MANILA, Philippines - People had to set aside their political convictions and wear something neutral, as requested by the fashion folks from Mega when they launched their bib “Beauty” issue last Tuesday the 11th, exactly one day after our nation had its first taste of voting in the 21st century.
No PCOS machines were malfunctioning at this function as the color theme was flesh/nude/neutral, the “IT” colors of the 2010 palette. I bet no presidential bet knew that. Imagine campaigning in the nude? Good thing this was a fashion event and people knew from the get-go how to “dress” the part. The exciting thing about fashion is, for those that get it at least, is that you don’t need to try too hard to please. One look and you’ll know if they get it. Or not.
“Got it” is what may guest editor Cristalle Belo-Henares must have told herself when Mega magazine offered her the prized spot for the month of flowers, interpreted by the glossy as blooms, I would assume — thus, the big beauty issue. “I prayed for an out-of-the-box experience to be able to use my talent in different ways,” says Cristalle, the proud daughter of Vicki and Atom, and even prouder baby sister to Quark. This Mega May proved to be the answer. Out of the box came products to feature, models to shoot, pages to assign, layout, dealing with deadlines — stuff that made the co-corporate head honcho of Belo Essentials’ young life even more exciting. While her mother dearest has proudly advocated “making the Philippines more beautiful, one person at a time,” Cristalle is headstrong in pursuing this same goal, one product at a time.
In fact, I first saw the issue from the hands of Mega president and CEO Sari Yap over lunch at Vicki Belo’s house in Dasma to launch the Belo Essentials Sunblock. “To guard yourself from the harmful UV rays, negative vibes, and people,” says Vicki as mother and daughter discussed beauty. “Every woman in the list of Mega’s 10 Most Beautiful is stunning — that’s a given. But for me, what sets them apart is their advocacy.” And when Cristalle says it, even if it sounds like a beauty pageant answer, you really believe it. Talking to her you’ll know that she really goes out of her way to scratch beneath the surface.
That night at the second floor lobby, an exhibit of these 10 Most Beautiful Women happened with larger-than-life installations floating around the luxe market place. Their friends cheered them on like it was proclamation day. And for a lot of these women, it was. “Beautiful” is a word that is as loosely used as “love,” but its meaning has never lost its luster. But as the word evolves its being, it becomes more multi-dimensional. And somehow, you can’t see all the dimensions just by going to a cocktail event to launch the magazine. But I know. The one reading knows. The subject and the people whose lives she affects know, too.
If this event were to be the symbol” of things to come, then I’d say we would be able to see more things in a beautiful light.