10 Things You Should Know About Cary Santiago

Cary Santiago, fave designer of powerful women: ‘Taste is everything.’

On originality: “I travel for inspiration, I don’t buy fashion magazines unless my work is featured in it.”

 One of the country’s top couturiers commands not only respect from the industry and six-digit figures, but the admiration and affection of every life he’s ever touched. What did it take for a shy Cebuano boy to become a fashion powerhouse? Here are 10 things you should know about Cary Santiago.

1. Cary was already drawing dress patterns before even going to school and was already designing for an RTW company by age 15.

“I grew up in a military reservation in Cebu because my father is a military man. My mom is the costurrera (alterer) of the community, and as far as I can remember yun na yung world ko. My mom also designed clothes if there was a wedding, or a debut, or beauty pageants. I am the bunso of six, so when they would all be in school, I would be seated under my mom’s cutting machine, I was asked to give pins, draw this line, fold this. I felt I was just playing, yun pala I was helping my mom already,” Cary recalls.

“At 15, I was second year high school, I was already hired to sketch for an RTW company in Cebu,” he adds. “When I was 18, I would study in the morning, and in the afternoon, go to my passion which is sketching. I love to sketch. I was earning P1,500 a week, that was big at that time. Ang taxi noon P150 back and forth, hindi na ako nagje-jeepney. Wala akong pakialam kung wala nang maiwan sa sweldo ko, I just wanted the comfort,” Cary laughs. “I worked for the most popular fashion designer in Cebu at that time, Leonardo Igloria, and at an early age I was already entertaining big clients in Cebu. Parang naaasahan na ako, my boss could see that I could do it.”

2. At 23, he started his own business from the tiny room he was renting to sleep in.

“I felt the military reservation was not my world. My mom and I would design, and sometimes we’d clash. I wanted the freedom. I grew up with my family so protective of me because I am bunso and I’m gay, iniisip nila hindi ko kaya. So I decided to stay on my own in a boarding house when I was 18. But every weekend umuuwi ako or they would visit me,” Cary shares.

“Then I started my own business with Romero Vergara, a makeup artist who worked in Japan and came back home to Cebu. We shared one room and that room was my shop. He was very instrumental in my career because he was there to support me kahit hindi pa ako makabayad noon,” he recalls. “So when I wake up, nagliligpit ako, the room we slept in would transform into my office. My clients didn’t care, and sometimes I would even still be in my pajamas, they would still come over, they just wanted my designs. I was already designing for important people in Cebu. It was easy for me. I saw myself progressing.”

3. On what opened the doors for Cary to design in Dubai: his talent and his chika.

“I had a friend who was working for The Black Shop in Manila, and this Iraqi couple from Dubai spotted him. He looked good, he was stylish. It was their first time in the Philippines and they were looking for tailors and master cutters. My friend referred me, and when they called me, I said, ‘Yes, Madam, I can entertain you, please come,’” Cary recalls. “So the couple went to me in that small shop, yung room ko. After talking, I said that if they wanted my cutter they could bring him (to Dubai). But the more we talked, the more the couple was fascinated with me. Ako na ang ini-interview. While they were there, I had a client who was fitting. Parang sardinas lang kami sa room. They said, ‘Cary, you made that? I like that, can you show us your sketches?’ So I sketched for them. But more than anything else they were already very much into me because of the chika, my personality. And in the end they said, ‘Cary, we don’t need tailors now, we want you.’ They fixed my passport and papers, and after two months, I left for Dubai.

“At that time, my mom told me, ‘We’re not rich. You have to go kasi wala naman akong iiwan sa ‘yo. I remember when I was a young girl I wanted to do so many things but my parents always stopped me because they thought I wasn’t capable. You will always feel like a big fish in a small pond, unless you go to a bigger body of water. So go.’ That gave me strength,” Cary reveals.

“So I was 25, in Dubai, earning US$2,500 as a starting offer. But you know how we Filipinos work, it’s our attitude na nagugugstuhan anywhere in the world. I quickly became the head designer of the couture house. I was then hired by a former colleague who opened shop in Beirut, and stayed there for three years before coming back home,” he says of his stay in the Middle East.

4. Cary’s design inspiration is history, art and culture. “I don’t collect fashion magazines. I only buy fashion magazines if my work is featured there.”

“My father who was very intelligent had a library of Reader’s Digest. So it was black coffee and a Reader’s Digest every morning. That’s when I became so interested.”

Top three cities in the world that Cary takes design inspiration from:

1. Paris, France: “It is really the fashion capital. I’m an old soul and I’m not into new things. I love the Ancient Quarters, the Ile de la Cite, Point Zero, the area of the Notre Dame and the River Sein.”

2. Beirut, Lebanon: “Actually the whole of Lebanon! It is the ancient Phoenicia. Bibloz, Tyros, Sedon, these are very historical places. They built some of the greatest temples and palaces, it was the playground of the rich and famous. It was meant for me to go to Dubai because there, I was led to Beirut.”

3. New Delhi, India: “I love the people. They wear the colors we do not even dare to wear. It is so fascinating because these are the clothes they wore during the time of Alexander, they don’t care if the foreigners dress differently, they are so proud of their culture. The Adjanta caves were my inspiration for my first Philippine Fashion Week Collection, ‘In Praise of the Divine.’”

5. His most important advice for women: “Stay fit.”

“When you are fit, you can wear anything. You will be the most confident woman. You can go anywhere you want, and do anything you want. So stay fit.”

6. Cary weighs in on some of his most famous clients:

• Charo Santos-Concio: “She is for me the epitome of elegance. Every time we do fittings, even without the makeup or the shoes, yung movement niya, it fascinates me. She would say, ‘Cary, do I look good?’ You see a powerful woman but fragile and tender as a person. With me, napaka soft niya talaga,” Cary gushes.

• Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo: “She is really so beautiful. She is always proper, she will not say or do anything that you won’t like. And it is not put on, it is really innate. She is very sincere as a person.”

• Kris Aquino: “People think she’s difficult, but she is never difficult. She is just a fabulous client. I think Kris has more than 50 Carys! Not one na binalik and not one na di niya nagustuhan. She is always fascinating. Ang hindi alam ng lahat, si Kris, pag nago-order, color lang ibibigay. I will make it and she will wear it.”

7. He does say no to clients. “People think I am very strict as a couturier. Yes, I am. I am very strict because I know what I want.”

“I am like a doctor, if you come to me I will tell you the truth. No bull***ing here. Ayoko nung ‘okay, pwede na yan’ because in the end she will be disappointed. If I feel that the client is difficult, I will say, ‘I’m sorry, I hope you do not feel bad pero hindi tayo magwo-work,’ or ‘Madam, I find you difficult, I think this is not possible.’ Are you sure you want me? Have you seen my work? Once there is trust, you won’t want to break that. I stop the client right away when I feel they don’t trust me. You have to be with a designer you are comfortable with.” Cary explains.

“But when the client trusts me, gagawin ko ang lahat. You give everything to them because you don’t want to disappoint them. You don’t want to break that trust.”

8. On the loss of his dog Farez: “I never shed a tear for anyone else. For Farez, I am still mourning. He was instrumental. He gave me life, joy, everything.”

“Farez came into my life in a time that I was a different Cary. My transformation (was) in Dubai and coming back to Cebu. When I broke up with my boyfriend, when I was building a name for myself, when I would need to de-stress, he was the one in front of me, inspiring me,” Cary says of his Shi Tzu who passed away over a year ago.

“Farez means knight. He was a gift from Majid, who then told me that Farez would accompany me while he was not by my side. I was with my boyfriend for 15 years,” he recalls. “When I started feeling something, yung may kutob, even if Majid promised me the moon and the starts, even if he promised me that we’ll be together for eternity, I felt it. I didn’t care anymore, I was with Farez and that is what mattered. That is why Farez is very special, and that is the pain I have, I thought we would be together longer.”

 9. Cary Santiago in numbers:

15: Number of days he spends in Cebu and Manila alternately. He is opening his first Manila shop soon, and he is preparing for his big 25th anniversary show before the year ends.

4 and 7: It usually takes four people and seven days to make a Cary Santiago gown. “My clothes take time, pursuant of perfection. If I don’t like it, I will not give it, I keep it or destroy it. If I give it, it is still a Cary and makikita ang imperfection. Patience is everything and I always have the patience to redo it.”

6: Number that Cary dislikes. “I make sure if there are important events in my life, I make sure it’s not the sixth. Even with the prices of my gowns, I don’t like including the number six. And I don’t like repeated numbers. I’m into numerology.”

100-plus: Number of plain black button-down tops in his closet. “From the time I arrived in Mania, this has been my uniform.”

 10. On designing and originality: “Taste is everything. When you know what to do, and when you know what is beautiful.”

“A lot of the young designers who look up to me, they think studying fashion design is everything. You don’t need to learn everything to become a fashion designer. I didn’t even study. I was lucky to grow up in the environment. More than anything else, it is really taste,” Cary says.

“You have to work with someone you can trust, and I am very creative when I am with John (Herrera). He can tell me the truth. Even if people say magaling ka, you are still human, there are imperfections,” he adds. “I am an evening wear designer. I am not trendy, my dresses are made classic. I don’t need to be inspired from what the current look or uso is, they just have to be distinctive Cary. I collect books, I make sure I travel. I made Katy Perry a dress for Nicolas Jebran. May nakita lang akong manok, may chicken effect lang dito, that’s the inspiration!”

“Don’t be inspired by just the work of others. Be inspired by anything and everything beautiful that surrounds you.”

* * *

“I always put myself in competition with myself. That’s why I am affected when people say my previous collection is the best, kasi pano ko gagawin yung next? It is always a challenge. I look at myself not just as a designer of clothes, I make sure I show myself as an artist.” Clearly what sets Cary apart from the rest is his extraordinary vision and mindset. And the sincerely wonderful way he has with people, and as he calls it, his chika.

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2014/05/18/1324270/cary-santiago-fave-designer-powerful-women-taste-everything. 

10 Things You Should Know About Kenneth S. Yang

Kenneth S. Yang: Love ko ‘to – family, golf & vintage cars

Just a typical day hanging out with Ronald: The father and son tandem of McDonald’s George Yang (seated) and Kenneth Yang — from operations in Hong Kong to full ownership in the Philippines.

What is the pressure like growing up with business mogul parents? How do you keep yourself and your family grounded if you run one of the most popular establishments in the country? And how does a top CEO deal with what he calls a looming “mid-life crisis”?

Here are 10 things you should know about Kenneth S. Yang.

1. Kenneth recalls that he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth: “My parents taught us the value of money. ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees,’ they always told us.”

“I was born in Tondo, and we were several families living in one building on Alvarado St. in Manila. I was born there and stayed there till I was around five years old. My great-grandfather, my grandfather, my dad and me. I remember we were many families sharing one or two toilets,” the eldest of the four Yang siblings recalls. “When my grandfather was able to buy a house, we moved and stayed with my grandparents. Sa Chinese family, the eldest child is expected to stay with the parents even when they’re married. Me also, when I got married, we stayed in my parents’ house, matagal din, for around 14 years.

“My parents are both in business. My mom Kristine started with a P5,000 capital for her jewelry business, sa supermarket lang siya noon in a small stall. Then my dad, I realized, he was about to get the McDonald’s franchise when they often had American visitors over,” he shares.

On if he ever felt deprived of fun while growing up because of his responsibilities: “Life was fun and serious at the same time. And back then, medyo prestigious to work as a student. When I graduated high school I invited my friends to work for the summer in the Cubao McDonald’s. It was a great learning experience for me kasi mahiyain ako, and I was forced to deal with people. I was allowed to go out but I’m not the gimmick type.”

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2. On lessons from his father George Yang, beyond the businessman persona: “He really emphasized family time together.”

“At that time maybe I didn’t appreciate it, but I appreciate it now as a parent. They really worked hard every day but on Sundays, or even overnight starting Saturday night, we would always end up going somewhere, like Puerto Azul. When I was in high school, parang ayoko na,” he laughs. “But we had to. Then we would want to hurry going back to Manila so we can go where we wanted. But I appreciate it now, how my parents wanted us to be together despite their busy schedule.

“My dad was an excellent tennis player, class A. I tried to be like him but I was not that good,” he laughs. “He also taught me golf as a kid and I took it up again at a later stage. That is where my passion is and I think I excel there. And even when I am old I can still play,” he laughs again.

3. He actually was eyeing his wife Cindy Yap back in high school, but admits he was too torpe to pursue her.

“Cindy and I went to schools that were neighbors, Xavier and ICA. I knew of her, but we were not friends. She was a batch lower than me and my first cousin was her classmate. I saw her in parties and I knew she was pretty and attractive, but I never did anything. Ano pa ako nun… torps,” he says with a smile.

“So that was just that. When I was studying for my MBA at the University of Chicago and I was here on summer break, ang uso nun Faces disco. I was there one night and I saw her. ‘Ganda ni Cindy,’ I said. . I remembered her. Then I made kulit my cousin to kind of get the ball rolling. I invited my cousin to watch a movie, and she invited Cindy. During that summer, we already got along well and we even went to Baguio together. So when I went back to school in Chicago, at that time there was no cell phone, no Internet, just snail mail, I would send her a letter maybe twice a week, she would send me almost daily. So every day when I opened my mailbox I would have a letter, with a cassette tape sometimes! Mixed tape and voice recordings,” he laughs.

He graduated from his MBA in 1990 and she became Mrs. Cindy Yang in 1992.

4. His is a family of homebodies.

“My eldest Kay is studying at Berkeley, my second Kevin is at Stanford, and my youngest Keith is here at ISM,” he shares. “Most important for us is that family comes first. Cindy and I are compatible in that we like spending time at home together rather than going out. We just have to have dinner together, and weekends we go out for dinner or a movie. I don’t have a home theater so we don’t really watch movies at home. We just hang out together.”

“My wife is more of the disciplinarian, so when the children ask for permission I’m more of the good cop, but when when it comes to their shopping, I’m more of the bad cop,” he smiles.

They also love traveling together as a family. “The whole clan has been going on a cruise the past three years. We’re close to 20 people including grandkids. We’ve gone on the Mediterranean, Baltic, and the Alaskan. My family, we take shorter trips. And, of course, when you travel we have no driver so I enjoy that, walking, taking the train, getting lost and then finding your way.”

5. His co-workers describe him as a very cool and calm boss whom  they’ve never heard scream or get mad — except for this one time.

“When I was 15, my dad brought me with him to Hong Kong because he was going to undergo McDonald’s exposure training. Saling pusa ako,” he recalls. “I was pretty excited because it was my first official part-time job,  although it was just for a week. We were service crew members. I did everything on the kitchen side. Dressing the burgers, using the grill station, toasting the buns, and even the counter. I just remember being very, very hungry after work and I was happy during break time because we had a free meal, the Big Mac.”

From being service crew in Hong Kong to service crew in Manila, then after graduating with a degree in Management Engineering from Ateneo, he became assistant manager at the Greenbelt and Landmark branches. “I had to deal with problems like biglang dadami ang tao, or absent ang crew, or equipment broke down, so it was stressful. I rarely get mad but there was this one time, we had a rush of customers and parang ang bagal bagal ng kilos ng crew at ang daming palpak. Nagalit ako. I banged something. That was the first time that happened and nagulat sila. But I really rarely get mad.”

6. On his biggest weakness: “I think I’m too nice.”

At one of McDonald’s Philippines company events, the LED screen flashed the name “PSY” that morphed into the letters “KSY” and Kenneth came out on stage in a sparkly outfit dancing to the tune of the hit song Gentleman, as part of the program. “Cindy had to borrow my jacket, shades, and shoes from Tim Yap,” he says about donning his brother-in-law’s clothes. “In high school I used to dance, but I think I forgot how already.”

“A self-described flexible leader, he tries to surround himself with individuals he trusts to complement his strengths and weaknesses,” a John Clements article reads. “I’m good with numbers, finance is my background. There are other things like marketing that I need experts in, and for operations I learned it and I understand how it works. I believe in delegating to people and trusting them in making decisions,” Kenneth shares. “Sometimes they may make the wrong decision, but I think that is part of it. I think you need to allow for mistakes so they don’t get gun shy, they don’t become timid, and so they don’t stop taking risks. At the same time I also want to foster teamwork, wala yung ranko-ranko. I value different view points.”

7. KSY in numbers:

30,000: Approximate number of McDonald’s Philippines employees nationwide including crewmembers and franchise stores.

3: Number of vintage cars in his collection. “Part of my mid-life crisis stage,” he laughs. “There’s only one I had restored, a 1966 Mustang. Yes, I drive it, on Sundays.”

2: Number of times a week he plays golf. “I just play for fun now. Single digit handicap, I think I can still manage an eight or nine.”

1: Number of cups of coffee he takes a day. “Only in the morning.”

2: Number of years he has been playing the drums. “Another mid-life crisis thing. That was my high school dream, but my mom didn’t want to buy me a drum set because it was expensive — and noisy.”

8. On his advice to young, budding entrepreneurs: “Stick to it.”

“I find it good to see many young entrepreneurs pursuing their passion, whether it is designing and selling bags or opening a small restaurant. I see a lot of that and I think we should encourage it.”

“I think they have to keep in mind, that as much as possible, if you can differentiate yourself, and know what your business stands for,” he says. “It may start small but it can grow really big. I have also had my failures and sometimes, I realize that I quit too early. So don’t quit. The early years will be very, very difficult, you could lose money, but if you stick to it, you can turn it around.”

9. His built and weight in his 20s is still the same as his built and weight now that he’s turning 50.

“I think genetics! I was blessed with a lean physique,” he shares. “But I do go to the gym thrice a week, consistently, since I was in my MBA. I value health and fitness talaga. I believe in eating what I want to eat, but not excessively, and working out. I don’t believe in dieting only and not working out.”

On his looking-way-younger-than-50 skin: “When I play golf, I use sunblock and bring an umbrella. I asked Cindy if I should start using face creams because she has a lot of those, and I did start but after a while I got lazy so I stopped.”

10. On how he has handled all the pressure, failure, and challenges in his life: “I don’t know if this is called fatalism but I just have a belief that things will work out.”

“Things have a way of working itself out for me. Of course, I had benefits, obviously with my dad having the business already so I had that opportunity. But to get to where I am today, I didn’t plan it that way,” explains the president and CEO. “I never worked for my dad directly, until we became a wholly owned company in 2005. Prior to that my bosses were all McDonald’s expatriates. When I was appointed managing director in 2003, it wasn’t him who did, it was McDonald’s.”

“Even if it seems hard or difficult, I believe things will work out. And God always makes me feel blessed that something good is about to happen. I choose to stay positive in that aspect.”

* * *

You expect white hair and wrinkles from someone with a challenging job and huge responsibility, but instead you get youthful, calm, and collected. You expect turning 50, but instead you get looking 40. You expect schedule like clockwork, but instead he stayed on to chat with me and other McDonald’s employees for a good 20 minutes after the interview. His colleagues are right to call KSY “not your usual CEO.”

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2014/04/27/1316370/kenneth-s.-yang-love-ko-family-golf-vintage-cars 

10 Things You Should Know About Richard and Raymond Gutierrez

Richard and Raymond Gutierrez: Two much

 

They were born into, grew up in, and breathe a life of controversy and glamour. They are extremely different from each other, yet so alike. What is life like as one half of the most intriguing twins in the country? Here are 10 things you should know about Richard and Raymond Gutierrez.

1. Richard may be the movie star now, but it was Raymond who was really the performer, growing up.

“Raymond loved the camera more than I did,” Richard reveals. “Yeah, I was such a camera hog, and Chard was more snooty,” Raymond says, and they both burst into laughter. We’re talking about Kambal Tuko, a movie they did when they were five years old. “That was the most successful one that people remember until now. How can you not remember twins attached to each other?!” Mond says.

“I remember we would be so excited to go on set, kasi Tita Susan Roces would always have a gift for us. Coloring books, toys, food, basta every taping meron siyang baon for us. We love her,” Mond shares. “But you know what, when we were kids it was super just playing around. The movie set was our playground. We didn’t see it as work.”

2. Raymond may be the party scene staple now, but it was Richard who loved the nightlife first.

“I started partying young. I was always the adventurous kid,” Chard says. “Pakawala,” Mond butts in, and they both laugh. “I was always looking for new adventures, curious about seeing the world, seeing different things. And our parents trusted us. Even when we were in the States, at the age of 14 and 15 I was already going out. Before I was 18 I was already trying to get in and sneak into clubs. It was the crazy time of my life. It was fun. I have no regrets. I’m glad I went through that in my life,” Chard reveals.

“Now he’s boring,” Mond teases Chard.

“Now he’s the night person,” Chard says about Mond. “I’m the morning person. I wake up at 6:30 or 7 a.m.”

“I’m going home at that time,” Mond quips and they both laugh.

3. Richard was all set to compete in Florida for National Championships for martial arts, but while vacationing in the Philippines, he ended up staying. Raymond was all set for college in LA, but while vacationing in the Philippines, he also ended up staying.

“Not a lot of people know that Chard competed in martial arts in L.A.,” Mond reveals. “Martial arts was my passion. I started competing all around California and became State Champion a few times,” Chard shares. “I wanted to compete in the Nationals. For you to compete you would need a certain number of medals, and I achieved that already so I signed up. But then I went back to the Philippines for summer break, and didn’t come back to the States.” “Nag-enjoy, may barkada,” Mond comments.

“I’m a brown belter,” Chard says. “I’m a yellow belter,” Mond says. They laugh.

“I was on vacation for Christmas and was only supposed to be here for three weeks. Then my first-ever TV appearance was on MYX as a VJ,” Mond shares. “That’s where Tita Wilma Galvante saw me and she asked if I wanted to try out hosting. I did a variety show, then pageants, then tuluy-tuloy na until she offered me a contract. I had already signed up for my classes in L.A. and I was calling my best friend saying I’ll catch up when I arrive. But I ended up enjoying hosting and told myself I’d go back to school when I’m not enjoying it anymore. Wala, now I’m still enjoying it.”

Both Chard and Mond say that they do have plans of going back to school someday. “I’ve always wanted to take short courses in NYC or London, but plans are always put on hold,” Mond shares. “I want to take filmmaking in L.A., but the courses laging hindi tama yung timing,” Chard says.

4. Richard and Raymond are extremely protective of each other, but they also have misunderstandings and end up not talking to each other.

“May time na hindi kami nag-usap,” Mond says. “I didn’t like his girlfriend then, ano magagawa niya eh girlfriend niya? So hindi talaga kami nag-usap para mas madali ang life.”

“I got into a lot of fistfights in the States because of him,” Chard says referring to Mond. “Whenever I would get into fights, I would send Chard,” Mond says laughing. “Siya yung marunong sa karate eh, para useful ang training niya.” “Maraming bullies sa States,” Chard explains. “And because we’re twins, we always get picked on. We transferred schools a lot, so every time nasa bagong school, there would be new bullies.” Mond adds: “But because of the early times that we defended ourselves, people respected us more so we ended up having so many friends at the end of the school year.”

Mond is active on social media platforms, while Chard maintains a private Instagram account. “I eat haters for breakfast,” Mond says. “You have to be open to criticism and the hate because it’s part of it. Di ka dapat maging sensitive, di ka dapat pumapatol. But sometimes you can’t help it, they catch you in a bad mood and you can’t help but answer back.”

“It’s just not my thing, I think it’s high maintenance,” Chard says of social media. “He doesn’t even ‘like’ photos,” Mond quips. “I’m like, Chard can you like my photos, I have to force him to like my photos.”

5. Richard and Raymond Gutierrez in numbers:

5: Number of minutes older Chard is than Mond

11: Number of movies they made together as kids

10: Age when they moved to L.A. to study. “It was my sister (Ruffa)’s decision, she wanted us to experience what she experienced growing up, away from the limelight, to have a normal childhood experience,” Mond shares.

5: Number of bikes Richard currently owns. “I have both road and mountain, then one motorcycle. I used to have three. I used to have jet skis also. I don’t hold on to them for long.”

100-plus: Approximate number of action figures in Raymond’s collection. “I used to collect hard-to-find action figures, I would even attend the toy conventions in the States. Marvel, X-Men. I used to be a nerd.”

6. Richard admits that girlfriend Sarah Lahbati is a big factor in his being more “mellow” now.

“I’ve been under contract for over a decade. So I grew up practically with a contract. I wanted to be able to live life a little better, without living from one call time to another. I’m so happy I made that decision,” Chard reveals.

“Yeah, definitely,” Chard says on his serious relationship contributing to his new perspective on life. “It was also perfect timing when Sarah and I met. We were doing a soap and we got to know each other on set. During that time I was trying to become more mellow, more relaxed, trying to change my ways. Then meeting her and being with her really solidified that character of mine. Nanligaw talaga ako. Effort talaga to bring food to the set or flowers to her house. I met her mom, and her dad when he flew in from Switzerland. Old school ligaw talaga.”

“For me the biggest change is he used to be so private,” Mond says about the “new” Chard. “But now, sharing photos of him and Sarah, being more verbal about her, he’s in a happy relationship and hindi niya kailangan itago.”

7. Raymond admits that his name made it harder for him to get into the business.

“There are so many anak ng celebrities who are not doing anything, who tried and failed. For me, I was the last person to come into the limelight, having my family’s shadow hanging over me. Not only my parents and my sister, but now even my twin brother. I actually had the hardest time to create a name for myself,” Mond shares.

“I got so many offers to act and I really declined all of them. My mom and I would have screaming fights because sayang the offer, the opportunity, the money. But for me, if I don’t feel comfortable doing it, I’m sorry, I’m not gonna do it. I stuck it out and I said I wanna become a TV host. Through the few years that I have been hosting, thank you, Lord at medyo napansin din naman ako,” Mond says, laughing.

Aside from hosting, Mond is also a contributing editor for Preview and Esquire. “Dumaan talaga ako sa butas ng karayom to get the Esquire job. I applied, I took a test, I did all the meetings. I met with Jo-Ann Maglipon, Myrza Sison, Liza Gokongwei, Erwin Romulo, isa-isa. Question and answer portion. I really had to prove myself, hindi siya binigay lang sa akin.

“Actually it’s harder if medyo kilala ka kasi right away people will be like, ‘Ay, you will get him, he’s not gonna work hard naman.’ I think it’s about knowing what you want and working hard towards a goal.”

8. Chard and Mond would...

Spend on?

Chard: “Gadgets and machines.”

Mond: “Clothes and travel.”

Scrimp on?

Chard: “Wala, he’s magastos,” Mond quips. “Going out. I used to spend a lot on bottles,” Chard says.

Mond: “Gifts. I used to be really generous but now that I started investing, naiintindihan na ng friends ko na iba na ang priorities.”

Stress about?

Chard: “Delays and unprofessional people at work.”

Mond: “Everything. I just go crazy with my schedule.”

De-stress by?

Chard: “I have days I stay home and relax with Sarah or with my family. But I also like going out of the city. I ride my motorcycle or I go diving.”

Mond: “Travel. Or when I’m going crazy I just wanna have a quiet night at home.”

Obsess about?

Chard: “With my projects, I get obsessed with every detail. Sometimes I get frustrated when I know things can go smoother or be better, and I would suggest to the director.”

Mond: “Whenever I throw events, I get obsessed with every detail. I make sure everything is going smoothly.”

Ask advice about?

Chard: “Every major life decision, I ask my family’s opinion. Or even the simplest things like what to wear to an event, I would ask Mond.”

Mond: “Finance. I ask Chard and my sister about money and investing.”

9. On their weight issues: “It’s the bane of my existence. It’s the only life struggle I’ve had,” Mond says. They both burst into laughter.

“I’m freaking out about this reality show,” Mond says of their upcoming E! Special, It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez. “In shows and shoots, I know my best angles and I know how to move my body in a certain way that I won’t look as obese as I really am,” he laughs. “But this reality show, walang anggulo. You won’t be at your best angle all the time,” he laughs again. “I do have weeks where I don’t get to work out as much because I’m busy, and I do have weeks where every day I’m in the gym. My weight does fluctuate.”

“When I was traveling for months, I really didn’t care,” Chard reveals. I wanted to enjoy the food and the drinks, I was really enjoying life and gaining weight comes with it. But I know myself, when I put my mind to it, I can do it. Working out for me is the fun and exciting part, it’s the eating right and healthy that is the most difficult. Everywhere I go, ‘Chard, tumaba ka.’ Is it really that bad? I was in denial. When I lost weight, it was gratifying. But people said, ‘o, nagpa-lipo.’ It’s just strange for me.”

“My life would be so much better if I didn’t have weight issues. But I guess life is fair, so di pwede. So, taba is my struggle,” Mond says and they both laugh. “I just have to work a little bit harder.”

10. On how much of their private life they really owe the public:

“You don’t have to divulge everything. You want to keep some things to yourself and you don’t want to overshare,” Mond says.

“When you become more comfortable in your own skin, you become less apologetic of who you are,” Mond says of his realization when they turned 30. “For me, in this reality show, I’m gonna be myself. I’m gonna be how I am and I’m gonna talk the same way. It might not sit well with some people but some people might enjoy it. This is an experiment for us, a great opportunity.”

“Yes, it’s part of my career, my job, but I like keeping some privacy, I like keeping the mystery,” Chard says of people who say they owe him an answer. “For me as an actor, doing my job well, that’s what’s important to me. With this reality show, I think I was the last in the family to say yes. But taking this time off to think about things, I felt, why not share our lives to our audience in this kind of way? Once people get to know us better, I think they’re gonna love us more. We’re not hiding anything in the family, so why not give it a try?”

* * *

With Chard and Mond, what you see is what you get. They may seem like they live the lifestyle of the rich, famous and unreachable, but deep down they are like any other sibling pair who love each other, at times hate each other, deal with issues, insecurities, and family drama, but are ultimately there for each other. (Trivia: their “laugh” count throughout the 50-minute interview was at 40.)

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2014/04/13/1311867/richard-and-raymond-gutierrez-two-much