Vanessa Chong

IT’S back. Well, at least now filming is season 4 of The Amazing Race Asia. Dubbed as Asia’s most highly anticipated and long-awaited multi-continental race, AXN Asia says the new season expects to “up the intellect ante with the most sophisticated demands on top of the already tough challenges the race will impose on contestants.”

Hoping to repeat the sheer excitement and intense moments of adrenaline rush of previous seasons, TARA 4 features 10 teams of two dashing across countries and oceans to areas AXN Asia describes as “off-the-beaten-tracks” and “exotic spots” all for the chance to win impressive pit-stop prizes from sponsors like Sony and Caltex and of course, the grand prize of US$100,000.

Which also gives me a good reason to revisit a 2008 feature profile for the Manila Bulletin that I wrote on Vanessa Chong (left), one-half of the TARA 2’s surprise runner-up finishers. I’m not exactly sure whatever happened to the pretty Malaysian who made quite a big splash here after her impressive TARA feat with her sister Pamela (right). Perhaps reposting this slightly revised version will lead to some updated information? Well, there’s only one way to find out. Read on.

AMAZING CHICK
By EDWIN P. SALLAN

IF there’s anything we learned from the second season of The Amazing Race Asia, it’s that looks can be very deceiving. In the case of Malaysian sisters Vanessa and Pamela Chong who eventually finished as the surprise runner-ups to the equally surprising and partly-handicapped Singaporean champs, underneath the knockout prom queen exteriors are two highly competitive individuals who never underestimated any of their competition.

“It didn’t feel like we lost at all,” declares Vanessa Chong in recalling their overall experience in AXN-Asia’s top-rated reality show. “Our goal was to make the top three and the fact that we were able to do that made us feel like winners already because being in the top three means you finished the race and we did.”

In a competition that was just as much as about brains as it is about brawn, the sisters showed they did possess the kind of physical and mental toughness needed to go the distance. Vanessa, who was recently in town to promote the popular Malaysian cosmetics brand Elianto says she and her sister never cracked under pressure. Not even when they were shown to be arguing heatedly in the car when trying to find their way to a pit stop. “No, we never actually fought,” she insists. “It’s really just the way we talk. We never lost sight of our goals and we’re really too close to be worried about how this race would affect our relationship.”

And certainly not even when Vanessa momentarily lost her memory for a good 15 minutes during a diving board task that saw her plunge into the water a little too deep for comfort resulting in a lump in the head. Even at that scary moment, younger sis Pamela did not totally lost her composure as she still managed to keep their team in the race until Vanessa fully recovered.

As the eldest of six siblings, Vanessa has always been there for the rest of the Chong brood. A real tough cookie even when she was still at school, Vanessa was a constant gold medal awardee for sporting and non-sporting contests and was even honored as sportswoman of the year in high school for winning in decathlon events including shotput throwing and the 100-meter dash.

A renaissance girl of sorts who also excelled in other school activities such as children’s plays that she herself wrote and not just acted in, Vanessa was also a mainstay of choir along with Pamela and brother, Vince Chong, a popular singing sensation in Malaysia who recently scored hits performing songs from High School Musical, the hit TV movie franchise of Disney Channel.

And even though the drop dead gorgeous Vanessa has always been worthy of the spotlight herself, she didn’t mind taking a backseat in favor of any sibling who needed her support. Prior to joining the race, Vanessa was actually managing Vince’s career and putting the Marketing Administration degree she earned from the UK to very good use.

“I loved working behind the scenes for my brother,” she says. “I handled his schedule, was always there for each of his shows and negotiated his deals. And let me tell you I can very tough when it comes to business.”

Vanessa admits that she’s had her share of hosting affairs but started turning them all down because “I really wanted to concentrate on managing my brother’s career.”

So when she and Pamela decided to give The Amazing Race Asia a shot, Vanessa made sure that everything would be all right for her brother. “I made sure his schedule is all fixed up and left everything with my assistant. Vince is a good boy who concentrates on his art. I think not being on his side made him more independent.”

Not that Vanessa needed to worry about her brother but she says the very fast pace of the race could not really afford her to think about anything else. “Back then, the race was our reality,” she recalls. “Our whole life revolved around it and there was no time to miss anyone and focus on other things. The race is all we thought about.”

It all paid off with that impressive runner-up finish and the corresponding doors that opened for Vanessa and her sister immediately after. In the race’s aftermath, Vanessa was featured in one of the new commercials for Sony Cybershot cameras. And then there’s the image modelling gig for Elianto, a brand that she already uses long before she was asked to endorse its products.

Given how well she has done for herself at this stage of her life, what Vanessa Chong has so far achieved is simply nothing short of amazing. When asked if she and Pamela would take part in The Amazing Race Asia again, the equally feisty Pamela was very firm in saying, “In a heartbeat!”

“The memories, the adrenaline, the whole experience is something that money can never buy. There’s no way we won’t do it again given another chance,” Vanessa concludes.

MEGA Magazine's 10 Most Beautiful Women

Dubbed as the country’s best fashion magazine, MEGA recently celebrated Filipina women blessed with both beauty and grace as it recognizes that beauty is not only skin deep.

In their recent May, 2010 issue featuring singer Sarah Geronimo on the cover and still available on most newsstands, MEGA, a magazine that I have been fortunate to be a contributing writer in the distant past, reveals its annual 10 most beautiful women namely KC Concepcion, Agot Isidro, Maxene Magalona, Timi Gomez, Cris Albert, Mitzi Borromeo, Stephanie Kienle, Chicho Suarez, Joanne Zapanta-Andrada, and Stephanie Zubiri.

We’re all too familiar with movie and TV personalities KC, Agot and Maxene but what about the rest? Some of us know Joanne Zapanta-Andrada as a model and writer while the prominent family name of chef and model Stephanie Zubiri also rings a bell to many. And the others have also carved a niche for themselves in their respective social and career circles.

But more than what they do for a living, it is their social awareness that also made them qualified for MEGA’s most beautiful list. During the launch party of this special issue at Greenbelt 5, I was surprised to learn that each of these women are also actively involved in worthy causes.

Stephanie Zubiri is an active speaker for Dakila Artists Advocacy for Climate Change. KC Concepcion is actually a United Nations World Food Programme Ambassador. Entrepreneur Timi Gomez is a co-founder of Why Not? Forum.

FILA and TIVA CEO Cris Albert is a co-founder of Operation Compassion. Model, dancer and Philux General Manager Stephanie Kienle is an active member of the French Virlanie Foundation. Graphic artist Chicho Suarez is a supporter of the Victoria Court HIV Awareness Organization while Agot is also a supporter of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society.

And then there’s Café Scientifique coordinator Mitzi Borromeo who is also the founder of Creative Cross Border Productions. There is certainly more to these women than just their pretty faces.

It was former Beatle George Harrison who once said that “beauty lies from within” when he wrote his now immortal standard, Something. That’s certainly the case with these 10 Most Beautiful Women. Yes, there is something in the way they move.

Featuring the equally beautiful Sarah Geronimo on the cover, MEGA’s May 2010 issue also contains the much-anticipated Beauty Awards that showcases the best in hair, body, face, and makeup. Still on newsstands. 

Jodi Sta. Maria-Lacson

Original draft of an article I wrote for the Manila Bulletin in 2007.

NOT ALL HYPE
The occasionally badly drawn girl is one fine actress
By EDWIN P. SALLAN

SHE’S not bad. She’s just drawn that way—sometimes.

In at least two top-rated teleseryes in Kampanerang Kuba and Walang Kapalit, Jodi Sta. Maria-Lacson’s characters made life extremely difficult for lead stars Anne Curtis and Claudine Barretto. She was so effective in playing contravida that many fans of the shows found it hard to distinguish the actress from the character she’s playing.

“Maraming nainis because of my characters and I kinda expected that reaction when the roles were offered to me,” she admits. “But I wanted to try something different and they were such good roles so I just couldn’t pass up the opportunities.”

A member of ABS-CBN’s elite Star Magic stable of homegrown talents, the 25-year old actress has always taken the road less traveled as far as her choices of projects are concerned. A common trait that her characters, good or bad, shared, is that they were almost always headstrong, dating back to the tomboyish George in Tabing Ilog, her first major weekly drama series.

But far from the complexity of the characters she played, the real Jodi couldn’t be any more different. “Supersimple” is the word she uses to describe herself. “I’m not much into shoes, perfumes and clothes and I only buy when I need to. I wear what is usually asked of me during tapings and photo shoots. Kahit ano, basta okay naman, I’ll wear it. But after that, I just wear what’s comfortable like jeans, t-shirts, sneakers and slippers. I do have a few stilettos, though but that’s about it.”

Marriage and motherhood hasn’t changed her simple ways as well. “I don’t ask my husband to buy me fancy gifts,” she reveals. “For anniversaries and special occasions, we just go out and have dinner.”

Jodi admit's she is not big on cosmetics either as she looks naturally beautiful even without make-up. So when she was asked to endorse a new skin whitening regimen from Hype Skin Care, she was quite hesitant.

“I never tried any whitening product before as although hindi naman talaga ako maputi, I’m happy naman with my morena and tan complexion and I also have some concerns about possible allergic reactions,” she notes. “But Hype convinced me to first try their products out and I like that the results were visible after two to three weeks.”

It also doesn’t hurt Hype Gluta-C Whitening Soap and Hype Duo Lotion and Soap are in Jodi’s words “not sticky and easily absorbed by the skin.” These products which also contain Vitamin C and the powerful Glutathione anti-oxidant has maximum whitening and anti-aging properties while at the same time also providing adequate sun protection and much-needed moisturizing.

Small wonder why Jodi looks radiant and stress-free even as she now has her hands full despite her busy schedule that now includes a couple of modest business ventures. “We’re opening a salon soon,” she enthuses. “And I’ll soon be launching my own line of condiments. Oyster sauce, fish sauce, mayonnaise, hot sauce, tomato sauce, vinegar, name it, we hope to have it.”

Jodi is also excited about two independent films she recently completed. “One is called Maling Akala and it’s directed by Pablo Biglang-Awa and Ronnie Velasco. It’s about a girl who was abandoned by her boyfriend after he got her pregnant. When she went to the province, she met this very kind guy who took care of her and even pretended to be her husband. But there’s a twist to the story kasi the guy is not really who she thinks he is.”

“The other indie film is Nars by Adolfo Alex, Jr. and it also stars Jennilyn Mercado, Jon Avila and Coco Martin. It’s the story of our nurses, especially those who decide to stay here.”

Jodi admits that money is never an issue when it comes to her craft. “I’ve always loved performing,” she declares. “When I was a kid, I wanted to join Little Miss Philippines, madalas naming pag-awayan ng mommy ko yan. I was always active in extra curricular activities in school. I joined dance contests, singing contests, cheering competitions.”

That’s why doing indie films and even theater was a no-brainer for her. “You don’t get paid a lot for doing indies but I did it just the same because I want to experience working with people who are very passionate about their craft. Theater is a little different in the sense that you don’t get a second take if you forget your lines. In the case of Beauty and the Beast that I did for Repertory, we were rehearsing everyday.”

Jodi loves the business so much that she’s not averse to doing anything that would showcase her talents. “If I get an offer to perform in a play for Teatro Pilipino and the role is good, I don’t see why not?” she nods. “When I was in the US for a while, I got bored and felt worthless. I didn’t want to watch TFC because I’d cry and get depressed when I see my colleagues.”

Yes, performing becomes Jodi Sta. Maria-Lacson. And if the thought of seeing her play another menacing character would make many people’s blood boiling hot again, well, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

“I’m supposed to play another contravida role in an upcoming teleserye but my producers decided that I lie low doing these roles for now,” she says. “Masyadong tumatak yung Walang Kapalit sa isip ng tao.”

Like I said, she’s just drawn that way.

Essensuals Toni & Guy

WHO says vanity is a woman’s game? We guys do know how to care of ourselves, too. How important is our crowning glory, for starters? Well, check out what I wrote on Essensuals Toni & Guy hair salon last year for the Manila Bulletin.

FINAL CUT
By EDWIN P. SALLAN

WHILE there are famous men who have been defined by a certain hairstyle such as Julius Caesar, George Washington, Mozart, Bob Marley, Sid Vicious and Donald Trump, among others, the fact remains that “for a long time, hair cuts for men have been quite traditional.”

“It’s only recently that men have started experimenting,” says hairdresser Leo Tambourine or just plain Leo T, Technical Director of Essensuals Toni & Guy salon. “We do get a lot of male clients in our salon now including creative people like designers, artists, advertising people and celebrities. We also get businessmen and executives who go for a traditional look but still stylish.”

The South African-trained hairdresser says that two popular looks continue to stand out among their male clientele these days. “The David Beckham look is very popular right now, especially among older men. The hair is basically cropped short, but still looks styled and sleek and yes, easy to maintain,” declares the senior stylist for various Toni & Guy salons in the UK before coming to Asia in 2006. “The Emo look, on the other hand, is popular among young people, trendy students in particular.  It’s an edgy look, sharp and layered.”

Tambourine says there are actually two types of Emo haircut that he usually recommends and performs. “There’s a short emo haircut for boys that involves a short and spiky cut with medium to long bangs, which can be brushed to one side. For men, the shorter emo haircut is preferred, short and spiky in the back and a fringe of bangs in front.”

Regardless however of one’s choice of hairstyle, Tambourine emphasizes that consultation is key to a good look, especially if it’s something new to you.

“If you’re going for a new look, deciding which hairstyle to take on can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you‘re the type who throws on a baseball cap every time you have a bad hair day,” he points out. A good tip is to make sure you know what you want and that your stylist knows the hairstyle you want, even if that means showing him a picture.  Any stylist worth paying good money for will take the time to have a good consultation with a client.”

The way he sees it, there are hairstyles that are low maintenance, which is usually a good thing and there are those that are high maintenance, which is exactly the opposite. “Low-maintenance hairstyles are the result of getting the proper haircut. Your stylist should be able to give you the proper haircut based on your face shape and features.”

“The high-maintenance hairstyles are usually the ones that are not properly done, and are forced to look a certain way by applying too much product,” he laments. “So, a bad haircut is the result of putting too much product to achieve a look that you don’t have to begin with. “With short hair, shaping is important so a professional’s touch is necessary.  This modern short hairstyle should do equally well for work and leisure.”

Proper consultation, he says, could lead both client and hairdresser to see eye to eye on a good choice hairstyle. Founded by the Moscolo brothers Toni & Guy in 1963, it’s hard to go wrong with professional advice from a company that has grown from a single unit in Clapham, South London to a trusted name in hair care with a good number of salons and academies worldwide that also provide a wide range of hair care products.

Its growing portfolio of associated companies including Essensuals hairdressing group, founded in 1997 by business guru Toni Moscolo and his children Sacha and Christian.
Created to compliment Toni & Guy, Essensuals offers its clients award-winning hair styling, lifestyle and beauty solutions that have been described as visionary, spirited and contemporary.

“I always envied the kind of work Toni & Guy created and this made me decide to work for them,” Tambourine enthuses. “We put a premium in consultation because for us, it is very important in finding the best cut to match a client’s features.”

In the Philippines, Essensuals Toni&Guy is located at 6750 Ayala Center, Crowne Plaza, SM Megamall Atrium and Trinoma.

Picture Flawless

RECENTLY attended the press presentation of the finalists for Picture Flawless, a search for the next male and female endorsers of the popular salon chain.

From the more than 1,000 hopefuls between the ages of 15 and 33 who agreed to be photographed after availing of  P1,800 worth of products and/or services from Flawless branches nationwide, only 23 emerged as the last ones still standing.

Distinguished by their “F” text voting codes as well as the characteristics that best represents their respective personalities, these finalists are for the girls: Flawlessly Kikay Jean Teresa Agoncillo or F1, Flawless Potential Abigael Arazo or F2, Purely Flawless Julianne Susie Arcenio or F3, Flawlessly Elegant Doris Cheong or F4, Flawless Dreamer Trina Felis Espia or F5, Flawlessly Exotic Keina Fawaz or F6, Flawlessly Fun Rose Carmel Pagtalunan or F7, Flawless Mom Jennifer Regaspi or F8, Flawless Diva Rhiza Ostonal or F9, Flawlessly Fierce Catherine Santos or F10 and Flawlessly Friendly Apple Seva or F11.

The lucky guys who made the cut are Flawless Chef Aristotle Corrales or F12, Flawless Heartbreaker Carlo Cruz or F13, Flawlessly Dangerous Robert de Claro or 14, Flawlessly Charming Eric Eleazar or F15, Flawless Hugger Paolo Jereza or F16, Shy and Flawless Cerafin Letim or F17, Flawless and Tough Rafael Nanquil or F18, Flawlessly Funny Paul Reyes or F19, Eco-Flawless Saman Sohrabi or F20, Flawless Mind Stephan Schielmann or F21, Flawlessly Fine Jason Sumang or F22, and Flawlessly Sincere John Rudolf Villamor or F23.

That’s a lot of F’s there. Kidding. Seriously, while I thought all of them are deserving to have their own Flawless billboards (actually they already do as a group), there are those who stood out for one reason or another.

Among the girls, F2 Abigail Arazo left quite an impression. The youngest finalist at 15 who was refused entry at Embassy during a Flawless event because of her age has the same kind of growing up appeal that the likes of Carmina Villaruel and Anne Curtis had. Potential is indeed the key word for her.

There’s F3 Julianne Arcenio who is best remembered for her “represent the Filipino, with Filipino values” reply to what makes her Flawless. There’s F4 Doris Cheong and F6 Keina Fawaz who both photographed and projected well during the launch. There’s F10 Catherine Santos, who true to her Flawlessly Fierce billing boldly declared that she will donate P200,000 of the total P800,000 prize money to a medical cause if she wins. Yes, she’s kinda cute, too.

And then there’s F11 Apple Seva, who although already married remains a bubbly personality and drop dead gorgeous with her unforgettable smile. During our brief chat at the launch, Apple told me how she had a wonderful time getting to know the others during their photo shoot and was so thrilled when she saw their Picture Flawless billboards in EDSA she couldn’t help but take photos.

I didn’t get to interract that much with the guys but I thought F16 Paolo Jereza, who took part in the same formidable Star Circle batch of Hero Angeles, Roxanne Guinoo, Joross Gamboa, Melissa Ricks, Sandara Park and Michelle Madrigal has a good shot.  There are those who favor tall and funny guy F19 Paul Reyes while I thought pretty boys F18 Rafael Nanquil and F20 Saman Sohrabi could easily have been Regal babies if they were born in another time.


One girl and one boy will win the cash prize of P800,000 each, in addition to a Flawless endorsement contract that includes his and her own billboard. Lorna Tolentino, Judy Ann Santos, Richard Gutierrez, Mark Herras and Yasmien Kurdi are just a few of Flawless celebrity endorsers.

Of course, their chances or at least 80 percent of it hinges on your votes. Voting is done through visits at Flawless branches or through texting. Even voters stand to win big in the raffles conducted last January 18 and this coming February 8.

And since Picture Flawless donates part of the profits to the victims of the recent typhoons that ravaged the country, you’re actually part of a good cause as well. So are the eventual winners who will also embark on the Flawless Philippines project and provide valuable input on how the Philippines can be a more Flawless place.

For more information, visit www.flawless.ph.