Leading, training and bringing out the best in people through motivation is my passion. Being a makeup artist, stylist and art directing on shoots are my favorite hobbies and it's also a venue where I could enhance my creativity. Sales, marketing, and events are my specialty. I enjoy learning and believes that in order to improve one's self growth is paramount. I already achieved my Masters Degree in Business Administration and my fulfillment would be to attain a PhD degree and become a successful entrepreneur while touching people's lives one individual at a time.

September 26, 2012

Happy Birthday, Itel!

I wouldn't have made it through MBA without you, as I was going through my albums in facebook, I was smiling as I reminisce because most of the albums - each event that is meaningful to me I was with you. We were classmates and group mates in almost all of my subjects, we shared the struggles of each group presentation, I remember our group name in Metres was Arvin's Angels. Good Times! Thank you for being an amazing friend and I look forward to more years of friendship filled with love, laughter, and great memories. Happy Birthday Itel Gahol. Love you, doll!



Heaven Sent


I don't know what's with my best friend but she seems to know when I am in dire need of her. As I hurdle one of the most difficult physical challenge of my life, she is not beside me physically because we are miles apart from each other however she sends me a random message in facebook that just brought tears to my eyes as I read it.

Her message:
Keiz Caballero
"bes, now lang ako nakacheck ng fb after almost 2 weeks..and then i saw what happened to you..how are you na? i feel bad i couldnt be there for you. ill be there oct 24-27..ill definitely see you by then.. please please take care. love you..mwah"

September 25, 2012

Allergy and Histamines - What they are…What they cause

Re post from Nutri-Living Blog and About.com/Allergy



Histamine is found in plant and animal tissue and is released from mast cells as part of an allergic reaction in humans. Release of histamine stimulates gastric secretion and causes dilation of capillaries, constriction of bronchial smooth muscle, and decreases blood pressure.

Histamines are released from mast cells as an allergic response to abnormal proteins found in the blood. The mast cells are found in connective tissue that contains numerous basophilic granules and releases substances such as heparin and histamine in response to injury or inflammation of body tissues.
Mast Cell
Understanding Mast Cells and Immunity

Immune cells communicate by releasing chemicals messages or mediators. These chemicals carry messages from one cell group to another and invoke the most powerful of whole-body defense responses, which cause many of our symptoms. When you develop bacterial or viral infections, immune mediators produce fever, headache, generalized aching, fatigue, weakness and clouded consciousness.

The general impact of these chemical messages is to amplify a small triggering event into a large inflammatory response. We used to call this the “Philadelphia Effect” after Philadelphia police burned down several city blocks by using a smoke bomb to flush out some alleged terrorists from one apartment. If planet Earth is thought of as an organism, you can make interesting analogies with immune events.

Hypersensitivity attacks are similar. A person may be doing all sorts of terrible things to his/her body over many years until one day, apparently out-of-the-blue; he/she drops dead of anaphylaxis or a heart attack. If a reactive body, or country, makes it through the initial blaze, a chronic inflammatory state may set-in. This is the cell-mediated immune response. We can now compare the smoldering tissue destruction of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus with oil spills, oil-well fires, socio-economic disruption and other environmental devastation, following the Gulf War for example as prolonged and destructive, just as we describe immune activity often as autoimmune disease.

How severe can histamine reactions be?

It has recently been discovered that histamines may play a much larger roll in human disease than once thought. In the past, histamine production was blamed on some very common allergic reactions such as hay fever, bee sting reactions, and anaphylactic shock.

In recent studies, histamine involvement in chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases such as Lupus, Arthritis, Gulf War Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and some skin disorders like Psoriasis and obscure Rashes, has come to light as causes of chronic inflammatory responses to abnormal proteins in the blood of chronically ill patients!

What is an Allergy?

The topic of allergies has become routine in our lives, and certainly most everyone has an idea of what an allergy is. Allergies are so common a subject in fact, it seems acceptable to discuss your allergies at a cocktail party with strangers.


An allergy is an abnormal reaction by a person's immune system against a normally harmless substance. A person without allergies would have no reaction to this substance, but when a person who is allergic encounters the trigger, the body reacts by releasing chemicals which cause allergy symptoms. However, just because there is a cause and effect between exposure to a substance and the development of symptoms does not always mean that a person is allergic to that substance. For example, medications have known and expected side effects; a person experiencing one of these side effects is not necessarily allergic to that medication.

What is Happening During an Allergic Reaction?

During an allergic process, the substance responsible for causing the allergy, or allergen, binds to allergic antibodies present on allergic cells in a person's body, including mast cells and basophils. These cells then release chemicals such as histamine and leukotrienes, resulting in allergic symptoms.

Watch a video demonstrating the allergic response.

How do Allergies Start?

The allergic person can make allergic antibodies, or IgE, against a variety of allergens, including pollens, molds, animal danders, dust mites, foods, venoms and medications. This occurs through a process called sensitization, where a person’s immune system is exposed to enough of the allergen to make the body produce allergic antibodies to that substance.

With later exposures, that same allergen binds to its corresponding IgE on allergic cells, and the body reacts with symptoms of allergies. Allergic symptoms can vary somewhat with the type of allergen and route of exposure (airborne pollen exposure may cause different symptoms than eating a food to which you are allergic).

Learn how to avoid allergic triggers and avoid specific food allergens.

When and Why do People Develop Allergies?

It is unknown why some people develop allergies and some don’t. Allergies seem to run in families, and in some cases family members can share allergies to specific foods or medications. It appears that the allergic response was once meant to protect the body against parasitic infections, although now seems to be an abnormal response to non-infectious triggers.

Allergies can occur at any time during our lives, but are more common to occur during childhood or young adulthood.

Next: Find out what symptoms indicate that you may have allergies.






September 21, 2012

I Can Get By with A Little Help From My Dolls


In life rare do we find genuine friends who truly cares for us. A midst distance you know you can always count on your friends.  

September 20, 2012

Surprise Call

Sabrina my best friend in Graduate School has been with me as I weathered every event in my life and for the past four years, she has constantly been my confidant. I wouldn't be as strong as I am now if it weren't for her. Thank you Sabby for calling tonight to check on me =) 

September 19, 2012

My Little Superman - Kalel Christian Florentino

Kalel Christian is my little bundle of joy. I am blessed and grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for raising an adorable baby.



















There Is Still Such A Thing As Genuine Love


The couple who made me believe in LOVE again

September 17, 2012

Causes of Hives, Urticaria and Angoedema


What Is Urticaria?

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a distressing disorder affecting up to 20 percent of the population at some point in their lives. The swelling that sometimes accompanies urticaria can lead to swelling of the face, hands and feet.

The rash of urticaria is usually bumpy, red and itchy. The bumps can be the size of mosquito bites to coin-size or larger, and can group together into irregular shapes. The rash will tend to come and go within a few hours, moving from one place on the body to another.


Categories of Urticaria:

Cases of urticaria can be acute, lasting less than 6 weeks, or chronic, lasting more than 6 weeks. The length of symptoms can often be a clue as to the cause of the symptoms. For example, the most common cause of acute urticaria in children is viral infections. Other common causes of acute symptoms include allergies (typically foods, medications, contact with animal dander and insect stings and bites), stress, and infections such as the common cold.

The most common cause of acute hives, particularly in children, is a viral infection. This may even be true if a child has not had any obvious recent illness. Acute hives can be related to other infections, such as strep throat, athlete’s foot and urinary tract infections.

Unlike acute urticaria, only about 5 to 10 percent of chronic urticaria are caused by allergies. Chronic cases are much more likely to be related to auto-immune causes than allergies. In the autoimmune form of urticaria, a person makes antibodies against a component of their mast cells, triggering the release of histamine and causing symptoms.


Other forms of chronic urticaria include the physical urticarias, in which the rash is triggered by stimuli such as heat, cold, sunlight, pressure and vibration. It is important to note that many forms of urticaria get worse with heat (such as from hot baths, exercise or wearing too much clothing) and pressure (such as around tight waistbands from clothing).

Lastly, some forms of urticaria are related to other diseases, such as other auto-immune diseases (such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis), certain cancers, chronic infections such as viral hepatitis, and some hereditary forms.



How to Identify the Cause of Urticaria

In acute forms of urticaria a history of the events surrounding the outbreak is the most important information that can be obtained:

• Was there a specific food eaten or medication taken within minutes to hours before the symptoms started?
• Was the person stung or bitten by an insect shortly before the rash began?
• Had the person been ill from an infection, or had more stress in their life recently?

Unless there is information suggesting a specific cause, performing allergy testing is not usually needed for acute urticaria.

In chronic cases, a physician may check various blood and urine tests, and other procedures such as X-rays to look for other causes. If a physical urticaria is suspected, special tests to mimic the physical stimulus may be performed, such as placing an ice cube on the skin to cause a hive to form in people with cold urticaria. It is important to note that in most cases of chronic urticaria and angioedema, a specific cause is never found, and is termed “idiopathic.”

How Urticaria is Treated

The main treatment for urticaria is with antihistamines. These are usually given in oral forms, and may need to be given in large or frequent doses to control the symptoms. Short courses of corticosteroids may be needed, and rarely, if the symptoms are severe, epinephrine shots can be used for immediate, but temporary, relief.

If the cause of the urticaria is known or suspected, such as a food or medication, avoidance of this trigger may resolve the symptoms. In cases of chronic idiopathic urticaria, triggers such as acute infections of any kind (such as the common cold), stress, and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin and ibuprofen, for example), may flare the symptoms.

In most cases of chronic urticaria and angioedema, symptoms last less than a few months to a few years. Some people may experience symptoms for many years, and those who do should be seen by an allergist for an appropriate testing and treatment.

Online Sources:


September 16, 2012

Unexpected Bump


Have you ever been rushed to the hospital emergency room twice in one day, thrice in a week?... I have. Last Saturday, September 15, 2012, I was rushed to Makati Medical Hospital Emergency Room due to allergy attack. I had Urticaria or hives all over my body particularly on my face, neck, ears, scalp, arms and I had difficulty breathing because of throat itchiness.

A week ago, first time I had the attack and first time at the emergency room, Dr. Vince Moderes (a great friend of my cousin Dr. Alex Florentino) was the attending physician who looked after me. He gave me steriods (allergy-block) shots to reduce the flaring-up of hives. Dr. Moderes prescribed three types of pills that I should take to block or control the wheals on my body and was also advised to take a skin-allergy test conducted by an Allergologist to determine what is causing the reaction.

Apparently, a week after being rushed to the ER my condition was not changing at all it seems that the hives just keeps coming back each time the meds wears-off.

Two days ago, (September 15, 2012) the day I was scheduled to take the skin-allergy test I did not take allergy meds the night before and that morning so that the test result will be accurate. Around 7:00 in the morning of Saturday, together with my sister-in-law (Lilac) we went to the Allergologist's clinic at Makati Medical Center to enlist for the skin-test and consultation. When I got to the clinic, Lilac told me that the hives are starting to flare-up again on my face, neck and my left ear is starting to swell.

After enlisting, Lilac advised the doctor's secretary that she has to take me first to the emergency room and have a shot of anti-histamine to stop the swelling. When I got there, I phoned Dr. Vince Moderes (ER Resident of Makati Medical Center) and advised him of my condition. He kindly endorsed me to his batch mate, Dr. Baya Berroya who is so accommodating and pleasant as she attended to me right away.

30 minutes after staying in the emergency room, I informed Dr. Berroya that I had to go back to the Allergologist's clinic. When I arrived at the clinic, my Allergologist - Dr. Maria Patricia G. Santos - Abes was so kind and gentle to me while she gave me a full body check-up after which she conducted the skin-allergy test wherein the result was I am primarily allergic to cats and dust mites. Before leaving her clinic, I was asked to come back on Monday for a follow-up check up so she'll know if the meds she just prescribed me is will stop the allergy because if not, she said I would have to be confined.

To be certain that she has considered all factors that could have contributed to the recurrence of Urticaria, she asked me to take the following tests: CBC, Urinalysis, KOH, and Stool which I took at Makati Medical Center. I didn't have to wait long for my turn because of the effective and efficient queuing of out-patients for lab tests.

On the afternoon  when I arrived home after I got back from Dr. Abes's clinic, the hives manifestation all over my body  got WORST (I forgot that we have a cat at home). Worst because my face was so swollen that I could no longer recognize myself in the mirror.

That night, Lilac my sister-in-law accompanied me again to Makati Medical Center's Emergency Room. As always, the ever-reliant Dr. Vince Moderes accommodatingly endorsed me to his batch mate Dr. Mayvel Abiog. While I was in the consultation room with her and my sister-in-law, Dr. Berroya walked in and said with a smile; "Oh, you again". I smiled back at her and replied. "Oo nga doc eh. Suki na ako ng ER" and we all laughed. Dr. Baya suggested to me that there could be something that is causing the recurrence of hives. After the consultation with Dr. Abiog, she gave me 3 shots of medicine the same shots that was given to me by Dr. Vince Moderes all of which are effective because in less than 30 minutes, hives on my body disappeared.

After having experienced and gone through such difficulty, it made me realize that there are still good, kind-hearted people who will touch your life in a special way. It is indeed true that there angels sent by God to be a blessing to each individual. They are the ones who makes a difference in these world because of their unconditional compassion and kindness. I am deeply humbled by this unexpected event in my life. God has truly remained faithful to me for he touches my life through the lives of others so I give Him back all the glory and Honor.

My deepest gratitude to the following..

Thank you to my sister-in-law, Lilac who was beside me through and through, she comforted me and held my hand each time a needle is pierced on my skin. Thank you for being with me at the time I needed someone the most.

To all the doctors and nurses of Makati Medical Center Emergency Room: Dr. Vince Moderes, Dr. Baya Berroya, Dr. Mayvel Abiog, my Allergologist Dr. Maria Patricia G. Santos - Abes and nurse Jason my hats off to all of you. God bless you more and more for the outstanding service with care that you render.

To my great friends; Dr. Peter San Diego (Cardiologist) who never cease to answer all my queries, Naj Cabaniero, Chris Manuel, Mark Lee, Divya Ramchandani and Lesley Yu for the never-ending morale support.

All of you are my ANGELS here on earth. I praise God for your lives

And to my Lord and Savior, Lord Jesus Christ thank you for your faithfulness, healing, unconditional provisions and unceasing love.

September 13, 2012