Renewing friendship vows

Friends should renew their friendship vows like married couples renew their marriage vows.

I have been friends with Doc Manny and Dra. Pie Calayan for several years now. A few weeks ago, I was asked if I would be interested to renew my contract with Calayan Surgicentre. I said there’s really no contract to renew because my relationship with Drs. Manny and Pie is really personal.

“Why not renew our friendship vows?” I said in jest. And that’s exactly what happened. Over lunch, we had excellent food at Fely’s in Greenbelt as well as tons of laughter and spirited conversation. I’m grateful to the Calayans who have supported my various advocacies, from my Badminton Cup, scholarship drives, the Sendong-Sagip Kapamilya Project of ABS-CBN, to the Ladlad Partylist where I’m senior political adviser and many others. On my end, I also make myself available to the various endeavors of the Calayan couple.   

With Calayan Surgicentre, customers can get only the best and world-class service, products and treatments. I am a big fan of their Gold Facial and Tenor Treatment.

The Tenor Treatment is a non-surgical facelift that uses radio waves to transfer heat energy to the deep tissues of the skin. The skin becomes tighter, firmer and toned because the heat boosts collagen levels. The Tenor Facial lifts the skin smoothly and subtly, and is perfect for reducing eye bags, wrinkles and dark circles.

Its Gold Facial Treatment, on the other hand, is for skin-tightening and pigmentation. It is also an anti-aging treatment. The main ingredient of the procedure is the 24-carat gold, one of the softest metals easily absorbed by the skin. It reduces fine lines, facilitates the removal of toxins and wastes, improves blood circulation to bring glow to the face, enhances skin elasticity, accelerates cell renewal and reverses oxidation damage.

Proof of Calayan Surgicentre’s world-class service is its international clientele that includes a prominent Hollywood actor who regularly visits its clinic in Beverly Hills. Although the identity of the actor is strictly confidential, someone told us that he is in the movies Planet of the Apes and Contraband.

I’ve also been told that Doc Manny regularly visits Europe to personally take care of the skin of a member of royalty. It was the same Hollywood actor who recommended Doc Manny to His Highness. The Hollywood actor is a close friend of His Royal Highness who recently had a big party in Europe.

Who are the Hollywood actor and royalty? Your guess is as good as mine. Doc Manny was, according to my source, made to sign a confidentiality agreement that he must not reveal his high-profile clients.

From international personalities, let’s go to what local celebrities say about Doc Manny and Dra. Pie:

Amy Perez: I’m happy to be part of Calayan Surgicentre. Excited din ako to try their different services.

Valerie Concepcion: Dr. Manny as a person? I love Dr. Manny! He’s like family; he’s like a father to me. I’ve known him since I was a teenager and just starting in showbiz. He is a generous doctor, very kind. What services? Nagpapa-body scrub po ako sa kanila and facial.

Bangs Garcia: Dr. Manny is the best doctor I’ve known so far because he’s not only very good at his craft but he’s also a very good adviser. He’s not the type of doctor who would just want to take one’s money and earn. He makes sure that his clients are doing the right thing and making the right decisions. That’s why on my billboard I chose the statement, “Beautiful Mind, Beautiful Body… Calayan in Perfect Harmony.”

Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez: Yes, I believe Dr. Manny is an experienced good doctor. Magaling talaga and professional.

Councilor Kate Galang Coseteng: He’s a reliable and a very good doctor. He’s the type that won’t convince you to do something that you don’t need.

Doc Manny was recently hounded by controversies regarding their clinic in West Hollywood. According to reports, the clinic did not follow business and profession’s code in the United States and as a result, the Calayans are facing a three-year probation sentence, they have to pay $10,000 as fine and they can’t commit any violation anymore.

Following legal advice, they pleaded guilty for an erstwhile staff member who made an unauthorized medical procedure outside their clinic. “We are liable because she was under our company. Kailangan panagutan namin iyong ginawa niya.”

In contrast to an earlier report, they were only given a one-year probation. However, despite the controversies, they will not shut down the clinic and they still have plans of putting up more clinics in the future. The Calayan Surgicentre has been in the industry for 17 years.