Sweet Food for a Sweeter Life

I am a food lover. It's so obvious with my physique right? My Mom told me that she rarely remembers an instance where I said no to food even if I am sick. When I was on my teenage years I experienced tipping the bathroom scale. I always eat to my hearts content until I was diagnosed with Diabetes at age 15.

After Diabetes came into my young life, things turned around 360 degrees. I learned to chose the food I eat to live a longer life. At that time, Diabetes is so young in the Philippines. Diabetic-friendly food choices are so scarce. I have no choice but to stick to my limited food choices which is a huge sacrifice.

And then, Sugarfree came. Starting out with Sodas to Sugar Substitute packets to Sugarfree candies and chocolates. It was indeed a heaven's sent to Diabetics like me, but the downside is, they are also priced heavenly and availability is somewhat limited.

I can say that Diabetics now here in our country are much blessed compared to us before. Insulin can now stay on room temperature whereas before it was not. Food choices are now huge. Diabetic food supplements and vitamins are available over the counter at Local Pharmacies. Diabetic medicines now are budget friendly.

I was not deprived of food nowadays because I always have alternative options to my favorites. Here are some of the "Guilty Pleasures" that I enjoy and one of the reasons why live a sweet life!

1. Polvoron - According to Panlasangpinoy.com, Polvoron is a semi-sweet concoction made of toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar, and butter. This is considered as a dessert or snack in the Philippines wherein roasted rice puffs referred to locally as “pinipig” is added.

This is one stuff I love and I even asked my Mom to create a batch of it for me and I can finish it in a snap! But because of Diabetes, I wasn't able to get a taste of it in years until I stumble upon this incredible stuff!

Sura

Whosoever thought of creating this is a genius! It was one ordinary day after office when I was roaming around the stalls inside the Mall before I actually head home. I saw the booth of H.O.P. or House Of Polvoron. I remember the moments when I used indulge myself in this sweet stuff before. While reminiscing and looking at their products, I saw the "No Sugar Added" printed on one box.

I took 1 box to read the ingredient contents and here's what I got:

Thanks so much to Mr. Benson Tanoja, Marketing Manager of MFP Home of Quality Food Corp. for giving me a sample of  this stuff. Yummy!



2. Frozen Yogurt - It is a frozen dessert like Ice cream that usually consists of milk solids, some kind of sweetener, milk fat, yogurt culture, coloring, and flavoring. (Wikipedia).

Ice Cream became my best friend turned worst enemy. When I eat this stuff, hyperglycemia comes in in minutes! It is also very fattening because it uses whole cream so I stay away from it to the best of my ability.

Strawberry Yogurt Drink from Sta. Maria Dairy in Mercato Centrale BGC. One of my motivators to do LSD runs on Sunday Mornings.

I love my Frozen Yogurt topped with Almonds, Walnuts and Cashews!

Then I discovered this amazing alternative! FroYo! Instead of whole cream, this dessert uses yogurt culture as its base. It is not too sweet and has a light sour taste that gives it the best flavor to savor inside your mouth. Besides that, this has billions of live good bacteria that is very yummy for our tummies!

Yogurt prices varies from one store to another. Usually 80php for the small cup and 120php for the large cup. 15 pesos for every toppings you'll add on it!


3. Sugarfree Chocolate Bar - When times are hard that cravings are stronger than the will, I go for this treat. They have varieties like Mint, Milk Chocolate and with Almonds but this Dark Chocolate hits the right spot!

No carbs, no sugar! Available at Healthy Options Stores

4. Jelly Cubes - Gelatins are virtually calorie-free, unless it has sugars on it. That is why I make my own Jellies at home in which I can control what I put on it.

What I do is I buy a Gelatin Mix in powdered form. There are 2 types, one that is made from protein found in the tissues, ligaments and tendons of cows and pigs, and the other one from algae or seaweed. I chose the latter.

I boil it on 2 liters of water and stirring it along the way. When you see bubbles appearing on the pan, put Stevia or artificial sweeteners like Splenda or Equal to taste, then you can turn off the heat and place it in a container where you'll allow it to cool for about 30 minutes. Test the gelatin by touching it. If it doesn't stick to your hands, it's ready to be refrigerated. Leave it a least an hour.

After that, drain the excess water and cut it in cubes and store it in a tight fitting container and back to the fridge. Whenever I feel hungry, this is my first option to munch on.

The whole gelatin when it if cooled already.

Finish product! I love taking this out of the fridge when hunger strikes just before bedtime. YUM!

These are the guilty pleasures that I consider lesser evil. Living with Diabetes doesn't mean you are prohibited of eating the sweet food, you just have to be wise and chose the alternatives.

Please take note that "Sugarfree" doesn't necessarily mean healthy. Artificial sweeteners are not good when consumed in bigger volumes. Diabetics can still eat sweets, but in small portions. Always chose the healthier options. Eat healthy, live healthy, get the sweet life!

Good Vibes everyone and Sweet Running! ^_^

AIA-Fila Schools Run For School Rooms

AIA-Fila Schools Run For School Rooms
July 7, 2012 - Saturday
Bonifacio Global City


Race Distances and Fees
3K:    P350
5K:    P450
10K:  P550

Assembly and Gunstart Times
Assembly time for all categories:   4:00AM
10K - 5:00AM
5K   - 5:15AM
3K   - 5:30AM

Race Maps

RUN REGISTRATION AND RACE KIT CLAIMING MECHANICS
FOR REGISTRATION THRU SM TICKETS

1) Buy ticket of Athletes In Action-Fila Schools Run For School Rooms (AIA-Fila SRSR) advocacy run at SM TICKETS – CINEMA COUNTERS anywhere in Luzon, except in SM malls without cinemas like SM Makati (Ayala), SM Harrison, SM Cubao, and SM Quiapo.

2) After ticket payment, payee will receive SM-issued ticket as proof of payment and SM control number-coded AIA-Fila SRSR Registration Form. Payee must attach/staple SM-issued proof of payment ticket to the Race Kit Claim Stub. NO SM-ISSUED PROOF OF PAYMENT TICKET ATTACHED TO THE RACE KIT CLAIM STUB, NO RACE KIT RELEASE.

3) Participant to completely fill out AIA-Fila SRSR Registration Form and keep Participant’s Copy portion of the Registration Form. As Fila’s goodwill, payee may avail additional 10% discount on Fila Running Shoes and Skele-Toes, which are already on sale at 50% OFF, upon presentation of AIA-Fila SRSR Participant’s Copy at Fila stores.

4) Participant to bring the accomplished AIA-Fila SRSR Registration Form and Race Kit Claim Stub with SM-issued proof of payment ticket to any of the following FILA stores:

SM Mall of Asia (02.901.1611)
SM Mega Mall (02.638.8016)
Trinoma Mall (02.919.0709)
Festival Mall (02.842.9811)
Glorietta Mall (02.812.1099)
Robinson's Galleria (02.695.3148)
Robinson's Ermita (02.521.8393)
Market Market (02.889.6378)

5) Upon turnover of accomplished AIA-Fila SRSR Registration Form and Race Kit Claim Stub with SM-issued proof of payment ticket to FILA personnel, participant will receive AIA-Fila SRSR race kit. Exchange of singlet for appropriate size is accepted at the same Fila store within seven days or until July 4 provided the singlet remains new and unworn.

6) No registration at FILA stores. Participating FILA stores are for submission of accomplished Registration Form and claiming of Race Kit only.

7) Race Kits may be claimed at participating Fila stores from June 25 to July 4 only.

For any inquiries, call Huper International (02.661.6489) and/or GWorld (02.215.0512 / 719.0184), email AthletesInAction@huperinternational.com, or visit
www.facebook.com/aiaphilippines.



Singlet Design

Athletes In Action run for school kids of Iligan

To raise funds for the rehabilitation of schools in Iligan City that were destroyed by Typhoon Sendong, an international humanitarian-sports organization is holding a running event on July 7.

Titled “Schools Run for School Rooms” (SRSR), the run led by Athletes in Action (AIA) will be participated in by student runners from major universities in Metro Manila, groups from government agencies, private corporations and churches, as well as running enthusiasts.

The run will be held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Assembly of participants is at 4 a.m., as gun start is at 5 a.m.

Proceeds of the event will be used by the AIA to rehabilitate classrooms in Iligan City. Iligan City is among the worst-hit places in northeastern Mindanao by Typhoon Sendong in December 2011.

“There has always been a lack of classrooms all over the country, and this situation worsened after Typhoon Sendong,”said Jose Andes, National Director of AIA Philippines. “Through the help of our partners, we hope to build more classrooms, especially in Iligan City.”

“A classroom is the best place to nurture our future leaders, the next generation of God-loving and nationalist Filipinos,” Andes said.

AIA is also partnering with the GMA Kapuso Foundation and iCare Foundation for this project. The GMA Kapuso Foundation will facilitate the rehabilitation of the classrooms.

SRSR is co-presented by leading sporstwear brand Fila. Other sponsors include Sony, Gardenia, Cherifer, Oracare, Pocari, Treelizer, and Air Conserve.

SRSR media partners include GMA Network, BusinessWorld, and Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Tickets are available at SM Tickets ( https://www.smtickets.com/event/view/776)
SRSR is organized by events management specialist, Huper International. For more details, call (02) 661-6049 or email athletesinaction@huperinternational.com.

Jockey No Panty Line Promise Product Review

Not all underwears are created equal. I realized this when I got the chance to try out this new product from Jockey!

I am fond of wearing tights, not just for running but for casual wear as well. But mostly in running, tights can show panty lines, which most of us don't really care about. But the thought of wearing my running tights without panty lines? I think that's cool!




Nothing ruins a great outfit faster than a visible panty line. Thankfully, Jockey is here to save the day with a new range of underwear designed to hug your curves and stay in place while leaving no trace of a panty line. With No Panty Line Promise® next generation underwear, you can be assured that everyone will notice your style - not your panty line.

The revolutionary design of No Panty Line Promise next generation is based on years of research and extensive fit trials on real women. No Panty Line Promise next generation is offered in a variety of modern silhouettes to fir every body shape and work for any outfit. Made from cool microfiber fabric that glides over your skin, the leg openings are painted with soft silicon ribbons to ensure the smoothest, most invisible fit.

Whether you're wearing a little back dress for a night out on the town, or in yoga class doing downward dog, you'll never have to worry again about what's underneath.

Face the day with ultimate confidence. That's the promise!

The packaging

Jockey No Panty Line PromiseNext Generation Boyshort

•     Made of 95% rayon and 5% spandex
•     Full coverage in front and back for extra support and fit
•     Jockey Swirl IconTM logo underneath the waistline for a pop of interest
•     Perfect cut and fit promise to help eliminate panty lines
•     Great for tight-fitting jeans

Unboxing the product

I tried running 21K with it on Brooks Run Happy 2 last June 4. Though in my Trisuit panty lines are not that visible, my experience was amazing! Ordinary cotton undies that I use on races tend to move when I run. It does not stay in place so I have to slow down and fix it. It also leaves panty marks on my skin that causes redness and chafing. It really is a hassle! But with this, it actually feels like I'm wearing nothing! It stays in place and it keeps me dry because it actually wicks away sweat. Amazing! I never thought of an underwear like this can help add on comfort when running long distances. I even beat my Personal Record for 21K by 24 minutes!

The silicon rubber that makes it stay in place.

The sides of this undies are seamless. Its like a whole trim of cloth without any stitches. There is this silicon rubber underneath the ends of it, it's the one responsible for the secure fit. It hugs the skin and it stays there, no matter how you move!

I highly recommend this product to active women like me. Try it out and see the difference!

Jockey® No Panty Line Promise® Next Generation underwear is available in all Jockey® boutiques located at Market!Market!, Eton Centris, Gateway Mall, Festival Supermall, Marquee Pampanga, SM Valenzuela, Ma-a Davao and Pavillion Laguna, as well as in the following department stores: SM Bacoor, SM Cebu, SM Cubao, SM Fairview, SM Las Pinas, SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM Manila, SM Marikina, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM San Lazaro, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Taytay, Landmark Trinoma, Landmark Makati, Robinsons Ermita, Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Festival Supermall. (http://orangemagazinetv.com)


Check out Jockey Philippines Facebook page and Jockey Philippines Website for more information about this great product!

A Swish Experience!

A good set of teeth is one of my family's assets. My grandmother and my Aunt are both Dentists who took care of my set of grinders. I never experienced tooth decay when I was a child until I grew up. We always practice good oral hygiene at home thus, a mouthwash is always a part of our daily oral care routine.

I admit, I brush regularly but I seldom gargle on mouthwash. The reason? I hate the stingy or burning sensation it gives. The 30-minute struggle of letting the mouthwash stay inside the mouth is just too much that when I wash it out my eyes are all red from the pain of gargling an alcohol-based product.

Then Unilab, the makers of quality products for the Filipino household gave me an opportunity to try out Swish.

Thinking that a mouthwash can be alcohol-free but still has the same cleaning effectiveness as the leading brand? That's just amazing!

I tried it for almost a month now, gargling it for 30 seconds after brushing gives me a cleaner feel, without the painful sting that alcohol based mouthwash causes.

They come in 4 flavors! Arctic Chill, Peppermint Fresh, Cinnamon and Mangosteen

Swish also comes in a handy Breath Spray that sure will come in handy for those emergency situations where you need instant fresh breath!

What you need to know about Swish Breath Spray:

• New Swish Breath Spray gives you instant fresh breath in just 10 seconds!
• It quickly kills germs and bacteria in the mouth to eliminate bad breath caused by eating, drinking and smoking.
• Very convenient to use anytime and anywhere for a quick breath fix.
• Absolutely alcohol-free and sugar-free. (Safe for Diabetics)
• Available in 2 refreshing variants – Arctic Chill and Peppermint Fresh
• Simply spray 1 to 2 pumps into your mouth to freshen breath instantly
• Very economical as each bottle can last up to 100 sprays
• Suggested Retail Price - Php 105.00
• Available in supermarkets, drugstores and convenience stores nationwide

It takes for you to try out this product and find out for yourself!

Special thanks to Ms. Rochelle Leonor Del Callar and to Unilab for giving me a chance to try out this product. A new addition to my bathroom and personal hygiene necessities!

The Power of Ampalaya Plus!

Being Diabetic for almost half my life tenures me on this disease. It also sparks the curiosity and interest in me to to do some researches on how to manage it.

I am fond of trying out natural and herbal supplements but I never tried anything that is not approved by the BFAD. I go from one health store to another, in the hope to find something that can help in making my blood sugar down since I am mostly hyperglycemic (High glucose levels in the blood) so I can lessen my medication to give some happy time to my liver and organ systems.

Ampalaya is a tried and tested vegetable that aids in lowering blood sugar levels. Without a doubt it is one of the most recommended for those people with the same case as mine. According to MedicalHealthGuide.com, "Ampalaya (Bitter Melon) or it's scientific name, Momordica charantia has been a folkloric cure for generations but has now been proven to be an effective herbal medicine for many aliments. The Philippine Department of Health has endorsed Ampalaya Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia) as an alternative herbal medicine for liver problems. Research about Ampalaya has shown that Ampalaya increases the production of beta cells by the pancreas, thereby improving the body’s ability to produce insulin, that controls the blood sugar for diabetics." 

Lucky for us Filipinos, Ampalaya is one of the vast growing vegetable in our country so getting a serving of this blood sugar lowering greenies is not expensive at all. But most of us are not used to eating this because of its bitterness. I myself is not an Ampalaya eater before but I learned to like it because I need to, because I have to.

My favorite dish with Ampalaya is when its cooked with scrambled eggs and tomatoes. I also like it in "Pinakbet" and mixed with other vegetables as well.

But to make this Ampalaya work, you need to eat it everyday, which is not possible. Though I can eat it now, I cannot last a day eating just it. So how can I have my Ampalaya dose without it being present on the table everyday? I need to do supplementation!

After thorough research, I found an amazing product that suits what I was looking for, plus more! It's called AMPALAYA PLUS.

What is Ampalaya Plus? Ampalaya Plus is an innovative product composed of 3 herbs: Ampalaya, Banaba and Luyang Dilaw. So you don't just get the benefit of Ampalaya, you get also the power of 2 tested herbs in just one capsule!

Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) is a nutritional vegetable listed as a medicinal plant in the Philippine Pharmacopoeia. The bitter alkaloid is momodicin (a triterpene glycoside) is the active principle. Radioisotope labeled glucose study had shown that ampalaya increases the utilization of glucose by the liver. A polypeptide-p had also been identified with insulin-like properties and induces the capacity to regenerate pancreatic beta cells in animal models. Ampalaya also has lipid lowering properties in the presence or absence of diabetes with the consequent decrease in triglycerides and cholesterol.

Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a herb tradionally used as a diuretic. It is known to lower blood sugar and helps in reducing weight. The active principle is corosolic acid, a triterpenoid compound, which increases glucose transport. In animal and cell culture studies, there were reductions in blood sugar levels and normalization of insulin levels. With the reduction of blood glucose comes a reduction in body weight even without dietary restrictions.

Luyang Dilaw (Curcuma longa) is a strong natural anti-oxidant. It has been known that turmeric has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The anti-inflammatory property may be compared to that of hydrocortisone. This herb is also reported to protect the liver and help maintain liver function in detoxifying (remove toxins) the body. There is evidence to show that luyang dilaw can reduce COX-2 mRNA expression and decrease synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a factor in mechanism of pain, especially joint and muscle pains.

Ampalaya Plus is gathered from clean, pollution-free farms. It can help in diabetes, high blood, high cholesterol, weight control and pimples and acne. It is DOH approved!

Watch this Video by Kuya Kim Atienza to know more about his amazing discovery on Ampalaya and Ampalaya Plus.

I have been taking this supplement consistently for about a month now and I can say that it really helps in stabilizing my blood sugar levels. I rarely see spikes on my blood sugar anymore, and I feel much better when I take it before meals because it eases the feeling of indigestion which I usually have when I eat.

There is also an Ampalaya Plus Delite Herbal Tea for those who loves drinking hot concoctions. This tea is a combination of Ampalaya, Green Tea and Calamansi. The taste is not that bitter because of the freshness of Green Tea and the citrusy flavor of Calamansi. This tea is in powdered form. I take it at times when I have eaten meat or heavy meals because I find it effective on aiding me in digesting the food I took in.

How to Take Ampalaya Plus?

Take Ampalaya Plus Capsule 3 times a day. 1 capsule 10 minutes before meals.

Make Amplaya Plus Delite Herbal Tea as your healthy option when it comes to beverages. It is a healthy alternative to high sugar, high fat, high calorie drinks.

How Much is Ampalaya Plus?

Getting 3 herbs in one capsule doesn't make this supplement expensive. For 6.00 PHP per capsule and 585.00 PHP per box of 90 capsules. This product is affordable compared to other Ampalaya supplements that costs higher with just Ampalaya in it. Also, Ampalaya Plus Delite Herbal Tea retails for 12.00 PHP per sachet and 96.00 PHP per box of 12 sachets.

Who can take Ampalaya Plus?

This product is not only for Diabetics, it is also for those who are pre-diabetics (In the borderline of having Diabetes) and for those who would like to prevent Diabetes from their lives. Since it is DOH approved, everyone can try this product to compliment their healthy lifestyle.

Where To Buy Ampalaya Plus?

Available in all Mercury Drug, Watsons, Rose Pharmacy, South Star, Generic Pharmacy and other leading drugstores nationwide. Also available in http://www.gonatural.com.ph.

Try Ampalaya Plus Capsule and Delite Herbal Tea with proper diet and exercise to experience the power of Ampalaya in controlling and managing Diabetes!

 Watch this TVC of the new Ampalaya Plus Campaign! You can also see Team Triabetics here! ^_^

Diet plus

Exercise plus

Ampalaya plus!

"Gawing bisyo ang Ampalaya Plus Program!"

Screenshot from the TVC! ^_^

I would like to thank Mr. Christian Ramos for the assistance and accommodating me in my queries. To my Team Triabetics family for believing in me and for the all out support. Also, special thanks to Mr. Benson Sia for the support and trust on our team, for believing in us, that we can!

Good Vibes everyone and Sweet Running! ^_^

JanSport Super Sized Summer Event

Event date: June 10, 2012
Time: 3pm
Venue: SM Mall of Asia Grounds


Supercharge and super size your summer with the JanSport Super Sized Summer event happening on June 10 at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds.

Before all the madness starts this school year, cap off your summer with a bang! Go all out and make the most out of anything and everything. So go large with the JanSport Super Sized Summer!

There will be teams of two, who will take part in a gigantic race around the SM Mall of Asia grounds. Participants should be prepared for fun-packed, super sized activities, from massive props to life-sized puzzles!

The lucky pair will get to bring home cash prizes worth Php 20,000, Php 30,000 and Php 50,000 - a memorable, winning summer, after all, is sure to be Super Sized.

Come and experience how Super Sized things can get on the 10th of June, 2012 at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia, By The Bay. See you there!

Please visit JanSport Facebook Page for updates and more details.

When Overconfidence Causes A Traumatic Experience

I never thought I will be victimized. I wasn't even thinking that I'll be an easy target for those heartless culprits. I guess I was overconfident, the reason why I got mugged...

June 1, 2012 - Friday, which is today. I was walking on my way to work at around 5:20 in the morning, which is what I usually do. I wore my wireless mp3 player, put it on low volume and enjoyed the ambiance of the early morning while I'm at it. While I was on my way going to Ospital ng Makati, one man put on his arms around my shoulders and said "Miss, wag ka papalag, akin na yang bag mo!". I thought it was a friend that was playing jokes on me. I looked into his face and I was surprised that it was not a friend, this is not a joke and this is really happening!

The guy who declared hold-up is fat. He looks poor in physique. I'm sure I can win over if I just fight him off. I tried to struggle when he is taking my bag. But another guy shows up and tried to take the lunch box from my other hand. While fighting, I saw the fat guy about to stab me with a knife. At that moment, I totally gave up the fight. I pushed my bag towards him to stop his attack on me, and then they ran off with my things.

I was frozen for about a few seconds. Things hasn't sink in yet. But after a while I was back in reality. I shouted and shouted for help while running towards them. The fat guy ran the slowest. Because of adrenalin rush I was able to run at an incredible speed unimaginable to me so I almost got him. But then I realized he had a knife, and if I catch him, one thing that can happen is that he will stab me. So I kept my distance.

When we reached JP Rizal Extension which at that time, motorists are zooming at speed because there is no traffic yet that early, I lost them. Also, the man who helped me in the chase also lost them since those muggers went under the bridge in Pateros, a place which is impossible to catch them on since there are lots of houses and small walkways leading somewhere we don't know.

The vendors on the sidewalk told me they saw 5 young men running with bags on their possession. There was this fat guy which is now without a shirt who threw a knife on the edge of the street, and then they went down under the bridge of Pateros.

An illustration on where I was mugged, where we ran to chase and where the muggers escaped...

I walked home and alerted my Mom on what happened. She freaked out. We went to the Comembo Police Station to report the incident. That's when I started crying hard because everything is now being realized. They let me vent out all emotions before they started asking me questions. The Policemen assisted us and asked me to lead them to the place where the incident happened and the place where I last saw those culprits. They asked those people who witnessed the incident for their investigation.

After we roam, we went back to the Police Station and they took my statement on what happened back then to blotter and make a Police Report. I was also shown some photos of criminals which they have records of, but the face of the fat guy who mugged me was not there.

Things happened in less than 5 minutes, but I felt it was so fast. I was so drained after the incident my head felt that it was floating. It was indeed very traumatic. I never expected this will happen to me. I experienced being robbed inside the house while I was asleep last year and they almost took all we got but on that incident, I was not able to see the robbers, or witnessed any part of the crime that happened. This thing that I've experienced is so different. I was there, I saw the whole crime happening in my own eyes, and I almost got killed...

After my statement was written, I got a copy of the Police Report and then we went home. I hugged my son after. I notified my friends through Facebook on what has happened and I also reported to my boss and he told me to just rest at home and not report to work. I also deactivated all my cards and my phone lines to prevent the criminals from using it.

It was already bright at that time. Who would have thought that culprits will attack on a broad daylight? Like what I've said, I was too confident I never thought of this coming.

Those muggers must be assuming that I might be carrying a lot of cash with me since most people have their salaries on month ends, on my company it is not. We have a different day of salary release. I only have a few cash on my wallet. I don't even have coins since I always deposit it on my Piggy Bank. What I am sad about is most of my important things are there: ID's, cellphone, ATM's, make up kit, Heart Rate Monitor belt and my wallet which has the calling cards and some important documents inside it. I wish I can get them all back.

I was told that this is not the first time it happened on the same spot where I was mugged. It was so disheartening knowing that. Nowadays no place is secured and anything can happen to you in an instant.

While I am recalling all the event that happened my assumption is that those muggers where not professionals based on the way they attacked me. I also think they have no intention of harming me. The only thing they want are my things, but I know in case that they'll be in trouble, they'll not hesitate to kill me.

Some people do not realize that what others have are earned from their hard work. All they think about is how to get easy money, mostly at the expense of others. What I have is a fruit of my hard labor. All those hours spent in the office and still doing part time job at home just to make ends meet. I even sacrificed time meant for my son. I don't get the things I have from just asking, I worked to have what I possess. I am not rich, I don't even have a car or even my own house. My salary is just enough just to get my family through. I don't even have savings in the bank. I am just an ordinary person just like everyone else. I can't believe some people have the heart to stole from someone like me.

In a way, I pity those muggers because I know the reason why they resort to this kinds of doing is because they do not have a job to feed their families. This is a clear proof of how incompetent our Government is when it comes to alleviating poverty in our country. This is also a reflection of how weak the power of Police Security is enforced in this side of Makati. Ofcourse parents of these people are also to blame. They should have guided their children on righteous ways. But overall, I still believe that those people did this on their own will so the fault is mainly on them.

Until now while I'm writing this I'm still shivering from the frightening experience. I don't know how to recover from this. I am so afraid to go out of the house alone. The part where the fat guy was about to stab me is always repeating itself on my head. I can't stop crying when I remember it. I think I need more time to heal from this incident.

Still, I thank God for not allowing those muggers to hurt me. I was safe despite everything. I also am so thankful to all those people who send in their well wishes for me and for sending me their heartfelt sympathy on the tragedy that happened. In a way this reminded me that I am well loved.

They may have stole most of my important things, but those things can be replaced. I'm still thankful they did not took the important thing that can never be replaced, my life!

I am heeding the attention of Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Jun Jun" Binay to please heighten the security of Comembo and Pembo Makati, especially those alleys where there can be potential crimes that can happen. I wish that this incident won't happen to anyone again. Let us all be vigilant so that these kinds of incident wont happen. Like what they said, better be safe than sorry.

I hope that this incident that happened to me will be a reminder to everyone to be cautious and alert while walking on the streets. It is our obligation to take care of ourselves for our family's sake. If the attackers have weapons that will hurt you, do not struggle over your things, let them have it. Always report crimes to the Police not just to have a chance to retrieve your belongings, but mostly to alert them and have the chance that this criminals will be caught and put behind bars so they won't get on to their next victim anymore.

Still, Good Vibes, be safe everyone and have a Sweet Day!