Meet the men of Pond’s

There was a time when Pond’s was a brand associated with whites and pinks and radiant golds — now when I hear Pond’s I remember the time I was in the same room as Xian Lim, Rico Blanco, Filipino footballer Anton del Rosario, real estate mogul Victor Consunji and director Paul Soriano before they were officially introduced as the ambassadors of Pond’s Men and the new Pond’s Men Energy Charge — a coffee bean-infused Face Wash and Face Moisturizer, rich in anti-oxidants. So I asked them what keeps them energized for the things they like to do. Here’s what the men of Pond’s had to say:

XIAN LIM, actor

What does it feel like to be the face of Pond’s Men? I feel good! It’s been a long process getting us here, a lot of pictorials and shoots. All of us represent different things — music, film, business, sports — that men will be able to relate to.

What do you do to get energized? Usually when I’m tired I just eat a lot or just get sleep, that’s how I recharge.

Out of all the grooming you need to do, being in showibiz, what are you most O.C. about? Para sakin it’s my skin. Okay sana if we always get a full eight hours of sleep but that’s not the case — I’m lucky enough to get four. I want my skin to always be energized. We’re always on camera and people are always looking at us, so I always have Pond’s Men Energy Charge with me at tapings.

RICO BLANCO, musician

What gets you energized in the morning? Sometimes when it’s a touring weekend, you get up and you get going. You don’t have a choice — and then it’s just one thing after another. You have a soundcheck then a radio tour then a gig, so it’s important to start your day strong.

Do you like coffee? I’m not a coffee drinker, so I just have a quick shower and a quick meal. And then in the middle of the day, when you start to dip, that’s where a product like Pond’s Energy Charge helps a lot.

You’ve been Rico Blanco for the longest time. What keeps you interested? It’s really something I enjoy. Not all of it is easy, but it’s something that I love.

At work, it’s hard to depend on something that you can’t take with you all the time because I move from one place to another. Guys, we don’t have our makeup artist, it’s just us. So something as handy as Pond’s Energy Charge Facial Wash, which you can just put in your backpack, is a lifesaver.

PAUL SORIANO, director

Do you drink coffee? I’m not a big coffee drinker but I do enjoy a good cup of coffee every now and then. I usually draw my energy by motivating myself, watching good films. Doing inspiring things.

Which of the more recent films did you like? I really like Gravity — it’s a really visual way of telling a story. There’s also this movie from India called The Lunchbox. I enjoyed Philomena as well. But my favorite films are E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind  — these are the films that made me want to be a director.

Ah, you’re a big sci-fi fan! I’m a big sci-fi fan, especially about UFOs — there’s just so many more questions than answers. As a storyteller, you can find ways to answer those questions and everyone will have their own interpretation.

What else do you want to accomplish as a director? Well I have a dream film, it’s a period film about Philippine history and I really want to do it next year. That’s something I’m writing now.

What else are you busy with these days? I’m producing four films this year and writing two films, on top of that I’m doing TV commercials. I really have to make time for myself. But I like it — it’s not a job, it’s fun.

Behind the camera or in front of it? I’m definitely much more comfortable behind the camera. That’s where you’ll find me 99.9 percent of the time.

ANTON DEL ROSARIO, football player

Do you like coffee? I loooove coffee. I usually take it black with a couple of sugars.

My usual place is Starbucks, but now Toby’s Estate is open….

Did you always know that caffeine is also an ingredient in facial wash? I had no clue — when they came up with this, I was like “I love coffee, I need to be energized, this is great!”

What’s you’re typical day like? My days can get boring sometimes. I wake up around 6:45, hop in the shower, wash my face with Pond’s Men Energy Charge, which has the menthol in it so it wakes me up, then I go to training, and then spend time with my fianćee and my three-year-old. He takes off for school at noon. And then from there I just do what regular people do like watch movies or go to the gym.

Apart from family and football, what keeps you busy? I’ve been spending some time developing a sports application mixed with social networking. It could be out soon. The whole point of it is organized pickup games, so if you want to go running, for example, you can check the application and check out people who can go running with you.

Is it also a dating app? (Laughs) Some people might use it as a dating site, but it’s a good way to get to know people and keep active.

VICTOR CONSUNJI, real estate mogul

What makes up your typical day? My typical day can be quite variable, but it generally starts off with a 6 a.m. run, followed by a morning shower and getting ready for work. Mid-mornings are mostly dedicated to visiting construction sites to inspect work and progress. Then lunch back home with the family — very important. Meetings in the afternoon, then a swim or a gym session, dinner with family, then the rest of the evening with my wife.

Apart from construction, what other passions do you need more energy for? Athletics, which include running, swimming, biking, and rock climbing. I love cars and fast bikes as well, though I rarely get to enjoy the “toys” except on weekends. And of course, travel is a big part of our lives.

What grooming tricks can you share with our male readers? Take especially good care of your skin. Regular washing and moisturizing is a lot easier than neglecting your skin and having to deal with a plethora of skin problems later on. Also, get a regular haircut. Your day will get infinitely better when you don’t feel like a mop.

How do you like your coffee? Espresso, black, no sugar, double.

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The Pond’s Men range is available at supermarkets, drugstores and department stores. Visit facebook.com/pondsmenph and follow @PondsMenPH on Twitter and Instagram.