On July 27, I spent an entire day at the Manila Peninsula immersed in conversations about health, movement, and the science of feeling well. The Marie France Wellness Summit was neatly divided into four main topics: lifestyle and nutrition, movement and fitness, hormones, and stress and mental health.
Hosted by Issa Litton and attended by familiar faces like Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, Bernadette Allyson, Gela Laurel, Polo Ravales, Brent Javier, Mikaela Lagdameo, Amanda Griffin, and Gary Estrada, the program was anchored by the Marie France team and a lineup of wellness experts who shared insights that were equal parts science and practical advice.
One of the main takeaways for me was how lifestyle medicine is now considered the foundation of healthcare. It’s an evidence-based, clinical approach that supports long-term behavior change, built on six pillars: nutrition, exercise, stress management, substance control, sleep, and relationships. The striking statistic? Nutrition accounts for 80 percent of it.
Marie France, I learned, was the first to introduce non-invasive weight-loss procedures in the Philippines. In 2013, they expanded their services by bringing in nutritionists, helping clients build a healthier relationship with food. That move felt ahead of its time, especially now that “healthy” has become the new definition of sexy.
The summit also touched on biohacking—a millennial-fueled self-improvement trend that uses technology to manage stress and burnout. Think cold water therapy, intermittent fasting, red light therapy, and breathwork.
In contrast, lifestyle medicine focuses more on nutrition and daily habits. Both approaches share the same goal: improved well-being.
One fascinating fact that stuck with me was that serotonin, otherwise known as the happy hormone, plays a big role in regulating mood, sleep, digestion, and even how we perceive pain. About 95 percent of serotonin is actually produced in the gut, not the brain, which is why gut health can influence mood and overall well-being
On movement, the message was simple but powerful: “Movement is medicine.” Muscle is the foundation of metabolism and an organ of longevity.
The problem is, muscle mass naturally declines after age 30. Building lean muscle is key to staying metabolically healthy, and experts pointed out that “obesity, at its core, is a disease of the muscle.” Exercise, they stressed, should never feel like punishment—it’s about preserving our ability to move and live well.
The day’s sessions left me thinking about health not as a checklist, but as a set of daily decisions that stack up over time. Whether it’s eating mindfully, making space for strength training, or giving the body a proper night’s rest, these small actions can reshape the body and also the future we’re building for ourselves.
