How Dina Bonnevie regained her wellness

MANILA, Philippines - Last July 8, The Medical City revealed the mysterious endorser for their comprehensive Wellness Center. This culminated a series of teaser ads, in which the endorser had her back turned. The center finally “turned her around,” so to speak, and introduced her to the media. And whose face was it? None other than that of multi-faceted entertainment star Dina Bonnevie.

Bonnevie is a rarity in the world of entertainment and business. She is both talented and intelligent, taking on projects on and off the camera with spunk, savvy, and passion. With a full plate of entertainment and business ventures, Dina’s days are usually jam-packed with activities. Which is why the seemingly tireless Ms. Bonnevie managed to burn herself out a year ago, which led to health complications and a yearlong hiatus from her busy schedule.

The hectic pace she was keeping was the key reason for the mild stroke she suffered in April 2009. She was rushed to the emergency room of The Medical City when her right arm went numb and it was then that she learned about her poor state of health. She decided it was definitely time to take a break and took a hiatus from her work commitments.

Using the time away from the limelight wisely, Dina, in partnership with the Wellness Center at The Medical City, focused on getting well and feeling better.

“I realized in a rather startling way that all the things in my life — lack of sleep, pressure, physical exhaustion — were really taking their toll on my health,” she recalls. “My diet was not optimal, either, and all of these things combined attributed to my sudden decline in health. I had to address all of these things in order to make a full recovery.”

At the time, she was still playing Malena Rodrigo on the TV soap May Bukas Pa, as well as doing her work as president of Fusion Telecommunications International (Philippines), Inc. She would have nothing but coffee for breakfast and limit her diet to salads, fruits and fish (when time permitted). “I thought I was doing fine because I considered myself a health buff,” Dina continues, “but I found out a lot of the things I was doing were actually ruining my health.”

After her ER scare, Dina met with consulting physician, Dr. Rolando A. Balburias, the consultant-director of The Medical City’s Center for Wellness and Aesthetics. He talked to her about her present condition and analyzed all her past medical records. From there, he introduced her to the Wellness Center and customized a wellness package that would best suit her needs and lifestyle. From there she went on to see other specialists upon his recommendation, including an allergologist, a nutritionist, and several other specialists, who helped her make the right health decisions to get her back into shape.

“Ms. Bonnevie is a very cooperative and good listener,” Dr. Balburias shares. “She asks intelligent questions and does her own research, which allows us to learn from her as well. That maximizes the benefits of our patient-partner relationship. That dynamic is what the center and The Medical City, as a whole, is about. As experts, we are here to guide our patients, empowering them to make their own intelligent decisions so that they can achieve optimum health for themselves.”

The goal of the center is to provide integrated, comprehensive care that is safe and innovative. In fact, Bonnevie appreciates the center’s philosophy. “I liked the idea of working with a team of board-certified physicians who actually discuss my situation with me in detail,” she says. “They didn’t just tell me what to do. I also appreciate their holistic approach. They analyzed my skin, weight, diet, exercise regimen, bone structure, and how all of these relate to my age.”

In addition, she likes that the center does not look like a hospital. The hotel-like facilities and warm staff ensured she had a relaxing and comfortable patient experience. The center even serves gourmet dishes prepared with each patient’s nutritional needs in mind.

“The Center reminded me of an important lesson,” Dina says. “If you feel good you will look good, so the first step to beauty is being healthy and feeling good inside. Indeed, if you are healthy it shows. A lot of people forget that. The end-all of beauty is wellness,” she concludes.

Indeed, as the center’s motto goes, wellness is the new beauty — to look your best, you have to feel your best. Dina Bonnevie epitomizes true beauty, and she hopes to inspire others to lead healthier, more beautiful lives.