Let's all give Tyra Banks a round of applause. 

Tyra Banks Open Letter to Models 

We can agree that America's Next Top Model (and all its local incarnations) may be one of television's funniest hot messes and the late Tyra Banks show was a total cringe-fest. But in my book, Ms. Banks is certainly someone that many people-- male or female, young or old, fat, thin, model, student, or 9-to-5ver-- can look up to. I love her audacity, her ambition, and her resolve to put her million-dollar contracts where her lovely mouth is. I may not always agree with her decisions and what she does, but her support for better body image and empowerment of young females is definitely inspiring. 

Belated happy Mother's Day to all all the moms out there :-) 

I want to share here a picture of my own mother (and my family circa the 1980s as you can tell by my mom's perm). Thank you for everything mommy! Even if we have our differences, you will always be the person I run to when the going gets super tough. From school mishaps to boy problems to career issues-- it's your advice that I always need to hear and your shoulder that I need to lean on.  

So many of the BelleToday members and clients are mothers themselves, and I want to give you a great big virtual hug for the amazing jobs with your families, big or small. 

Yesterday, Gisa and I visited the First Pacific Leadership Academy in Antipolo. Prior to this, the team actually visited several other locations before settling on the former Meralco Development Center. 

The center is a hub for many training and development activities, and it's easy to see why it's so popular with many companies and organizations. It benefits from the lush environment of Antipolo (think rolling hills, age old trees, and lots of fresh air) and exciting training facilities and services. We'll be posting pictures and more details soon!

But trust us, the place is perfect for the BelleToday Wellness Weekend! Members are going to emerge from the weekend completely rejuvenated!

Here's some trivia-- while it's the first meet-up for the BelleToday communities (including Bon Appetit Diet and Chrono-Geno-Nutrition), this will be the 3rd time for the company. You see, back in 2010, we launched the first ever meet-up for our French sister site Aujourdhui.com. Over 300 people from the different coaching communities, along with the coaches and team members, converged for the event in Montpellier, France.  

This time, BelleToday members will be toasting to a weekend of health and well-being alongside their French counterparts. Expect a lot of "Mabuhays" and "Bonjours" to be exchanged!

We can't wait to meet you all you belles in the flesh! 

In case some of your belles haven't heard, BelleToday.com.ph's EIC Erica has her very own show on the BattleAxe network (yep, the same one that used to host the Good Times with Mo podcasts). Do check out the listing as they've got a great lineup of shows and interesting personlities likes Gabe Mercado and Basti Artadi. 

A few weeks ago she tapped me to join in and talk about health and wellness here in the Philippines. I was excited to be with such great company, like her co-host Margaux, Pinoy Biggest Loser winner Art Mendoza, and Denise Celdran of Edgy Veggy. Trust Erica and Margaux to come up with an interesting line up of guests as we all came from diverse backgrounds. 

Suffice to say, it was an insipiring and enlightening evening and I can't say enough about my fellow guests! Art's story of how he took control of his life and his body, going from a stressed out party-boy to the winner of the Biggest Loser is motivation for anyone who wants to change his/her life.

Denise is another interesting person with multiple ventures. She is the host of a weekly FM show on RJ 100.3, the proprietor of Edgy Veggy, and a yoga teacher. In the show, she details how she became a vegetarian back when she was in college-- starting when the teacher brought in a cow to the classroom. We were all floored with the story and you have to hear it to believe it! 

Watch the show on the BattleAxe network: battleaxenetwork.com/2012/03/31/tpr-9-32812-health-and-wellness/

You can also download it on iTunes! Just search for the Powder Room (I think we're March 28, 2012).

The Powder Room with Erica + Margaux is on every Thursday at 8:30 pm.

Follow the Art (@bigartmendoza) and Denise (@edgieveggy) on Twitter!

So... I did the unexpected and decided to go back to school. 

It hasn't been easy, but I am so glad I did it. So glad that I even extended the 3 week program to 2 months. 

I was one of the few in my group of friends that loathed the idea of going back to school. Although I thoroughly enjoyed school when I was younger, I felt that going back to the homework and lecture routine was a waste of time. Wasn't there enough learning experience in the real world?

How wrong I was. While I did learn a lot from all the hands-on experience I was getting at work, I was missing the structure and insights that the academe was offering. I won't delve too much into detail, but I realized that if you're going to push yourself to learn new things all the time, you're going to need more than just your sincere desire. You're going to have to make changes-- big changes-- and let new experiences wreak havoc in your careful routine.  

The idea for school actually sprung up during a vacation in Singapore to visit Jana. She was telling us about her new school and I found myself particularly captivated. When I got back home, I researched for similar programs here and abroad. Luckily, I didn't have to look far as my dear old alma mater came a-calling. The Ateneo Graduate School for Business was offering a few summer courses and many of the topics were exactly what I was looking for!  

Now my schedule is even more packed, as I've added thrice-a-week classes and a brand new daily gym routine (that deserves its own entry!) to my already demanding work schedule. But I honestly could not be any happier. It felt so right to be back behind the desk, reading handouts, brainstorming with classmates, and debating with teachers. Who knows, I might end up getting a masteral degree in my 30s!

What about you belles? Are you planning on continuing your education?  What made you decide to go back to school? 

Leaving you with a cute old track from the White Stripes.