ricky's still livin' la vida loca!!

(looking oh so delectable at the height of his livin' la vida popularity.)

even after coming out of the closet, ricky martin -- former member of the very popular eighty's puerto rican boy band menudo (remember them rocking your teen-age, crush-filled world with songs like "if you're not here" or "please be good to me" and the lively "like a cannonball"? sounds like a million years ago right?) -- still looks oh so manly and gorgeous, he could give current hollywood heartthrobs a run for their money. yes, i am looking at you brad pitt.
oh wait, actually he did snatch the attention away from hollywood demigods when his hit song "livin' la vida loca" became the national anthem of the entire universe, proof that great looks, sexy dance numbers and danceable tune would go a long, long way in winning the hearts of the pre-iPhone generation. ah, those were the innocent days.
i could still remember when ricky (once the youngest member of menudo) held a concert in manila, the entire pink population of the glamourous manille gathered at the cultural center of the philippines, an unlikely venue for a major pop star, shouting and gyrating to his, what else, livin' la vida loca song. omg (pardon the cliche), but that was one hell of a party!

after that stint in the stratosphere, ricky sort of disappeared for a while. there were appearances on teevee, but they were as rare as rain in the desert. chos!
there were news about his becoming the father of cuddly twin (through surrogate motherhood) and getting engaged to his equally hot boyfriend carlos gonzalez.

(with partner carlos gonzalez. sum gays have all the luck indeed.)

(in my book, he is the sexiest dad ever!)

recently, ricky has been cast as che guevarra in the revival of the gay friendly musical evita (made even gayer by that movie starring madonna and the then man of her thousand orgasmic fantasies antonio banderas as che.).

while browsing through the net, i came across this article about ricky talking about his coming out of the closet, being gay, among others.

(on coming out)
"You know, when I hear about a boy or girl that comes out when they're 15, I'm like, "You're so lucky! Kudos." I will give you a standing ovation. But there's nothing you can do about it. 
You have to go through yesterday to be who you are today."

(on staying childlike -- after dancing in the rain half naked)
"Liberating, cathartic, beautiful. Once again, man, it's all about being in touch with the child inside. When you take things too seriously, you get old. You have to be silly. Whenever people say, "Hey, man, are you ever going to grow up?" That's when you know you're doing things right."

(on making love)
"You just have to know how and when to do it. But it's funny. Sometimes it's like, "What, now? On cue?" No, it's not on cue. You just have to be creative."

please read the inspiring article here: http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/music-and-books/201203/ricky-martin-on-buddhism-broadway-gay-marriage?currentPage=1

&&&&&&&&&

(during his menudo days...when young girls and gays would faint at a mere glimpse of his boyish and wholesome face.)

(buffet special -- the sumptuous menudo boys..take your pick. ricky was still a baby then, in white jeans right beside robby rosa.)

&&&&&&&&&

(like a cannon ball)