December 8





DECEMBER 8

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 22 No. 32, December 8, 1998

On the Cover: Regine Velasquez

 

UNANG LABAS

Ang Playhouse Men’s Magazine ay unang lumabas sa sirkulasyon noong Disyembre 8, 2007 (Bagama’t sa editorial box ay nakalagay ang petsang January 1, 2008). Ito ay inilimbag ng Atlas Publishing Inc. Kaiba sa mga nagsulputang franchised men’s magazine katulad ng FHM Philippines, Maxim Philippines at Playboy Philippines, ang Playhouse ay isang orihinal na babasahing panlalaki sa titulo at konsepto – ideyang Filipino subalit pang-International ang kalidad. Hindi rin ito limitado sa mga seksing larawan lamang ng mga babae kundi naglalaman din ito ng mga naiibang full featured articles (Sa unang isyu kabilang ang mga cover stories na “Lesbian Lovers” at “Female Centaur” ni Aidan Garcia, “Bobbittised” ni Liam Rodriguez, at “Inside Women’s Fantasies” ni Ernee Lawagan). Kabilang sa mga regular columns nito ay ang ““Playhouse Conversations” (panayam sa mga kilalang personalidad), “Ernee Lawagan’s Sexopedia” (isang compilation ng daan-daang termino at trivia tungkol sa sex), “Calvento Files Crime Classics” (pagbabalik-tanaw sa kuwento sa likod ng mga bantog at sensational crimes buhat sa tala ng pamosong investigative columnist na si Tony Calvento), “Sex Lives of Animals” (mga pagsasalarawan at kuwento tungkol sa pagtatalik ng mga iba’t-ibang klase ng hayop), “Playhouse Playroom” (tungkol sa mga bagong gadgets at gamit panlalaki), “Book You” (maiksing review ng mga bagong labas na aklat), at “Playhouse Sports” (tungkol sa mga pinag-uusapang personalidad, kaganapan at pangyayari sa larangan ng palakasan). Ang target readers nito ay ang mga tinaguriang "baby boomer" na siyang nagpapagalaw ng ating daigdig sa iba't-ibang larangan, nasa edad 40 hanggang 60 anyos, bagama't pumatok din ito sa mga panlasa ng mga young adults at middle-age readers. Ang nakatalang unang editor-in-chief nito ay si Zak Zorro Zamora.

Ang dalawang taklob-pahina ng unang isyu ng Playhouse Men’s Magazine.
Tampok si Claire Barberis bilang "Female Centaur" sa unang cover.

Ang unang dalawang isyu nito, na may dalawang magkaibang taklob-pahina (cover page), ay pumatok sa mga mambabasa. Ito ay dahil sa naiiba at makatawag-pansin nitong pagsasalarwan at nilalaman na paksa. Datapuwa’t sa di-mawaring dahilan binago ang konsepto nito sa ikatlo at lalo pa sa ika-apat at huling isyu. Ang dating mapagbago o revoltionary men’s magazine ay naging “ordinary” at ang dating mga kapanapanabik na paksa ay naging nakababagot. Isa ito sa ilang babasahin inilimbag ng Atlas na nakapanghihinayang ang pagkawala.

Disyembre 8 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Noong Disyembre 8, 1941, sinalakay ng mga Japanese bombers and Clark Air Base sa Pampanga at ang mga kampo militar ng mga Amerikano sa Aparri, Baguio at Davao, na naging simula ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig sa Pacific.

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          Ang Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) ay itinatag sa pamamagitan ng Presidential Decree No. 78 noong Disyembre 8, 1972. Pinalitan nito ang Weather Bureau.

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          Nagwagi si Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao sa pamamagitan ng technical Knockout laban kay Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya sa labang tinawag na “The Dream Match.” Sumuko si de la Hoya sa ikasiyam na round dahil sa sobrang bugbog na inabot niya kay Pacquiao.

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GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST

General Douglas MacArthur on the cover of Life (December 8, 1941).
The cover date of the magazine is also the same date the Japanese invaded the Philippines.

 

Personalities and celebrities born on December 8:

1959 – Dennis Roldan (real name Mitchell Yap Gumabao), actor – in Quezon City.

1978 – Pia Arcangel, television newscaster and journalist.

1981 – Ranidel Rozal de Ocampo, basketball player – in Tanza, Cavite.

1981 – Richard Huang Poon, Filipino-Chinese singer-songwriter – in Makati City.


1984 – Hero Angeles (full name Hero Gervacio Angeles), actor and director – in Pasig City.

Hero Angeles (with Sandara Park)
on the cover of Mr. & Ms. (December 14, 2004).

 

Martial arts master Jet Li on the cover of
Time (December 8, 2008).

Picture Trivia

          Jet Li and his family had a harrowing experience while they were vacationing in the Maldives when an Indian Ocean-wide tsunami hit the island after the Indonesian earthquake (December 26, 2004). After that life and death experience, Li established a foundation – The One Foundation – the objective of which is to help in international disaster relief with the Red Cross. (SEE “Tsunami Survivor Jet Li LeadsRelief Concert,” April 1, 2017 post)

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Looking for Imee: The Always-Smiling Lady



Playhouse (Blue) Vol. 1 No. 3, April 9, 2008
On the cover: Palmolive Palma

On Playhouse (Blue), the “adulterated” issue, is my article “Looking for Imee, the Always-Smiling Lady” (pp. 29-34), a retrospect of Miss Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” Romualdez Marcos, the eldest child of former president Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. It would be a unique experience reading this article since the pages are graced by the Imee Marcos look-alike Clarisse Mercado.

Also on this issue is my article on the female “estrus,” editor titled “Hot Mama” (pp. 10-22), written in playfully different perspective.

“Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent.” – The Book of Proverbs 6:27-29, Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

PRIME COLLECTIBLE MAGAZINES

PRIME COLLECTIBLE MAGAZINES

Issues That Have the Potentials to Become Very Valuable

 

          Among my collection of Philippine magazines, except for the truly vintage (more than half a century old as of this posting) and first issues, which are already posted in this blog, I find the following as prime collectibles, some presently having high collectibility value and others having potentials for future value increments.

          How important is the cover of a magazine for collector? When I asked my fellow collectors, their answers were just about in the middle. Some collectors collects magazines just for the covers, for its uniqueness, for its extraordinary features, for its rare quirks and foibles, and others for what the magazines contain, the write-ups, ads, pictures, and stories. For me, if I were to estimate the value of collectible magazine, the cover  comprises around 70 percent of its worth.

          The magazine cover must indeed have unique and extraordinary features for it to be potentially collectible.

 

UNIQUE AND EXTRAORDINARY

MOD Vol. 36 No. 1693, March 26, 2004,
with Christine Jacobs on the main front cover,
and Lydia de Vega, and Milo’s “40 Years” Hall of Champions print ads
on the inside cover’s folded spread.

          On its March 26, 2004 issue, MOD release a two-leaf five-page reverse folded front cover spread in celebration of Milo’s 40th year titled “Hall of Champions” (the back cover is not shown here). It featured Christine Jacob on the main front cover, Lydia de Vega on the inside front cover, and a gallery of star athletes on the reverse fold of the front page and on the succeeding six pages. This alone makes this MOD issue a prime collectible.
 

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 21 No. 9, June 24, 1997,
with Rosanna Roces on the front cover.

          This is probably the only time that Mr. & Ms. featured a totally nude celebrity on its cover (June 24, 1997 issue) in the person of Rosanna Roces wearing only a pair of crystal wings. Though nothing is really exposed, this one is as rare as it gets, and therefore very, very valuable.

 

Pinoy Playboy Vol. 1 No. 44,
with the cast of Take Home Girl on the front cover
and Anna Luna on the back cover.

          An adult magazine with seven nude women on the front cover, and yet only a single nipple can be seen, is certainly quite rare and extremely collectible. Pinoy Playboy August 9, 1984 issue featured the cast of Take Home Girls: Emily Loren and Anna Luna (on the floor), Anna Marie Gutierrez (on the sofa), Farida Yulo (kneeling sideways, the only one with an exposed nipple), and Maritess Samson, Glenda Araneta and Angela Perez (at the back of the sofa). On the back cover is Anna Luna.

 

Movie Queen Showbiz Magazine Vol. 6 No. 62,
with Vilma Santos on the front cover
and Ric Manrique Jr on the back cover.

          Where can you see a picture of Vilma Santos in a made-up leopard skin jungle outfit holding a poodle in her right arm and the leash of a monkey on her left? This Movie Queen Showbiz Magazine July 30, 1973 issue had it all captured for posterity in its front cover. To top it all, singer Ric Manrique Jr is on the back cover.

 

Playhouse Men’s Magazine Vol. 1 No. 2, February 12, 2008
(Two cover variants),
with Jeanette Joaquin (left) and Wella Williams (right)
on the front covers.

          Playhouse Men’s Magazine had only two legitimate issues. Both of them have two cover-variants, very unique, extraordinary  and groundbreaking, and all are highly collectible. This February 12, 2008 second issue featured the story “Bondage,” with Jeanette Joaquin (white underwear) on the first cover and Wella Williams on the second cover.

 

ERRORS AND MISTAKES

Aliwan Vol. 2 No. 84, March 31, 1947,
with the illustration of Alfonso Sujeco’s novel,
 Ikalimang Utos ng Diyos, on the cover.

           The magazine Aliwan, containing novels and some komiks pages started circulating in 1946. Because of its vintage, any existing copy is considered rare, but to be highly collectible it must still be in very good to excellent condition. This particular March 31, 1947 issue, which bannered the illustration of Alfonso Sujeco’s novel, Ikalimang Utos ng Diyos (“Fifth Commandment of God”), is one for the book. Why? Because, if you haven’t read the novel, you will think that either its title is wrong or the cover illustration is wrong. In the Bible (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5), the Fifth Commandment is “Honor thy father and mother” and not “Thou shall not kill” as implied in the novel’s title and cover spread illustration. While the mistake maybe out of ignorance or a religious foible, either way it gives intrinsic value to the magazine.
 

 

Celebrity World Vol. 3 No. 153, July 11, 1994,
with Gretchen Barretto on the cover.

          Errors such as typos and misspellings are quite rare, especially on a magazine cover. This is because the publication goes through several editing and proofreading eyes. So, any such occurrence is considered to have intrinsic value. Take a look at the spelling (encircled by red line) of the word “collision” on this Celebrity World July 11, 1994 issue cover.

 

Mr. & Mr. Vol. 20 No. 8, June 25, 1996,
with Regine Velasquez and Kuh Ledesma on the cover

          For this Mr. & Ms. June 25, 1996 issue, the mistake maybe considered not readily known unless you check the issue date with the issue volume and number. This is one reason why this issue is extremely collectible and very valuable. The other is the front cover itself, featuring the rare instance that two well-known Philippine diva, Regine Velasquez and Kuh Ledesma, grace the cover.

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STILL WRITING, MORE TO COME.....

MY FAVORITE MAGAZINE COVERS (As a Writer)

MY FAVORITE MAGAZINE COVERS

 

          As a freelance writer, I have written in more than 20 different publications, most of them are magazines.

          I have worked with Atlas Publishing for more or less 27 years (1981-1994, 1999-2013), making crossword puzzles (Sports Weekly, Special People, MOD, Atlas TV Guide), writing features articles (MOD, MOD Girl, Atlas TV Guide, Playhouse, Spiff), doing comics works (Espesyal, Pilipino, Puro Wakas), and doing informative columns (MOD, Men’s World, Gintong Mariposa, Pinay Digest, People’s Balita).

          For Atlas Publishing alone, my works have been in the pages of more than a thousand publication issues, a third of which are weekly magazines.

          For Mr. & Ms., I’ve made more than 50 crosswords and written around 200 articles, spanning more than 12 years (1994-2006).

          For Celebrity World, I’ve been part of it’s pages ever since it’s transformation from Movie Fan until it’s last issue.

          Then there’s Chinatown East, Family Today, Good Life, Health News, Liwayway, Men’s Edge, Miscellaneous, Money Asia, Moneysaver, Plus!, Prime Editions, Savvy, Woman Today, etc.

 

          With all these publications that I have been a part of, I have many favorite magazine covers, but these are the ones that stand out.

 

MOD Filipina:
(1) Leah Orosa, Vol. 21 No. 0910, February 10, 1989,
(2) Vivien Ramirez Francisco, Vol. 23 No. 1035, July 5, 1991,
(3) Alma Concepcion, Vol. 24 No. 1048, October 4, 1991,
(4) Jeanette Ipapo, Vol. 24 No. 1049, October 11, 1991,
(5) Bernadette Cruz, Vol. 24 No. 1050, October 18, 1991.



 

MOD:
(1) Elaine Lanuza, Vol. 25 No. 1106, November 13, 1992,
(2) Vanessa del Bianco, Vol. 31 No. 1443, May 21, 1999,
(3) Angel Locsin (as Darna), Vol. 36 No. 1764, August 12, 2005,
(4) Vina Morales, Vol. 37No. 1814, August 14, 2006,
(5) Kimberly Baculi, Vol. 42 No. 1889, December 2011.



MOD Girl:
(1) Genevieve Villabroza, May 14, 2004,
(2) Rinncez Chiu, January 28, 2005,
(3) Rebecca Rose, October 28, 2005,
(4) Maria Fe Cadayona, February 24, 2006,
(5) Jill Yulo, July 2006.



Atlas TV Guide (Formerly TV Star):
(1) Oddball (102 Dalmatians), Vol. 1 N14, February 2001,
(2) Spider-Man, Vol. 3 No. 28, April 2002,
(3) Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista, Vol. 8 No. 97, January 2008
(4) Summer Glau, Vol. 8 No. 99, March 2008,
(5) Peter Dinklage, Vol. 12 No. 149, May 2012.
 

Other Magazines of Atlas Publishing:
(1) Bernard Fabiosa, Sports Weekly, Vol. 7 No. 373, July 24, 1981,
(2) Imelda R. Marcos, Kristy McNichol, George Young and Jaclyn Smith, Special People, Vol. 2 No. 82, January 31, 1983,
(3) The Gutierrez Family, Gintong Mariposa, Vol. 1 No. 8, February 25, 1992,
(4) Claire Barberis, Playhouse, Vol. 1 No. 1, January 1, 2008,
(5) Ziera Pagkalinawan, Spiff, Vol. 1 No. 4, 2008
 

Mr. & Ms.:
(1) Donna Cruz, Aga Muhlach, Donita Rose and Vina Morales, Vol. 19 No. 26, October 24, 1995,
(2) Donita Rose, Vol. 25 No. 5, May 22, 2001,
(3) Benji Paras and sons Andre and Kobe, Vol. 25 No. 18, August 21, 2001,
(4) Assunta de Rozzi and stepchildren Julio and Cristina Ledesma, Vol. 27 No. 4, May 13, 2003,
(5) Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin, Vol. 28 No. 39, January 18, 2005.

Celebrity World:

(1) Beth Tamayo, Vol. 3 No. 170, November 7, 1994,

(2) Freddie Aguilar and Daughter Maegan, Vol. 4 No. 217, October 9, 1995,

(3) Vina Morales, Vol. 4 No. 219, October 23, 1995,

(4) Sheila Marie Dizon, Vol. 4 No. 220, October 30, 1995,

(5) Dolphy and Vandolph, Vol. 4 No. 229, January 1, 1996.









TO BE CONTINUED



FIRST ISSUES

FIRST ISSUES

 

          It’s the first of July, my birth month. I’m itching to post something! I thought, it should be something connected to me. Ah yes! The first of my birth month, so I’m posting the covers of the First Issues of my magazine collections.

          I have already previously posted some of them in this same blog together with my collections of Philippine komiks first issues on the particular day they were released.

          Among those published in the Philippines are the following:

PUMP (I’d love to! Who wouldn’t?!)

          One of my most favorite actresses, Chynna Ortaleza, on the cover of this “naughty but not rude, sexy but not lewd, provocative but not crass....” magazine. Contains sexy pictures, celebrity profiles, sex tips, and an assortment of stories from adventure to health, to sports (SEE more information about it on July 5, 2012 post).

Pump (Fuel for Men, July 2005).



HOMESTYLE (Redefining the Filipino Home)

          Avid art collector Celine Lopez, surrounded by her treasures, on the first cover of this multi-faceted magazine. Contains articles on architecture, interior design, landscaping, food, travel and concepts at views about life, professions and dreams.

Homestyle (September 2007).



PLAYHOUSE (I’m in!)

          There are two first cover for this one-of-a-kind men’s magazine, “The Female Centaur” (portrayed by Claire Barberis), and “Lesbian Lovers” (anyone recognizes the two?). Contains among others unique stories about sex and sexuality. It also contains insights and reviews on gadgets, books,  films and men’s accessories, and never-before featured columns such as Sexopedia and Calvento Files (SEE more information about it on December 8, 2012 post).

Playhouse Men’s Magazine (January 1, 2008).

SPIFF (“Neat and smart,” if you’re ignorant of the meaning of the word.

For this magazine, however, it is weirdly a slang for “incentives.”)

          The first cover (design by Kevin Sabino) of this “call center” magazine I can only described as a quadrantal (tough word, again) collage of, possibly, personalities featured in the magazine’s pages. Contains interesting articles that particularly, but not exclusively, caters to call center workers.

Spiff (Powering Up the Call Center Life, January 2008).

LIBERTINE

          Part-time model and marketing student (at the time), Rachel Mitzki on the first cover of this men’s magazine. Contains sexy pictures, articles relevant to the interest of men in general (of course, but women may find them interesting, too), erotica, celebrity profiles, film reviews, and other human interest stories.

Libertine Men’s Magazine (September 2008)

MAGNEGOSYO TAYO (Let’s Do Business)

          The first cover of this entrepreneurial magazine featured sweet delicacies like kaong, saba, buko, beans and ube ice cream, which are the traditional ingredients for halo-halo. Contains profiles of local business ventures, tips, reports, how tos, etc.

Magnegosyo Tayo! (2008).



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Sexopedia First Issue and Inside Women's Fantasies

Playhouse Men’s Magazine (Two cover) Issue #1 (January 1, 2008)

On the left: Claire Barberis portays the “Female Centaur”

On the right: The “Lesbian Lovers”

The first issue of the column Sexopedia. NOTE: The word “Sexopedia” was first used and coined by the author as early as 1988; its etymology and definition is described in this first issue.

Also in this maiden issue of Playhouse is the uncut version of my article “Inside Women’s Fantasies.” (NOTE: Not all the pictures are included in this post)

“For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.” – Proverbs 5:3-4, Holy Bible, King James Version.