Let’s talk about beauty
April 13, 2003 | 12:00am
Who are the most beautiful women in beauty-obsessed Philippine society and what are they doing to maintain their great looks and sexiness? The country’s most successful beauty business group – Marie-France Bodyline International, Facial Care Center and Svenson Hair Center – is led by 42-year-old George T. Siy, who is also president of the Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP). A graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, George arranged for a unique group interview with some of his clients for the Philippine Star.
When asked what would be his professional advice to the country’s most famous women to become more beautiful – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, former President Cory C. Aquino, megastar Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan and Senator Loren Legarda – George laughed and said: "That’s a very difficult question to answer, these women might misunderstand my recommendations. Even already beautiful women like them can benefit from our wide range of services and technologies. In fact, Sharon Cuneta was a past client."
It was perhaps one of the greatest interviews ever for this writer to have the chance to ask questions and banter with five beautiful and sexy women. The unique group interview was held on the 15th floor of GT Tower at Ayala Avenue corner H. V. de la Costa Street, Makati, with the clients of Marie France and Facial Care Center coming in at different times due to their hectic schedules.
The clients that gave the group interview to Philippine Star are among the country’s most beautiful and glamorous women – 36-year-old businesswoman Jeanette Jimenez Pumaren (whose husband is former Purefoods/FedEx basketball star Dindo Pumaren); JVC Philippines top business executive 41-year-old Irene Salud (widow of the late actor Miguel Rodriguez); 41-year-old singer and stage actress Isay Alvarez (whose husband singer Robert Seña is also a Facial Care client), award-winning movie actress Gina Alajar; and actress Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez.
Late last year, George Siy, his sister Angeline and other officials of Marie France and Facial Care Center created a unique calendar with their clients being made up and costumed as classic beauty icons – Gina Alajar as Jean Harlow, Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez and Ana Roces as Grace Kelly, Jeanette Jimenez Pumaren as Rita Hayworth, and Isay Alvarez as Ava Gardner. Raymund Isaac took the photos and Fanny Serrano did the makeup.
Excerpts:
Who are the most beautiful women in the Philippines?
Gina Alajar: Susan Roces truly has the face that refreshes. Tingting Cojuangco is so elegant. Dawn Zulueta exudes happiness and contentment. Monique Villonco, without a trace of make-up, is beautiful already. Amy Austria because hers is a different kind of beauty.
Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez: Amalia Fuentes – classic beauty. Gloria Romero – ageless beauty. Imelda Romualdez Marcos – timeless beauty. Vilma Santos – most beautiful actress. Dawn Zulueta – simple beauty.
Jeanette Jimenez Pumaren: Imelda Marcos is very regal, very stately. I have always admired Imelda, and I don’t think other people who don’t like her would shoot me down because it’s my personal opinion. Lea Salonga is simpleng ganda, smart, natural. Donita Rose is endlessly youthful, charmingly witty. Vina Morales is very versatile, she radiates energy.
Irene Salud: I admire mature women who still maintain their good looks, such as Criselda Lontok, Tingting Cojuangco, Carol Masibay Garcia, Margie Moran and Vicky Zubiri. The reason? They’re still beautiful and talagang elegant pa rin at their age. I always want to give them a second look, and I want to be like them.
Isay Alvarez: I admire the beauty of Gloria Romero, Nida Blanca, Chiqui Brosas, Tingting Cojuangco and Tessie Agana, kalinya niya sina Carmen Rosales, who was the movie partner of Rogelio de la Rosa.
What about the names of the greatest beauties worldwide?
Gina: Julia Roberts is full of life. I like her lips. Jackie Kennedy Onassis epitomized class. Naomi Campbell shows that black is beautiful. Anna Kournikova is bata pa, maganda na. Elizabeth Taylor ? No one can beat her violet eyes. Gong Li – for an Asian, malakas ang dating niya. Gumaganda siya when you stare at her.
Cristina: Sofia Loren for beautiful eyes. Audrey Hepburn for classic beauty. Jane Fonda is perfectly fit. Elizabeth Taylor and Cindy Crawford.
Jeanette: Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi of Crouching Tiger, Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman and Meg Ryan. They’re global beauties.
Irene: Audrey Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Gwyneth Paltrow and Demi Moore.
Isay: Halle Berry, the Oscar Award best actress last year, and Meryl Streep.
Who do you admire as the most good-looking and handsomest men?
Gina: My three sons Ryan, Geoffrey and AJ Eigenmann. They are different types, different characters, but always handsome.
Cristina: My husband and my dad!
Jeanette: I like Eddie Garcia. You know how old he is? I think he’s in his 70s, but he’s so well-maintained. Si Senator Ping Lacson, he is so guwapo in person!
Irene: Ako rin, I admire Ping Lacson as most handsome, even though my brother is married to Liza Berroya, whose dad is an enemy of the Senator. Two other most handsome men in the Philippines? My boyfriend Atty. Gregorio "Ogie" Narvasa II, and Trade Secretary Mar Roxas.
Isay: Sorry, I don’t like Ping Lacson. I admire the older people of the black and white movies era – Rogelio de la Rosa and Armando Goyena. Of course, you should include my handsome and talented husband Robert Seña.
How do you maintain your beautiful looks? Any beauty secrets you can share?
Gina: Of course, going to Marie-France is important! Plus, exercise, taking vitamins, eating fruits and vegetables, having a happy disposition, getting enough sleep, having peace of mind and being happy about who I am.
Cristina: Well, of course, trying to eat the right food. Marie-France is a big help, especially after I gave birth – it was hard because my metabolism changed, my hormones changed, and I couldn’t work out because I gave birth by Caesarian section. So I had no choice but to try Marie-France. It worked for me kasi it’s non-invasive. I didn’t try liposuction, Bangkok pills, diet pills. Just with Marie-France alone, I was able to slim down talaga. My advice? Walk a lot as exercise, eat the right food and Marie-France!
Jeanette: Physically, do everything in moderation. Get enough of the basics like sleep, diet and exercise, and going to Marie-France for a nicer, fit body. I feel welcome and at ease at Marie-France. I’m given time to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life. While relaxing, they deliver what they promise – a slimmer, more beautiful body. After I gave birth to my second child in 1996, I really gained so much weight, but Marie-France helped, I lost more than 50 pounds. I also go to Facial Care Center regularly.
As for maintaining inner beauty, the best way is when you bring out the goodness of someone else. Another important thing – as corny as it sounds, it’s love that makes women truly beautiful. When you’re in love, or when you love yourself, there’s a certain glow that you just can’t hide. Like a lamp. When a person is in love, that person glows beautifully.
Irene: Beauty secrets? I really take care of myself, what I eat. I also work out daily in the gym, and I regularly go to Facial Care Center. Also, always think happy thoughts. Keep good company. Do everything in moderation.
Isay: To be beautiful, be happy. Count your blessings. For me and my husband, singing makes us feel younger, it’s a release. Of course, for physical beauty, we both go to Facial Care Center regularly. We are singers and entertainers, we have to look good.
What is your advice to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on how to look more beautiful pa?
Irene: Mag-resign siya (laughs). Seriously, I recommend that she go to Facial Care Center regularly.
I think GMA is pretty na, she just has to maintain her looks, no need to be more glamorous. She’s already respectable as a person, I would not change anything.
She could not be too glamorous, or else people might lose respect for her as a leader. She doesn’t look well when she’s upset and angry, she should learn to relax more. But if she has to get angry, be natural. I think it’s good to show her humanity. I hope the incompetents and lazy officials will fear her! You know, GMA was my teacher at the Assumption in 1983, she never changed, she has not aged at all! She still looks the same, maybe because, as she said, she always has plenty (laughs)!
Isay: It’s so difficult to remain beautiful if you’re beset by so many problems. I suggest she should go to Facial Care Center regularly, go to a spa at least once a week! Did you see her on TV after the bombing in Davao, she did not have her hair professionally blow-dried and she looked so terrible then, but because of that, my admiration for her grew. Why? Because I’m a mother and a worrier, and if I were in that situation, I’d look much worse (laughs)! I’m serious on GMA going to Facial Care Center, I recommend she try the IPL, the laser tone and the 4-layer facial. GMA is in politics, so she needs to be like an artista. Her anger? I think with GMA, bawal beside her are the stupid and lazy people. They say she looks like Nora Aunor, actually she looks very much younger than Ate Guy (Huwag sana magalit si Ate Guy sa akin!).
Jeannete: I don’t like the way GMA looks when she’s very angry but still trying to grin – it’s not beautiful. There’s actually nothing wrong with showing your displeasure over incompetent people, mediocre performance, or over people who give out-of-line remarks, especially when GMA is working so hard to rebuild a morally devastated nation, and with so time to do it. GMA should act natural – angry, if angry, but don’t try to grin and smile when angry. It’s not natural and not beautiful.
Cristina: I think GMA carries herself well already. Considering she is our commander-in-chief, she can’t really have too much time beautifying herself. Despite all her stressful and busy schedule, she still manages to look great.
Gina: OK naman the way GMA dresses up. Maybe she would do something about her hair. Makeup is fine, anyway she’s a president, not a beauty queen.
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