Pleasure and pain

For years, I have been suffering from the pain of three herniated discs in my spinal column. The hurt gradually advanced to my neck and arms, causing me to have a stiff neck and endless suffering from the pain going down my arms. I went all over the world to seek relief, since my US physician told me that it was incurable. There were chiropractors in San Francisco , osteopaths from Paris , Ayurvedic therapies in India , even the physical therapist of billionaire Adnan Khassogi in St. Tropez failed to give me lasting relief from the ache. After 5-10 days, the nagging soreness would be back! Only my hilot from Punta Taytay would relieve me for two weeks and I resigned myself to a life of agony.

It was only during a family reunion that neurologist Dr. Michelli Yusay noticed me constantly massaging my arms and asked me what was wrong. She told me to visit her the next day and injected me with Botox on the painful areas and I experienced immediate relief! I proceeded to have a helium laser therapy and it has already been two months and the pain has not come back at all! It's a miracle, indeed. She also takes care of Mamá and together with Dr. Lucien Villacin as cardiologist and Dr. Filipinas Ganchoon as physical therapist that my mother has gotten better with her pain and motor functions. These doctors have greatly improved our lives and perhaps, yours, too! Get rid of the pain.

For some pleasure after the pain, we were royally treated by lovely upbeat couple Raymund and Yves Javellana at their 26 th wedding anniversary. Cocktails were served in a tent at the newest tourism destination of upwardly mobile Talisay City —the Ruins. This was the mansion built in the early 1900's by Don Mariano Lacson for his Portuguese wife Maria Braga whose Italianate architecture resembles the façade of New York City 's Carnegie Hall. The grand four-tiered fountain has been restored to working perfection and the whole compound romantically illuminated for those enchanted evenings to come in this picture-perfect backdrop for weddings and grand soirées. Indeed, a magnificent sight to see!

A gourmet's treat was held in the new Majj Restaurant at Mayfair Mall with the Imperial Manille groupie of Citoy Lopez and Baronessa Eva Abesamis. Jetting in for some sun and sea in Sagay City were glam couple Henry and Jojo Zabarte with Joey Kierulf. I gathered for the fashionable lunch, civic and tourism pair “Bantay Banwa” Bomber Zayco and Punta Bulata's Miren Z. completed by garden expert Francis Tse. Discovering the menu, I can only conclude that “fine dining” has finally arrived in Bacolod ! Who can offer seared foie gras? Bravo to chefs Marissa Ledesma and Jinky Sarossa.

MY PRAYER

There is a blessed resting in lying still—in letting His hand mold us, just as He will.*