Friday, April 3, 2009
Subic Beach Bodies 2009: Sneak Peek
GJRE, the production that behind Beach Bodies, commissioned me once again to aid in the staging of this year’s bikini showdown. For its 8th edition and the first time in Beach Bodies history, GJRE has decided to make the contest exclusive to females hence the search is on for ‘Miss Beach Bodies’. However, we are also brewing a separate event for the appealingly fierce men who are just as eligible to wear bikinis. That – is something to look forward to. For now, here are snapshots from the first scheduled screening of hopeful ladies who made that one afternoon hot even if the sun had set.
heart-racing discovery
The news came as a surprise. Early last month, my classmates and I attended a seminar in the school where two of our instructors are pursuing their graduate studies. It was a 3-hour drive from our city.
I had a slight headache. Although generally bearable, I felt occasional painful throbbing in my head. I informed my companions about it and while the program has not begun, our college head decided to bring me to the school clinic to ask for a tablet of Paracetamol. The nurse did not issue the med right away though but cuffed me with the sphygmomanometer instead.
“Are you high blood?”
“No”, I replied.
She pumped the device again and while she’s reading the meter, I began to suspect. “Why? Did it register high?” I asked calmly. “Yes. 130/120”, she affirmed. “Oh! It’s the first time I’m told such”, I said with a sheepish smile which I cannot tell whether due to my attempt to shrug off the fact or I was just feeling weak to be panicky.
I was given the tablet and a glass of water. “Rest for a while”, the nurse advised me pointing to the couch behind her desk.
She checked my BP every 5 minutes and told me it was declining. I fell asleep in the interim when our college head left me to check our companions. When I woke up about 20 minutes later, I was feeling better; not very well but better. Before sending me back to the seminar venue, we checked my BP once more and it had slipped back to the normal range. We attributed the incident to the sweltering weather in the area – a province not blessed with vast bodies water and has been greatly affected when a nearby volcano erupted 18 years ago.
The drowsing effect of the med brought me to a stupor mid of the second talk and I was awakened with the sound of clapping.
I was back to my ‘normal self’ the entire trip home.
* * * * *
Thursday afternoon of the following week, I entered the Electronics laboratory to refill my bottle of water. One Engineering instructor had with her a sphyg so I decided to have my BP taken without anticipating a negative result. But the reading still seemed a surprise to me. Two more tries later, the result was consistent: 120/110. As if doubting her own skill, she recommended that I ask our school nurse for second opinion although technically hers was already the ‘second’ opinion.
Fifteen minutes later, I was in the clinic. A different device and a different person affirmed the result: 120/110.
* * * * *
As advised, I sought a doctor’s evaluation. The next week, I went to my employer’s dispensary. In fact I had fasted overnight in case a blood analysis will be required. After being queried at the nurse’s station and my BP checked as well, I was given a slip with the instruction that I have to have my BP monitored by someone every morning for 7 days. Based on which would the doctor shall give his recommendation upon my return. I was told though that in any case I feel something odd, I could come back immediately.
Thankfully though, there are no weird feelings ever since I was first told of my condition.
* * * * *
Despite slight fluctuations in my BP register, the doctor said that these were acceptable especially that BP is affected by fluid intake and the hot weather. I was relieved and grateful. Nonetheless, I personally took the initiative to be more careful. I was a pescatarian for 4 years so I guess it has little to do with diet but I did cut on carbs. I’m also guilty of living a sedentary lifestyle although recently stress is quite inevitable especially that we just had our finals at school; I did gain weight within the first quarter of the year. Heredity is also one possibility.
Regardless, I guess it’s time to act now and do things to truly a healthier me.
I had a slight headache. Although generally bearable, I felt occasional painful throbbing in my head. I informed my companions about it and while the program has not begun, our college head decided to bring me to the school clinic to ask for a tablet of Paracetamol. The nurse did not issue the med right away though but cuffed me with the sphygmomanometer instead.
“Are you high blood?”
“No”, I replied.
She pumped the device again and while she’s reading the meter, I began to suspect. “Why? Did it register high?” I asked calmly. “Yes. 130/120”, she affirmed. “Oh! It’s the first time I’m told such”, I said with a sheepish smile which I cannot tell whether due to my attempt to shrug off the fact or I was just feeling weak to be panicky.
I was given the tablet and a glass of water. “Rest for a while”, the nurse advised me pointing to the couch behind her desk.
She checked my BP every 5 minutes and told me it was declining. I fell asleep in the interim when our college head left me to check our companions. When I woke up about 20 minutes later, I was feeling better; not very well but better. Before sending me back to the seminar venue, we checked my BP once more and it had slipped back to the normal range. We attributed the incident to the sweltering weather in the area – a province not blessed with vast bodies water and has been greatly affected when a nearby volcano erupted 18 years ago.
The drowsing effect of the med brought me to a stupor mid of the second talk and I was awakened with the sound of clapping.
I was back to my ‘normal self’ the entire trip home.
* * * * *
Thursday afternoon of the following week, I entered the Electronics laboratory to refill my bottle of water. One Engineering instructor had with her a sphyg so I decided to have my BP taken without anticipating a negative result. But the reading still seemed a surprise to me. Two more tries later, the result was consistent: 120/110. As if doubting her own skill, she recommended that I ask our school nurse for second opinion although technically hers was already the ‘second’ opinion.
Fifteen minutes later, I was in the clinic. A different device and a different person affirmed the result: 120/110.
* * * * *
As advised, I sought a doctor’s evaluation. The next week, I went to my employer’s dispensary. In fact I had fasted overnight in case a blood analysis will be required. After being queried at the nurse’s station and my BP checked as well, I was given a slip with the instruction that I have to have my BP monitored by someone every morning for 7 days. Based on which would the doctor shall give his recommendation upon my return. I was told though that in any case I feel something odd, I could come back immediately.
Thankfully though, there are no weird feelings ever since I was first told of my condition.
* * * * *
Despite slight fluctuations in my BP register, the doctor said that these were acceptable especially that BP is affected by fluid intake and the hot weather. I was relieved and grateful. Nonetheless, I personally took the initiative to be more careful. I was a pescatarian for 4 years so I guess it has little to do with diet but I did cut on carbs. I’m also guilty of living a sedentary lifestyle although recently stress is quite inevitable especially that we just had our finals at school; I did gain weight within the first quarter of the year. Heredity is also one possibility.
Regardless, I guess it’s time to act now and do things to truly a healthier me.
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