GLITTER,  GLAMOR  &  GLITZ

MANILA, MARCH 29, 2008 (STAR) By Leah C. Salterio - Glittering, glitzy and glamorous. Those words aptly describe Belo Medical Group’s recent twin events — the launch of the second volume of Dr. Vicki Belo’s Skin Magazine, as well as the formal opening of Belo’s Trinoma clinic.

Tinseltown’s biggest stars who are Belo’s celebrity endorsers, created a stir at the Trinoma Park, where the outdoor launch was held following the blessing of Belo’s seventh clinic at the third level of the mall.

A svelte Claudine Barretto was draped in the arms of her hubby Raymart Santiago, when she arrived at the event. The actress is the cover girl of the Skin Magazine and is also the new face of Belo for the clinic’s billboards and print ads.

Claudine endorses SmartLipo and Carboxytherapy, two of the popular procedures at Belo that she did to lose weight after giving birth. She is photographed in the magazine cover by Jun de Leon, while her inside photos were taken by Raymond Isaac.

Dr. Belo cannot be any prouder now that a new magazine is released, highlighting the many beauty breakthroughs that Belo has pioneered in the specialized industry she has lorded over for the past 18 years.

Skin Magazine features the many celebrity endorsers of Belo giving testimonials about the treatments and services they regularly avail of in the clinic. The magazine is littered with never-before-seen photographs of Zsa Zsa Padilla, Lorna Tolentino, Christopher de Leon, Richard Gomez, Albert Martinez, Anne Curtis, Lucy Torres-Gomez, Katrina Halili, John Lloyd Cruz, Sam Milby, Piolo Pascual, Ara Mina, Phoemela Barranda, Joyce Jimenez, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Christian Vasquez, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca Gonzales, Eula Valdez, John Estrada, Paolo Contis and Will Devaughn.

Skin Magazine also focuses on the popular procedures being offered in the Belo clinic, like Thermage, Firm-Plus, eyelid and nose surgery, Carboxytherapy, Mesotherapy, Pan-G, Botox, Endermologie, breast augmentation and laser hair removal.

Belo further strengthens its lead in the industry as it brings its wide range of treatments and services to shopping malls in Metro Manila. With clinics at The Podium in Ortigas and Rustan’s Makati, Belo reinforces its presence in the malls with its new clinic at the third level of Trinoma in Quezon City.

With such strategy, the Belo Medical Group gets clients from all walks of life these days, marking the success of the company in both the medical and business fields. Other Belo clinics are in Medical Plaza and Rustan’s in Makati, Tomas Morato in Quezon City, Greenhills, San Juan, Podium in Ortigas Center and Westgate-Alabang.

The Belo clinic is the first ambulatory surgical center outside the hospitals, certified by the Department of Health (DOH). Initially identified with the rich and famous because of its celebrity clients, Belo has now captured more clients with its expansion to the malls.

“We aim to be accessible to more people who want to avail of our services,” says Dr. Belo, the company’s medical director, also known as Doctor to the Stars. She has been considered a successful entrepreneur, especially as she made it big in a field that was virtually unheard of several years back.

The steadily thriving medical firm made Dr. Belo a key player in the business and medical tourism sectors. Because of its world-class results, the Belo Medical Group has created a stir outside the Philippines, among fellow Filipinos and foreign nationals alike, making the clinic a global player. Dr. Belo is thus hailed Ambassadress of Beauty for the Philippines, tasked to promote the country as a world-class cosmetic surgery destination.

The open-air Trinoma park was transformed into a virtual party area by Cynthia Almario. Food was served by Bayon Alcoseba of Peppermill Catering, while the mouth-watering desserts were by chef Buddy Trinidad of Park Avenue Desserts.

The program was hosted by Mariel Rodriguez, Belo’s very own crooner Dr. Hayden Kho and Kitkat. The festive atmosphere at the twin event was highlighted by the unveiling of Skin Magazine with Claudine. French artist Moise kept the guests entertained with his upbeat music before and after the program.

Hayden likewise obliged to a few song numbers, including a duet with Kyla. Capping the event was a five-minute fireworks display that had everyone gushing at the kaleidoscope of colors dominating the night sky.

Big name stars who added glitter to the event included showbiz couples Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres, Albert and Liezel Martinez, Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez, Dingdong Dantes, Iza Calzado, Joyce Jimenez, Ara Mina, Donita Rose, Katrina Halili, Willie Revillame and John Estrada.

Dr. Belo was joined by her two children — Quark and Cristalle. Other celebrities who graced the launch were Pinoy Big Brother luminaries Kim Chiu, Bea Saw, Jayson Gainza, Kian Kazemi, Mickey Perz, Wendy Valdez and Say Alonzo, Pinoy Dream Academy champion Yeng Constantino, Angelu de Leon, Jamie Rivera, Tanya Montenegro, Phoemela Barranda, John Arcilla, Victor Basa, Rayver Cruz, Paolo Contis and IC Mendoza.

Also present were GMA 7 executives Darling de Jesus and Gigi Santiago, Atom Henares and girlfriend Karen Jones, musical director Raul Mitra and wife Cacai Velasquez, film critic and columnist Butch Francisco and John Joven.

Belo was supported by Spectrumed, D’Mark Multisales and Guevarra and Associates, Allergan, Santana-Javellana Construction and Development Corp., Abbymed Trading and PGA Cars. Partners of Belo were Chroma Medic, Great Door Advertising, Creative Skin Spa, Leo Pharmaceutical and Steifel Philippines, Inc.