MANILA, Philippines — At 14, Dina Dela Paz-Stalder’s daughter was having vision problems that worried the family.
“Her eye pressure was 26/25 (the normal vision is 20/20),” recounted Dina during the third anniversary of her Diana Stalder Face, Body, Skin Care and Beauty Café in Gateway Mall.
Her other daughter, Diana, a licensed pharmacist who took a special course in the United Kingdom, sprung into action. She created fresh juice from carrots, celery, apple and other healthy ingredients and gave it to her younger sister for a month.
Even the eye doctor was amazed.
“What did you do? You’re so lucky! Your eye pressure became 15/16!” Dina quoted the doctor.
This was not the first time hers and her family’s devotion to healthy eating worked wonders. Dina knows medical practitioners may frown on her, but she insists she had no need for hypertension medication when she stuck to a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet for five years.
“I’ve never gained weight since,” she added, admitting that she used to be on the chubby side herself. “All you have to do is go on a diet. After that, you can eat everything – in moderation, even lechon.”
Dina has gone beyond lip service regarding healthy eating. She decided to create her own healthy dishes using ingredients that help local farmers. She went to Sagada and bought brown rice from local farmers.
“I love the Philippines,” she said. “Let’s help our countrymen. We’ve forgotten them. Although I’m not rich, I never dreamed of getting rich in other countries. I know I’m sharing good things with our kabababayan.”
It goes without saying that Dina walks the talk at home. She replaced all ornamental plants with vegetables and herbs, which she mixes in the recipes she serves at her DS Café.
Dina got the idea for the café during her trips in the United Kingdom and Spain, where she saw beauty centers offering healthy eating alternatives to clients. So she thought it would be great to bring the concept to the Philippines and serve healthy food at affordable prices. Clients will not only look beautiful. They would also feel good.
One of interesting items on the menu is a Memory Enhancer Juice made up of apples, celery, kale and lemon. Another is Pork Chop with Mushrooms that uses sea salt to enhance flavor.
You can still avail of skin care services such as Nacar Treatment, Caviar facial treatment + anti-aging kit, Skin Sensations Treatment + Gold Mask and Instalift Treatment + RGnerin Mask, of course. It is just that now, the emphasis is more on wholistic health.
Recently, Dina has been selected one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World (Global FWN100) by the Filipina Women's Network.
The Global FWN100 Award recognizes 100 women of Philippine ancestry who are changing the face of leadership in the global workplace, having reached status for outstanding work in their respective fields and are recognized for their achievement and contributions to society, "femtorship" and legacy. Dina was selected from an outstanding field of nominees from around the world.
The Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Award - Founder and Pioneer award category honors Filipina women in their capacities as the chief executive, president, executive director or founder of a company, community organization, non-profit, or business venture that they helped start, build or significantly grow. This award category is for the trailblazers who have marshaled resources and applied innovative practices, processes and/or technologies in a new and groundbreaking way to address significant business or organizational opportunity.
“The Global FWN100 women are dynamic entrepreneurs, rising stars under age 35, practitioners, behind-the-scene leaders, community, government and corporate managers and executives who have moved through the ranks in large organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies. They are inspiring examples of women doing extraordinary work who will motivate our youth and future leaders,” said Marilyn Mondejar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Filipina Women’s Network. “They were selected based on the size and scope of their positions, influence in their industries and their communities, board affiliations and other leadership roles.”
"Dina Dela Paz-Stalder is now a valued partner in helping FWN develop the Filipina community's pipeline of qualified leaders to increase the odds that some will rise to the president position in all sectors of the global economy," added Dr. Maria Beebe, FWN’s Board Chair. "We gather all these amazing women at the Filipina Summit to inspire each other and create synergy. We interview each awardee so that their collective stories of how they disrupted their professional and personal lives will be partof the largest recorded Diaspora in modern times."
“The summit’s theme this year is Filipina Women: Leading. Advocating. Impacting. Seeing all the Awardees on stage during thegala awards ceremony assures me that the future of our young Filipina sisters is solid,” said Susie Quesada, President of Ramar Foods and FWN President. “Awardees often share this inspiring evening with their mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sons, spouses, partners, young women and men, mentors and bosses from their organizations. They all come on stage to celebrate her.”
"I feel overwhelmed that I have been awarded for the Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World Award: Founder & Pioneer. I did not expect that they're going to give me this opportunity to show my capability as a Filipino and as a woman in inspiring business entrepreneurs. Now, I am more motivated to encourage more people with my story - from my humble beginnings to the dazzling height of success. May we all continue to work together, nurture and empower this unique group, FWN," said Dela Paz-Stalder.