‘I NEED SPACE’ is no longer a cliché or excuse

MANILA, Philippines - I had just recently watched Star Trek: Into Darkness and was still walking on deep space nine when I started really reading about this program that will support, train and allow one Filipino a chance to shoot 103 kilometers up into space. Actual space. Being on a galactic high, my imagination got as far as plotting a new physical and mental fitness regimen that would increase my chances of qualifying for a spot in the international space crew. Yoga would give me better balance in zero gravity situations. Weight training would help in case a shaft blows open mid-ascent and I would have to hold on to something to avoid being sucked into the abyss — or free-falling right back to Port Area. Resorting to Groupon for deals on Advanced Weaponry classes also crossed my mind. Finally, I considered trading my Chrome web browser for Bing, since it recently added Klingon to its language translator, just in case we accidentally warp to unchartered territory.

But that’s just me. The rest of the country, meanwhile, has been voting for their bets since Axe Apollo launched the Axe Apollo Space Academy last January. The competition goes like this: Sign up for the Axe Apollo Space Academy at www.axeapollo.com and get your friends to vote for you. Candidates with most votes will advance to the National Challenge where they will take a series of tests and compete for a slot in the Axe Apollo Space Academy Global Space Camp in Orlando, Florida. There, contestants will take part in training missions and top recruits will be part of the international crew of trained astronauts who will be going to space. Space! The final frontier! The idea seems ludicrous, but Axe Apollo, together with space tourism company SXC (Space Expedition Corporation), a company that offers space programs to private organizations and people, has arranged everything. All an aspiring astronaut needs to do is sign up — one small step for man, one giant leap for all non-space-trained men and women around the world.

So how does one qualify for something like this? Four men enlisted to be part of the Axe Apollo Space Council will be part of the panel of judges that will determine who will be representing the country in the race to go to space. They are actor Luis Manzano, Magic 89.9 DJ Sam YG, RX 93.1 DJ Gino Quillamor and all-around pogi Ramon Bautista — this generation’s cool kids, each with their own set of criteria (and their own brand of good looks).

In an exclusive interview with The STAR, the Axe Apollo Space Council talks about their ideal space dates, their space jams, their space no-no’s and of course, having the privilege and responsibility of choosing the next Filipino hero. Suited up in their barong Tagalogs and posing with an astronaut, Ramon, Gino, Luis and Sam looked every inch like “Axe men” who are very serious about their newfound jobs. Their personalities are revealed when I speak to them one by one. One is a true geek who recognizes my Gandalf keychain even if Gandalf was facedown. One is the resident gwapo, who waxes poetic about his dream space date. One is a charming comedian who likes to take #malandingselfies. And the last is a pop culture institution who turns out to be the shy twin of the resident gwapo. Meet the Axe Apollo Space Council, guardians of the gateway to the final frontier.

PHILIPPINE STAR: What was your reaction to being invited to be part of the Axe Apollo Space Council?

LUIS MANZANO: Initially if you talk about it over drinks, you’d think the idea of sending someone to space is all just B.S. But once you realize it’s coming true, it’s something very, very overwhelming. There’s something heroic about it because of all the factors that are involved. It’s not like running or scuba diving. It’s space!

SAM YG: A mix of different emotions. It’s an honor. At the same time it made me think about the gravity of this project that we’re doing for Axe — we’re going to be part of the team that will potentially bring the first Filipino to space.

What’s heroic about being the first Filipino to go to space?

RAMON BAUTISTA: No Filipino has ever been to space. It’s going to be like the first Filipino on Mt. Everest, the first Filipino who’s gone to the depths of the Pacific, the first Filipino Internet action star, like me. It’s going to be a momentous occasion not only for the Filipino people, but for the people of the world.

Were you one of those kids who always wanted to be an astronaut?

GINO QUILLAMOR: For sure. I remember when I was a kid, I actually sent an e-mail to space camp. I’ve always been a fan of sci-fi. I’ve always been really amazed with the idea of being able to go to outer space and the idea of us not being the only ones here.

RAMON: Of course. It’s the Filipino child’s dream to be an astronaut. Aside from being a police.

As a judge, what are you going to bring to the table?

GINO: I think when it comes to geek credibility, I think I have the upper hand. I’d like to think I’m your normal, average everyday guy. I’m not physically fit at all. I represent people who are out there with insecurities, issues. So I bring resilience to the table.

SAM: For me, I have a sense of responsibility for who were going to send to space so my standards are going to be pretty high.

RAMON: Aside from my experience as a good-looking and physically fit guy, I will bring wisdom and select the one with the most emotional stability. It’s important for an astronaut to have emotional stability, leaving your loved ones behind and taking one for the Filipino team.

What are you looking for in a potential first Filipino astronaut?

LUIS: He has to be very, very determined. This is not a vacation to Boracay — this is space. Can you imagine being on your way up and hesitating halfway? I’m looking for someone who’s really taking things seriously, someone who’s up to the task of being in the record books of being the first Filipino to go to space.

GINO: Heart. Yeah, you can be physically fit; yeah, you have to be the smartest guy out there — astronauts are a mix of both, but the way I see it, as long as you’re the type who doesn’t give up, I think that’s my “turn on” for picking the first Filipino astronaut.

SAM: First, you have to be mentally prepared. And you have to want it more than anything else. Second, you have to be physically prepared to go to space. Last na sinabihan ako ng, “I need space,” hindi din ako nakahinga — space is no joke! There’s going to be an intense training program here, before we even choose who’ll be joining the space camp in Florida. Third, he has to be emotionally prepared for whatever happens. Kung may love life ‘yan… walang text-text dun. Yung ‘Babe text me when you’re there ha,” — not gonna happen, babe. All these things will come into space and I’m going to be very particular about it.

Would you want to be on that spaceship with them?

Who wouldn’t want to be? I sort of live life on the edge. I scuba dive. I’ve done skydiving. I drive more than 70 kilometers. I never drink from dispensers — burak talaga! If I wanna eat a sandwich, iiwan ko muna sa mainit, mga tatlong araw, tyaka ko kakainin! You only live once! (Laughs)

If you could bring someone to space with you, who would you bring?

LUIS: Wow. Just one? I’d really want to share it with someone special. Imagine you’d be sitting down, just the two of you, with a bucket of popcorn, and you see the earth, you see the stars closer than ever, you see the moon just right there? That is the perfect date! Can you imagine making love in space? It’s not even kinky, it’s freaky!

GINO: That’s a tough question. I think I would bring my brother. He’s always been really fascinated with it, even the actual history of all the Apollo missions. I think if you have a million or a billion dollars, you could go on a space travel trip and I remember him saying, “If I had enough money I would do that.”

SAM: Ikaw. Interview mo ko dun.

RAMON: I’d bring a date who doesn’t eat too much rice, drink too much water, or better yet, someone who doesn’t breathe too much oxygen, because otherwise she’ll be competition to my survival.

What would be the first thing you would do in space?

LUIS: I would take a selfie. Fill the whole of Instagram with hashtags. Nothing annoys me more than hashtags… so I’d hashtag the hell out of it. Background mo mundo? Pag hindi pa yun naging most popular picture ibabato ko telepono ko.

GINO: It’s so shameless but I would take a selfie. What’s the first thing you do when you’re out of the country and you see a giant monument? You take a photo! If I couldn’t do that, I’d bring a weighing scale just to show everybody, “Look, I’m weightless! Weight here isn’t an issue.”

SAM: Plain and simple, I’d take a selfie. And I’m gonna Instagram that s**t. I’m gonna grasp the moment. Enjoy it. It’s an experience that not anybody can have.

RAMON: Probably establish a base on the moon, make friends with the aliens so we can foster universal peace not only throughout the world, but throughout the universe.

What five things would you bring to space?


LUIS: My phone, a pair of dumbells, maybe a nice book — read for the first time, my favorite snack (Bueno), and a picture of my family.

GINO: Cell phone, food, an MP3 player. Imagine going to space and not hearing anything? A GoPro camera. And tissue. You’ll always need tissue.

SAM: My cell phone. Chewing gum, para just in case may momol, prepared ako. You don’t underestimate the power of the chewing gumI Swiss knife. Axe Apollo — hindi biro yan, walang ligo-ligo dun. And you don’t know what’s out there. Malay mo may party diyan, bakit nakapunta ka na bang space? Last, water.

RAMON: I’d bring a spacesuit, my survival kit, I’d bring food. I’d bring my phone to Instagram and Twitter my friends and shoot selfies from outer space. Malakas ang signal ko eh! Probably extra underwear, because I might get too excited there. How about toilet paper? Can I bring toilet paper?

What’s your space jam?

GINO: Imagine breaking the barrier of the stratosphere and you’re listening to 30 Seconds to Mars’ Kings and Queens — it just makes it so much more epic.

SAM: Jai Ho (You are my destiny), R. Kelly’s Bump N’ Grind, a power song like Chris Brown’s Yeah 3x, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, and Hindi Kita Malilimutan. Last syempre yun.

RAMON: Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing… and maybe the entire Eraserheads compilation because it’s good for road trips.

If you were to draft the in-flight rules, what would be your one golden rule?

LUIS: Asintahin mo yung wiwi mo. I don’t want to put any restrictions. Do whatever you want but make sure to pee properly.

GINO: Use the Force. You can apply it in so many ways. I think the general explanation of that is trust your instinct and more often than not, your instinct is right. So just follow your instincts; it will lead you the right way.

SAM: Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

RAMON: No farting because it’s an enclosed area and oxygen is limited. And no bringing of kamote, beans, and egg whites.

What advice would you give the Axe Apollo Space Academy contestants?

LUIS: Bring your A game. If you’re halfhearted, you’ll only waste your time. When you step into that program, be ready for the best but also expect the worst.

GINO: Stand fast, take heart. I guess the best advice that I can give them is to keep on trying. Don’t discount yourself just yet, don’t take yourself out of the race. You’re only limited by what you think of yourself, so if you get past that, you might just outdo all these other people who you think are more qualified.

SAM: First, know what you’re getting into, you’re representing the country. Second, focus. That’s the only way to get to where you really want to get. And third, have fun. Ano ba naman yung lahat ng pinagod mo kung di ka mag-eenjoy?

RAMON: I would like to congratulate them for having the strength of character to be the Axe Apollo project. My advice is please don’t fall in love. Your love life will only be a burden when you go to space. You’ll be inspired but of course you’re gonna miss them and you’re gonna be distracted.

If you could nominate one of your Council-mates to go to space, who would it be?

LUIS: Ramon Bautista. He’s my twin. If I can’t send my hotness to space, I’d send someone close to my hotness to space.

GINO: Baka si Ramon Baustista. Feeling ko kasi gagawa siya ng video tapos sobrang laugh trip lang na siya yung first Filipino astronaut. You’ll see the encyclopedia 250 years from now, look under first Filipino astronaut and it’s Ramon Bautista’s face there.

SAM: Siguro si Lucky Manzano. Yung pagka-pogi ni Lucky kasi universal, di kagaya naming may specific market. Di ko na kailanga i-describe siguro yung market ni Ramon. (Laughs). Malay mo magka-race tayo dun.

RAMON: Lucky Manzano, because we’re already two here on Earth. There is too much lookaliking going on. So that’s going to leave me and Jake Gyllenhaal looking like this on this planet.

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For more information about the Axe Apollo Space Academy, log on to www.axeapollo.com.