What's Mother Lily up to?: Regal's Macho Men

Leave it to Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde to build up stars. She always does it in style, with great imagination, just like what she did with her Regal Babies back in the early ‘80s in a manner reminiscent of Sampaguita Starmaker Dr. Jose R. “Doc” Perez’s en grande launch of his Stars ‘66.

Last Thursday night, Mother Lily signed up what may collectively be called Regal’s Macho Men — (at random now) Daniel Matsunaga, JC Tiuseco, Ervic Vijandre, Ian Batherson and Fabio Ide, all of them managed by Jonas Gaffud’s Mercator agency.

Mother Lily didn’t just sit with the guys and pretend to sign the contracts for the benefit of photographers. She waved her magic wand and, voila, it was raining men at the mezzanine floor of her Imperial Palace Suites (IPS) on Timog-Morato Rotunda, Quezon City, much to the delight of the movie press.

First, the five Macho Men marched one by one into the venue clad a la Marlon Brando in body-hugging collarless white shirts and black slacks. Then, they reappeared minus their shirts, exposing their to-die-for sexy abs and muscles. And, finally, they capped the mini “fashion show” in formal wear and proceeded to the presidential table to seal their fates as Regal’s Macho Men contractees.

Here’s a reintroduction of the guys perhaps the public already knows too well (and the “titles” Mother Lily has given them):

Daniel Matsunaga: The Heart Snatcher and Fabio Ide: The Partyphile Comedian

• Daniel Matsunaga: The Heart Snatcher — Daniel is a Brazilian Japanese international model. His last modeling stint before the Philippines was in Hong Kong. He has been into more than 20 countries around the world for modeling. He first came to the Philippines to test the waters in modeling for two months but eventually stayed and entered showbiz. So far, he has done major roles in three GMA soaps: The Last Prince, Langit Sa Piling Mo and Grazilda and a guest role in Machete.

• JC Tiuseco: The Clean Living Health Buff — JC’s claim to fame is of course as the very first Pinoy Survivor grand winner. Since then he has been able to bag strong roles in GMA: Dear Friend, Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin, Christmaserye: Sana Ngayong Pasko, Langit Sa Piling Mo. He has also done two hosting stints for Unang Hirit and X-Life. He is currently one of the leading men of GMA’s new afternoon soap Sisid.

• Fabio Ide: The Partyphile Comedian — Fabio is also an International Model like Daniel. The country he has spent the most time in modeling is Japan. He came to the Philippines in 2007 and started as the first international model of Mercator. Since then he has been in and out of the country. He has decided to come back in 2009 and enter showbiz. Currently, he is doing Comedy Bar, Tweetbiz and Andres de Saya. He had a guest role in Dwarfina.

• Ervic Vijandre: The Competitive Force — Ervic made it to the Celebrity Survivor’s Top 3 last year with Solenn Heussaff and Akihiro Sato. Since then he has been guesting in GMA shows and trying showbiz as well. He is currently in Captain Barbell as one of the villains who will eventually be part of the good guys. Some people have noticed his acting skills. Ervic was a baseball varsity back in high school and basketball in college.

Ervic Vijandre: The Competitive Force

• Ian Batherson: The Pretty Boy Musician — Ian is from Bicol but grew up in the States. He first joined StarStruck in 2009 and made it to the Top 6. He then joined Survivor Celebrity Edition in 2010. He is now taping for Sisid. He loves to sing and play the guitar.

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Ian Batherson: The Pretty Boy Musician