Friday, October 09, 2020

'Unchanging Grace': Mini musings for each day in 2021

by Karen Galarpe


This year 2020 is such a challenge, isn't it? No one saw a pandemic coming and the things that go with it: lockdowns, social distancing, community quarantines, travel ban, business slowdown, even job losses. It disrupted our lives and our usual routines. Over a million people have lost their lives worldwide. 

Many people have expressed exasperation on social media, saying, "When will 2020 end? Quota ka na." I believe though that there's a reason for everything and there's something to be grateful for in every situation.

Well we have just a little over two months left in 2020 before the new year 2021 rolls in. 

This early, I am already looking for a planner that I could use for the coming year. It should have monthly and weekly pages, be big enough for me to write my schedule and things to do, and be light and thin enough so as not to make my bag heavy.

I'm also looking for devotionals -- little books one can read for every day of the year -- that I could use and give as gifts to friends. I find devotionals very helpful as they give me a moment to be calm during a busy day and remind me of what's important.

Some of the devotionals I've used over the years are Our Daily Bread by Our Daily Bread Ministries, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, Finding Refuge and Strength by Harold Sala, and Encouraging Words for Women by Darlene Sala.

This early, Church Strengthening Ministry just released a new devotional entitled "Unchanging Grace" by Pastor Jose "Joey" Umali. It comes in five different covers showing the country's natural tourist spots. Handy enough to fit in my hand, it's lightweight and can be easily tucked inside my bag.

There's a Bible verse, about four or five paragraphs of reflection, then a short prayer on each page. Going through each day's entry will just take five minutes or less, but each one is "malaman" and meaty.

Here's an example of what Pastor Joey wrote in one of the entries: "Faith is to the soul like the pupil to the eye. Faith opens in dark times such as the crises of life. Faith gives us the power to see beyond the darkness. Even if the future looks grim, our faith makes us see in the dark."

With eyes of faith, let's look forward to what 2021 may bring.


VERSE OF THE WEEK: By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me -- a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8

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Feeling like 'Miss Philippine' in Bangkok

By Karen Galarpe

Note: This has been in my draft folder for the longest time (2010). Just discovered it again today. Posting now to share this funny incident wherein I felt how it was to be a beauty queen for a few seconds. haha!


My close friends know I have to eat on time. If not, I would either get hyperacidity or hypoglycemia, wherein my hands would get cold and clammy, my heart would palpitate, I would feel faint, and I would just curl up, be quiet and need a piece of candy as a lifeline until the episode passes.

That is why I always have some emergency food with me: candy and crackers, mostly. Once, when I pulled out some crackers, tea, and some more crackers from my bag, my seatmate at work said, "Ay, ang daming baon," then we both laughed.

Last month, I found myself in Bangkok to cover an event for the online publication I work for, and I stuffed my bag with some emergency food.

I'm glad I did, because the ride alone from the airport to the hotel was about an hour through Bangkok's famous traffic -- "worse than Manila's", someone said -- and I haven't had my afternoon snack. So I gobbled up one candy after another while the rest of the media people I was with slept in the van.

The next day, we were supposed to ride a tourist bus to take us to Chao Praya River where we would dine in a ferry boat while navigating the river, passing by important landmarks such as the King's Palace, etc.

So I had a snack before the 5 p.m. call time. I ate fruits from the welcome fruit basket, some crackers, and even the bread roll from the plane which I tucked in my bag "for emergency."

Things were OK until we got caught in Bangkok's famous traffic. I was eating crackers and candies already on the way, but could feel the hunger still.

It took us almost 2 hours to reach the pier, and by then my energy was at a low point.

We were having buffet -- hurray -- that means faster access to energy-giving food.

Alas, we were escorted to a small air-conditioned function room below deck. Though the ferry was big, one could feel the boat swaying and I felt I would throw up anytime soon.

So I ran out, told my hosts I am getting dizzy, and they said they'll put me in a taxi which would take me back to the hotel. I just nodded while one of them  talked in Thai to the driver.

On the way back, I was just praying that I wouldn't faint. I was in an unfamiliar place and the driver could only speak Thai.

I munched on some more crackers, had some more candy. Traffic, as expected, was again bad, though it was worse on the way to the ferry earlier.

Midway back to the hotel, I was already curled up in a fetal position and just eating the crackers like a mouse (I can't eat as I felt like throwing up, so I would eat it little by little). I knew I had to put something in my stomach for the energy and to prevent hyperacidity.

We reached the hotel, finally, at around 9 p.m. I was surprised I could still walk. I headed to my room and promptly called room service for a cup of hot soup and a ham sandwich -- the lightest meal I could see on the menu.

In my pajamas, I just curled up in bed. Had no appetite at all anymore.

Then the doorbell rang and as I opened the door, the room service man greeted me with, "Good evening, Miss Philippine! How are you today?"

For the first time in 2 or 3 hours, I smiled. But of course, how can you not smile when someone equates you with Venus Raj? hahaha

So I said, "Oh, I'm sick. I don't feel well."

The man said, "You don't feel well? You go to the doctor?" He sounded concerned, while wheeling in a cart which serves as a table, topped with a pretty red rose and my order under a silver cover.

I shook my head and said, "I'll be OK."

And he parked the cart in front of the TV, took the silver cover with a flourish just like they do in the movies, to reveal [drumroll] ... tadah! My ham sandwich. The consomme soup was in a pretty little bowl with a cover too, and seeing everything look so nice made me feel a little better already.

He said he'll come back later when I'm finished. I thanked him.

Since it was already 9:30 p.m.  by that time, I couldn't eat much anymore -- nalipasan na ng gutom. I finished the soup, took 2 little bites of ham sandwich, and nibbled on the french fries, smiling to myself. "Miss Philippine!" hahaha

Tomorrow would be a better day for this Miss Philippine, I thought. But first, rest and beauty sleep on the agenda.

Have a great day!

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Reading these days "Gilda Cordero Fernando Sampler", a collection of some of her essays, short stories and speeches. Her writing was so flawless, and her essays are my favorites. Such a talented writer. I've seen her in some events before, and now regret not having the guts to have had a photo taken with her.



VERSE OF THE WEEK: As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. ~ Proverbs 27:19


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Thursday, July 09, 2020

Getting fit at 50 and beyond

By Karen Galarpe




Up. Down. Up. Down. I watched my friend Anna Carlos-Alegre lift what looked like four liters--two liters on each side--of water or vinegar or cooking oil. She did it effortlessly, and I couldn't help watching her do it again and again.

"Been NEAT-ing to keep moving lately, and mostly in the garden. Today was a cooler, windy day and it was perfect for a quick lunch workout!" she wrote on her Instagram post.


So there she was doing this in her garden during her lunch break, lifting liters of suka and water. Under the noonday heat. At 50-plus years old. She's my FITspiration!

 "That's actually 4 gallons plus 20 lb barbells in my hands. hahaha," she told me later.

 Anna, who was my classmate in UP grad school, in an email interview shares she wasn't really your healthy kid growing up.

 "I was a fat kid, and for the most part, I didn't mind. When I became a teenager, my mom gave me a book about fitness. I forgot the title, but it was a diet book. haha. That just tells you how concerned she was about my figure," she said.

 That got her thinking about the importance of eating healthy and working out. At 14, she got into aerobics and started watching what she ate. At 18, a doctor told her she had scoliosis. "It was slight, but the doctor advised me to do a few back strengthening and stretching exercises," Anna said.

 She then enrolled in a weight training class for P.E. in UP Diliman and "got hooked." Thus began a regular exercise routine of a combination of cardiovascular activities (kickboxing, spinning) and weight training at the gym.

"For diet, I did portion control, and for the longest time, that was how I controlled my weight," she said.

 Anna moved to the US in the 90s and worked as a grade school teacher in California. In 2000 though, she took a break from teaching to go into fitness training. "Why not? It was always part of my life," she said. Anna then became a certified fitness trainer with the International Science Sports Association (ISSA). She also worked for two gyms in Los Angeles. 

 After a year though, she went back to teaching grade school students. "I missed it too much," she said.

 In 2012, Anna and her husband moved back to Manila. She continued with her work in education, at one time heading a preschool. Today she works for an international organization committed to education.

 Before she turned 50, Anna discovered she was prediabetic. She then became more serious about getting fit and eating well.

 "I went on a ketogenic diet and have moved on since to a low-carb and non-processed food way of eating," Anna said.


How she became a recertified fitness trainer is a story worth sharing.

 "In 2017, I was on a plane and sat beside two brothers who came from the USA and were on their way to Bacolod. One of them was an online coach, and the other, an Olympian! So we talked about--what else--fitness and pursuing dreams. I told them that I was thinking about getting recertified but I was 49. And the coach said, 'Do it. If you fail, so what? At least you won't look back on your life regretting that you didn't even try.' So I did! And I passed! I got certified by Fitness Edutraining Asia and ACE (American Council on Exercise)," Anna said.

 I've always wanted to ask Anna why it's hard to lose weight, can one get fit after 50, and many other questions you might have too, and so here's my Q and A with her. Hope this would inspire you as well.

 Q: Why do people gain weight? 

 Anna: There is not one reason why people gain weight, but, barring medical conditions, it is generally this: Calories in, calories out. If you take in more calories than you burn, you gain weight. If you burn more calories than you take in, you lose weight.

 It gets harder to lose weight when you're older because around the age of 30, men and women will lose half a pound of muscle a year, especially if they have a sedentary lifestyle (not having any sustained, intense exercise for more than 30 minutes a day or at least 200 minutes a week).
Q: Please share your 5 best tips for people to lose weight and get fit in mid-life -- tips you yourself have followed and proven true.

 Anna: These are what have worked for me for the past 3 years. I have never kept my weight off AND stayed this healthy (my family has diabetes and cardiovascular disease on both sides):

 1. I lift heavy weights to fight the natural loss of muscle and bone density.


2. Even without the gym, I try to incorporate the 'big five' movements every day for at least 30 minutes: pushing, pulling, lunging, squatting, and strengthening my core (people usually say 'abs' but abs are made in the kitchen). 

 There are 35 muscles that give you core strength: the abs is the most superficial one. The rest are back muscles, trunk muscles, and hip muscles. All those muscles keep you stable and resistant to injuries. When they're toned, they also make you look lean.

 3. I found the way of eating that works for me: low carb, IF (intermittent fasting) on weekdays. 

 I began with keto to lower my triglycerides and bad cholesterol, and my blood glucose, but it fixed a lot of things, including my craving for carbs.
Abs are made in the kitchen. You can do 300 situps a day and plank 5 minutes, but those muscles will only come out if you lose both visceral fat (the kind that surrounds your organs and is more dangerous, especially to the liver) and subcutaneous fat--the one under the skin.


When you cut excess carbs and calories, the very first to go is visceral fat. That's the fat that makes your belly area big or thick. Subcutaneous fat or that jiggly fat under the skin, is harder to burn. That's where a lifestyle of exercise and healthy eating is essential. 

 4. I try to move around a lot to be in 'NEAT' -- Non-exercise activity thermogenesis. It means all the energy burned for everything that is not sleeping, eating or exercise. So when I walk, I walk briskly. When I sweep and mop, I do big, fast movements. During ECQ, I began gardening. Rakes are amazing NEATers! hahaha


5. I stay accountable. I post my progress, my failures on social media so that if I succeed, I succeed publicly. But if I fail, it's more embarrassing because I also fail publicly! And I pass on my knowledge to others. But I can't teach if I don't live what I teach, so it's a wonderful cycle. =)


So there, getting fit even beyond 50 is doable. We may not get to lift weights as much as Anna does (well, I can't, haha), but we can take little steps to put in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. Here's to good health!

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I'm reading now this little book Kain Tayo! by Beng Alba-Jones, which I bought at the @omflit bookshop at Il Terrazzo when I had to wait for someone and realized I had no book to read while waiting. I bought it because it was cheap, lightweight, and easy to read. Well it turned out to be a fun read too since the author shared little anecdotes revolving around food (her hard-as-rock first cake ever, her being called rice lady in the US, among others). There are heartwarming words of wisdom as well and recipes too.


VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8
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Monday, May 18, 2020

Going offline

By Karen Galarpe

Note: I wrote this back in September 2012 and only saw this recently in my inbox, still unpublished. Well, here it is, seeing the light of day. :)



It's 9 p.m. as I write this, my bedtime in fact, but I have yet to log off on my Twitter and Facebook accounts, my personal and work email addresses, and close the tabs on my browser. 

Let's see. I've been off work since 4 p.m., but I was busy working on something, and subsequently clocked out at 5:20 p.m.

When I got home before 6 p.m., I checked our website and my emails just to see if there's nothing urgent in case of the latter, and nothing erroneous in the articles I edited and posted online during the day.

From there, it was a quick hop to Facebook and Twitter, and when I saw someone post a story pitch in our group on FB, I went back to check our website to see if we had covered it already. Indeed we had.

But what are the new stories posted on our site? I click the archives, read the headlines, read stories.

Soon I remembered something and wrote an email about work.

So now it's 9:20 p.m. and I am still up.

"But how do you go offline?" my friend asked me last summer after I answered his question about my work.

I stopped in my tracks. How indeed do I go offline?

The truth is, I hardly go offline.

Going online is just a way of life. In the morning, I check the news sites and social media to know what's happening. When I need to contact a friend, I check first if she's online, and if not, that's when I text her. At work, instead of hollering to someone across the room, I use the chat function on Gmail. Looking for a recipe? I turn to a food site. Need directions to get to a place? There's Google Maps. And if I feel like trying out something new for lunch, I look up food blogs.

The downside to this, though, is that going offline can be jarring, especially when it's involuntary.

Three weeks ago, when the habagat flood inundated Metro Manila, our Internet service at home got cut. And many other subscribers also experienced it, as reported by the recorded message played on the hotline of my ISP.

It took two weeks before service was fully restored, but our router is still not working, so that makes it 3 weeks now.

I had no choice but have no access to the Internet outside the office, unless I go to a Wi-Fi place or an Internet cafe.

At first it was unsettling, but later on I learned to enjoy my off-duty hours reading a book (print version), lying down, resting, and even cooking.

And I realized going offline can be relaxing.

When do you go offline? I heard one IT exec saying he turns off his Blackberry after work so he can enjoy time with his family, and he did realize that work can wait til the next day.

Sometimes we have made going  online our default mode that we forget the joys of an offline life. Let's not miss out on those.

And I realized going offline can be relaxing.


BOOK OF THE WEEK: I'm still reading Anthony Bourdain’s “A Cook’s Tour” which I started before the ECQ. For 30 minutes, over lunch, I feel like I’m in Vietnam eating pho, in Spain having tapas, and in Portugal eyeing the cozido even if I’m just having Korean ramen or homemade egg sandwich in Manila.



VERSE OF THE WEEK: Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom (NLT). Psalm 90:12
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