The Composed Gentleman

Antioxidants operate against free radicals which cause a breakdown of many tissues in the body, including the skin. When found in small quantities in the body, free radicals are not harmful and are even involved in various physical processes. When there is an excess of free radicals, however, as occurs during normal aging or as a result of excessive exposure to ultra-violet radiation from the sun, the result, among other things, is a breakdown of the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. When this happens, there is a loss of skin elasticity and the formation of wrinkles.

Dr. Bossi is looking towards a new generation of cosmetic products which will not only combat wrinkles but will be more effective against deeper levels of skin wrinkles than current products. Dr. Bossi did not reveal the plant source she used to derive the antioxidant, since the research is in the process of being patented.

In her research, Dr. Bossi conducted experiments on mice skin tissue, which, she says, resembles that of humans. She applied her antioxidant on two skin cell groups – those which had been exposed to the sun’s rays and received her antioxidant and those which also had been exposed to sun but did not receive the antioxidant. The untreated cells showed a rise in free radicals causing wrinkles, while those cells which had been treated showed no significant increase in the free radicals level.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers, popularly known as the Madz, was again proclaimed the best choir in the world after topping the 2007 European Choral Grand Prix in Arezzo, Italy last Sunday, the only choir to ever win the distinction twice.

The Madz first won the honor in 1997 in Tours, France. The European Choral Grand Prix was established in 1989.

The group bested four other championship choirs from Cuba, Hungary, Russia, and Taiwan. They earned the right to compete in this year’s Grand Prix by winning the Florilége Vocal de Tours in France last year.

The Grand Prix winner, or laureate, receives a diploma, trophy, cash prize up to 4,000 euros and other prizes determined by the organizing city. Strict competition rules prohibit the laureate from competing in international choral competitions for the next two years.

The Madz was organized in 1963 by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion as the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers, composed of students, faculty and alumni of the university.

Following a Renaissance tradition, they sing in a semicircle without a conductor. The Madz has an extensive repertoire that ranges from classic choral masterpieces to avant-garde compositions, Renaissance madrigals to folk, pop and humorous novelty numbers.

The group hit the international stage in 1969 at the 1st Choruses of the World Festival at the Lincoln Center in New York, and has performed to critical and popular acclaim all over the world. They have won top prizes in practically all international choral competitions, and have nearly 40 Philippine and international recordings. They have performed before royalty and heads of state, including Pope Paul VI, King Juan Carlos of Spain and American Presidents Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon.

The Madz led by choir master Mark Anthony Carpio will return to Manila today.

In its annual report on international business, Grant Thornton International – through its local partner accounting firm Punongbayan & Araullo – placed business optimism in the Philippines at 88 percent.

The report said businesses in the country are more optimistic of revenue, giving it a 75 percent rating as against the previous year’s business expectations of only 59 percent.

The optimism of local businesses regarding revenue has surpassed the East Asian average of 68 percent and the global average of 70 percent. Business optimism regarding profitability in the coming years is at 65 percent.

Among the countries surveyed, it is only in the Philippines where women enjoy as many opportunities and privileges in senior management roles as men.