It’s raining Baes!

They are all, as they would say, artistahin, winnowed down from more than 1,000 auditionees who were subjected to rigid screening, trimmed down to more than 60 until only six of them were left standing. They are the That’s My Baes of Eat, Bulaga! Who knows, one or all of them could follow in the footsteps of Alden Richards, the Pambansang Bae. (Bae is short for Before Anyone Else; another term for Babe or Sweetie.)

Meet them up close:

• Thomas Peñaflor of Bataan, 23 (Aquarius; Feb. 12, 1993); 5’11”; 165 lbs.; wears medium-size shirt and briefs, and size-10.5 shoes; Radiologic Technology graduate (Perpetual College Manila). Status: Single. Ideal Girl: Chubby chicks.
• Luis Miguel “Miggy” Tolentino of Caloocan City, 20 (Aries; April 20, 1996); 5’5”; 130 lbs.; wears small-size shirt and briefs, and size-9 shoes; BSBA sophomore at Unibersidad de Manila. Status: Single. Ideal Girl: Maganda, mabait, not so fair-complexioned, masipag, magalang and God-fearing.
• Kim-Michael Last of London, 19 (Aquarius; Jan. 20, 1997); 5’7”; 143 lbs.; wears medium-size shirt and briefs, and size-10 shoes; college graduate (Law/Government Politics/English, Chelsea Academy in London). Status: Single. Ideal Girl: Usually short (around 5’2”), big lips, big eyes, knows how to cook, knows how to look after herself and her family, mabait and selfless.
• Kenneth Medrano (the Top Winner) of Cebu City, 25, (Taurus, May 9, 1991); 5’7”; 120 lbs.; wears small-size shirt and briefs, and size-9 shoes; HRM junior at a university in Cebu. Status: Single. Ideal Girl: Not KJ, game sa lahat, what counts is not the physical but the inner self.
• Joel Palencia of Antipolo, 22 (Pisces; March 7, 1994); wears small-size shirt and medium-size briefs, and size-9 shoes; Tourism Management junior at Our Lady of Fatima University in Antipolo. Status: Single. Ideal Girl: Maputi, mabait and God-fearing.
• Jonathan “John” Mark Timmons of California, 25 (Pisces; Feb. 21, 1991); 5’7”; 145 lbs.; wears small/medium-size shirt and medium-size briefs; AA Science graduate (El Camino Community College in Los Angeles). Status: Single. Ideal Girl: Nice eyes, nice smile, has to be family-oriented, has good sense of humor, and around whom I can be myself.

What were you doing before the That’s My Bae search?

Thomas: I was working at a hospital in Bataan. I first joined the Gandang Lalaki search (on ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime) and finished a finalist. Initially, I was eliminated in That’s My Bae but I was taken in as a “wild card.”

Miggy: I was studying and at the same time guesting in shows while endorsing perfumes and derma products.

Kim: I was backup-dancing for Morissette Amon and KZ Tandingan. I was just going to the gym the whole day. I was about to be a personal trainer in boxing until I joined That’s My Bae, my first contest. My mom is Filipina and my dad is English. I was born and raised in London and I came here when I was 17. Why do I wear my hair long? It’s my trademark. The last time I cut (the back part) was four months ago; both sides every two weeks. 

Kenneth: I was bartending. In my free time, I was dub-smashing and part-time modeling.

Joel: I was joining (other) contests. I won Ginoong Antipolo. I represented Antipolo in other cities until I was banned because I was already known as a winner already. I was advised to try TV and that’s how I got into That’s My Bae.

John: I came to visit and did VTRs for commercials and print ads, anything that would get me into showbiz, and guested in TV shows. In California, I was working as a cashier at a mall and then at a pet store. I was also a tutor for grade school children.

How did That’s My Bae change your life?

Thomas: A lot! I was already earning at the hospital and helping my family, and now mas natutulungan ko pa sila. I have several half-siblings. Medyo complicated ang family life ko; it’s a long story. I will work for as long as I can so I can help my family.

Miggy: I help send my siblings to school, including my brother who has his own family.

Kim: My life has changed so much because of That’s My Bae. I’m here for good. I’m one of three siblings and the only one unmarried. Joining showbiz is a dream come true.

Kenneth: We are four siblings, all boys. I have become responsible. Before, it was always, “Mommy, Mommy!” Now I can take care of myself. Like Kim, I am living by myself.  

Joel: I am the second among five children. The eldest is married so I am now the breadwinner. I was able to buy my own car, a Picanto.

John: My dad, John Timmons, died at 71 when I was 14 years old and he used to work as a supporting actor at the Clover Theater. At the time when (German) Kuya Germs (Moreno) was also there as a telonero. I use the name John Timmons as a tribute to my dad. Before That’s My Bae, I was living off my mom who is a single parent now. Now I am able to help my mom pay the bills. I told her, “Mom, ok na ako dito sa Pilipinas.”

Describe yourself briefly.

Kim: I am super makulit playful like a puppy... A man of few words; a man of action. Thomas: People think that I am suplado when actually I’m just shy... Matapang akong tao. Miggy: What you see is what you get. I am approachable, easy to deal with, true to myself. Kenneth: I am the most makulit among us. I am grounded. Dinala ko sa Maynila ang Cebuano attitude., Joel: I can be brutally frank but I think twice before I say or do anything so I won’t hurt anybody., John: I am the most quiet and the most soft-spoken among us. Sobra pero bihira magalit.

Thomas: First impression is that I am suplado when actually I am just shy. Also, I am matapang na tao.

Miggy: True to myself and easy to deal with. What you see is what you get. I am approachable.

Kim: People think I am masungit but I’m not. Once you get to know me, you will find me makulit…super!...like a playful puppy. I am a man of few words. I am an action man.

Kenneth: I am grounded. My mom keeps reminding me, “Kenneth, whoever you were before That’s My Bae, dapat ikaw pa rin yung dating Kenneth ha.” Ako ang pinaka-makulit sa grupo. Nadala ko sa Maynila yung Cebuano attitude.

Joel: I can be brutally frank. Before I say or do something, I think twice so that I won’t offend anybody.

John: I am the most quiet among us, the most soft-spoken. Pero kapag nagalit ako, sobrang galit. But it happens only once in a while.

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