December 29, 2007 | 12:00am
Beauty, as they say, is in the eyes of the beholder. I definitely agree. Years ago, a beauty queen was crowned Miss World when she said something like physical beauty does not matter because it’s the prettiness of the inside that is important.
While anybody could come up with his or her own definition of beauty, for me, a woman is beautiful when she speaks from the heart. In my almost four years as an entertainment columnist, I can say I’ve seen a lot of today’s young stars who are beautiful when in front of many, but very ugly backstage in terms of dealing with the press. Oh yes, girls who are Miss Friendship when the cameras are rolling, so to speak, but the exact opposite when nobody is watching. Well, let’s forget about them for now as they are not worth our time.
So if I were to make a Top 10 list based on my standards of beauty, that is a woman who speaks from the heart, with all candidness and sincerity, it should be in this order:
1. Valerie Concepcion. I’ve talked to her when she made a comeback three years ago after becoming a single parent at age 17. She was then this struggling young actress who was eager to regain her supposedly promising career before she got pregnant. My heart applauded her when she said that a mistake would never be solved by another mistake. That was when I told her she could have said bye-bye to showbiz for a while after getting pregnant and come back after giving birth without having to admit it in public. She impressed me when she replied that a baby is a blessing and that it should never be kept a secret. When I met her last week, the first time after she transferred to ABS-CBN, I could say she has become more beautiful because she has never changed; she is still the bubbly and honest Valerie I’ve known. Physically, she is more attractive these days with her wholesome packaging.
2. Maja Salvador. I must admit I have doubts if she is still the “baby” Maja I had dinner with at Lighthouse Restaurant in Gaisano Countrymall two years ago. Literally-speaking, the “baby is now a lady,” and a beautiful and promising one at that; she who is touted as the “next important star of 2008” among ABS-CBN’s stable of talents. Thanks to the good reviews of her acting and the number of awards she has received recently. But by “baby” I mean that I have doubts if she is still the “malambing and humble” Maja that she was when we ate with our hands once and when she revealed to me, while we were lighting candles at the Basilica del Sto. Niño, how she once forgot to pray because of her hectic schedule and that because of tiredness she can’t even raise her hands to glorify the Lord for all her blessings. I have doubts because rumors persist that she has become a swellhead. Worse is that she never actually broke up with Carlo Aquino, to the reported dismay of her manager. But unless this is confirmed, Maja would remain in my Top 10 Most Beautiful list.
3. Kim Chiu. This TV darling is first and foremost our source of pride. She is beautiful because from being a virtual unknown, this Cebuana has become one of the most famous faces on television and among the most bankable endorsers today, thanks to her spontaneity and honesty during her Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition stint that endeared her to Filipino televiewers. What is even more beautiful about Kim is that even with fame she has never changed—she for one still answers questions with all honesty. She has also improved acting wise a lot.
4. Anne Curtis. A lot say she is “maarte” and “sosyal.” Blame it on her “playgirl” image when she started in the business many years ago. But Anne actually is woman of simplicity. Yes, she is stylish and can wear slippers and faded jeans paired with a big shirt, but still come out chic and a scene-stealer. She is beautiful because she is really a sweet person. Plus, she reads a lot so she is learning even if she has stopped formal schooling for now. But what makes her very beautiful is the fact that she has graduated from her “pa-tweetums” image to become one of today’s finest young actresses. Many thanks also to her “Hiram” stint and the challenging roles that followed it, like her role in my favorite teleserye, “Maging Sino Ka Man.”
5. Angelica Panganiban. No doubt she is beautiful. She grew up before our eyes, from a charming child star to a bombshell after showing skin via her launching
movie “Santa Santita” years ago. It was then when I was introduced to the real Angelica—feisty, frank, and straightforward. And then she continued to tease the sons of Adam when she agreed to pose for the maiden issue of Uno Magazine last year although there were allegations that her images were “photoshopped.” This 2007 pelled challenging projects for her, the biggest of which was working with Aga Muhlach and Maricel Soriano in “A Love Story,” where she did not only learn acting tips from the veterans, but got good reviews as well.
6. Alessandra de Rossi. Alex will always be in my list of beautiful women, literally and figuratively. And why not, when aside from being a multi-awarded young actress, she is an epitome of the saying “black is beautiful,” many thanks to her Italian and Filipina lineage. She is also beautiful because she is never afraid to express her feelings, never mind if doing so is against the norms. She is beautiful because she is brave and honest, always.
7. Bianca Gonzalez. She is another proof that gone are the days when you need to be mestiza to be called beautiful. From being a tomboyish and simple girl she became an “it girl” especially after endorsing a shampoo brand that usually have girls of foreign lineage as image models. Of course, being the successful host and producer of “Y Speak” are added factors because these mean she is a no-nonsense and smart woman, who’s got the wit and bright ideas to make her extra beautiful. She was honest enough to admit that her “affair” with Zanjoe Marudo inside the Pinoy Big Brother House was a mistake and she was sorry for it. She has bounced back because the viewing public knew that she was real when she asked for forgiveness for her actions inside the “Bahay ni Kuya.”
8. Katrina Halili. Being a two-time “FHM Sexiest” title-holder in the Philippines is a first and a record to beat. But what is beautiful about Katrina is that like Alex, she is frank and never pretentious with her statements. She calls a spade, a spade. Another thing that makes her beautiful is that even if she was only an Avenger of GMA-7’s reality artista search, “StarStruck,” she is very much around with a series of primetime shows that have had made a killing in the ratings game. Plus, she has endorsements and corporate gigs while succeeding winners of the said reality search have seemingly faded into oblivion.
9. Dionne Monsanto. She is a fine woman, respectful and soft-spoken. She has her way of saying “No” in a nice diplomatic way. She is beautiful because she’s got acting and hosting talents, and she is just waiting for that right break. This Cebuana was controversial like Bianca during her PBB2 stint but there is a corresponding justification for her actions that is why the viewing public is gradually welcoming her back with open arms.
10. Rhian Ramos. This girl could have just been misunderstood by many, which could be why hate mails have flooded her way. For Rhian Ramos is simply a teenage girl who wants to enjoy everything that life has to offer. She speaks with glib; and innocent may be are her statements sometimes, but she’s definitely got sense. She is a young girl full of dreams, and she knows what she wants to be in the future. That is beautiful!
