Vanness Wu still got it

MANILA, Philippines - In 2003, a long-haired Vanness Wu stole the hearts of many Filipinos as part of the Taiwanese boy band F4 who shot to fame via the hit drama Meteor Garden. This year, Pinoy fans saw more of the Asian heartthrob when he sat on the judging panel of Asia’s Got Talent. Then last Friday, Vanness served some hot performances at Valkyrie Nightclub in Taguig — a reminder that his massive talent remains and the only thing that changed was his haircut.

Vanness, who first visited the country 11 years ago, told The STAR that he has been waiting for a good opportunity to come back until Levi’s — the iconic denim brand that created the first-ever blue jeans for girls — invited him to do a special show at the launch of its newest denim collection for women on July 30, at the said nightclub.

“A lot of memories are coming back. I was here in 2004 and I just want to take this moment to thank Levi’s for inviting me and to everyone for coming,” said Vanness  during the pre-show interview, where he also revealed that he grew up appreciating the Filipino talent and culture.

So after witnessing quite a handful of Pinoy acts on the Asia’s Got Talent stage, did his opinion of Filipinos change?

“Oh my gosh! I’m scared to come and perform in the Philippines now because there are so many big talents here. This place is a melting pot of talents and for sure, more Filipinos will get better opportunities to shine,” Vanness  said.

Vanness also confessed that he is a big Manny Pacquiao fan, such a huge fan that PacMan’s camp learned about it and gave him a gift.

“I was rooting for Pacquiao. I still am. It’s great to see someone like him who proves that no matter where you come from, as long as you stay true to who you are, God will show you the way,” Vanness expressed his adoration for the People’s Champ.

Truly a multi-hyphenated star, Vanness — who is working on a new album, waiting for Asia’s Got Talent Season 2 and currently filming a movie titled Undercover Punch and Gun — is also known for his keen sense of fashion. So when asked about his style philosophy, he was more than happy to share.

“You have to feel comfortable in your clothes and you have to wear them without caring too much about what will happen. Sometimes, I go for pieces that are very outlandish and crazy, and then sometimes I’m very simple. The most important thing is that you’re free to move and you’re not feeling like the clothes are wearing you,” he said.

When it comes to the type of jeans he finds attractive, Vanness pointed out that since he grew up dancing, he is partial to girls who wear the baggy kind paired with either a sports bra or some cropped top — standard hip-hop outfit for the ladies.

After the fashion show that featured five new denim styles specifically designed for Asian women, Vanness finally hit the stage and did a couple of songs from his albums. The crowd went haywire as the 36-year-old entertainer brought the house down — his vigor and presence evidently still in their prime.

Being the charmer that he is, Vanness swept his fans off their feet once again by describing them as maganda, masarap and mahal ko.