Shameless Pluggin’

This is the cover of Cosmopolitan Philippines Feb 2010:

I was lucky enough to nab half the cover story. Sorrily, I didn’t get Derek Ramsay who was looking hawt. But that’s fine because 1) I had interviewed him before and 2) Angelica Panganiban is such a joy to talk with. I shouldn’t compare because how well an interview goes also depends on me but I can’t help it. Sorry. hehe So. Between the lovebirds, I found Angelica to be the more interesting interviewee.

It’s prolly because the girl is incredibly real! She gave real answers, was not afraid of any of the questions I asked (not that she had something to be afraid of but most celebs are just like that) and did not mince her words. I suppose she’s a very smart girl. But I did not have to result in highfaluting questions (the way I normally do when I’m bored with the interviewee) because she gave fascinating answers. I know I should give examples right now but my files are in my office PC and my office PC is down.

So here, dear friends, is my first 2010 cover story. Here’s hoping there’s more to come!

Plug it!

I did the cover story for the December issue of Cosmopolitan Philippines. Noice. It’s Maja Salvador on the cover. She’s a rising star from the ABS CBN roster of talents. This is actually the second time I’ve interviewed her, the first was also for Cosmo! She’s a doll.

I’d like to interview her one more time. Only because I feel there’s more to her than what she’s letting in.  Don’t get me wrong, both interviews were good. She answered beautifully. She gave a pleasant conversation for both. I just feel there’s more to her. I hope Maja gets her break.

Wrote for…

…The october 2009 issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines. I wrote the cover story, which means I got to interview Tony-award winning stage actress Lea Salonga! Oh wow. You see, she was an idol growing up. Her cassette tapes got a lot of airtime back then. A week before the interview, I started looking for her old tapes. I wanted an autograph. I found one, but of course, being me, I forgot to bring it on shoot day.

As expected, she gave a good interview. She was very eloquent, told a lot of lengthy stories on the side, and judging from her mood at the shoot that followed the interview, had fun. I got a lot of anecdotes from her, like that time she couldn’t get herself drunk because she ate way too much. “I was lard lined,” she exclaims. Um. Of course that doesn’t make it to the cover story.

…the October 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan Philippines. Like GH, I also did the cover story. Bea Alonzo gave one of the best interviews I’ve had in a while. Never thought she was interesting to begin with. And here she comes proving that’s she’s interesting to talk with pa! One of the biggest revelations was that she read books and that she loved Haruki Murakami.

What I did not appreciate, however, was this: I had to sit and listen to her RM talk about the merits of Paolo Coelho.  She was trying to convince me to like him. And when she couldn’t I felt judged. I mean, whatever floats your boat, man. And whatever floats mine.  So anyway, yeah. That was a good interview with Bea. The girl’s got depth.