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I am taking a stand against the tanning industry. I am pledging to be tan free. I am proud to wear my natural skin tone. I have been impacted by cancer.
Diyyinah, January 10th, 2012

My Experience Enjoying the Sun Safely in the Phillipines

This month, I got the opportunity to escape Canada’s cold weather and spend 2 weeks in Philippines. I was so excited to spend December in a tropical country and explore islands and sandy clear water beaches. As soon as I stepped out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, I immediately felt the change in temperature as I walked towards the pickup area in my sweatpants, fleece hoodie, and scarf. It certainly wasn’t winter anymore!

Finding sunscreen in the Philippines was not an easy feat. Smaller scale stores did not carry them and when I visited a pharmacy chain, I had to ask a pharmacist to pull out sunblock for me from their back room. (Tip: Pack your own sunscreen from home!) They had a limited variety, and I noticed that most of their sunscreen were advertised as “SPF 50, intensive whitening!” I chose an SPF 60 brand that did not promote itself as a skin whitening product and that seemed the most like what I would find back home in Canada. (The bottle cost P500 and daily wage there is about P400. $1 is around P42.)


My brother took photos of everything, even me putting on sunscreen!

The weather was gorgeous. It was 30 degree sunshine every day except for the one day it rained and flooded. The rain caused the river to flood over and rise to the level of the bridge we drove across! There would also be the occasional cloudy weather. But don’t be fooled! Up to 80% of the sun’s rays can still seep through clouds and fog.


Seeking shade and “holding” a palm tree

If you ever visit Philippines I would recommend island hopping at Hundred Islands in Alaminos City. It’s beautiful out there! My family rented a boat and we sailed the waters passing by each island. You can have a picnic, go hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, or even spelunking. There was the occasional crab and tiny shark, but not to worry, we were safe on a boat. Just remember your big floppy hats, sunglasses, parasols, and sunscreen!


The view after hiking up to the top of Governor’s Island


Enjoying the sand, sun, and water

For 2 weeks my uniform was gold sandals, a loose t-shirt, and shorts or long skirts or pants. I made sure to avoid the sun’s harmful rays as much as possible between 11am to 4pm. I also applied sun screen regularly and wore a native hand-woven wide brimmed hat that I bought while on vacation.


Those hats also make great souvenirs!

Travelling is always an amazing experience and this Christmas was certainly one of my most memorable. I totally and completely recommend that you go to the Philippines on vacation and explore the islands!

How did you spend your holidays?


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Diyyinah, Tanning, Youth, December 11th, 2011

Interview with Mayor Desjardins of Esquimalt

by Diyyinah Jamora and Brittney Parks

The truth is tanning is not healthy. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), from the sun and tanning devices, is a known carcinogen. In other words, indoor tanning can cause cancer. Melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer for people aged 15-29 and it’s mostly preventable.

The risks of tanning can be difficult for many individuals to face – for both infrequent and avid tanners. However, youth across the province are speaking out about this issue. They have played an important role in the passing of BC’s first legislation banning the use of indoor tanning for those under the age of 18 within the Capital Regional District.

We had the opportunity to hear from Mayor Barb Desjardins of Esquimalt regarding youth involvement in this issue.

Youth in the region have shown their strong support for a ban on indoor tanning. “We started receiving emails, sent to all the CRD Directors from youth at one of the high schools here. The message was clear: ‘Help us save our friends. Help us by imposing this bylaw,’” says Mayor Desjardins. The youth of the region sent messages of support with personal stories of illnesses, such as melanoma, and of friends and family who have been affected by the dangers of UV.

Teens can really get political too! “We would have a room full of high school students telling us “you are doing the right thing. You are doing the right thing,” she adds, “To see so much youth engagement in a political process was phenomenal.” The involvement of youth has really proved to be fruitful: “If you had 35 year olds and up saying the same message it would not have been the same message.”

Given that indoor tanning can cause skin cancer, and is especially harmful to young people, the Canadian Cancer Society is asking the BC government to pass province-wide legislation banning those under the age of 18 from using artificial tanning equipment.

At this year’s Union of BC Municipalities Convention, a resolution was put forward by Esquimalt, resolution B157, calling on UBCM to lobby the provincial government to introduce legislation to ban indoor tanning for youth under the age of 18. The resolution passed with overwhelming support. “I was very pleased to see that it was an overwhelming support for the resolutions, which indicated people felt it was important no matter where you were in BC,” says Mayor Desjardins.



At UBCM, with petitions in support of a ban on indoor tanning for those under 18

Mayor Desjardins of Esquimalt has some great words of wisdom for you. “Yes, it is the reality that the sun is wonderful, but it can also be harmful. And you can enjoy it without overdoing it. We need to really understand that the things that we do when we are younger are going to influence what we do when we are older.” she says.

Here is a quotation we would love to have posted on our bathroom mirrors: “Beauty is not within a tan, beauty is within.” Well said! Let the beauty within you be the one to shine.


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