More on Cosmo Bachelors!

Here is an interesting article about this year's batch of Cosmo Bachelors, with an interview with back to back Cosmo hunk Derek Ramsay :

Derek Ramsay makes the ladies swoon with "all-out, consistent hotness" in "Cosmopolitan"

Karen A. Pagsolingan

Friday, August 29, 2008

Why is September a hot month for ladies? It will rain men! Cosmopolitan magazine's annual list of 69 bachelors is officially out. And the fun, fearless females out there are in for 30 pages of "wet" hunks! Zo Aguila, editor-in-chief of Cosmo, tells PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that screening a room full of gorgeous guys is a most enjoyable thing to do, but it's no easy task. She says, "We always try to top our previous projects. So, this year's bachelor list, if I may say so, is our best count by far. We were ultimately looking for hunks who fulfilled fantasies." When asked about the criteria set for this year's Cosmo Men, Zo reveals: "We understand that each Pinay has her own type of swoon-worthy stud, so we tried to throw in a mix of everything—from tisoys and chinitos, to pure-blooded morenos. Also, we're always on the lookout for men who have that certain charm that girls can easily toy with in their imagination. This year's batch of bachelors is a group of worthy, crushable hunks—and they've got the wit and bodies to prove it."

DEREK ON COVER. There has been a clamor for this half-Pinoy/ half-British guy, and finally, he's gracing the cover. Zo relates, "We admit, Derek isn't new to Cosmo. In fact, he's been a Cosmo-certified hunk since as far back as we remember. However, with his current so-hot status and unwavering popularity, we felt that he'd make a fabulous cover for 2008's Cosmo Men issue. Having him grace this year's Cosmo Men cover is testament to his all-out, consistent hotness...and to Cosmo's undeniable strength of giving girls what they want."

CENTERFOLD HUNKS. And aside from the 28-year old actor, girls will find the other heartthrobs chosen for the Centerfold drool-worthy!

There's Paolo Contis, who completely sheds off his child-actor image in his "shower" pictorial. Another former child wonder, Billy Crawford, shows that it takes more than just his singing and dancing talents to be revered as an international star. Geoff Eigenmann's piercing gaze and charming smile are enough to melt any girl's heart.

Kapamilya stars Bruce Quebral, Jon Avila, and Ron Morales—who have lorded over fashion runways of Bench—prove that there's more to their being tall and handsome!

The first Pinoy Ford Supermodel Rocky Salumbides, cager Macky Escalona, half-Japanese/half-Brazilian Akihiro Sato have interesting stories to tell, as they also have great bods to display!

Zo explains how she and her team arrive at their choices, "Cosmopolitan's list of top ten centerfolds is comprised of industry hunks who have grown bold and sexy. We put in a mix of faces—from expected centerfolds and newcomers, to fresh boy-next-door-turned-sexy types. The repeat Centerfolds have to still be on the industry's sooo-hot radar; the newbies have to show pogi and lust potential; and the unexpected now-sexy crushables are the exciting additions to Cosmo's hall of fame. "The choosing is an exciting challenge every year, but the bottom line is this: We make sure to give the readers pages they'll giddily devour."

Other exciting things to look forward to in this year's Cosmo Men?

Zo says, "Aside from the fresh 69 faces and 8 first-time centerfold models this year, we got a little more personal, asked the men racier questions, and made them give their most candid, no-BS answers. Also, as an added treat, we made sure all the guys were wet."

If Derek, the Centerfold hunks, and the rest of the 69 bachelors are not hunkalicious enough for you...girl, from which planet are you from?

Go grab your copy now, and rave about the Cosmo Men's pogi points with your girlfriends.

Derek Ramsay is already taken, but you can take home this handsome, half-nude, and hunkalicious guy! The 28-year old actor graces the cover of Cosmo Men this year!

Presenting: The Cosmo Top 10 centerfolds for 2008

September is finally here! The most awaited edition of Cosmopolitan Magazine (Philippines) is already out with a special supplement containing pictures of 69 delicious bachelors from all over the country and 10 of the sought after male celebrities in sexy centerfold photos! The 10 guys who made the cut this year are (in no particular order): 1. JON AVILA 2. PAOLO CONTIS 3. BILLY CRAWFORD 4. GEOFF EIGENMANN 5. MACKY ESCALONA (former ADMU Blue Eagles basketball player) 6. RON MORALES (Bench Body endorser) 7. BRUCE QUEBRAL 8. DEREK RAMSAY 9. AKIHIRO SATO 10. ROCKY SALUMBIDES The September issues of Cosmopolitan Magazine (Philippines) with Maja Salvador as their cover girl (her first for the magazine) is now available at your leading bookstores and magazine stands. Take your pick and grab a copy before it runs out. Quick! Quick! Quick!

Ninoy 25 years after his death; Madonna: Fabulous at 50

Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of the assasination of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. It's been 25 years, but the real culprit/s remain to be unidentified to this day. I did not have any memory of Ninoy because I was not born during the Martial Law era, and I was only 10 months old when he was assasinated. But, he made a mark in my life because of how he was depicted in history books, and I am endlessly fascinated by his charm whenever I get to watch documentaries about his life. Maybe that's the reason why I love his daughter Kris to bits (eventhough not alot of people like her), it's because she has a father for a hero, and she had a very good father. Not alot of people can claim that they have a father for a hero, but she has one in Ninoy! Imagine your father's name being mentioned in the same breath as Jose Rizal, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and all those people who sacrificed their lives for their countrymen. One thing that struck me about Ninoy is his charisma with people, and his brain. I am so impressed by Ninoy's intelligence and the way he delivered his speeches in public. He is so enigmatic! One moment he's serious, another moment he's funny! I guess those are the traits that Kris inherited from her dad. To me, Ninoy was a rock star! I wish that he could have lived longer to serve the country, but I also think that during the time he was killed, he already served his purpose: to unite the country at the time of crisis. Because of his untimely death, Filipinos united to topple a dictatorship. He may be gone forever, but his spirit lives on. Mabuhay ka, Ninoy Aquino!

Whew! That was a serious way to start a blog entry. Not the typical me, eh? Hehehe. Anyway, my next topic is about no less than the Queen of Pop and The Queen of Reinvention, Madonna. She just turned 50 last August 16 and she's still on top of her game. She's still one of the world's top selling concert acts, and her current release Hard Candy is one of her most successful albums to date. What I really like about Madonna is that she continues to better herself, because she knows that there will always be someone younger, there will always be more talented singers who can take her place anytime. And with a different album comes a different image she portrays to the public. Madonna was a constant part of my soundtrack when I was growing up, but came to have an appreciation of her music when she came out with This Used To Be My Playground (from the A League Of Their Own soundtrack) & Take A Bow (from her Secret album). I officially became a fan when she effortlessly portrayed the late Argentinean First Lady Eva Peron in the movie version of the hit Broadway musical Evita, and from then on I always get excited everytime she comes out with a new album. What else is next for Madonna? Since it has been a habit of hers to surprise her fans, I will just wait and see. For now, she will be releasing a Greatest Hits CD in fulfillment of her contractual obligations with Warner Music (and the last CD in her contract), before she moves on to her multi-million dollar deal with Live Nation. I just wish her the best in everything she does (and hopes that Manila is part of her upcoming Sticky & Sweet tour hehehe). She is truly an artist's artist. A true Queen. An Icon. Ageless. Supreme. A Diva. That's Madonna.

What I'm Loving Now Part Deux

I had so much to write about on my previous blog that when I realized that I was not able to write in all of them in one blog, I decided to give it another go. Here's another list of the things, and people I am currently loving.

1. FERGIE: The only woman member of the Black Eyed Peas, I am so into Fergie's music right now. I recently bought a copy of her album The Dutchess (Deluxe Edition) and she totally turned me into a fan. Her current CD contains 13 tracks and 4 bonus tracks, including Labels or Love, which was the main theme of the monstrous hit movie Sex and the City. Aside from Labels or Love, my other favorite tracks in her CD are Clumsy (both the original version and it's remix featuring Soulja Boy), Glamorous, All That I Got (The Makeup Song), Velvet and Finally (with John Legend on piano).

2. PROJECT RUNWAY PHILIPPINES: One of the best local franchises of an internationally-renowned reality show I've seen this year, which aims to find the next big Filipino fashion designer. I kinda liked that it still adheres to it's American counterpart when it comes to presentation, but it has a distinctly Filipino touch. The 14 finalists of Project Runway Philippines, which consists of a mix of established and new designers, will battle it out for a total cash prize of PHP500,000, a start-up business package, an editorial spread in Mega magazine, and an opportunity to show their collection at the Philippine Fashion Week. The show is hosted by model/theater actress Teresa Herrera (who's doing a really good & classy job as Heidi Klum's local counterpart) with esteemed fashion designer Jojie Lloren serving as mentor to the designers. Noted fashion designer Rajo Laurel and supermodel-turned-colmnist Apples Aberin-Sadwhani sits on board as the show's resident judges, with a guest judge on every episode. Who's In? Who's Out? Find it out every Wednesday night at 10 on ETC.

3. COOKING SHOWS: I love watching cooking shows. I find it a joy to know how to prepare a really good meal and learning different cultures with every cuisine. I love watching local and foreign cooking shows on TV. I currently love watching Quickfire, KaToque and Chef to Go on QTV 11 and foreign shows like Food Lover's Guide to the Planet on Nat Geo, and Food Safari & Nigella Bites on Discovery Travel and Living.

4. ETERNITY SUMMER BY CALVIN KLEIN: The current limited edition of the famed pefume, I like it because it smells very fresh and clean without assaulting your olfactory senses. Everytime I spray it on, it always feels like I just got out of the shower. I highly recommend this one to those who want a perfume that is light and breezy.

5. BULGARI AQUA MARINE: I have always been a fan of Bulgari perfumes, and their newest fragrance really got me crazy over it. I used to have the original Aqua, but when it ran out, I decided to switch to the new version. The new Bulgari Aqua Marine, like Eternity Summer, is also light on the nose and it smells really good, which is a far cry to the nice but strong and very masculine scent of the original Aqua. If you love perfumes, this is a must have on your collection.

What I'm Loving Now

Well, aside from loving Brazilian hottie Akihiro Sato (hahahaha), there are also other things that I just came to discover, but I have already established a love affair with them. Here are some of those things I love now:

1.PEPPER LUNCH: I am so crazy about Pepper Lunch! The latest fastfood joint to hit Manila is actually a famous Japanese do-it-yourself sizzling plate restaurant that is also well known in other parts of Asia like Hong Kong and Singapore. The food, mostly comprised of steaks served in their patent sizzling plate, is so yummy and will make you feel satisfied after eating because it is already a full meal in itself. The price is very affordable, and the service is excellent too. And the sauces that go with their steaks are so tasty, I think they should bottle and sell them too. You have a choice between Karakuchi (garlic soy sauce) or Amakuchi (honey brown) sauce. Since Pepper Lunch is a hit, I am looking forward to their next branch (I am wishing for either a Glorietta or a SM Mall of Asia branch) and they should put up one soon! For now, you can visit Pepper Lunch at the Concourse level of the Power Plant Mall at Rockwell Makati.

2. THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL: Being a sucker for other people's life stories, The Biography Channel gives me my daily fix. They have feature stories of almost everyone from all walks of life, from Hollywood celebrities to world leaders to royalty. Our very own former First Lady, Imelda Marcos, has been featured in their channel. Not only do they show biographies of real people, they also have other human interest stories like Flip This House, a show where there's a group of people who fix broken-down houses and turn them into a shiny new jewel; Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, which is a reality show featuring former KISS band member Gene Simmons and his family; Little Big Dreams, which is about the tales of young kids in a remote part of Hubei, China being trained as early as 5 years old to be athelitically competitive, in order to fulfill China's big Olympic dream; and a host of other shows. Ask your cable operator if they carry The Biography Channel in their lineup.

3. AKO SI KIM SAM SOON: I am so hooked to watching this local version of the famed Korean drama series. Why? Because it is so funny and the storyline is not your typical romantic comedy. Also, the show is not so cheesy (baduy) and the cast is first rate, headlined of course by my favorite, Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez as Kim Sam Soon and the dashing Mark Anthony Fernandez as Cyrus. What I like about it is that aside from Regine and Mark, they cast the formidable Ms. Tessie Tomas as Sam Soon's loudmouthed mother and the talented Ms. Eugene Domingo as Sam Soon's direct superior who has become a good friend to her. Both Tessie and Eugene are our country's top comediennes and I am so happy that they are part of the cast. Also, the love theme Maybe It's You, is currently one of my favorite love songs of late. Ako Si Kim Sam Soon airs every weeknights on GMA.

4. IISA PA LAMANG: Another local show that got me hooked. I like the pacing of the story, which is brisk and fast-paced, the acting superb and the cast is also first rate, headed by Ms. Claudine Barretto, dramatic hunk Diether Ocampo, the irresistably hateable Cherry Pie Picache (her role as the villain Isadora is so scheming, she is so effective!), comebacking actor Gabby Concepcion (who has not lost his touch as an actor), dramatic vixen Angelica Panganiban, premiere actress-director Laurice Guillen and the Queen of Philippine Movies herself, Ms. Susan Roces. Iisa Pa Lamang airs weeknights on ABS-CBN.

5. FABIO IDE: Another Brazilian hottie that I am so crushing. You may remember Fabio as the active, sporty guy who picked up Iza Calzado's keys at a staircase in a multivitamin commercial last year. Now, he's also in a San Mig Light beer commecial as Marian Rivera's date and dance partner in a club. Just look at his pic here and you'll know why I am so in love with him. Hahahaha! He spends his time taking modelling jobs between Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila. From what I heard, he is currently single and very much available. Another Brazilian hottie making waves in our local shores, Fabio is another face to watch out for.

His Name Is Akihiro Sato

Hey friends! It's been awhile since I last posted something here. Well, it's been more than a month since I've been out of work but it's ok, I am taking my sweet time to rest a bit and think but I am so itching to get a new job ASAP 'coz staying at home can get boring sometimes. Hehehe. My gosh I am so crushing someone right now, and he's been very visible on the boobtube lately. His name is Akihiro Sato, one of Brazil's best imports after Havaianas. Hahaha! He's just good looking. How did he become Brazilian if he has a distinctly Japanese name? From what I have read, his father is Japanese but is now based in Brazil. Akihiro is making a name for himself in the local modelling scene after making waves in Bangkok. Singapore and Hong Kong. He says that he loves it here in Manila because he feels at home right here, and he feels like he's in Sao Paulo even if he is miles away. Currently, he is seen on 2 TVC's: the Close Up commercial (where the aisles of the supermarket closes up so he and his co-model get close) and the now famous Nescafe commercial for the rainy season (where he grabs a drop of rain and makes it into a pendant and places it on the girl's chest). He is someone to watch out for.