ccording to the world Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is most prevalent in the Philippines among Asia. In 2005, reported new victims in the country total to 14,043, a 34 percent increase from the previous year’s headcount. If these figures aren’t frightening enough, I don’t know what is. Ignorance, perhaps?

This writer is no seasoned runner, so running one kilometer without stopping to catch my breath is impossible. But those who joined and won in the 29th National MILO Marathon can. Some ran for three, five, 10, and as far as 42 kilometers. And they didn’t just won... they even broke records.

Having amassed all this information on beauty products since having still been in school, I somehow assumed that most of the knowledge I acquired had become basic. It turns out that certain women, and quite a lot of them, are clueless about basic skincare regimen. Some women actually have already hit their 40’s and their skincare consists of nothing but soap and water for their skin. Others are more ‘advanced’ and have added toner/astringent after washing, a method they have used since high school to blot out excess oil and pimples. Now they come to me with fine lines, pigmentation and pimples and don’t know what landed them into this mess to begin with. The "news flash" is that not every woman is as into beauty as we seem to think and even if we feel saturated with all the info in beauty magazines there are new teenagers sprouting everyday that don’t really have anyone to ask when they encounter skin problems.

Sit on the floor with your legs straight, lift your legs up and slightly bend the knees while keeping your hands on the floor. Holding that position crisscross your legs for 10 counts. Do two to three sets.