OBRA
SUB ROSA invites new readers on Hanihara’s Poetry Collection

MARIA LINDA FELIPE HANIHARA
Posted on Nov. 25, 3:00 p.m.
SUB ROSA: The Crucifix of a Poet and other Poems is a collection of written works by Maria Linda Hanihara, an award-winning creative writer, editor, lawyer, wife and a devoted mother to her special child, Mina Ellen.
Launched recently via online, the poetry book is the author’s open vault containing a compilation of her thoughts, feelings and experiences about her personal life, and more importantly, her journey with her daughter.
First printed in May 2014, Sub Rosa features poems she has written over a span of several years that the poet had kept to herself. For Linda then, writing was more of a hobby while she pursued other fields of study, but her brilliance with the pen shined through even without the grind.
“Writing has always been her life’s passion. She would write poems everywhere she goes, especially when she’s travelling,” according to Milagros F. Viernes, Linda’s sister.
But admittedly, she was “on a mission to undermine her gift” and never got around to compiling her works to the least- of the many poems scribbled on the pages of her notebooks, pad papers, diaries and others, much less to have it published as a collection. It was only through her sister Milagros F. Viernes’ encouragement that made her come up with a book.
The poetry book offers 125 poems, including the masterpieces that first appeared in Focus magazine, 1976, 1980; Literary Apprentice, 1981-82; Inspirations in Ink, 1992, and Caracoa III, 1983.
“The collection gives a picture of a woman who is intelligent, very emotional and passionate, and very hurt. Frailty and strength mix in her like soda and gin, though her strength is usually a front and takes more force with each betrayal and searing disappointments in her love affairs, whether romantic or otherwise… (Sub Rosa) is interesting for the stuff in it,” wrote Filipino poet Ricardo de Ungria.
Assistant Professor Rosella Torrecampo, one of Linda’s friends, has this to say, “National Artist Francisco Arcellana always said that we can only write about what we know. That is material. But what it is we do to what we know, to turn it into narratives, poetry, drama or any other discourse so far removed from what it is, so these can be what is possible or can be imagined, that is where the magic, akin to omnipotent power that gave rise to creation, gets to be wielded and perfected. Such is the writer’s craft. Such was Linda’s work.”
“SUB ROSA is my offering to appease the past and inspire the future. I recognize the certainties only divine intervention can change. I now embrace tomorrow and accept all the little surprises God has in store for me. I am beginning to really live,” shares Linda and she did live life to the fullest. The second printing of Sub Rosa in June 2017 was dedicated to her passing after she succumbed to breast cancer in 2016.
At a time when social media has become the source of daily buzz and everywhere hype, soulful and poetic people tend to crave for some literary pieces that would speak their minds and feed their inner being; some kind of literary pieces, with old charm just like that of Edgar Allan Poe’s.
For readers with discerning tastes, the poet has a compilation of unique and classical pieces of poems based on her life’s musings; poems that fire up readers to think deeply of her pains and the angst, and to join in the revelry of her triumphs.
As readers would decipher from her pieces, Linda’s success in life is one wherein the author depicts her loneliness and yearning while caring for her special child. Amidst that, she carried on with her life in gratitude and in God’s grace. Mina Ellen Felipe-Hanihara was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1994. A special child who can not speak or talk, she had her first solo exhibition entitled “LET US BLEND AND BREW, THREE IN ONE FOR KALIKASAN in 2017, sponsored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week. Featured were 13 beautiful paintings of trees, mountains, flowers and the environment among others. In 2019, she had her 2nd solo exhibition dubbed “September to Remember” again at the DENR where a total of 13 acrylic painting on canvass were displayed at the Biodiversity Management Bureau, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife under the leadership of Ms. Julie Gorospe-Ibuan, Chief of the Stakeholders Management and Conflict Resolution Division. Mina’s paintings were also exhibited at the Philippine Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany. The exhibition was titled Art Beyond the Spectrum of a Girl with Autism.
In between chapters, readers will also find some of the artworks of accomplished painter and the poet’s daughter, Mina Ellen.
SUB ROSA is available only in Amazon. Please click https://www.amazon.com/Sub-Rosa-Crucifix-Other-Poems-ebook/dp/B09K37YHXW
About the Author:
Maria Linda Felipe-Hanihara finished her Bachelor of Arts, major in English (Cum Laude) and Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She has an M.A. in International Relations, major in International Politics, from the University of Japan. She attended both the UP Summer Writers Workshop and the Silliman University Writers Workshop in the late 70s. After a brief stint at the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Office of the Solicitor General, she was based abroad and worked for The Japan Times, a major English daily, as an International Desk and People Page editor and writer/contributor.
Maria Linda Felipe contributed poems to the October 1983 Edition of Caracoa III, the poetry journal of the Philippines Literary Arts Council.
She was awarded an Accomplishment of Merit for the outstanding literary piece “Flowers” in the book, Inspirations in Ink.
OBRA
Lush Lips by The Icon Clinic: More than Just lip service

June 22, 2023 1:39 p.m.
There are countless songs and stories written about the desire to turn back the clock. Many people want to slow down the aging process and hold on to their youth for a little while longer.
While signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, and thinning lips are inevitable as one advances in age, and while it is impossible to turn back time, experts like the medical team of The Icon Clinic can help reverse various signs of aging safely.
Having fuller lips gives one a more youthful appearance, and if one desires to have that bee-stung look, they can seek the help of medical practitioners to undergo a procedure like Lush Lips by The Icon Clinic wherein lip fillers are injected into the lips to give them more volume.
According to Dr. Eric “Yappy” Yapjuangco and his team of specialists, lip fillers are made up of hyaluronic acid, a sterile, biodegradable, clear and colorless material used widely to enhance volume. Lush Lips, a newly-launched service by The Icon Clinic, is an in-clinic procedure, which usually takes 15 to 30 minutes and the patient may go home after.
While the market is flooded with self-administered hyaluronic pens, Doc Yappy cautions the public against using them.
“Lip fillers should be administered by experienced healthcare practitioners to minimize adverse effects. The hyaluronic acid pens available in the market may not be FDA approved and may not be safe at all to be administered into the lips, let alone be self-administered. I would not advice doing this. It may cause adverse effects like allergic reaction to the product, infection, and may ruin the lips. Also, there are people who are not good candidates for lip fillers like those with oral sores or oral infections,” he said.
Doc Yappy attributes the rising popularity of lip fillers to celebrities and bloggers who have openly admitted to getting them. It is considered by many as a positive thing because it removes the stigma of wanting to enhance one’s appearance through cosmetic procedures.
When asked about the difference between lip fillers and topical lip plumpers, Doc Yappy said, “Lip fillers give volume and shape that lasts for 8 to 12 months (case to case basis). Topical lip plumpers give temporary difference in how the lips would appear, but not as much as having a lip filler. Most lip plumpers will give you that ‘bee stung’ appearance. For longer lasting results, best to have filler injection.”
For people who believe they may have undergone one too many lip filler procedures and are not happy with the results, Doc Yappy assures them that this procedure is reversible as long as what was used was a hyaluronic acid-based filler.
For those who are interested in getting lip fillers, Doc Yappy has this to say, “Look for a clinic that uses FDA-approved products, research on the appearance of the lips that you want to achieve and discuss it with your healthcare provider/injector if this is achievable to manage your expectations.”
For more information about Lush Lips and other procedures offered by The Icon Clinic, please visit www.theiconclinic.com.

Watch the video for Lush Lips: https://fb.watch/lfEoqJkRoi/
OBRA
Be a glow-getter, glow better with Mestiza

August 24, 2022 3:21 p.m.
It’s not every day that we feel beautiful and sometimes It’s difficult to feel attractive without the “glow”, that radiance from healthy glowing skin.
When you have good skin, your confidence also improves since you feel in charge of everything – your image, health, and body.
Time to start lighting that spark of confidence and take charge of your glow, through skincare!
Proper skin care can go a long way in improving your overall beauty, it can also affect your self-confidence.
Don’t worry because we know the secret to boosting that confidence to its highest level by making your skin healthy and glowing, say hello to Mestiza!
This wonder soap has long understood the connection between healthy glowing skin and self-confidence and since the skin is connected to self-confidence, having beautiful skin can make one live a more lively, colorful, and confident life!
Mestiza uses the natural benefits of carrots, calamansi, banana, papaya, and extra premium virgin coconut oil to improve the health of your skin and leave it moisturized, clean and healthy.
Each ingredient nourishes and replenishes your skin, improving the look and feel of your skin. The same nutrients you get from fruits and vegetables can also nourish your skin when applied topically and it is important to nourish our skin with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to constantly make it look more vibrant and healthy.
Knowing you are doing the best for your skin will help with your self-confidence, and help create your glow so you can face every challenge in this world!
Know your skin type and use this healthy soap and you can finally say —— Gandang mestiza, Kutis Mestiza!
For inquiries and orders, visit www.mestiza.com.ph or call hotline 0917-3156192 / 0922-8887884. Available in all leading drugstores and supermarkets nationwide.
OBRA
Get a chance to own a Joya or an Imao through NFTs

July 14, 2022 8:00 p.m.
Scarletbox.io, the first blue-chip fine arts NFT (Non-Fungible Token) launchpad in Asia, has released its Soft Public Sale featuring National Artists for Visual Arts Jose Joya and Abdulmari Imao, together with their second generation of artists Andre Baldovino and Toym Imao, respectively.
Scarletbox.io aims to bridge the generations of arts and culture into the NFT space with their 2 Legends x 2 Generations drop. This drop features the artworks from the National Artists merged with the art style of their second generation with added animation and music.
What makes this drop special is that these national artists have been sold in auction houses locally and worldwide like Sotheby’s or Christines and are highly respected for their craft. Jose Joya’s record sale for a painting is US $2.2 million.
All artworks dropped are One-of-Ones with historical value and story. Each artwork is different from each other, with beautiful animation.

It’s a collaboration of two generations of artists in one work, all of whom have decades of respected reputation.
It’s the first memento of these four artists to enter the metaverse with their first NFT, truly a special once-in-a-lifetime moment. There is a lot of value in one’s first entry.
Each Founder’s NFT comes with a Limited Edition Collectible Box. It has a live Digital Frame, a vial with a token from the artist, and a certificate of Authenticity. One can now shout out and display his/her animated NFT at home or at work. It’s perfect as a gift to someone special.
This is the only time a Founder’s NFT will be released by Scarletbox. It allows whitelist access to all future drops at a discount. A whitelist is a special privilege to mint ahead of others at a special price.
Now is that chance to own a piece of history.
After a successful over-subscribed Private Sale, Scarletbox now opens its Founder’s NFT sale to everyone in a Soft Public Sale. One just needs to create an account at www.scarletbox.io to be able to purchase. Scarletbox accepts both fiat (peso/USD) and eth. For first timers, Scarletbox is the right place to start learning about NFTs. Its team has helped onboard many first-time happy NFT collectors.
For details, visit www.Scarletbox.io or email marketing@scarletbox.io for any queries or through soc-med: (Twitter) twitter.com/scarletbox_io; (Instagram) instagram.com/scarletbox.io; (Facebook) facebook.com/scarletbox.io; or (Discord) discord.gg/scarletbox.