Sure, summer brings us warm and uncomfortable weather, but it gives us the best fruit and vegetable harvests - the sweetest watermelon, cantaloupe, corn, cherry, blueberry, strawberry, pineapple and mango. Tomatoes of different varieties and sizes are abundant and cheap. How I enjoy food shopping most especially at the fruit and vegetable sections. They are so appealing to the eyes with their vibrant colors. I would spend about three hours covering three grocery stores including an Asian food mart.

Though we are empty nesters now with a son who is temporarily with us (I hope he stays longer), I still go grocery shopping almost every week. I always tell myself I will make lesser trips, but I still find myself at the food shops often. It is easy to find food items to buy and there’s always something new every week. There should always be “hot food on the stove” just in case my children come by. At the store, I developed the habit of reading the labels and nutritional facts on food items trying to avoid the high sodium, sugary and fatty contents. I believe one can achieve eating healthy food by using a lot of common sense coupled with self discipline and constant balancing acts. No dramatic announcements that you are dieting as this will only result to a “yoyo” effect. My basic motivation here is self preservation and my incentive is being able to do activities that I enjoy most – physical and creative activities that challenge my well-being like dancing/choreography work, writing and reading. I am constantly reminded that my mom had diabetes and four of my siblings have it.

Going back to the sweet summer treats, I always caution my husband on consuming unlimited servings. It is easy to finish a whole small cantaloupe, ears of corn or quarter of a whole watermelon as they are delectable and satisfying when the weather is hot and humid, forgetting that they are also sugar-content fruits. The name of the game is eating the right portion of food –be it seafood, meat, fish, dairy products or fruits. Common sense tells me that if I develop this habit, it becomes a way of life.

A Debutante’s Ball
Stephanie Anne Paguyo Gerardo celebrated her 18th birthday and graduation with a Debutante’s Party at Sheraton National Hotel in Crystal City. The event was hosted by her parents, Mr. Elias and Mrs. Maria Socorro Paraguyo Gerardo.
Stephanie looked so elegant in her white with pink accent gown, Cinderella-like. She also wore a little tiara that accented her dark hair. The highlight of the evening was, of course, “The Cotillion de Honor” dance performed by the debutante with an entourage of five couples - her friends and classmates. The young ladies wore shorter version attire in beautiful shade of pink. The audience enjoyed watching this dance number with waltz, rhumba and tango steps. @9PTLA = The River Dance Marilou Plata, VP and Branch Manager of CitiBank in Washington, D.C., invited me and my husband to the famous River Dance Show at Wolf Trap a few weeks go. Before the show, there was a reception sponsored by the bank held at the same place. This is a yearly promotional event that CitiBank sponsors. The show was a powerful and energetic blockbuster Irish dance presentation that included, to my surprise, a Flamenco dance, “Firedance,” which without doubt, was my favorite. It was, as the name suggested, a fiery Spanish dance number with the graceful, intense and precise body movements of the soloist, who was wearing a blazing red Spanish costume. The Irish music also presented a new development with a range of traditional, classical and the most modern of Jazz and rock. The show was an experience.

It may be recalled that Marilou and her husband Donald attended and participated in the dance presentation at the PAFC Gala Ball on June 2, 2007. She wore a gold and black gown while Donald was in Barong Tagalog. Citibank was also one of the sponsors during the month long Philippine Independence Gala Ball celebration last June.

July Birthday Celebrants:
Dr. Juliet Naldo – 7/1
Rowena Pagsibigan Brodin (my daughter)- 7/11
Dino de la Rosa – 7/14
Des Cunanan- 7/15
Ted Gancayco – 7/24
Gloria Caoile – 7/30

Prayers:
We offer our deep prayers for Pete Roa who is very sick in Manila. He is the husband of Boots Anson-Roa, father of Leah Cuevas (Vienna) and Ben Roa (Ashburn), Joey Roa and Chiqui Roa Puno who are both in Manila. Pete and Boots are our dear friends. They used to live in McLean until they returned back to Manila in 1993. The Roa’s now have nine grandchildren. Email: pagsibiganr@aol.com