Cory Quirino: Beauty, Health, and Wellness Personified

By: Lucile Bernardino-Tañalas


A look back
Cory Quirino, the third child of Tommy Quirino and Nena Rastrolio, is the granddaughter of the late Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. Her bloodline notwithstanding, she made her mark when she started hosting on television. Later, she had her own show, Citiline, a weekly show that delved into travel and fitness, and which was later known as “The Good Life with Cory Quirino.”

 

But how did Cory get into health and wellness?

 

Incorporated in “Citiline” was a segment aptly titled Forever Young that taught women of beauty that comes from within and not skindeep. “That segment inspired my televiewers so much, Lucile, that whenever they would meet me, they would nag me to death to repeat all my answers.” To keep herself from sounding like a broken record, Cory decided to compile these bits of advice in a book and called it Forever Young, after the TV segment. It became a national bestseller and made into a series
that has now three videos.


Her advocacies
Cory endorses health and beauty products, teaches health and wellness, writes a column for a newspaper, hosts TV shows and radio programs, and writes bestselling books. With all of these, she appears vulnerable to stress. But she remains in tiptop shape through the years. She reveals that she takes good care of her body, mind, and spirit—the three components of health and wellness—to live in the pink of health. “Our mind is as powerful as our body,” she explains. “It can make you sick or make you well. If you address what only concerns body it can only fix that one. You might exercise, eat the right kinds of food, but if your attitude in life is negative, if you are not nurturing yourself with life-affirming thoughts, if you are not forgiving, if your heart is full of bitterness and anger, if your expectations of yourself and other people are low, you are definitely not a beautiful person.”


The benefits of health and wellness are not often appreciated. Cory uses her shows to enable people to keep their body, mind, and spirit healthy.

 

Cory understands the health benefits of going vegetarian. So she advocates a meatless and organic diet for health reasons, especially in our heavily polluted world.

 

“Sixty percent of my diet is vegetables. The rest is fish,” she states with firmness in her voice.

 

While some make their schedule an excuse not to exercise, Cory does not buy the idea. “I commit myself to exercise every day.” She brisk walks at least 45 minutes every day. If it is impossible to go to the fitness gym to exercise, she does push-ups and abdominal crunches wherever she is.“Exercise is not about beauty. It’s about wellness. I exercise as a commitment to wellness.”

 

Cory is at her best when she is in control of her life, when “I can dictate to my body, mind, and spirit just how to feel and how to behave because I embrace a healthy lifestyle.” She feels a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment whenever she learns that she has made one person healthier by embracing a healthy lifestyle “dahil mahal magkasakit!” she stresses, mimicking a popular television endorsement.


A successful entrepreneur, Cory proudly talks about her guava skincare products, without fragrance and without chemicals, her line of virgin coconut oil-based products, and zero-trans fat snacks and organic herbal teas and juices displayed at her World of Wellness store in V-Mall. “Everything I have passionately believe in, the
guava and the coconut especially, I have already made that happen for myself in concoctions that I do in the privacy of my kitchen using natural indigenous Filipino products,” she says, pausing to catch her breath. “And they are affordable!”

 

Cory explains the importance of taking good care of one’s body.“You feel confident when you know you look good and feel good about yourself,” she points out. She dreams of creating a spa line using local products that are at par with imported ones. “Itaas natin ang bandila ng Pilipinas,” she says, revealing her nationalistic side.“Why buy imported when you can buy Filipino?”


How does the Cory enthusiasm get people involved in health and wellness? Without hesitation she answers, “I don’t teach people. I naturally attract people who love being well, who love to look younger and look beautiful, and who want to delay their aging process.”


It has been said that beauty has deadlines. But the idea does not seem to apply to Cory. She remains stunningly beautiful from the inside out.

 

And yet she has a “dark” secret to tell. “I love dark chocolates,” she discloses, giggling, when asked about her guilty pleasure. “At least a piece or two. Sometimes I have chocolate cravings like most women,” she whispers, adding that she can turn down a cheesecake but she can’t turn down a piece of chocolate.

 

In between sips of her favorite tea—cold ginger tea—Cory volunteers to talk about her
kidnapping story where she was abducted by bandits in a forest in Quezon Province. “No, I wouldn’t be offended had you asked me that,” she confides. “That kidnapping is so much a part of my life and part of my message of taking charge of your life and your emotions. I know I have a mission to do.” As a victim and survivor, Health & Home July-August 2010 47 and now Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption vice president, she is pretty much a vocal spokesperson for the organization.

 

As she came face to face with possible death, what were randomly going inside her head?“That I have to be in charge of my emotion. That I will survive this ordeal, painful it may be,” she stresses. “I realized my direct line to God (prayer) was open that day and that He answers prayers.”


She stands defiantly against women abuse. And she definitely loves everything about women, especially their power to make an impact not only in their home but in their society as well.

 

Bubbling with energy, she enumerates what she will do beginning this year until next year: launch a wellness video with an accompanying book, author two more books on health and wellness, launch wellness campaigns, create wellness events in every major city, and promote health and wellness the natural way.

 

Her other self
Cory loves doing the things she loves outdoors. Away from the TV camera, she immerses herself in community education, health, nutrition, livelihood, and medical
missions and outreach projects to the less fortunate.


“I am an active Rotarian for Rotary International Districts 3810 & 3830, the largest districts in the Philippines,” she states. “The part of me that you do not see is the Rotarian that is out there dedicating her time with her club to serve the less fortunate.” She has served as past president and district officer continuously for the last 18 years.


Walking the talk
She shares her source of inspiration to those who are not into the wellness program. “You’ve got the power but that power is dependent on your decision. Get
connected with your heart. Ask yourself what you want to do with your life. Desire it. Will it. Make it happen. There are only two forces—love and fear. The choice is always yours.”


When the perennial question pops up as to who makes her radiantly happy, she immediately answers, “Myself! I love myself. You have to tap the power of love.”


“You definitely love yourself,” I tell her, “You’re glowing.”

 

“Exactly, Lucile,” she answers.

 

“What about those who cannot love themselves,” I press on.

 

“I have a secret,” she begins. “Scientific studies have shown that whatever you feed your mind, your brain has no choice but to accept that as truth. So you look at yourself in the mirror and say to yourself, ‘I love myself. I deserve love and love deserves me. I claim it. And whether you believe it or not, you watch the miracles
happen.’ ”


But while she has her feet planted on terra firma, she continues to reach high; that is to be the one driving force that will keep natural medicine alive in this country. The epitome of women empowerment, she believes that the woman, being the foundation of every home, has the power to transform for the better not only for herself but for her family, friends, and the community.


As she has already established a reputation for her tireless advocacy on health and wellness, she has to be very careful in giving advice.“I have to walk the talk. How can
I have the credibility if I do not apply the rules to myself?” she emphasizes.


I nod in agreement.

 

Walking the talk is tall order, indeed. But to this beauty, health, and wellness icon, it is her perfect chance to make a change in people’s lives by living her message and doing her mission.

 

Lucile Bernardino-Tañalas is associate editor of Health & Home.

 


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