Body Talk with Adel Tamano

Did you know that Adel Tamano, one of the gorgeous guys running for senator under Sen./Presidentiable Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party banner, auditioned with Boy Abunda many years ago and he, sigh, failed?

“I really wanted to be a singer, but...”

He ended up a lawyer, educated at Ateneo (AB Economics), UP (M.A. in Public Administration) and Harvard (Master of Laws).

The son of the late Sen. Mamintal Tamano (one of the very few honest public servants with an unblemished name) and Hadja Putri Zorayda Abbas Tamano, Adel Fadel Abbas Tamano, 39, supported himself through school. He became a virtual Crush ng Bayan when he served as the spokesperson of the United Opposition in the 2004 presidential elections (with FPJ as their standard bearer), winning fans (mostly women) not only with his brains but also with his bedimpled smile.

Before he decided to run for senator, Adel was president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (Aug. 2007 to Nov. 2009) and the counsel for Dr. Vicki Belo who has also hired Adel as endorser of her clinic, proclaiming on the huge billboards that “Smart is sexy.”

He’s married to lawyer Rowena Kapunan with whom he has two children, Isa Antonio (Santi), 7 (on Oct. 14), and Hakeem Maminta (Mike), 10 (on Dec. 17). Adel is Muslim and Rowena is Catholic. No problem. They respect each other’s choices.

He’s such a clean-living person that he’s ever-ready to take any kind of test — drug test, psychiatric test, medical test, dental test...any kind except, of course, pregnancy test.

The artistahin Adel stands 5’9”; weighs 180 lbs.; and wears size-33 briefs, medium-sized shirt and size-10 shoes.

How did you get that flawless complexion?

“With Belo products.”

What treatments are you getting from The Belo Medical Group?

“I’ve tried siguro all the types of facials, the power peel and the firm-plus. They’re non-invasive. Firm-plus is my favorite. Ang sarap ng feeling sa mukha.”

What kind of diet do you follow?

“Not too much sugar, not too much salt. I take all kinds of vitamins — multivitamins, vitamin E, vitamin C , glutathione, lahat. If I see food supplements advertised on TV, I try them, too. My wife sometimes complains and reminds me not to.” (Rowena: Naku, very health-conscious ‘yan!)

What’s usually for breakfast?

“Usually brown rice with either corned beef or danggit.”

For lunch?

“I try to eat something healthy — brown rice (again!), steamed vegetables, fish (preferably salmon), steamed chicken.”

For dinner?

“Something light.”

Have you eaten pork perhaps by accident? (Muslims don’t eat pork.)

“By accident? I wouldn’t know. But I always make it a point that, if Wena and I eat out, when I order I always remind the waiter that I don’t eat pork.”

What kind of workout do you do?

“I work out in the gym for at least 30 minutes non-stop — five minutes cardio, five minutes on the bench press, five minutes maybe on the treadmill and then more cardio exercises. That’s during the busy campaign season. Otherwise, I can work out for three hours.”

Part of your body that needs improvement?

“Siguro my butt.”

Dr. Vicki Belo can “enhance” it (like what she did to John Estrada).

“Can she do it?”

(Rowena: No need, no need!)

Favorite part of your body?

“Siguro my dimples.”

Vulnerable part of your body?

“My stomach. Madaling masira ang tiyan ko.”

Part of a woman’s body that you look at first?

(Rowena [joking]: He’s not allowed to look.)

“The face, specifically the eyes.”

How much sleep do you get per night?

“Usually seven to eight hours. But with this campaign, I manage to get about three hours.”

Favorite sleep wear?

“Usually shorts and shirt...when I’m with my wife. Otherwise, when I’m by myself as I sometimes am during this campaign, I don’t wear anything.”

(Rowena: Or jogging pants.)

When you were single, did you bring girls home?

“Hmmmmm. Abadabadabadaba.”

Do you snore?

“I don’t know.”

(Rowena: Not really. He just breathes heavily.)

Do you talk in your sleep?

“I hope not.”

(Rowena: He doesn’t.)

Do you sleepwalk?

“No, I don’t.”

Are you a pillow person?

“No, I’m not. But Wena is.”

(Rowena: We have six big pillows.)

Do you smoke?

“I don’t.”

Do you drink?

“I drink. Bawal ‘yon sa Islam, but...By the way, I’m not a beer person; mabigat sa tiyan ang beer. I prefer vodka.”

What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

“I read and I pray silently.”

What do you usually pray for?

“I pray for my family; I pray that my older son would be okay.” (Rowena: Our son is autistic.) “I pray that God will protect us and give us good health. And I say, ‘Thank you, God, for everything’.”

First thing that you do when you wake up?

“Go to the bathroom.”

Do you and your wife take a shower together?

“Sometimes.”

How often do you see your doctor?

“Very seldom. I’m afraid that he might find something’s wrong with me.”

(Rowena: He’s afraid of doctors. I have to drag him to see a doctor.)

“I’m hypochondriac.”

(Rowena: When he sees a drug on TV...like something is advertised as good for the liver...he would buy it. Mahilig siya mag-self-medicate.)

Have you consulted a psychiatrist?

“I just did a few days ago.”

How do you cope with stress?

“I pray and I exercise. I think I can handle stress pretty well.”

Do you, like Robin Padilla, pray five times a day?

“I try. Mas magaling si Robin sa akin. But I try. Before I leave the house, I pray Muslim prayers. In the car, I also pray especially kapag nagkakamali ang driver ko.”

Do you consult the Koran before you make any decision (as Catholics with the Bible)?

“Not when I have to make a decision but I make it a point to read the Koran.”

How’s your sex life?

“Ask my wife.”

(Rowena: Okey lang.)

Name three women whom you think have nice bodies.

“Angelina Jolie. Phoemela Baranda. Jennylyn Mercado. Si Bea Alonzo, I like her face more than her body.”

And three men whom you think have nice bodies.

“Piolo Pascual. John Lloyd Cruz. Kobe Bryant.”

If your life story were made into a movie, who would you like to play Adel Tamano?

“Ang kapal ng mukha ko but I’ll say it, John Lloyd Cruz.”

And how many leading ladies would there be?

“Only one.”

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