It seems to be the love-style of the New Millennium — older woman, younger man; older man, younger woman. May-September in the cases of Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and former Sen. Ralph Recto, and Kris Aquino and James Yap.
Add Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho Jr., both doctors, to the Honor Roll.
Seen early Saturday nights on GMA 7’s Celebrity Duets (where he has been attracting more and more fans, especially when he strips down to his waist and bares his 6’3” frame packed with well-trimmed 189 lbs.; he wears size-L briefs, size-XL shirts and size-11 shoes), Hayden has the looks not so much of a doctor (he graduated from UST in 2005) but of a matinee idol. He was Mr. UST in 2000, the same year he was a finalist in the Bodyshots search won by JR Valentin (the cop in the award-winning indie-digital film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros).
He was born in Manila on May 20, 1980, to a pure-Chinese doctor-father, Hayden Kho, and a Spanish-Filipina businesswoman-mother, Irene dela Santa; one of five children. “I’m a Taurus-Gemini because I was born at 11 p.m., boundary of Taurus and Gemini.” He describes his family as “above average.” He speaks fluent Chinese (he studied at the Grace Christian School in Binondo, Manila, for 14 years).
Asked if he’d venture into mainstream showbiz after Celebrity Duets, Hayden smiled, “I will stick to my first love — being a doctor.”
Is it hard to maintain a beautiful body like yours?
“Not really. My body is well-taken care of by the Belo Medical Group. Only Belo touches my skin. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!”
Of course, as a doctor you are health-conscious, right?
“Oh yes, I am. I don’t smoke, I drink only ‘socially,’ I don’t take drugs. I’m careful with my diet — well, a bit careful.”
Do you take three square meals per day? Do you, as they say, take breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper?
“I have ups and downs. There are times when, for three straight months I observe a strict diet; and months when I just let go. My diet is seasonal. For breakfast, I just take protein shake or soup. I’m a lazy chewer, tamad akong magnguya, and I prefer food which is fast to digest. Wala akong ganang kumain in the morning. I wake up early, at 6:30 a.m., and I hardly have time for breakfast because I rush to the gym right away.”
And for lunch?
“Lunch is my biggest meal but I seldom take it on time; I usually have lunch at 2 p.m. I eat anything, except fats.”
What other food don’t you eat?
“I love vegetables except broccoli, ampalaya (bitter melon) and cauliflower. I stay away from sweets.”
Are you carnivorous?
“I am. But I haven’t been eating meat because I have braces. Ang hirap magnguya.”
What’s one food that you crave for all the time?
“Vicki Belo! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! My favorite is prawns cooked any way.”
What vitamins and/or minerals do you take?
“CoQ10, zinc and two grams of Vitamin C because I work out every day.”
How much water do you take per day?
“Seven liters. I have to keep my throat hydrated especially now that I’m singing on Celebrity Duets.”
What about juices?
“Apple juice and grapefruit juice. I stock up on them in my ref.”
And soda?
“I used to take Coke Lite until lately. I stopped taking softdrinks because I suffer from acid reflux.”
Coffee and/or tea?
“No coffee, no tea for me.”
How much sleep do you get per night?
“I usually go to sleep at 12 midnight and wake up at 6:30, so that’s an average of six to seven hours per night. No siesta.”
No problem going to sleep?
“None. I usually read books to put me to sleep, spiritual and metaphysical books.”
Are you a pillow person?
“Yes, I am. I can’t sleep without a pillow. I have six pillows — four regular pillows, and two special pillows for my head and my neck.”
What’s your favorite sleep wear?
“My skin! No. My underwear.”
What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
“Read books.”
What’s the most beautiful dream that you ever had?
“The whole world was flooded and I was onboard this huge ark that was flying.”
What’s the Freudian explanation to that?
“Well, maybe that I’m bound for something spectacular and the world will recognize me for it. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!”
What’s the first thing that you do when you wake up?
“Call Vicki!”
Who wakes up first, you or Vicki?
“Sabay kami.”
Do you kiss her as soon as you wake up?
“I’d love to but I could not. We live far apart. She lives in Makati and I live in Quezon City.”
How long do you work out in the gym?
“One hour non-stop, lifting heavy weights. I also play squash, two hours non-stop each time.”
What part of your body is your favorite?
“My butt.”
What part of your body is most vulnerable?
“My throat — and my heart.”
And what part needs some improvement?
“My shoulders.”
What part of Vicki’s body did you notice first?
“Her eyes.”
How do you cope with stress?
“I hang out with Vicki. We hug and hug; we play squash. We listen to music, usually Broadway music. We watch movies every once in a while.”
How else do you pamper yourself?
“I meditate, Yoga-style. Or I get a body scrub at The Belo Medical Group.”
Any favorite hideaway or city?
“My favorite hideaway is Tagaytay. I used to go there alone. But now, with Vicki. My favorite city is Paris. It’s very romantic.”
Do you play the field when you’re in Paris?
“No, I don’t.”
How’s your nightlife?
“I don’t go out at night. I don’t like clubs because they are usually noisy and full of smoke.”
Your love life?
“Perfect!”
Your sex life?
“Out of this world! Never been this good!”
Do doctors like you see other doctors? Or do you self-medicate?
“I consult other doctors.”
Do you apply anything on your skin?
“I use Obagi for my face. I use Glutathione and Belo Essentials.”
Are you afraid of the sun?
“I don’t like the sun. It destroys your skin, nakakatanda.”
Name three women yout think have nice bodies.
“Katrina Halili. Phoemela Barranda. And, of course, Vicki Belo!”
And three men...
“Eric Chua, my friend who’s an entrepreneur. Brad Pitt in Fight Club. Hugh Jackman.”
Using only body language, how would you make a woman know that you admire her?
“I look at her from a perpendicular point of view.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)