Edge Davao 5 Issue 82 -Indulge

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VOL.5 ISSUE 82 • JUNE 27, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

Adventures on a Japanese bike

During my quick romp around Siem Reap, Cambodia with Cepu Pacific, I was lucky enough to be given some free time to do whatever I want to do around town. With the hot afternoon sun and the humid Siem Reap climate relegating most in our group to the salt water pool of the Sohka Angkor Resort, I gladly chose to go on an excursion using the local means of transport, the bike.

Many were skeptical and even found it funny that a whale can actually ride a bike, but hey, what can be more Cambodian than a ride on reconditioned Japanese bikes (complete with basket up front) through the streets of Siem Reap with the city’s Old Market as the turning point.

I was glad that Cebu Pacific’s Michelle de Guzman accompanied me on my crazy ride (else who would I ask to help me take my photos right?).

From the Sohka Angkor Resort, Michelle and I were able to rent bikes just across the hotel for two dollars each just for the afternoon.

In just a couple of minutes, we arrived at the Royal Gardens with its beautiful formal gardens. We then

forged ahead past the Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor and onto Charles De Gaulle Avenue.

We then decided to take the tree-lined biking lane just beside the Siem Reap River to cool off before heading straight to Pokambour Avenue.

It is nice to cycle along Pokambour thanks to the trees lining the thoroughfare plus the many park benches that dot the area provide a welcome respite on a sunny day. Michelle and I decided to drop by the Foreign Corespondents Centre Angkor for something to drink before quickly pedaling a bit more arrive at the Old Market along Street 11.

The Old Market of Siem Reap is just buzzing with activity and is a heaven for

every pinoy byahero, with many things for sale, from silk, and jewelry, to food, and even hi-brand overruns. With time against us, we had to grudgingly pedal up along Sivatha Road, past Pub Street and back towards our hotel (with a cool drink break before ending our adventure of course.)

The bike ride was an exhilarating adventure, although I do have to admit that it would have been better to bike around town at 4:30 in the afternoon rather than at 3 to avoid becoming a sweaty mess.

Every travel is an adventure and oftentimes, the simplest of activities can

turn out to be the most exciting and memorable ones.

Who would have known a simple bike ride beside the Siem Reap River can reveal so much about this charming city.

Follow me on twitter for more foodie finds, random thoughts, travel adventures, and misadventures.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.5 ISSUE 82 • JUNE 27, 2012

WOMEN ENTERTAINMENT

Dressing up baby fashionistas I

first met Gleizl Ann “Donya” Versola-To when we were classmates back in grade school. We were not close, but everyone in our batch knew her because of her fabulous birthday parties, for which everyone, even those from other classrooms, were regularly invited. Despite everyone’s grandiose impression of her childhood, she was never the bratty nor the braggy type.

She just had a doting mom who, just like any mother, wanted the best for her daughter.

Fast forward to almost 2 decades, Donya is now a mother of two adorable little kids. Growing up without siblings (thus, the petname Donya), she

showered her son, Henri, and daughter, Sophie, with all the love and care that’s probably twice the amount her own mother gave her.

It’s just a misfortune that Donya’s mother never got to see her grandchildren grow. Nevertheless, Donya stepped into the role of motherhood with her late mom as her benchmark, never thinking twice when it comes to guiding her kids to discover their purpose in life.

Of course, a boyfriend and girlfriend are out of the

question. Donya confesses that she is very protective of her kids, and she refuses to contemplate thoughts of them getting into the love zone when they reach their teens. This is quite normal for any parent, I guess.

“I engage them in activities that can enhance their talent, and things that will help them discover their inner self. I allow them to enjoy whatever privileges we have and, at the same time, I make it a point that they share their blessings.

I am a full time mommy and I specifically enjoy the times when my kids involve me in their hobbies and interests.”

Fashion plays a big part in Donya and Sophies’s mother-daughter bonding.

“If you are a proud parent of a baby girl, you’ll realize that there is nothing more fun than dressing her up!

Kids are lucky nowadays

because they have more choices in clothing than we had when we were young.

I gave Sophie the freedom to discover her personal style, and to learn how to mix and match pieces all by herself. I just make sure that the fabrics are comfortable on her, given the activities she has everyday.

After all, fashion is also about comfort.”

Their mutual love for fashion led them to discover Baby Fashionistas, a clothing brand which originated in cyberspace.

“The brand was created

by Primrose Co-Chua. It was originally an online showroom for made to order pieces, which little girls can wear on special occasions. You see, Prim is also a stage mom. Her personal desire to dress up her child in unique and trendy clothes inspired her to translate it into a brand,

which, I can say, does not carry the typical designs found in other local retail shops.”

“I usually order pieces from Prim for Sophie’s birthday parties. My daughter and I fell in love with the custom made dress that Prim designed Sophie’s birthday. We became her loyal clients as the brand grew over the years.

Eventually, what started as a client-seller relationship turned into a business venture, when Prim granted my proposal to bring Baby Fashionistas to Davao.”

“More and more mothers get hooked to versatility in children’s clothing.

My girl friends would buy their kid some dresses from Baby Fashionistas, whenever they are in Manila. So, I thought, maybe I should take the initiative to bring the brand to Davao for all mothers and daughters to enjoy.”

Donya leased a space within the Robinson’s department store in AbreezaAyala Mall. “I share ownership with my sister in law.

I’m lucky that my daughter is more than willing to model the clothes for us.

In a way, she is involved in this business, too. As my daughter would plug it, ‘Baby Fashionistas has the chic-est clothes ever!’”

“We also have shoes and accessories under our brand. I can proudly say our shoes are stylish and of great quality. Where else can you find lace covered platforms for little girls?”

“I made sure the dresses we got in stock are those that are easily wearable by

little girls. Yes, the cuts are not the usual ones we see on kids, but the dresses are still comfortable. The designs still suit their age.

Our clothing line is a mix of classy and chic, with colors ranging from sweet pastels to bold colors.”

“We have dresses for all occasions. For your little girl’s recognition day, I’d recommend you get her the tulle dress and pair it with our strappy sandals.

For her birthday party, I’d say go for the dress with a bit of lace appliqué and a pair peep toe platform shoes to make her stand out. If you’re going to a park or mall, she’ll enjoy running around in our jumpsuit and sandals.”

Visit Baby Fashionistas at the 3rd level of Robinsons Department Store in Abreeza. For inquiries on custom made clothes for boys and girls, please call or text Donya at 0928 799 9951. You may also check their Facebook page, or order online via http://www. babyfashionistas.multiply. com.

VOL.5 ISSUE 82 • JUNE 27, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

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ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

John Travolta’s woes continue

John Travolta is facing another lawsuit.

Fabian Zanzi, the former Royal Caribbean employee who threw his own hat into the accusation arena when two masseurs accused the actor of sexual misconduct during respective appointments, has now filed his own lawsuit against Travolta, claiming inappropriate behavior during a cruise back in 2009.

“This is another ludicrous lawsuit with inane claims,” Travolta’s attorney, Marty Singer, said in a statement to E! News. “It is obvious that Mr. Zanzi and his lawyers are looking for their 15 minutes of fame.”

The graphically worded, 16-page lawsuit alleges that Travolta approached Zanzi on the afternoon of June 9, 2009.

The plaintiff states that he was appointed the Grease s t a r ’s personal suite a t tendant during his

cruise and, while delivering room service, Travolta complained of discomfort in his neck.

When Zanzi reached for the neck of the robe, Travolta instead removed the robe and “proceeded to forcefully embrace” Zanzi while naked, the lawsuit continues. Zanzi claims that he “pleaded” with Travolta to let him go, but that the actor didn’t do so immediately, engaging in contact that was “nonconsensual, inappropriate, extreme and outrageous.

The lawsuit also charges that Travolta offered Zanzi $12,000 to keep quiet about the incident, after which Zanzi immediately reported the incident to “at least three” superiors.

(The suit does not explicitly state whether Zanzi ac-

cepted or refused Travolta’s money.)

Zanzi’s lawsuit claims the ship’s human resources manager, Lorena Alvarez, instructed him to fill out paperwork regarding what happened, but said that if he was “not bleeding or bruised,” he was not eligible to seek treatment “or any other type of attention.” He also noted that he requested to fill out the paperwork in his native language, Spanish, but that Alvarez said he must do it in English.

Afterward, Zanzi claims, he was forced to stay in a room for five days until Travolta left the ship, then was placed on indefinite “sick leave” following the cruise. The suit states that Zanzi pursued his complaint with Royal Caribbean through 2011, but was continuously told to check back at a later time.

He is asking for unspecified damages for claims of assault and battery and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Travolta’s attorney, meanwhile, says he is prepared to fight Zanzi’s lawsuit and win.

“The lawsuit’s ridiculous claims are completely contradicted by what Mr. Zanzi told his employer back in 2009 when he was being disciplined for his own violations of company policy,” Singer’s statement to E! News continued.

“In his handwritten report three years ago, the only physical contact he claimed

occurred was allegedly touching my client’s neck.

The inappropriate conduct he alleges in his lawsuit is absent from his written report he submitted at the time. That glaring omission speaks volumes.

“Also calling his credibility into question is his dubious allegation that his employer supposedly restrained him in a room on the cruise ship for five days, yet after that supposedly occurred, Mr. Zanzi continued to work for Royal Caribbean for years, on multiple ships.

Now, after waiting three years...Mr. Zanzi has filed this absurd lawsuit.

“We are confident that my client will prevail on the merits and that he will be completely vindicated

Lindsay Lohan’s 911 call released

Listen, if we’d worked 85 hours in four days, we would’ve overslept, too.

Earlier this month, paramedics were called to Lindsay Lohan’s hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey, Calif., when the actress was believed to be unconscious inside. Fortunately, Lindsay was fine, just exhausted and dehydrated from Liz & Dick’s grueling shooting schedule.

E! News obtained the 911 call made by “Ben,” a nurse working with the production. Calmly but concernedly, he asked for paramedics to be sent to the scene right away.

“It’s a code 3,” he said, which is emergency terminology for “life-threat response.” Per privacy laws, however, specific details regarding Lohan’s physical condition were bleeped out before the call was released.

The caller told the operator he and Lohan were in the penthouse of the posh hotel. He added that members

from the film’s crew would meet the paramedics when they got off the elevator.

The actress later quipped on Twitter that when you put in the crazy hours and stay “up all night shooting,” there’s a chance “you might pass out from exhaustion & 7 paramedics MIGHT show up @ your door.”

Not without a sense of humor, she noted, “Hopefully theyre cute. Otherwise it would be a real let down.”

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HEALTH ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 82 • JUNE 27, 2012

On herbal remedies, cancer and kidney failure A toxic component of a plant used in certain types of herbal remedies can cause kidney failure and upper urinary tract cancer, researchers warn. Aristolochic acid is found in Aristolochia herbal remedies, which have been used for centuries and still are used in many countries.

This study of 151

patients with upper ease in the Balkans. The officials need to take nary tract cancer relaturinary tract cancer findings of the studies action to stop kidney ed to aristolochic acid, in Taiwan concluded show that public health damage and upper uri- Grollman said. that aristolochic acid is a primary contributor to the incidence of this cancer in Taiwan, where the incidence is the highest reported anywhere in the world and where Aristolochia herbal remedies are widely used.

The researchers found that 83 percent of the patients had evidence in their kidneys of DNA changes that are related to the plant toxin and associated with the development of cancer.

“We believe our latest research highlights the importance of a longoverlooked disease that affects many individuals in Taiwan, and, by extension, in China and other countries worldwide, where Aristolochia herbal remedies traditionally have been used for medicinal purposes,” Dr. Arthur Grollman, a professor of pharmacological sciences at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, in New York, said in a university news release.

In previous research, Grollman and his colleagues linked the ingestion of Aristolochia clematitis (commonly known as birthwort) to widespread kidney dis-