10 Things You Should Know About Lala Flores & Danica Magpantay

Two for the world: Lala Flores & Danica Magpantay

Like mother-model: Lala Flores (right), was the first Filipina to win the Supermodel of the World competition in 1990. Twenty years later, her daughter Danica Magpantay (left) bagged the same title.

In 1990, Milagros “Lala” Flores won the Supermodel of the World Philippines competition, which led her to compete in the prestigious search for the Ford Supermodel of the World. She went on to become a successful model not only in Manila, but in Singapore and Paris as well. Twenty years later, Lala’s daugher Danica Magpantay, without any prior modeling experience (except what she had researched and her determination), won the same competition. When she competed in New York to become the Ford Supermodel of the World, she won the top prize, making her the first-ever Filipina to bag the title. Today, Danica is a top model for Ford and CalCarrie’s Philippines, and Lala is a top makeup artist. Here are 10 things you should know about supermodel mother and daughter Lala Flores and Danica Magpantay.

1. On being beautiful: “Bata pa lang ako, nagfe-feeling na akong maganda ako.” This, despite the fact that Danica was chubby growing up.

“Kasi nga supermodel yung mommy ko,” Danica says bashfully. “Ngayon ko lang nare-realize na yuck, ang feeling ko!” Lala describes 10-year-old Danica as chubby, as in with chubby cheeks. And even before Danica decided to join the modeling contest, she was 121 pounds, then standing 5’8 1/2”. Yes, not big, but not model skinny either. She dropped down to 109 pounds when she joined Supermodel of the World. She dropped to as low as 103 pounds in New York, now standing 5’9 1/4”.

Lala shares, “Pinalaki ko kasi sila telling them that being payat is not everything. I wanted them to just enjoy.” She says all her kids love to eat, including Danica, and though they were chubby, they never became obese. “I always assured my husband that when vanity kicks in, on their own, they’ll be more conscious.” And sure enough, that happened.

2. After Danica won the title as Supermodel of the World, it was not all glitz and glamor. It came to a point where she asked herself, “Kulang ka ba? Kaya mo ba? Ikaw ba talaga?”

Her voice started shaking and tears started rolling down her face. “I won everything, and nagkaroon ako ng expectation that when you win, everything will just fall into your lap,” Danica shares. Surrounded by so many taller, skinnier, beautiful girls, and getting turned down at castings, it came to a point that she says she tried too hard. “Lord, bakit pinapanalo niyo ako pero ang bagal? Ako ba talaga? Kaya ko ba? Kasi ang sakit, masakit ma-experience yung ganito. Hindi lang yung expectations ng tao sa akin, pero yung expectations ko sa sarili ko. Kasi may dreams ka na na-set. Pero parang habang nagbu-build up yun, tinutumba lahat ng dreams at paniniwala mo sa sarili mo.”

Her mom Lala was also in tears when she shared that now she understood why, at times, they couldn’t contact Danica while working in New York. “When I would try to seek her, I couldn’t find her. She would avoid us. I told her ‘Hon, that’s tough. Rejection is part of modeling.’ I had to tell her that I don’t understand why it’s not happening yet, but I had to keep reassuring her that there’s a time for everything, maybe that’s what God is telling you.”

She had a tough time balancing hope and reality, confessed that she is her own worst critic, and often questioned herself. She learned how to filter out what haters say and how to focus on loved ones surrounding her who care enough to tell her what she needs to work on. She shares that she now understands what her mom said about not being idle. “Always put something in your mind, and always put positive things, good things to enrich yourself” was her mom’s advice. And her own advice to young girls? “Never, ever doubt yourself and always believe you can. Enjoy. Offer it all to God and let Him lead you.”

3. In a year of modeling abroad, Danica matured and learned on her own something important about her mom. “Pag bata ka you tend to generalize, bakit ‘di niya ako mabigyan ng time?”

“Dati nagtatampo ako bakit si Mommy may work on my birthday, why she works on weekends,” Danica reveals. But when she started working and living on her own, she realized that it is inevitable, and it does not mean the person doesn’t love you; they really love you but they just really have to work and earn. Danica even recalls how bad she felt when she first missed her younger sister Emman’s birthday, but now she understands and tries to make her sister understand too. She even jokes with Emman: “Yung kinita ko, ililibre kita.”

When she was whisked off abroad, she was in her first semester as a freshman in the Fine Arts program of UP Diliman. She definitely wants to continue her studies but due to the nature of her work, she is planning to take an online course instead, to be able to work and study at the same time.

She says that because of the shift from a school environment to the fast-paced life in New York, she learned so much about herself. How she reacts to things, how she deals with problems, and what the “real world” is like. She pauses a bit, then shares that one of the hardest things about living alone is how “Kahit nagsk-Skype ka araw araw, hindi pa rin siya pareho.”

4. Lala was discovered by Renee Salud and was originally being groomed to join Binibining Pilipinas.

She joined a university pageant where Mama Renee was a judge. He spotted her and made Lala one of his models, but Lala also eventually got close to Joey Espino, who saw her potential and persuaded her to join Supermodel of the World. “I was 21, I was just enjoying. I thought, why not? I had no expectations.” Binibining Pilipinas was a huge deal even back then and the reason she didn’t stick to the original plan to join the beauty pageant after the modeling competition was: “I got pregnant with Danielle, even before I finished my reign as Supermodel.”

She said that at that time, she had just turned 22 and did not know what to do. The only thing she could think of was to not disgrace her family, so she flew to New York under the guise of modeling work, and gave birth there. Her husband Pogs was not by her side because his visa was denied, but she was taken care of by Pogs’ older sister during her whole stay. It was when she came home to Manila that she and Pogs were able to get married, and laughs as she recalls, “Di pa naglalakad si Danielle at seven months, I was pregnant again!” Baby No. 2 was Danica.

5. Lala and her husband Pogs Magpantay have been married for 20 years. The secret? “We’re really so in love with each other, and we’re simple in our wants.”

Lala goes on to say “I have to give it to him. Even when we had babies, I modeled abroad for four years, and he was very, very supportive.” Lala became a model at 21, became a mother soon after, and after having two kids, had her second wind as a model at 25. “Feeling niya kasi na-stop yung dreams ko, and I think his dream is maging masaya ako,” Lala reveals.

They met 24 years ago when they were both engineering students in Adamson University, Pogs being two years older than Lala. Pogs claims he was stalking Lala for a year, until they finally met by accident near the school library. He was Lala’s first boyfriend. “When I met my husband, feeling ko siya na ang pinaka-gentle na soul na nakilala ko.” She wasn’t a model then, but the first thing Pogs asked her was “Are you a model?” She says the rest is history, and “Hindi na ako hiniwalayan ni Daddy,” Lala says while looking at Danica.

6. Lala was once dieting so much that she collapsed right before an Inno Sotto fashion show in Paris.

At that time, she went down to 104 pounds, and she’s 5’9”. And since they were in Paris and food was so expensive, they would save up a week’s worth of their per diem just to buy a nice pair of shoes. “I wasn’t eating well, I just kept drinking wine, and that was the day of the show!” When it was time to report for makeup, Lala didn’t even make it out the door. The next thing she knew, she was in the bathroom, and good friend Henri Calayag gave her a piece of chocolate to boost her sugar level. She made it to the show, nailed it, and even partied the rest of the night away. She did shows not only in Paris but also in Singapore, Bali, the US, and even modeled alongside superstars Karen Elson and Helena Christensen for Karl Lagerfeld in his Hong Kong show.

When asked if the pressure to be skinny is heavier now than it was before, Lala says, “Now.” She works with models all the time and she sees how pressured they are. She explains that during her time, there was no Internet and no cell phones, so for example if there was a casting in Paris and you happened to be there, you’d get the job. Unlike now when they can book models anytime, from anywhere.

7. Lala and Danica in numbers:

5: Magpantay siblings: Danielle, 20; Danica, 19; Emmanuelle, 15; Mark, 12; and Nicolas, 10.

15: Castings a day Danica goes to during the season for Fashion Week. She shares how tough it is: “Siguro out of 100 castings, I would get booked for eight shows.”

22.5: Inches that Danica’s waistline was, during her skinniest phase in New York. Today she measures 31-23-34.

40-plus: Number of anime keychains of Bleach and Naruto characters in her collection.

400-plus: Runway shows Lala has done in her entire career, both locally and internationally.

2,500: Amount of pesos she used to get paid for one runway show. It would range from P2,500 to P7,000, while international shows could go up to P50,000.

8. Danica and her sister Danielle joined Supermodel of the World Philippines at the same time, and though Danica won, Danielle made it to the Top 8. On how Lala handled having one daughter win and the other lose: “Even before the competition I gave them a heart-to-heart talk. It was both of their decisions to join, and they have to watch each other’s backs.”

Lala told them, “Baby, it’s a competition, so there’s only one winner. Either one of you, or neither one. And I want you to know that you are not competing against each other.” She points out the importance of good communication. Danica recalls rushing backstage for the quick change of the Top 3 finalists, when Danielle ran up to her saying, “Oh wow, Ica, I’m so proud of you! Congratulations, congratulations!” Lala also shares how at the end of that night, Danielle was even saying, “Mommy, may title agad ako, ‘Stage Sister of Danica Magpantay!’”

9. Top tips from the supermodels:

Danica: Set attainable goals.

“Don’t look at something na wala pa. Wag mo tingnan yung hindi ka ganito o hindi ka ganyan. Set realistic goals first. Make sure the steps you will take are going towards that goal. When you achieve it, you know that with every step you took, you made it possible. Enjoy mo lang kasi nothing happens instantly. You really have to work hard.”

Lala: Be happy from within.

“This is what I’ve learned working behind the scenes. A beautiful photo or commercial is a group effort. There’s makeup, angles, lighting, technology. But the happiness you exude, we cannot give you that, we cannot Photoshop that. That should come from within. I always tell Danica what is in your heart is most important.”

10. Lala and Danica define beauty as being sure of, accepting, and being happy with who you are.

“I’ve seen the most beautiful faces, but some, when you see them up close, they lose their radiance,” Lala says. “The way a woman feels about herself, that’s what draws you in,” Danica shares. They both agree that it is personality and outlook on life that makes beauty truly last. Lala gives this reminder to all: “Don’t compare yourself to others, you have your own beauty.”

* * *

For those of you wondering, yes, these supermodels eat! And they eat a lot! Both Danica and Lala ordered soup, salad, and a main dish each during our dinner interview, and when our gracious host chef Jessie Sinsioco came up to us to offer dessert, they instantly said “Yes!” As soon as this beautifully plated Chocolate Kisses dessert got to our table, both their eyes lit up, and the dessert was finished within a few minutes. Danica allows herself chocolates once in a while, and she works out almost everyday. Having a quality conversation with them makes me realize this mother-and-daughter tandem is a paradox. They are supermodels who eat a lot. A 19-year-old who talks wisely, like she’s been modeling for 20 years. A 43-year-old full of idealism and naivete, as though she hasn’t been working in a cutthroat business for two decades now. And they exactly match the description they give of what beauty is. They draw you in, not just with their beautiful faces, but their beautiful hearts.

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/771810/two-world-lala-flores-danica-magpantay

10 Things You Should Know About Ramon Jimenez

Tourism. It's more fun for Ramon Jimenez

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez: His top travel tip? “Make sure you put down your camera, or else you will miss the moment . . . at 7 a.m. everyone is himself. You are going to see how they really are.”

A married couple left the agencies where they were employed to start their own agency. From zero, they built a local advertising agency that grew to become the largest multinational advertising agency in the Philippines, even larger than the companies they used to work for. Two weeks ago, the man whose name that ad agency bears presented the new tagline for Philippine tourism: “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” And boy, have people been having fun thinking of ways to promote that line. Here are 10 things you should know about our Department of Tourism Secretary, Ramon Jimenez.

1. On accusations that “It’s more fun in the Philippines” is not an original tagline: “The line was not chosen for its originality, it was chosen because it really rings true.”

On the day of the new DOT campaign launch, an alleged 1951 Swiss tourism ad surfaced, and it read “It’s more fun in Switzerland.” Jimenez goes on to say that no one can really own words, but what we can own is the truth about it. “We don’t know whether it even really ran in Switzerland, or if it was a successful campaign,” Jimenes says. BBDO was the agency that presented “It’s more fun in the Philippines” to DOT, and the Secretary says, “If you know guys like David Guerrero (of BBDO), he has more Cleo awards than some people have teeth, I don’t think he’s going to risk his entire reputation with an ad he dug up.”

On the night itself of the campaign launch, hundreds upon hundreds of photos made by Pinoys — some of them tongue-in-cheek — flooded the Internet, showing different activities or events that are “more fun in the Philippines.” The ones not made by BBDO and DOT that he likes the most are: “Mountain Bikes. More fun in the Philippines,” with a photo of wooden bikes and Ifugaos; “Schools. More fun in the Philippines” with a deep-sea photo of a school of fish; and a line that model Sarah Meier pitched, “You. More fun in the Philippines.”

“We set out to do something that we wanted the people to own, and that’s exactly what happened,” the Secretary says.

2. Even with his post now as DOT Secretary, he prefers to wait on line at all counters in the airport.

When airport staff offer to help him and to make him the priority, he tells them, “I’m very happy you’ve come to welcome me, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to line up.” He says he’s one of those weird (his own words) people who enjoy the peace and quiet of waiting in line, and actually enjoys kicking his bag a few inches every time he takes a step closer to the counter. He’s been traveling on his own for years, and the lines may be good some days and bad on others, but “not so difficult physically that a public official can’t do it himself.”

Queuing up on his own also helps him see what needs to be improved in the system. In fact, he recently just met with NAIA GM Honrado and asked, “Why do I have to take off my shoes if I’m not traveling to the United States? They’re still busy trying to get me an answer to that.” He predicts they will stop doing that very soon. He excitedly talks about the plans for the NAIA airport and the international airport in Clark, but warns there will be a difficult two-year period where we all have to be patient. “Remember how it is now, because some day it’s going to get better.”

3. On the switch from working in advertising to being a public official: “It’s something I recommend to anyone who is completing a career.”

Stalwarts in the Philippine advertising industry, Sec. Mon and his wife Abby were asked by P-Noy to come onboard after the elections, around June 2010. They said no. Months later, they were asked again, and as Jimenez puts it, “When your president asks you again, you say yes.” Advertising is an extremely lucrative industry, and having moved to government in September 2011, I asked Jimenez to share what his salary is, or even the range. “I don’t want to make people sad, they might stop believing that it’s fun,” he jokes. But he says the pay is more than made up for by how rewarding the job is, saying it’s a “position to make an even bigger difference than you thought you were making when you were in the private sector.”

4. He and his wife Abby founded and ran advertising agency Jimenez Basic, and worked together across a desk every day for 20 years.

They met in ad agency Ace Saatchi, and eventually got married. Though Abby moved on to work in another agency, they ended up working together again when she quit her job and founded ad agency Jimenez and Partners (now Publicis Jimenez Basic) in 1989. Six months after, he followed suit. Twenty years later in 2008, they both retired. Having been together at work and at home daily for two decades, people always ask they how they can still stand each other. “Be careful, you might be saying more about your marriage than ours,” was always their quick reply. Jimenez says that if you have your spouse as your business partner, you have absolutely no reason to question her motives when you argue. He adds, “We always settled our arguments very neatly, in other words, I gave in.” She always won anyway, he says, and that kept the peace.

When he and Abby started Jimenez Basic, they literally had zero clients. Their first project was to do merchandising for Dunkin’ Donuts and Shakeys, and they didn’t even have the advertising account, they simply had the branch operations account. He remembers drawing and writing the posters all by hand. Despite the many awards their agency has won since, he shares, “If you ask me, that was our most important campaign.”

5. Secretary Jimenez in numbers:

31: Years he and his wife Abby have been married. When people ask them what the secret is, they joke, “We’ve been too busy to quarrel.”

2: Number of children they have: Nina, 30, a creative director, and Sassa, 25, a fashion designer

21: Age when he got his first job, straight from his thesis, to work in advertising. He graduated with a fine arts degree from UP.

8: Number of meetings a day.

4: Number of dogs they have in the family. One each! His is an Alaskan Malamute named Atkam (which, in Eskimo, means “guardian”) that weighs 123 pounds. They also co-own a canine behavior center called Better Dogs, which they call a dog hotel. “It’s not just a kennel, it’s a full-service hotel where we feed, bathe, and walk the dogs.”

6. One basic rule in advertising that can be applied to life: “You have to tell the truth. Nothing works like the truth.”

“Your obligation is to make the truth compelling and exciting, but to tell it nonetheless,” he shares.

7. On the public officials revealing their SALN: “I believe it should be public, under any and all circumstances.”

The DOT Secretary believes that the SALN is gathered precisely because it must be open to the public, and if it will be kept a secret anyway, don’t bother getting it. He adds: “A SALN that is not open to the public is like arranging flowers in the dark. What’s it for?” He had to declare everything other than his shorts, he shares, and fair is fair.

When I asked him what he feels when people judge the government as sobrang corrupt, he responds, “It’s not true that it’s sobrang corrupt.” He believes that decency is back in the government, and though it may be far from perfect, we are back to no longer being ashamed of our leaders. “This country is no longer run by men and women who sit around the table dividing money,” he says. “We’ve become a normal nation again, we’re no longer the underachieving, corrupt, neighborhood failure.” And he says it’s no big deal: that we should expect a bunch of decent men and women to be running the government, and that’s the way it should be.

8. He’s been to many key cities and provinces even before his DOT post, but the places he hasn’t been to and wants to visit are Siargao and Tawi Tawi.

Siargao to check out the surfing, and Tawi Tawi (along with many other parts of Mindanao) are both on his list. He of course isn’t allowed to pick any favorite cities or destinations, but he does share some interesting trivia:

• The world’s thickest forest is in the Philippines, in Sibuyan Island, Romblon. It’s thicker than the Amazon forest. Not to mention the many species endemic to the Philippines.

• Baguio isn’t our only mountain city and there are others we need to develop, such as Mount Kitanglad in Bukidnon.

• One of the most incredible churches he’s seen in the world is the Sta. Ana Church. It’s centuries old, and “really incredible.”

• There is a fiesta every day of the year in the Philippines. Even two on some days.

He asserts: “More than the places, it’s really the people. We’re not just a place to see, but a place to be.”

9. Jimenez’s top travel tip: “Make sure you put down your camera, or else you will miss the moment.”

He believes travel is learning how to see and feel at the same time. Otherwise, it will just be such a waste of energy. “Some of my best insights on a place have come just looking outside the window,” he says.

One interesting thing he said — which I hope to observe as well — is that “at 7a.m., everyone is himself. You are going to see how they really are.” Then, he says, you will pick up an insight.

10. He hopes by the end of his term to have finally built up enough energy around tourism to give the Philippines a positive image that is larger than its negative one.

More than the image of a place of crime, typhoons, and disasters, he says “If we are able to do this right by 2016, when you say ‘Philippines,’ the immediate image will be happy, fun, adventure, bright colors.” Even our own self-image is gradually changing: “At least in our minds we’re more fun than we were two weeks ago!” And we are going to build momentum.

In 2011, we had 3.8 million foreign tourists. Thailand had 15 million, and Malaysia had 24 million. And those who have been to both Thailand and Malaysia know that the Philippines has just as many, if not better, sights and experiences to offer. Not to mention our being one the friendliest people in the world! Note that 3.4 million Pinoys are directly employed by tourism, meaning that for every foreign tourist that arrives, one Filipino gets to work. The real goal is to create more jobs and income for people. This year’s target is 4.2 million tourists. “The new Philippine campaign is like an advertising lesson for the whole country,” he says.

* * *

Jimenez is far from the stereotype people expect government officials to be. He is approachable, laid-back, and does pretty much everything on his own, not dependent on assistants or bodyguards. I first met him the week the DOT campaign was launched, and during that week, I know that he personally met with different people (bloggers, journalists, young movers, icons) two or three at a time, taking over an hour to just explain the campaign and gather insights. I was only one of over 20 people he met with, and I can only imagine how draining it was to explain the same things over and over again. If we ourselves won’t believe in this campaign, why should tourists? Let’s live up to being the reason why people have more fun in the Philippines. Get with the program. “We are natural game changers because we cannot play the game the way the rest of the world plays it,” the Secretary said during his Ad Congress speech. It’s time to change the game.

http://www.philstar.com/travel-and-tourism/769771/tourism-its-more-fun-ramon-jimenez 

10 Things You Should Know About The boys of Boys Night Out

A night out with the Boys

From boys to men: Tony Toni, Sam YG and Slick Rick of the radio program Boys Night Out on Magic 89.9 are funny, playful, naughty, makulit, and at times manyak.

 We may not be able to do anything about Metro Manila traffic, but a lot of us have found a solution to make the time spent stuck bumper to bumper at least more enjoyable. All thanks to Anthony Bueno, Eric Virata, and Sam Gogna, otherwise known as Tony Toni, Slick Rick and Sam YG of the radio program Boys Night Out on Magic 89.9. They are funny, playful, naughty, makulit, and at times manyak, which make them a favorite of students and yuppies on the road between 6 and 10 p.m. on weeknights. It has been said that 70 percent of their listeners are women, but a lot of men call their show to open up about their deepest, darkest secrets. Whether you listen to them or not, be amused and learn from the 10 things you should know about the boys of Boys Night Out.

1. The great thing about their trio is that nobody takes the jokes personally. “We have to make fun of ourselves first, before we can make fun of others,” Slick says.

When Tony, Slick, and Sam got together to host Boys Night Out in 2006, there was no need to adjust or warm up. Their chemistry was instant. Tony (the more “wild” one) became a DJ in 1999, Slick (the “boy next door”) in 2001, and Sam (the mix of both) in 2003. “We had no dead air, walang sapawan, we were just flowing,” Tony shares about their first few shows together. With their more than five-year friendship, they have never had a single serious fight between them, and they attribute that to the respect they have for one another’s individuality. They admit to knowing most everything about each other’s lives — though not their love lives. “Who we sleep with, who we’re dating, who we’re in negotiations with (Tony’s new term),” they never share about. No names. Don’t ask, don’t tell: that is their rule.

2. Tony was born and raised in Canada, and after a series of unlikely events, the last one being a breakup, he decided to move to Manila in 1999. And he hasn’t had a girlfriend since.

Tony has been single for 13 years. “I needed a change of lifestyle, I needed to love myself, and I wanted to be in control of my life,” he says. He came home to the Philippines not really knowing what he was going to do, but what he did know was that he wanted to affect the lives of millions of people. From modeling to being a bar promo boy to being a DJ, he just wanted to entertain people. When asked why he hasn’t had a relationship since, he says, “I don’t think I’m ready to be fully responsible.” It’s not you, it’s him. Literally. “I don’t have the heart to go on air and do what I do and have a girlfriend. It won’t be fair to the girl.”

3. Slick and his then-girlfriend were all set  to get married and move to Florida in 2005. Until he was offered to do BNO.

There was a point when he felt he had done all he wanted to do in radio, and his girlfriend wanted to leave the Philippines, so they planned their wedding. A few months into doing BNO, he enjoyed it and realized that he wanted to stay. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that his plans had changed, until one time, she was the one who told him “I know you changed your mind, there’s something different in you especially when you’re on the show.” She still moved abroad and Slick stayed, and though they tried to go the distance, it didn’t work out in the end. Are they still friends now? “No,” Slick says. “Pati kami! Un-friend-ed sa Facebook,” Sam says jokingly. Slick still believes he will find that kind of love again someday, and right now, he is seeing someone.

4. Sam, along with “Shivaker” (a love guru character on BNO), gives great love advice. But he can never apply the same love advice to make his own relationships work.

“When you’re in that emotional love stage, wala, your wall is down,” Sam shares. He was in a relationship when BNO started, and after that, he dated a couple of celebrities including Karylle and Daiana Menezes. He has been single for more than four years now. “How can you tell a person you love them, then you say all these things on air?” He says it usually is okay for the first few months, but at some point, their on-air personas become too much for the girls to handle. Plus, for the girl to understand their job is one thing, for the family to accept them is another. All the love advice he gives on the show is unscripted and spontaneous. “I talk to a lot of people about their love problems, plus my personal experience, and then I put it all into perspective.”

5.Tony Toni, Slick Rick, and Sam YG in numbers:  6: Total number of serious relationships between the three of them (two each).

45: Percentage of the audience share that listens to them during their time slot.

7,500: Number of pesos salary per month on their first job in radio. “You don’t do radio for the money, you have to do it because you love it,” Tony explains.

500-plus: Percentage increase in their income since they started hosting BNO. “It took a long time, it was a lot of hard work and sleepless nights,” Sam shares.

9.5: Their shoe size. (Yes, they all have the same shoe size, and they all stand between 5’8” and 5’9”.)

6. Comparing the boys: Most girls who approach: Sam Gets the most girls: Tony.  “Walang wingman required, he will get the job done,” Sam reveals.

 Pinaka-”mama’s boy”: “We’re all mama’s boys,” Tony shares.

Cheeziest when in love: Sam

Drives the nicest car: Sam

Most vain: Sam. “Goatee pa lang, 45 minutes na!”

Most religious: Slick and Sam. “They go to church every Sunday,” Tony says. Slick replies, “but a lot of people don’t know that Tony is very spiritual.” Tony goes on a pilgrimage every year.

Most conservative: Tony

Most shy/quiet: Slick. “These two keep talking, so I just want to listen!”

Goes home the latest from gimmick: Tony

7. From the hundreds of callers they’ve talked to, what shocks them most about women is how many of them commit adultery. What shocks them most about men is how they are just as emotional as women.

“So many women are willing to cheat if they can get away with it,” shares Tony. Sam says it’s unbelievable how many callers are cheating on their husbands or boyfriends. Slick is quick to point out that “men don’t realize that women can actually do it (cheat) better, because they lie better.” The boys always tell their callers that they do not condone cheating.

They say that men are emotional especially when it comes to love. “Super!” they all say in unison. It is their ego that gets in the way, that’s why women don’t get to see how emotional men really are.

On why people confess their problems and affairs to the boys on air: “The anonymity. They can’t be seen and they won’t be known by just their names, they tell their story and we just listen. It’s therapeutic.”

8. The one “bro” rule that should never be broken: never get into a relationship with your barkada’s girlfriend or ex-girlfriend. The one thing girls should never do to get a guy’s attention: stalk.

“If the girl is an ex of a really good friend or barkada, wag na,” Tony says about the bro code. They have all heard one too many stories of friends dating friends’ exes and how it has ruined friendships. What if you are really attracted to the person and they just happen to be the ex of a good friend? “Confront the person first before you do anything, but as much as possible, just stay away.”

The boys believe women should never stalk the men they like. “I got home, she was at the foyer on my floor, and it was four in the morning,” Sam shares. “Online stalking is okay, I ignore it, but once someone showed up at my front door, I was so scared,” Tony says.

Slick adds another thing girls should never do: play stupid or act like a ditz. “If you have something substantial to say, say it, because guys like smart girls. Don’t dumb yourself down.”

9. Their top dating advice: Sam says: Be yourself. “People always try to put up a front, but when you realize down the road that the person is not like that, then it all just becomes messy.”

Slick shares something similar: Don’t put your best foot forward. “The more you do that, the more the girl will expect. If you gave her this, or brought her here, then you’re always going to have to outdo the last. And no one can do that.”

Tony says: Get to know a person fully, before you commit. “Everyone can do the lovey-dovey texts, the dinners, movies, DVD nights. You have to get to know them both outside and inside the home. In the bedroom, domestically, it’s a whole different story.”

10. They are not afraid of commitment. Instead, it’s an issue of not having time and the fear of committing to the wrong woman.

All three boys say they are not ready to commit to a relationship right now. “Hindi pwede yung, ‘okay commit tayo, relationship tayo, but let me put it on the side ‘cause I’m also busy working,’” 28-year-old Sam explains. And right now, work takes so much of their time that there really won’t be any time for a relationship. Thirty-year-old Tony says: “I’m so into my profession that I will not let love for a woman interfere with my love for my work.” When I tell him that maybe he just hasn’t met the “game changer,” he says, “The girl that will love me because I do what I do, will be the it.” They all would like to have a family eventually. When asked to give an estimate of what age they would want to settle down, 31-year-old Slick says that will just come. “If you put a number on it, you’re putting a deadline on yourself. You’ll count how many years are left and you’re just going to stress yourself out.

Do they ever get lonely? “Of course,” the boys say. “When you want to text someone at 3 a.m.,” Tony shares. “Or when you just want to have a really good conversation,” Sam says. They all agree that the happiness you feel with partners you just get physical with or sleep with can never mask the loneliness of longing for someone. The key? “You have to be totally in love with yourself and you have to be totally secure with your being single,” Tony shares. And secure in being single, these boys totally are.

* * *

The boys have become so popular because so many people can relate to them. A group of single friends just having fun, trying to meet people along the way, and trying to make sense and make fun of it all. It may sound funny, but it has become the boys’ advocacy to make people laugh with their naughty brand of humor, and as a result, set aside any possibility of entering a serious relationship. As animated and happy-go-lucky as they may seem, they actually have very valuable advice to share.

Slick says, “Some people think they need someone to complete them. No, you need you to complete yourself.”

Sam says, “It’s going to be a beautiful relationship when two people love themselves and get together knowing fully their self worth as individuals.”

Tony says, “It’s only when people go through a massive breakup or traumatizing experience that they realize they have to love themselves, but it doesn’t have to get to that point. You can love yourself right now.

Wise words can also come from the rowdy boys next door.

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/767477/night-out-boys