What you should know about the #Hashtags

Times have changed, and so did showbiz trends and the way stars are discovered.

Half a century ago, then Starmaker Dr. Jose R. “Doc” Perez of Sampaguita Pictures launched the Stars ’66 in a grand debut-style party at the sprawling Sampaguita Studios (now an events place), 10 of the company’s most promising discoveries.

Where are they now?

Rosemarie Sonora, widow of (the late) Ricky Belmonte, has remarried in the US where Blanca Gomez and her own family are also staying, and so is Shirley Moreno with her own family. Loretta Marquez is gone, and Gina Pareño is the only one still active. The boys: Dindo Fernando, Ramil Rodriguez and Edgar Salcedo have passed away. Ramil’s brother Pepito is retired and so is Bert Leroy Jr. in the US with his own family.

After Stars ’66 came, Regal Matriarch Lily Monteverde’s Regal Babies launched in different batches, most of them became big stars and fine actresses (from the first batch: Maricel Soriano, Dina Bonnevie, Snooky Serna, Gabby Concepcion and the Martinez brothers Albert and William).

With the advent of social media, talents are discovered and launched overnight via YouTube (Charice/Jake Zyrus, et al.) such as the ABS-CBN’s #Hashtags that launches bunches of guys who both sound and look good, and are gifted with fancy footwork to boot.

Here are the 11 first batch of #Hashtags, courtesy of the book #hashtags Journal edited by Kuiejor Garces and published by ABS-CBN Publishing Inc.

Meet them (with some quotable quotes from the book), according to how they are arranged in the pictures:

1. Zeus Collins, 23 (March 19, 1994), #KingOfTheDanceFloor (5’11”, 183 lbs.): What are you looking for in a girl? Mabait, mapagmahal sa magulang, singkit, sweet at may takot sa Diyos.What turns you off? Madumi ang kuko at maitim ang kili-kili. What kind of a boyfriend are you? Malambing, ma-kwento tsaka honest. I’d rather tell the truth than hurt someone with a lie.

2. Ryle Santiago, 19 (Oct. 1, 1998), #YoungestOfThemAll (5’9”, 140 lbs.): What turns you off? Self-centeredness. Someone who has a lot of issues and is fond of making flimsy arguments just so I’ll make “suyo” to calm her down. I also don’t like someone who doesn’t know her priorities. We all know someone who would dump you for a pair of free shoes. I hate liars and flirts.What kind of a boyfriend are you? Very seloso, but I’d really go out of my way to cherish a girl.

3. Luke Conde, 28 (Oct. 29, 1989), #MamasBoyCutie (6’0”, 180 lbs.): What do you look for in a girl? Someone with a sweet smile, family-oriented, at God-fearing. What turns you off? Bad breath, dirty toes at bad-smelling hair, Wahehe! One line from a movie that you can’t forget. “Love is like the wind. You don’t see it but you feel it,” from A Walk to Remember.

4. Jameson Blake, 20 (June 17, 1997), #ResponsibleSon (5’9”, 138 lbs.): Tell us about your first heartbreak. I cried in front of her. I tried to win her back but she didn’t love me anymore. What are you looking for in a girl? Someone who is fun to be with, easy to talk to. Not a jealous and clingy type, sakto lang at simple. What turns you off? Naninigarilyo at puro party ang alam. Hehe!!!

5. Paulo Angeles, 20 (Oct. 27, 1997), #CharmingHottie (5’9”, 145 lbs.): Tell us about your first heartbreak. Secret. Hahaha! Joke lang. High school crush ko ‘yon tapos naging girlfriend ko, pero nagkagusto siya sa best friend niya. What turns you off? Wala eh. Basta maging totoo lang siya sa sarili niya. Lahat naman ng tao may kanya-kanyang flaws and imperfections kaya respeto na lang siguro. Hindi rin naman ako perfect.

6. Jimboy Martin, 20 (Oct. 12, 1997), #HumbleDreamer (5’11”, 165 lbs.): Describe your ideal girl. Maganda, mabait, at hindi maarte. How many times have you fallen in love? Maraming beses na. One line from a movie that you can’t forget? “There is knowledge from everywhere. Go get it from anywhere you can,” from Three Idiots.

7. Nikko Natividad, 24 (Feb. 13, 1993),

#GandangLalakiWinner (5’7”, 153 lbs.): How many times have you fallen in love? Five times. What are you looking for in a girl? Sweet and faithful. Your ideal girl is standing in front of you; what would you say or do? Yayakapin ko siya kaagad at sasabihan ko ng “I love you.” What turns you off? ’Yung walang faith in God.

8. Ronnie Alonte, 21 (Oct. 26, 1996), #PassionateActor (5’10”, 180 lbs.): What are you looking for in a girl? Simple lang. Maganda, mabait at maka-Diyos. Higit sa lahat, ‘yung kaya akong mahalin ng totoo. What turns you off? ’Yung may bisyo.What kind of boyfriend are you? Responsible, mabait at mapagmahal.What’s your favorite movie? Zombieland. What’s your favorite food? Maling. What scares you the most? Ipis.

9. Tom Doromal, 21 (Nov. 28, 1996), #DavaoCutie (5’8”, 152 lbs.): How would you describe an ideal girl? Spontaneous. Parang kung saan lang kami dalhin ng mga paa namin. What turns you off? Pag mahal ko, wala siguro. How many times have you fallen in love? Three times. Do you believe in second chances? Yes, kasi kahit ako, I was given a second chance.

10. Mccoy de Leon, 22 (Feb. 20, 1995), #BoyNextDoor (5’6”, 143 lbs.): How would you describe an ideal date? Sa simbahan. Your ideal girl? Basta masayang kasama, kuntento na ako d’un. What turns you off? Hindi mapagmahal sa pamilya at hindi maka-Diyos. Your favorite movie? Pursuit of Happyness.  Your favorite food? Tocino. One funny incident from your childhood? Maagang pagtigil sa pagtangkad.

11. Jon Lucas, 22 (Aug. 18, 1995), #Directioner (5’9”, 175 lbs.): What are you looking for in a girl? ’Yung may takot sa Diyos, may respeto sa akin at sa mga magulang ko. May disiplina, at mapagkakatiwalaan. What turns you off? ’Yung palasagot sa mga magulang. What kind of boyfriend are you? Maraming hindi maniniwala dahil sa first impression ng iba sa akin, pero loyal talaga ako, guys! Promise, honest talaga ako.

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