Lawyer and businesswoman Loida Lewis released a book titled Look Young When You're Old – No Botox, No Surgery Last December. A philanthropist, she is the widow of Reginald Lewis, one of the most successful African-American businessmen in history – he reformed Beatrice Foods into a billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc., the company behind some of America's best-loved grocery brands like Swiss Miss. After his death, his widow ran the company and then sold it in the late 1990s.
A lawyer in both Manila and New York (she was the first Asian woman educated outside the US to pass the New York State Bar), she is on tour to promote Why should boys have all the fun? An Asian American story of love, marriage, motherhood and running a billion dollar empire. During the tour, she said at a press conference in Quezon City on January 20, “I am met with shock and awe whenever I mention that I am 80 years old. I am often asked what makes me act differently, that makes me look the way I do and have the energy that I have at this age.”
With 151 pages, the first few chapters describe Ms. Lewis's beauty routine. There are a few surprises: the wealthy Ms. Lewis names products from Chanel and Guerlain, but also local brand Eskinol (she uses it as makeup remover). Some of her beauty tips are as simple as drinking water and constant hydration with facial mists.
Such a book is not expected from a serious person. Other books in his collection include the above friendsbut he also has how to get a green cardand publishing her husband's autobiography, Why should white people have all the fun? Ms. Lewis's field is business and philanthropy, so we weren't expecting beauty tips from her, but she said, “It's not just about beauty. It's my philosophy in life.” For example, Chapter 3 begins with her spiritual life, her favorite prayers and Bible verses. She also practices Zen meditation, and she details her practice in the book. She also talks about friends, family and some of her causes. It's a good picture and guide to navigating life as a senior, but we would say it's written in a stream of consciousness style. Although the voice is that of a kind grandmother, so at least it's soothing.
“In the end, we are body and soul. You can't just work on the body, you have to work on the spirit,” she said. “Do good deeds.”
“There are no shortcuts,” she said. “What I'm telling you here, you have to do, chapter by chapter.”
Being a Filipino-American, we seriously asked him about the recent immigration policies in America. “The President of the United States is out of his mind. He is completely out of control. He is violating the Constitution of the United States. He is violating the laws of the state. He is violating decency. Hey Naku! walang modo (Harsh). bustus (rude). no harm (All this).”
Look Young When You're Old – No Botox, No Surgery (Anvil Publishing) is available in all National Book Store branches nationwide. It is also available for purchase on Shopee and Lazada. — Joseph L. Garcia