Browmance with Cathleen G.

“Browmance with Cathleen G.”

Sun.Star Davao, June 25, 2016

                               

Busy mother-of-three Cathleen Ann Limso-Go loves everything that has to do with beauty and fashion.     And, when it comes to makeup, Cathleen passionately believes that well-groomed eyebrows are an absolute must!  

 “Well-groomed eyebrows frame the face. It can instantly make you look more polished even if you don’t have much makeup”, stresses Cathleen, , who moved to Cebu from Davao when she got married in 2006.

“I used to have an ordinary eyebrow tattoo but it was very thin and I wasn’t very happy with the shape. It looked very fake that I had to fill it in everyday with eyebrow products; sometimes, as long as 30 minutes, until I was satisfied with the results. Eventually, people started to compliment me on how lovely my eyebrows looked just by filling them in. I guess, I have a natural talent because I can make my eyebrows look good even with a very bad tattoo underneath”, giggles Cathleen.

Browmance

            Recently, Cathleen took her love affair for the perfect brows a notch higher by becoming an internationally-trained cosmetic artist.

          

         It all began when Cathleen came across an article about microblading which made her obsess about having hers done. First thing that came to her mind was how much time this microblading procedure would save her.

           When Cathleen’s mom saw her microbladed eyebrows, she was so much impressed that she wanted to have hers done. However, the wait list was at least 5 months in advance.

          

          “My mom said I was a pro at drawing eyebrows and makeup. So, she encouraged me to look for a school abroad so I that I could do her eyebrows. Since I’m a stay-at-home mom, I actually considered it”, smiles Cathleen.

Microblading

         “I was trained by one of the finest semi-permanent cosmetic tattoo artists in Asia and in the world. At first, I just took the Basic Beginners Class and practised microblading on latex”, Cathleen narrates.

      Also known as “eyebrow embroidery”, microblading is a relatively new, manual method for semi-permanent eyebrows. The procedure is different from the traditional hairstroke technique done by machine.

           Microblading is done using a very fine blade to deposit pigments into the epidermis. Because the color is closer to the surface, the strokes appear crisp and very fine. There is no “spilling” under the skin.

          “I did my research about microblading and of course, I wanted the best. In the process, I learned that different Asian countries have different patterns so I had mine done with who I think makes the most natural-looking eyebrows abroad”, discloses Cathleen.

Depending on the drawing technique, microblading creates an individual look for each eyebrow. So-called HD and 3D eyebrows do not appear as tattoos.

Kilay squad

            When Cathleen came back to Cebu, she was confident enough to do it on real people. Her daughter’s caregiver was the first ‘brows-tomer’.

            “I really had to convince her that I was ready so eventually, she let me do her eyebrows which turned out fab”, Cathleen recalls.

          The hands-on mom proudly posted her initial creation’s before and after photos on Facebook and Instagram. Soon after, people came to her wanting to have their eyebrows done as well.

According to Cathleen, the ideal candidates for microblading are those aged 18 years old and above; and people who suffer from hair loss and have sparse eyebrows. It is also an alternative for people who want to define the shape of their eyebrows and those who want to correct old faded eyebrow tattoos.

             

            In addition, it is recommended for gym rats who sweat a lot without worrying whether their eyebrows are still “on”. It is also for beach lovers who don’t want their eyebrow makeup to be “washed away”.

            After doing around 50 eyebrows, the kikay mompreneur later enrolled in Advanced Microblading Class with Tricopigmentation (Scalp Tattoo).

I woke up like this....

           For the kilay fanatics wanting to achieve the “I-woke-up-with-gorgeous-eyebrows” look, microblading seems to be a tempting choice.

  

            “The microbladed eyebrows appear very natural because it is semi-permanent. Best of all, unlike the old tattoo procedure of yesteryears, the colors won’t change to green, blue or red over time”, distinguishes Cathleen.

             The ink utilized for microblading will completely fade in 5-6 years while the microbladed eyebrows will last 2-3 years depending on skin type but will last longer with retouch every 1 or 2 years”, Cathleen details.

In microblading, the pigments are manually placed into the skin. As with the handle of the machine, the microblading manual pen is equipped with sterile packaged blades ("slope" style, in U-shape or curvy.). The blade glides with gentle pressure over the skin and causes a fine cut. The cut is as fine as a papercut and you can hardly distinguish it from real hair.

           Cathleen assures that she uses a potent numbing cream in her microblading procedure.”There is actually no recovery time after and no swelling. But, you cannot get the eyebrows wet or touch them for 48 hours or 2 full days”, she advises.

  

           “Right after the procedure, your eyebrows will look fantastic after the pictures are taken. It will get really dark on the 2nd day and start to slowly peel off on the 4th to 6th day. By day 7, it will look 20-30% lighter”, Cathleen says.

           Aside from microblading, Cathleen likewise trained for eyeliner or eyelash enhancement on the lash line, lip tattoo and scalp tattoo.

         So, if you are a kikay-on-the-go and want to save precious time with your makeup routine, book now with Cathleen G.!

            In partnership with Skin Doctors Clinic (SM Lanang branch), Cathleen G. will be in Davao on July 15-17, 2016 with limited slots, by appointment only. For inquiries, you may call or text (0917)7054277. Follow Cathleen G. on Instagram and Facebook at ibrowsbycathleeng.

Sensational Siem Reap

“Sensational Siem Reap”

Sun.Star Davao, June 11, 2016

          

"Remote and dusty".

These two words were recently used to describe Davao in an international article and, as expected, it generated a slew of strong reactions from proud and unabashed Dabawenyos. Netizens proudly posted photos online to highlight our beloved city’s present progressive state as if to retort, “How dare you call our city remote and dusty?!”.

I admit though, I had the same impression before setting foot in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Save for being curious to explore its renowned temples, I hardly harbored any other expectations that can arouse any first time traveler to this exotic destination. There were even times I had doubts whether it would be better to go light and easy with just me and my hubby on this tick-off-our-bucket-list trip.

However, all these changed as soon as our Cambodia Angkor Air plane landed at Siem Reap International Airport from Ho Chi Minh City.  From relief to pure excitement and readiness to explore, we were met with cool air conditioning, modern facilities and courteous staff as we lined up for our turn at the immigration area. A money exchange counter could be found at the airport. But, as we soon found out, there was really no need to convert U.S. dollars to the local Cambodian Riel because both currencies were widely accepted in Siem Reap. Free WIFI was likewise available in most tourist-related establishments so purchasing internet SIM cards was not necessary.

Meeting us at the airport was Bayon Boutique Hotel’s amiable driver who spoke fluent English. When he discovered that we were from the Philippines, he eagerly intimated that he, together with his fellow Cambodians, always rooted for Manny Pacquiao during his boxing matches. Just like us Filipinos, they would go as far as taking the day off from work to watch his fights live on TV. 

Khmer and more

Our contemporary Khmer-styled hotel, which I serendipitously chanced upon via Booking.com, exuded a homey feel with its attentive staff and distinct interiors. The spacious family room was quite a steal with two queen sized-beds, separate bathtub and shower and two bathroom sinks while our mini bar was complimentary for the first set of assorted beverages. 

After a leisurely swim at the hotel’s pristine saltwater pool, we walked a few steps from the hotel to take our early dinner at Kuriosity Kafe. Because we worked up an appetite after our swim, we ordered Fish ‘n Chips, Beef Lok Lak, Puttanesca, Pad Thai and Chicken Fingers with Fries. These came in huge American-sized servings and were fairly priced.

With over an hour to spare before our circus show, we boarded the tuktuk (a hat tip to the Thai pedicab) to the Old Market for some souvenir shopping. Seeing all the international restaurants lined up along Pub Street (another instance showing the openness of Siem Reap to foreigners) thrilled the foodie in me. It was as if Boracay’s vibrant food scene was transported to Siem Reap. While indulging on our delectable gelato, I made a mental note to carefully plan our gastronomic agenda for the next two days.  Ahhh…so many food choices, so little time!

A 10-minute tuktuk ride took us to Phare, the Cambodian Circus. It is Siem Reap’s highly rated evening entertainment where energetic performers weave historical, folk and modern Cambodian stories through theater, music, dance and circus arts. An association called Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) empowers the disadvantaged but talented young Cambodians through arts education in Battambang, Cambodia.  In a brief moment, our family was transported back in time as Cambodian history was entrancingly unfolded before us, giving us a glimpse of the country during its golden age, through its bloody upheaval and eventually its modern renaissance and resurgence, all along impressing on us its peace-loving people and culture.

After the show, we returned to the hotel for a good night’s rest to energize us for our whole day temple tour the following day.

Temple run

At 5:00 a.m. and with the hotel’s breakfast boxes in tow, we were picked up by our very efficient driver Phalit Ngin (E-mail address: phalitsiemreap@gmail.com) whom we booked via e-mail a few weeks before.  This guy swiftly responded to our email and initial queries before we left for Cambodia, and constantly expressed his thanks for giving him work to do.

At Angkor Archaeological Park, there were three kinds of passes to choose from: US$20.00=one-day pass; US$40.00=3 days visit with one-week validity (Any 3 days in a week and 3 holes punched at the checkpoint); as well as US$60.00=7 days visit with one-month validity (Any 7 days in a month and 7 holes punched at the checkpoint). And, good news, kids 12 years old and below were free of charge provided that their passports were presented.

Catching the sunrise at Angkor Wat was the first order of the day. When we arrived, there was already a sizable crowd gathered behind the lake with their cameras in position, all set to capture their winning shots. As the sun gloriously rose above Angkor Wat, I silently said a prayer of thanks to the Lord for allowing me to witness this enchanting view with my family.

After taking a couple of snaps, we basked in the rich and orangey glow of Mr. Sun and made a slow retreat back to our rented car. En route to Bayon Temple, we passed by stone-carved devas (guardian gods) on the bridge to Angkor Thom.

Splendidly decorated with smiling stone faces and countless bas-reliefs, our family unanimously chose Bayon Temple as our favorite temple at Angkor. It was believed to be built in the late 12^th or early 13^th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. For her Littlest Pet Shop Instagram account, my youngest daughter positioned her LPS toys against Bayon’s baroque style Khmer architecture and came up with dramatic results.

Among the most recognized temples at Angkor is Ta Prohm where Actress Angelina Jolie’s “Tomb Raider” movie was filmed on location. Deserted and neglected for centuries after the Khmer Empire’s fall in the 17^th century, Ta Prohm’s most characteristic feature were the ancient fig, banyan and kapok trees growing out of the ruins amidst its jungle surroundings. It became part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1922.

Laughter in the rain

Each time we boarded the car, Phalit would thoughtfully offer ice cold bottled water. The kind gesture was always appreciated because the 38 degree Celsius-temperature left us dehydrated and sluggish. He also allowed us to take brief breaks inside the car with the air-conditioner turned on in-between temple visits to recharge our not-so-little ones’ depleting energy.

Upon Phalit’s suggestion, we added Banteay Kdei to our temple tour after lunch. Also known as “Citadel of Monks’ Cells”, it was a Buddhist temple with a Bayon architectural style constructed in the mid-12^th to early 13^th centuries AD during Jayavarman VII’s reign. Until the 1960s, it had been occupied by monks at different periods over the centuries.

Returning to Angkor Wat in the mid-afternoon, we were greeted by a much-welcome rain shower. The 30-minute rain refreshed our bodies and spirits and made exploring the “City of Temples” a more comfortable one. Regarded as the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat began as a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire but was eventually recreated into a Buddhist temple around the 12^th century.

Famished after our day-long “temple run”, we bade goodbye to Phalit at Pub Street where we then enjoyed chimichangas, quesadillas, nachos, and hearty tomato soup at Viva Mexican Restaurant. For reaching my maximum step target for the day, I treated myself to a huge glass of frozen margarita which only cost US$1.50. Salud!

Charmed

Another round of ‘chillax’ swimming and lounging by the hotel pool was done on our final day followed by late lunch at Angelina Jolie’s well-loved Siem Reap hang-out, The Red Piano. Their scrumptious Cambodian Fish Amok and Smoked Salmon were instantly devoured by our hungry brood. There’s always room for dessert in our family, so we headed to Blue Pumpkin for yummy ice cream and pastries.

Afterwards, we did last-minute pasalubong shopping at the Old Market and Night Market. More eating ensued, with fruit shakes and local stir-fried noodles, this time around. As we sat contentedly on the plastic chairs by the road savoring our street food, it dawned on me that this short vacation was surprisingly among the best family trips we’ve ever had. We did not just enjoy Siem Reap but endeared ourselves, kids included, to this magical place.  

How can one not fall in love and be charmed with Siem Reap? The Cambodian people were genuinely warm and hospitable; the food choices were exceptionally diverse; and the temples, breathtakingly out-of-this-world! 

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.