From Black to White... Skin!

This is incredible!

I saw this billboard while cruising through San Miguel Ave recently:

If you grew up in the Philippines, you should know the lady in the photo is Jinky Oda -- a dark-skinned actress/comedienne from the days of "Okey Ka Fairy Ko."

I nearly fell of my car seat when I saw it! How did she get so.... white? Surely, it's not that Glutamax she's endorsing??? If you've seen Tropic Thunder, Jinky kind of reminded me of the Robert Downey Jr character, who had undergone major surgery to make himself black.

It really makes you wonder why being fair-skinned is desperately sought after by Pinoys. Is this really just a Filipino thing, or are other Asians the same?

Is the lightness of your colour really a standard of beauty? I admit, I'm guilty of having used some of these whitening lotions and toners, but I've never taken any pills (glutathione supplements) because I'm too scared of what it will do to my kidneys. I'm not vain enough to risk my health.

But I've stopped doing anything of that sort -- I'm too fond of the beach and if I'll just end up going back to my normal colour, then what's the bloody point of it all? I've accepted what I am au naturelle.



Here's a rather cheesy video of Jinky's supposed transformation. It's amazing to see how one can go from one extreme to another. I suggest you start at time stamp 2:20 minutes because the video is unbelievably long.