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True Grit
Beauty Lessons
New York State of Mind
Interview by Shawn Yao
The popular image of Gregorio Honasan, the rebel soldier always on the run known as “Gringo,” continues to endure even if the man himself, now a statesman and senator of the Republic, is already keen to put that legacy firmly into perspective Read more…
by Yvette Tan
Maggie Wilson dishes on growing up in Saudi Arabia, beauty pageant backstage drama, and that infamous video
by Jinno Rufino
From meeting this season’s predicted MVP to witnessing how both teams worked hard for the sought-after title (not to mention, one year’s worth of bragging rights), the 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend last February was everything a basketball fan could have ever wished for
A kid in a candy store, that’s what it felt like for a hoop junkie like me when I flew to Los Angeles in February to cover the NBA All-Star Weekend. NBA’s mid-season classic happened during the weekend in between the Grammy Awards and the Oscars, in what turned out to be a busy month in the City of Angels. Despite all the musical acts and films coming together for their respective shindigs, it seemed as if the town had never been this focused on the star-studded basketball affair in a long time. This was evident upon our arrival in LAX. NBA banners greeted us everywhere, from the pillars to the street lamps—pictures of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Lebron James, and other basketball stars covered the streets of L.A.
Yeah, It’s Over Now
As I write the closing year’s editor’s note, my right arm is wrapped in a fiberglass cast because I inadvertently injured my right wrist. In a skateboarding accident.
Yes, skateboarding.
Oh, don’t be so ageist. Just because I have come into an age group that can be generally rounded to forty. Just because the hair on my scalp does not regenerate as fast as I would like it too and just because I can watch pornographic material without seeking my parents’ approval, it doesn’t mean I’m old. It just means I’m regressing.
And for your information, I was skateboarding as part of a segment on my show (warning: shameless plug ahead), GMA News TV’s Best Men. I have done more shameless things on the show–like witnessing a manunuli take his instrument to a grown man’s foreskin and ballroom dancing in a body hugging sequined shirt that exposed my cleavage all the way down to my bellybutton–but this was the only segment to have caused me long-term physical harm.
Due to my condition, I will not be able to generate brand new drivel for you this month. So I hope you don’t mind if I peddle some regurgitated drivel by talking about a certain body part–damaged, fractured, abused, or otherwise–from my new book It Only Hurts When I Pee: RJ Ledesma’s Imaginary Guide to Bodily Gases, Hair Loss and Pink Parts.
Warning: A lot of pink parts will be flashed in this issue.
Jingle Balls
According to fertility specialist Dr. Robert Winston, the size of a primate’s testicles can tell us a lot about a species’ sexual practices.
In the seventies, British biologist Roger Short noticed something peculiar about ape anatomy. He found that chimpanzees had extremely large four-ounce testicles that produced prodigious amounts of sperm (although I am trying not to imagine how he found out that chimps produce prodigious amounts of sperm). Mating among chimps is a fairly unregulated and casual affair especially since they are not being monitored by the MTRCB. In fact, there seems to be no awareness as to the paternity of any of their offspring.
On the other hand, silverback gorillas–the largest of the living primates that sport large canine teeth and have a growl fierce enough to make human testicles retract to the pit of their stomachs–have miniscule testicles. More miniscule than even those of some congressmen.
Unlike chimpanzees, silverback alpha males take possession of a harem of female gorillas. And silverbacks are secure in the knowledge the female gorillas will rarely sneak off for an illicit romp in the wilds (unless they encounter a very brave and randy male chimpanzee). Gorillas rarely have intercourse, because for males with a harem, sexual access is guaranteed. Therefore, Mr. “I Am King of the Apes” only needed a small amount of sperm and, consequently, a small payload. So, gorillas evolved testicles that were small but terrible.
Now, let us put things into perspective: gorillas weigh four times as much as chimps, but a chimp’s testicles weigh four times as much as a gorilla’s. What can we infer from this? Well, the biologist Roger Short appears to have stumbled, not on testicles, bur rather on anatomical clues about a species’ mating system: the bigger the balls, the more polygamous the females.
Human testicles tread the middle ground when it comes to primate testicles. Measured as a proportion of body weight, our human teabags are four times the size of a gorilla’s but less than a third of the size of a chimpanzee’s.
According to The Red Queen: Sex And The Evolution of Human Nature, ancestral man probably lived in a pseudo-harem system, but he was also prepared for occasional female promiscuity. Ancestral females copulated with more than one male in a month fairly often. Given this, human males evolved testicles potent enough to combat a moderate amount of sperm competition from other males, but they certainly didn’t need to stockpile enough artillery as required by chimpanzee gonads. If Goldilocks were a scientist, she would say that our testicles were just right.
And now that that’s out of the way, allow me to give you a lowdown on what to check out in this special year-end issue of UNO.
Radio DJ Angelika Schmeing-Cruz, more popularly known as Angelicopter to her avid listeners, graces our cover for the very first time and we couldn’t be happier. If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not have known that she’s also a castaway and now a dropout in this year’s Survivor Philippines (along with teammate Jackie Forster), proving to everybody that just because you’ve lost the battle, doesn’t mean you’ve lost dibs on a magazine cover. Who are we to complain anyway?
We have also listed down the highlights of our year in our exclusive BARRAGE section, while respected male personalities Paolo Bediones, Basti Artadi, Luke Landrigan, and Dylan Ababou rule our BLASTER pages as they reveal their own lists of favorites in 2011 pop culture. Other men we idolize–rockstar Bamboo Manalac, actor Baron Geisler, and world-renowned animator Ronnie del Carmen–share their thoughts about life and career in our POINTBLANK, INTERVIEW, and SHOCKWAVE sections, respectively. And finally, music legend Jose Mari Chan teaches us how to write the perfect Christmas song in this month’s AFTERBURNER.
RJ Ledesma,
Editor-in-Chief
The challenge has been posed and many have answered. Numerous entries from various designers and aspiring digital video makers have been submitted to Pony Footwear’s digital video and poster art competition billed “Show Off.” Visionaries and cutting edge designers were asked to interpret Pony Footwear’s tagline, “Let’s Get It On,” using images, digital design, creative videos and a short narrative.
Over 200 Poster Art entries were submitted, showcasing the wealth of local talent in illustration, digital design, conceptual execution and photography. There were also original entries for the 60-second Digi-Film category, which took Pinoy artistry and creativity to greater heights. Most of the entries submitted truly captured the spirit and character of the brand, which also an important consideration during the judging.
Pony, of course, is an American brand of footwear, founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1972. Pony has since become a top global athletic brand in the ‘80s. By this time, the brand had been worn by champion athletes in the World Cup, Super Bowl, NBA and the likes.
The winners of the Pony Footwear “Show Off” digital film and poster art competition was revealed and awarded last Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 at 55 Events Place, Sct. Rallos St., Timog, Quezon City. Each winner of the Digi-Film and Poster Art categories received the following: First prize is P40,000 cash plus P10,000 worth of Pony shoes; Second prize is P20,000 cash and P5,000 worth of Pony shoes; and Third price is P10,000 cash and P5,000 worth of Pony shoes.
The winners for the PONY SHOW OFF DIGITAL FILM CATEGORY:
1st Prize: KEVIN DAYRIT “Soundless Transposition”, 2nd Prize: Winson Rojo “Bold & wild”, 3rd PRIZE: Vancleef Emnacen “Pony Tale: Sneaky Sneakers”
The winners for the PONY SHOW OFF POSTER CATEGORY:
1st Prize: Jesus Genotiva “Rock n Roll”, 2nd Prize: Reuben Francis Vidanes “Dare:Grafitti Let’s Get It On”, 3rd PRIZE: Frederick Uy “Hot Dog”
PONY show off awarding ceremony were hosted by Internet sensation, TV personality & film professor, RAMON BAUTISTA together with renowned music video director, NANI NAGUIT.
Major awards were presented by celebrities and music icons such as RENZ FERNANDEZ, DEVON of PBB Teen Clash, CHAMP LUI PIO, BARON GEISLER & BAMBOO. The participants also enjoyed explosive performances from up & coming young band ABSOLUTE PLAY, rock princess, KITCHIE NADAL & the lords of metal rock, WOLFGANG.
Check out the winning entries at www.facebook.com/PONYSHOWOFF. For those who joined, your showing off has hit pay dirt. As Pony would say: “Let’s Get It On!”
Every year, hair stylist to the stars Jing Monis holds his Holiday with the Press, a day of pampering at his salon on the 3rd level of Greenbelt 1. Last Dec 8, 2011 though, Monis, together with his very talented and courteous staff, welcomed the media to his newly opened branch at the Bellevue Hotel Alabang. Jing Monis collaborated with interior designer Roan Espino, who then worked with architects Apple Sydiongco and Quincy de los Reyes in executing Monis’ vision for the salon–a suburban yet classy setting perfect for southerners. The press was treated to haircuts, hair treatments, foot spas, and more.
I picked the Keratin treatment, which my hair stylist Armando said would tame my unruly and somewhat stubborn curls. Don’t get me wrong–I love my wavy hair. It’s just that it’s so hard to manage sometimes, especially when you’re always in a hurry and you don’t have the time to blow dry your hair. I’m happy, though, with the end result of the treatment. It’s been days, but my hair still feels smooth and not frizzy.
Also on that day, renowned make-up artist Roshar, who has done make-up for popular magazines like Zink, Vogue Russia, Elle, and Glamour, and has also made Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue beautiful in their music videos, had a quick demo for the media. He gave away tips and tricks on proper make-up application.
Visit Jing Monis’ Salon on the 3rd level of Greenbelt 1 Mall, Makati or at the Alabang branch on the 3rd floor of the Main Tower Wing, Bellevue Hotel. Call the salon at 8934098 (Makati) and 5550963 (Alabang).
UNO Magazine’s contributors Sarah Meier – Albano and Vicky Herrera will be launching their book entitled Unscripted on December 15, 2011 at the Fully Booked High Street. Enjoy reading their interviews with Lourd de Veyra, Tessa Prieto – Valdes, Raimund Marasigan, Kate Torralba, Gang Badoy and more. The book will be available at all Fully Booked outlets really soon!
Illustration by Joel Fabonan
Every year has its share of significant events, whether fortunate, disastrous, or unexpected, and it’s probably just an illusion born of distance or the lack thereof that makes one year seem more momentous than another. Having said that, wow: 2010, eh? A new president, the end of an era in local music, upheavals in the entertainment industry, inhumane and regrettable tragedies, and some sweet triumphs in the international scene.
Maybe once in a while, we’d like a nice, boring, uneventful year, but 2010 was not that kind of year. Here is the kind of year that it was. Read more…
CUBAO STATION
Noel Cabangon, Paramita, Hijo, Hilera, Turbo Goth, Camerawalls, FMD, Top Junk, Chongkeys, Ganhava, Alex in Wonderland, Miko Pepito, Faintlights, Allecia, Nityalila, OG Sacred, Midsummer, LTNS, and Toyo. Presented by Dakila — Rocking for Global Trade and Development.
SHAW STATION
Paolo Santos, Silent Sanctuary, Peryodiko, Duster, Kala, Gracenote, Kai Honasan, and Playphonics — Rocking for Education.
AYALA STATION
Radioactive Sago Project, UpDharmaDownm Encounters With A Yeti, Musical O, Sleepwalk Circus, Hidden Nikki, The Charmes, Not Another Boy Band, Dr.Strangeluv, and Akasha. Presented by Terno Recordings — Rocking for the Environment.
BONI STATION
Flippin’ Soul Stompers, Collie Herb, Good Leaf, Tarsius, The Go Signals, Fingertrap, Jeepney Joyride, The Strangeness, Nanay Mo, Tirso Cruise Three, FilterKeen, Kevin’s Express, and Big Band Groove — Rocking for Gender Equality.
BUENDIA STATION
Intolerant, Reklamo, Bad Burn, Odat, Trapeze, Penguin, Pull It Surprise, Sirens, Save Me Hollywood, Jejaview, Htachbanko, Around the Metro, Lady Ransom, Jensen Gomez, Archievals, Harlequin Carnival, and Sleep — Rocking vs HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Preventable Diseases.
QUEZON AVE STATION
CinemAlexis Film Showing — Rocking for Maternal Health.
NORTH AVE STATION
Mayonnaise, Tonight We Sleep, Hansom, Subscapular, Sirens, Chris Cantanda, Shoulder State, Lights in Transit, Arcadia, PileDriver, Wilderness, and Twin Lobster. Presented by Mary Moon Productions — Rocking for Children’s Health.
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Choose a station, watch a gig, take a stand, rock and roll. It’s Rock Ed Philippines’ seventh annual Rock the Riles, a massive celebration of International Human Rights Day!
