Another import from Taiwan

They’re being compared to F4. But 5566 (pronounced double 5 Double 6) insists that although they are Taiwanese like the F4, they’re better in terms of looks and (sex) appeal.

"We’re equal as far as Mainland China and the Philippines are concerned. But elsewhere, we’re tops," the 5566 boys say of their fiercest rival.

Figures posted on the Net say it all. The 5566’s 1st Album sold 350,000 copies in Asia, beating F4’s Fantasy 4Ever to the number one spot in Taiwan within two weeks of its first release in December 2002. About 50,000 copies of 5566’s album have been sold in Singapore, beating Fantasy 4Ever’s 30,000 sales.

The same success story is seen in the live concert scene. 5566’s 2003 show, Serious, packed 4,000 people into a Taiwan stadium with only a 3,500 seating capacity.

Their teen idol series, My MVP Valentine was popular in Taiwan and other Asian countries.

Now, the band wants to re-acquaint themselves with the Filipino audience. 5566 was here recently for a three-day promotional tour for their upcoming ABC 5 TV series Mr. Fighting: Fight for Love, 5566 elicited shrieks from female fans who followed them to a Quezon City bar where they had a presscon.

It didn’t matter that they could hardly speak English, and answered questions from the press in Mandarin. The fans lapped up their answers and thrilled to their smiles even before the interpreter can translate their replies in English.

So why the name 5566? Is this because the band believes in feng shui, or are ardent advocates of numerology?

The band members, Tony Sun, Zax Wang, Sam Wang and Jason Hsu, it turns out, want a name with recall no matter where they go. So they decided to adopt a set of numbers for a name.

The band was originally made up of five members. But the fifth, rapper Rio Pang, got sidelined by an accident. Thus, only four members remained active.

As for the double six in their name, the band’s manager, Sun De Rong explains that it reflects what they aspire for: excellence in six areas: singing, dancing, hosting, acting in movies or a TV series and doing advertisements.

Let’s get to know the members one by one:

Tony Sun Xie Zhi, 27, is the group leader. His good looks has also made him the resident heartthrob. Described as imaginative, sensitive and compassionate, Tony, it’s said, can be too idealistic sometimes. As the most experienced in the group, Tony acts as spokesperson of the band.

Of the four members, it was Zax Wang Ren Fu, in his all-white top with butterfly sleeves and scalloped neckline that plunged down his chest, who attracted attention during presscon.

"It’s inspired by Philippine fashion," he grinned.

The 25-year-old Zax also has the most experience in the Philippines. He took up diving after he discovered how fun it was to engage in it during a visit in a Cebu resort. Modest and meticulous Zax is into singing, dancing and other types of sports.

Jason Xu Meng Zhe won the press people over when his manager told them he pushed through with the trip even if his father was hospitalized in Taiwan due to a delicate illness. Because of this, the 20-year-old Jason returned to Taiwan at once to be by his father’s bedside when the latter went under the knife.

Jason, a cinematography student, has been balancing school and career for the past few years.

Sam Wong Shao Wei, 29, is described as jovial, freedom-loving and straightforward. He’s into dance and football and can speak Mandarin, Taiwanese and English. Like Zax, he caught everyone’s attention with his unique fashion sense. Sam came in a Chinese-inspired get-up accented by a maroon-colored fur draped over one shoulder.

Joining the 5566 in Mr. Fighting: Fight for Love (premieres May 28, 7 p.m. on ABC) are Camille Ye and Cindy Tien of the Taiwanese pop duo Sweety. These leading ladies add the element of romance to a story laced with drama and humor. Add in a liberal sprinkling of fight scenes (it’s not called Mr. Fighting for nothing) and a hook-laden theme song, and you’ve got a series calculated to ride the crest of the chinovela craze sweeping local TV these days.