Underwear Olympics
The Bench underwear show is sort of the Olympics of men in briefs for me. It’s an anticipated event held every two years and attended by every other gay and boy-crazy girl in town.
I wouldn’t miss it.
Part of the thrill is getting the tickets or invitations, if you will. I’m lucky to be part of the press corps and get invited each time.
I can’t count the number of Bench underwear shows I’ve been to, ever since the show used to be held at the
The invitation told us to be there at
In fact, the line was already long by
We arrived right in the nick of time. True to its title, “Bench Blackout,” the Araneta Coliseum blacked out when we walked in to find our seats. A play of lights revealed a multi-layered, multi-leveled stage. The music was also layered.
In a nutshell the show had many elements and things happening at the same time, with cultural dancers and robotic choreography coming up every now and then.
Call it a visual and audio explosion. It was like a Busby Berkeley production.
Unlike the last “Bench Fever” show where the celebrities came out in the end, this time, we didn’t have to wait. Celebrities came out right away, to the thrill of the fans.
What I love about the Bench underwear show is when I experience that “wall of sound” generated by the 20,000-strong audience.
I heard it when Sam Milby came out. There’s still that Sam Milby magic, by the way. Saw it last time and saw it again. Sam Milby is the star and he got the whole coliseum mesmerized.
I was surprised that unlike the last show, he dared to go topless. Sam first came out in white jeans and a chest accessory, which he removed — to the screams of the audience. Sam Milby’s appeal must be in his boy-next-door image, so whenever he strips everyone goes gaga.
More wholesomeness came in the likes of Sarah Geronimo, Shaina Magdayao and Rachelle Ann Go, who all came out in colored jeans and sculptural white tops and hats by illustrator/graphic designer Abi Goy.
It was my first time to see Sarah in the flesh. Maganda pala siya, was what I was thinking, and she looks tall. Even Kim Chiu looked cute in that parasol.
One thing about seeing celebrities in their underwear is the realization that they’re normal people. Some of them were skinnier two years ago, and what two years can do to one’s figure. Talking about Francine Prieto and Alessandra de Rossi.
Michelle Madrigal still looks hot in that Asian girly-sexy way. Angelica Panganiban, though not perfectly built, was sizzling in showmanship. Think Geneva Cruz a couple of Bench shows ago.
A couple of girls who could’ve been leaner: think Nancy Jane (Castiglione) and Bubbles Paraiso. Nothing that couldn’t be worked out in the gym.
As for the boys, Jake Cuenca came out in full character, peeling off a white jumpsuit and kneeling on the floor.
I’m always partial to Luke Jickain because he’s naturally sexy without trying. Jon Avila and Zanjoe Marudo are built perfectly. I’m just disappointed that Zanjoe was partly covered in a sleeveless jumpsuit, which was only partially peeled off.
The surprise of the evening was the revelation of Lesley Mobo underwear for Bench Body. I didn’t even know there was a collaboration with the London-based designer and the
My favorite piece was his airmail boxer briefs. I’m looking forward to seeing his entire underwear collection in the Bench Body stores.
Was also surprised to see Lesley at curtain call, along with other Bench Blackout collaborators Abi Goy, photographer Jun de Leon, and filmmaker Raymond Red.
Of course, no Bench underwear show would be complete without the imports, says my friend Bryan. There was a white-meat segment for those who prefer potatoes to rice, and also a black segment with darker-skinned models, not to mention a set of models literally painted black. My thoughts were, gee, I hope these models got paid more and it must be hell trying to shower that off.
As for the male celebrities, Diether Ocampo was looking good as always, though I miss his sinister mustache. Wendell Ramos was “healthy”-looking, as was Antonio Aquitania, but I like his face. Jomari Yllana looked surprisingly fit, although he had a little faux pas tripping on the foot of the tricky stage. (Good thing he didn’t fall over.) Jomari did catch himself, laughed it off and proceeded to strip off his jacket.
Silence greeted the appearance of John Estrada, unlike his wild reception last time when he appeared in a raunchy number with comedienne Ai-Ai de las
In contrast, that wall of sound came from the bleachers once again when Dingdong Dantes and Richard Gutierrez came out separately. Dingdong came out semi-clothed and proceeded to peel off parts of his costume until he dropped his pants in the end. The only thing wilder was when Rafael Rosell peeled to the very last piece, just before the lights went out.
The show ended with the usual confetti and Bench big boss Ben Chan appearing in the end with Bench couple Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres. Too bad I couldn’t see much of Richard behind all those models ’cause it looked like he was smoking that night.
