baby, and she passionately embraces all of those. "As a competitive female athlete, although I felt at loss with my conditioning, entering a new chapter of motherhood is very exciting, seeing a brand new human being grow every day," she expresses. Becoming a wife and mother did not limit her to continue her career, they just reminded her that she must not forget that she is her own person and that she should continue pursuing her own passion. While being a model to the fitness stage, a wife to her husband, and a mother to her child, what's next for Maria Evans? "My next big project is releasing a psychology course, which covers the basic healthy lifestyles, time management, bodybuilding competitions, social and mental aspects of fitness," she reveals. A tale of profession and passion, in this world where some people perceive fitness only to a physical level, Maria Evans zooms her lens to the depth of fitness - to tone not only the muscles but the mindset as well, to have not only ripped abs, but also balanced mental developments -thinking outside of the box and viewing life holistically. "How'd you do it?," people ask her. And she answers them with these words, "you have to start from doing it...there's no better personal achievement, gratitude, and satisfaction that putting in the work instead of just watching others work and wishing for good luck to come".
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“Now, where to begin?” Let's start by revealing that the question above was asked by a certain character from the recently top trending hit movie on Netflix, “Enola Holmes”, starring Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claflin as Mycroft, “the chameleon”, Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria, and of course, Enola herself, Millie Bobby Brown, who you may know better as Eleven in Stranger Things. Released on September 23, 2020, Enola Holmes is a mystery and adventure film on Netflix directed by Harry Bradbeer, based on the book “The Enola Holmes Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Marquess” by Nancy Springer. A story about the teenage sister of Sherlock and Mycroft named Enola Holmes who is in search to find her missing mother. But who is Enola Holmes, anyway? Is she like Nancy Drew? And why do people so drawn to a historical character presented in contemporary times? You will find out. It all started one morning on Enola’s 16th birthday, instead of blowing the candles and feel joyous, she was left dreaded by the disappearance of her mother, leaving her odd assortments of gifts, clueless why her mother’s gone or where did she go and left into the care of her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, that the latter insisted to send her to an all-girls school that will transform her into a “proper” lady. "Alone" the name Enola if read backwards, has her own other plans in mind, desires more to find her mother who left her with a series of cryptic clues. During her trip to London to find her mother, she crossed paths with the Viscount Lord Tewksbury, Marquees of Basilwether (Louis Partridge) who is also running away from his home and being chased by a mysterious man who is trying to kill him. Louis Partridge is perfect for the role of a young Marquess, with those charming visuals and bright smile, will make the viewers fall in love with the looks.
The musical accompaniment brings excitement and color to the film, reasons why the audiences enjoyed watching the film more until its denouement, the song rendition was great, though it was fast-paced. Putting one's self into the shoes of the character, makes the audiences and film characters connect with each other, amazing delivery of lines, actors undeniable gave justice on their portrayal of the characters. The cinematography was great and they played perfectly with the color scheme, they ration the red, leading up to the moment in the middle of the film when Enola’s red dress shown. This represents her stepping up on the adult world as she took possession of her bold look. Set design and costume, well played! The vintage buildings plus the costumes – especially of the suffragettes, added aesthetic to the film, frame by frame is a picture-perfect scene. Analyzing the characters, the contradicting attitude of Sherlock and Mycroft towards Enola makes the film's message interesting and deep. Sherlock's appreciation to Enola's detective ability symbolizes the support to women's independent capabilities, while Mycroft's controlling Enola's seemingly unkempt demeanor, sticking for the conventional culture of women being prim and proper, is a social representation of the continuous fight for women's liberation and independence from the patriarchal superiority. The missing mother of the Holmes siblings is a metaphor for the missing truths in the society that one is eager to find -for justice and peace of curious minds. And for this film, it was Enola who is the main searcher for the unrevealed truth. Indeed, the film is not only an adaptation of literature, but it is also an art representing the societal realities of the past and even of the present. In an interview with Cosmo PH, Brown said that she and Enola share many similarities, “Enola is very brave, She’s also very honest. Her humor is exact as mine. We have a heart. We care a lot, and she values her family and that’s the same as me, so we share many similarities.” No doubt she successfully gave life to her role as Enola. Trivia, did you know that Millie Bobby Brown is also the producer of Enola Holmes? The movie showed different types of people – a brave woman who is willing to take a risk and find her own journey like Enola, a not so stereotypical man like Tewksbury, who loves flowers and his treehouse, or a protective brother like Sherlock. Overall, “Enola Holmes” is about a young woman who is in search of her mother, realizing that she is also in search of herself -a tale of bravery and self-discovery. Amidst the gap of film's setting to the present, existing in the year 1884, Enola does not fail to represent the youth of today -curious, adventurous, risk-takers, and always in search of the truth behind the clues and mysteries of life that are surrounding them while embracing their sense of youthful independence. Enola Holmes reminded us that being young is not a hindrance to choose your journey. And just like what she said, "you have to find your path". And the future is up to us! With the new normal situation, everybody has been adjusting specifically the students with the online classes. The idea of seeing friends online while wearing those pajamas. The confusion visible in each eye trying to understand the lectures. The urge to force yourself to get that schoolwork done. Everything is new to us. Thus, in this new normal, we have to develop fresh routines in order to adjust and be comfortable. So, here are the tips and routines you can follow to survive online classes in the new normal. 1. Plan your schedule a night beforeBeing planned is tantamount to being prepared. Planning your schedule a night before helps you become organized with the workloads you are about to face. This would lessen your stress and procrastination waiting for the motivation to get things done. The best way to schedule your day is to use time blocking. Time blocking is a method that divides your day into blocks of time. This means you have to schedule what you are going to do each hour. This includes your work, leisure, and rest. Time blocking is really important so that you can give time to all aspects that you need. 2. Sleep earlyWe all agree that sleeping early during quarantine and the stay-at-home season is never easy. When you have been staying at home all day, you lose the concept of time that you tend to mess up your body clock. Yet, in order to survive online classes, you really need to sleep early. This is to ensure that you will have a positive mindset in the morning and you will be able to perform your tasks well. Sleeping early can also boost your immune system which also enables you to improve your mental health. If you are having a hard time sleeping early, try to put away your phone an hour before going to bed. While you’re doing that, you can spend the hour doing yoga or meditation. If it’s too hard, you can try to listen to podcasts and sleep meditation music to lull you to sleep. 3. Wake up earlyThe other reason for sleeping early is for you to wake up early. It is important to wake up early so that you will have more time to do your personal tasks. There are also a lot of benefits of waking up early and it includes reduction of stress level, positive outlook, and productivity. Waking up early also enables us to feel the early sunlight which leads us to the next step. 4. Get that morning sunStaying indoors for too long stopped us to be exposed to the sun’s warm rays. The sunlight is actually necessary because it increases our mood to become calm and focused. The sunlight also helps to build strong bones which enables us to be strong and healthy every day. Have you experienced being weak and restless for the whole day? It is because you didn’t get that morning sun. 5. Stretch and ExerciseWhile getting that morning sun, do stretching and exercise to enable your muscles to move effectively and improve physical and mental health. Doing a 15-20 minute movement before starting your day is really helpful both for your body and mind. It can also help your day’s productivity. 6. Start the day rightBefore doing your school works and activities, take a moment of your time to meditate and list at least 3 things you are grateful for and visions on how you want to spend your day. This is how you start your day right, keeping a positive mindset and hopeful aura will make the day even better. 7. Prepare yourself for classesFor ladies, wear that awesome top. Put on that beautiful lipstick. Use that scented perfume. Be gorgeous. For men, show that cool hairstyle. Use that shirt. For everyone, get dressed up. The struggle with being at home is the comfortability we feel that stops us to get the feeling of being excited in making ourselves look good. Make yourself good. It will help you become more productive and confident with what you’re doing. 8. Time to do your workNow that you have already finished doing your personal thing, it is time to do your work. This is a challenge to most people but this can already be easy because you have already started your day right. Attend your classes on time and do your activities in order to submit on time. This should have already been planned (how many hours you allot for classes and doing your activities) in your time-blocking schedule. 9. RestThe mind gets tired too. In between your work, always give yourself a rest. A rest may be walking your dog, water your plants, go outside, watch a movie or it can also not doing anything at all. It is too important to give yourself a rest in order to protect your eyes from the radiation and also free your mind from thinking too much. Unwind for a bit. Ease yourself. You deserve it! 10. Go back to workAfter the well-deserved short rest and once your mind has been cleared, it’s time to get back to work. May it be finishing that activity or attending class. Discipline is totally needed in order to get things done. Rest for a while then work again. After everything, go back to the first step and be ready to start a new day. Surviving online classes does not only mean getting high grades or submitting activities on time. In order to survive online classes, you have to take care of yourself but of course, it comes with responsibility. With the new normal situation, everything has been new to us. All we do is abide by everything because we think that’s the best thing to do. Little did we know that we neglect ourselves too. You will not produce a quality output if you have a substandard input. The same way goes with online classes, you can not give your best if you don’t give yourself what it deserves best. Though the situation may be hard, we will all gonna make it. Padayon estudyante!
The COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for us to discover a lot of new things to beat boredom while staying at home. These “quaranthings” go from growing plants to even taking care of pets! Pets have become a new addition to the family in this generation and the trend of getting a furry, feathery or scaly buddy became more hyped during this quarantine period. However, it should be noted that acquiring a pet entails responsibilities to ensure your pet grows within a loving household. So here are some things you should consider before adopting a pet, according to Dr. Froilan Juntilla, DVM, Victorias City Veterinarian. First, and most important of all is to make sure you are financially capable to provide your pet’s needs. These include food, shelter, regular check-ups, grooming, vitamins, and medications because like us, our pets could get sick too. If you have a job where you constantly travel or if you are a student who boards away from home, getting a pet is definitely not a good idea. Pets, like humans, can get separation anxiety and may be depressed when their owners are constantly away. Having a pet means you have to dedicate ample time bonding with them. Before getting a pet, especially if it’s something new to you, it would be best to do a little research on their breed/species. Note that different species require different care so it is important to know your pet to ensure appropriate pet care is provided. Pets need a space of their own. Even if you allow your pet to sleep with you on your bed, private space for themselves is essential to help them feel secure, comfortable & more at ease. A comfortable and capacious space can also allow your pet to play. Patience and commitment are two big words associated to caring for a pet. Pets, unlike humans, are most likely to commit mistakes and they don’t have any idea about it. As pet owners, adequate patience is necessary for repetitive mistakes before your pets master certain commands. Commitment to train and giving appropriate exercise for your pets will keep them healthy and will give a closer bond with them. Regular check ups to veterinarian is a test of patience and commitment as well to keep your pet in shape and allow you to track any problems for immediate treatment. If you don’t intend to breed your pets, have them spayed or neutered in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Spaying your female pet prevents urinary infections and neutering your male pets can help prevent prostate problems and cancer. We have to keep in mind that owning a pet not only provides joy and entertainment but teaches owners the value of responsibility, compassion, respect & loyalty. Pets are there in the chapter of our lives but for them, we are there for the rest of their lives. So whatever species your pet buddy may be, let them feel the love and care they deserve. Let's be mindful of the fact and points of being a pet parent for it should not be just wanting to have one, but sharing your time and attention for their well-being.
A Tale of a Negrense Designer Taking Heights on Her International DreamThere are Rajo Laurel, Michael Cinco and Mak Tumang. Then there is Bea Cruz. A preen woman with impeccable sense in fashion. But behind the Cher Horowitz-like appearance (from Clueless) veils a world-class talent from a budding artist you may not know. Hailing from Victorias City, this proudly Negrosanon fashion designer is no stranger to the list of Filipino design luminaries as she entered the international scene, unbarred of pure talent with force silently carving her way to the capitals of fashion. It all started in the Big Apple that unlocked promising breaks for her later on. “I personally love New York City and winning the best team for the Sotheby’s New York and Art Renewal Center exhibit was literally a dream that came to life,” she reveals on TCI in an exclusive written interview. With a global spotlight now glinting, “it’s safe for me to say that I’m part of New York even just for a spec,” she adds. This propelled the 22-year-old Fashion design and merchandising graduate of De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts for greater acquisition. Bea was the youngest and only Filipino designer to be part of the recent Fashion Week San Diego 2020, an annual event that showcases emerging designers around the world in California, USA. Shocked. That was Bea’s first reaction when she found out that her previous works passed the design and quality standards of the prestige event. She began to swiftly feel the weight of Filipino pride more than ever. "[I am] pressured knowing the fact that I'm bringing my motherland with me across the globe,” she says. But the whirlwind of firsts is tempest. The thrill of her international debut was challenged too early as the surging emotions of exuberance and delight appearing along with your masterpieces were short-lived for Bea, due to the travel restrictions caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. But her arduous spirit and brimming skillset hindered not even by the indivisible villain. A feat to behold – Bea’s flair transcended over a historical crisis. It wasn’t a one-man effort. She extended her gratitude for the relentless support of the people from the event, together with two Filipino artists, Kaitlyn Cabrera and Angel Tan. “It was very unsettling, but the organizers served as a great support system for us designers. They were very positive and this made the many obstacles easier to deal with. Those who were there to assist me all throughout this project were blessings that made this possible,” she stated on Daily Tribune. And her works didn’t merely fly the thousand-mile distance just to squeeze in with other designs and remain inconspicuous on the runway – It was woven to spark conversation. A Filipina who triumphs. It was a serving akin to Hussein Chalayan in the spotlight as it mirrored the ingenuity of her 10-piece collection with apparent influence from baro't saya, panuelo and barong – flaunting abroad the cultural beauty of Philippine wear concocted with avant style. Vivirá - a Spanish word which means 'will live'. It is the word that Bea named after her global collection inspired by the silhouettes of traditional Philippine clothing. “The Vivirá collection is about cultural clothing living beyond generations as fashion further evolves," she avers. Her modern take is "living out traditional clothing to the present time, the youth culture". And Vivirá indeed, The critics were ensnared to the blend of culture and contemporary sultry twist. Among all eight creative designers that contended for the prestigious title, it was Bea who prevailed and secured the victory. “Winning as the first-place top designer in FWSD 2020 felt like a dream,” she reminisces. “So surreal”. And suddenly, all eyes were trained to an Ilongga. An artist that struggles. Still and all, the journey is no glitz and glam as what appears in the spotlights. Creative blocks, breakdowns and non-stop revisions – Bea wrestled all of these and it took her “almost a year” to finalize and call it a collection. “Working on the garments with time constraint was very challenging and mailing the garments was a challenge as well and not able to personally handle them during the travel was nerve-racking,” she states. The fact that comes with her being the youngest and the only foreign designer from a developing country rendered Bea in a very usual but unlikeable feeling. According to her, “It was intimidating to know that I’m the only international designer and the youngest joining among eight other creative designers who have been in the industry for years”. But Bea is a woman ahead of her age. “I took it as a motivation to work harder. Being a different race did scare me a bit at first but FWSD is very diverse and welcoming, that it felt more of a family,” she says. A woman named Bea. Just like any other kid, it was an ordinary process for Bea discovering her career in life. “I love playing dress-up and growing up I would make something new out of my old clothes, but it wasn’t until 3rd- year high school that I realized this is the path I wanted to pursue. When I was introduced to the technical side – Pattern drafting, draping and sewing – that is when I fell in love with it even more,” she shares. Her aunts, she adds, used to be dressmakers too, “so I guess it's familial”. Bea is a canvas of her own that also seeks inspiration. Her design aesthetic is still developing in search for a “common ground” but “I’m really into Art Deco and old Hollywood glamour. Grace Kelly is who I look up to. Although my design is a bit revealing, her sophistication is what inspires me the most,” she says. And it all reflects, TCI furthers, as she describes her design as “pieces that have femininity and luxurious flair. Both glamour and simplicity”. Generally, Fashion designing, she adds, is an art. “It is telling stories through clothes”. Aside from needles and textiles, Bea is fond of reading and she shares an inspiring quote from Paulo Coelho, her favorite author: “ever since your goal found out that you’re traveling towards it, it has been running to meet you”. She spares TCI a message for aspiring artists and people who're in pursuit of their dreams. “It’s hard to pursue one’s dreams and aspirations because I, myself, had a rough time and still is. There will be pauses and delays along the way but it’s what we believe in that becomes more”. She adds, “don’t worry too much when sometimes it feels impossible, because it’s not supposed to be right away anyway. Hold on to your silver-lining. Trust your time. It will come”. You can think that there is so much in store now for this young designer, but “the future is very uncertain and hard to tell” if you’d ask her. She replies, “but if something comes up, big or small, I’ll be up for it”. “I definitely have plans I can’t tell just yet,” she says.
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