ms charlize meets men of manila

July 21, 2014

mahatma gandah has always admired the prose of the doyenne of philippine fashion journalism -- ms. charlize. she has a way with words. she strings together, short, simple and easy to comprehend words and sentences flawlessly like a master seamstress and the result is simply divine -- an understated elegance much like a chanel or a valentino. nothing flamboyant, nothing excessive, only fabulousness.

when she brought up the idea of doing a foto shoot with the new boy band of manille -- the men of manila -- mahatma gandah agreed right away. who would not take the chance to work with ms. charlize and be featured in her widely read column on the business mirror (the country's top business paper) that has become the bible of those who matter in the fashion industry both here and abroad? surely, not mahatma gandah.

so one smoldering sunday morning, ms. charlize was surrounded by the eager boys of men of manila not only to sit in front of her and be interviewed, but also to get to know her. suffice it to say that the boys are so thrilled with the experience that they are demanding for more. forgive them dearies, these growing boys have the insatiable appetites of famished babies. chos!

of course her fun, fearless and fabulous crew of talented make-up artist, hair stylist, fashion stylists and the fashion designer himself, odelon simpao, youthful, sexy and good looking, made the event even more special. thank you again guys!! it was fun working with you all. till our next collaboration.

anyway, without much ado, here's ms. charlize's brilliant piece that came out of the business mirror on monday, july twenty-one, a day that will be part of the mom history.

Of music and men

Details: Category: Life; 20 Jul 2014; Written by Miss Charlize / Tota Pulchra

ANYTIME soon, the British One Direction and the Korean Super Junior will have to let go of their Filipino fan base with the emergence of a new group of gorgeous young men. These fresh-faced, dewy wannabes call themselves the Men of Manila. And they’ve got the boy-band DNA down pat: smooth harmonies, swoon-inducing moves and smoldering looks.

The boys have been deep into training for a year to make them more skilled at performing.

They are undergoing acting workshops, dance lessons, vocal coaching, and lessons in handling fame, fans and the press.

I invited them to do a special editorial shoot for Tota Pulchra, because I wanted to discover if their personal fashion sense, style disposition and grooming regimen are also sharp. The boys are already blessed with genetic good fortune, but a little trip to the gym would work greatly to their benefit. An awareness about gender sensitivity will be to their advantage, as well.

Men of Manila comes in a clean-cut, wholesome mold and is composed of Arcel Delgado, Clark Merced, Imm Zaidi, Jester Hernandez, Kurt Batacan, Lio Garcia, Nelson Valencia, Paolo Sta. Maria, Redjie Relucio, Ryan Artienda, Yano Gaspari and Xen Monforte. Their ages range from 17 to 25, their origins from Davao to Italy, and their music genres from rock (The Police’s “Every Breath You Take”) to classic (Frank and Nancy Sinatra’s “Something Stupid”).

In teen-heartthrob tradition, I got some quotes from them. The boyishly handsome Arcel says, “I’m in this for the fame, and I’d go into acting if given the chance.” The impossibly attractive Clark shares, “I was hanging around the Viva Films office when the studio manager introduced me to the people behind Men of Manila. I auditioned and was accepted.” Imm, the one with the intoxicating eyes, muses, “Being part of the group will allow me to build a network of acquaintances that will help me in my future business.”

Jester, the innocent baby face, says, “I want to be recognized as a unique person.” Kurt, the most self-assertive, confides: “I’m here not to be a star but to establish connections for myself when I venture into my own business.” Lio, the brooding debonair, says: “I just want to show my talent.”

Nelson, the crooner, wishes to “have fans who will be inspired by my story that after experiencing hard times, I succeeded.” Paolo, the most talented, wants “to build my passion for dancing and singing. It’s a wonderful feeling to see people entertained, to let them forget their problems even for just a moment.” Redjie, the powerhouse singer and cousin to Charice, strives “to let people know that I also have what it takes.”

Ryan, charming and coy, is “ready for the experience and exposure” that being in showbiz will bring, and to sing like his idols Boyce Avenue and Ely Buendia. Yano, the Tuscan man-candy, sets his mind “on being on TV, to entertain and have fun.” Xen, the sensitive one, will be “a star, even if I have to commute for hours and excuse myself from school” to attend rehearsals.

On July 26, when Men of Manila will be formally launched in a concert at the Music Museum, the public will know which among these high-note hopefuls have the makings of musical superstars—and former boy-band members—Michael Jackson (Jackson 5), Donny Osmond (The Osmonds), Bobby Brown (New Edition), Ricky Martin (Menudo), Robbie Williams (Take That) and Justin Timberlake (‘N Sync).

Photography: Ryan Sulit

Fashion/Sittings: Editor Miss Charlize

Grooming: Nanan Villalba

Hairstyle: George Delfin

Styling: Uma Dumaluan

Editorial: Assistance Ted Funtera

Clothes: Odelon Simpao

Location: Cerchio Restaurant, Scout Limbaga, Quezon City

(please click here for a soft copy of the story: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/lifestyle/life/35726-of-music-and-men )

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some photos during the shoot if you care.