LOOK-ALIKES ON THE COVERS

        Browsing through hundreds, no thousands, of magazine covers, I found similarities of how the covers were presented, the angles, the features, and of course the persons on the cover. Yes, the persons on the covers that seemingly the mirror image of another – look-alikes.

        Since my high school days, I ostensibly developed some kind of mental retentivity. Recalling things that I have seen is a part of this. Using this ability, I tried collecting the images of magazine covers with similar features. Believe me, there are many.

          What beauty to behold! It doubles as they unfold! Donita Rose and Daisy Reyes..... The seeking eyes and the pouting lips, no mortal man can resist. And one more coincidence to spice up this post, they have the same initials “D. R.”

Donita Rose on the cover of MOD (May 21, 2004)
and Daisy Reyes on the cover of Vanity Magazine (January 2015).



          Kathryn Bernardo and Nadine Lustre, again, may I ask: “Are they sisters by any means?” For it seems every inch of one is clone of the other, even the twinkling of the eyes and the bedimpled smiles.

Kathryn Bernardo on the cover of Bannawag (December 19, 2011)
and Nadine Lustre on the cover of Metro (March 2016)



          Dina Bonnevie, who is now a hot grandma, has one of the most beautiful faces in Philippine showbiz. It’s quite hard to find a look-alike worthy of her, until I found a Nadine Schmidt cover courtesy of the second issue of Toyz for the Boyz.

Dina Bonnevie on the cover of FHM Philippines (December 2001)
and Nadine Schmidt on the cover of Toyz for the Boyz (August 2004)

 

          Sleepy eyes or wide awake, lips to the left or lips to the right, fully-clothed or topless, Regine Velasquez and Amanda Griffin are both anatomies of sultry seduction.

Regine Velasquez on the cover of Mega (June 2010)
and Amanda Griffin on the cover of Rogue (December 2010 – January 2011)

 
          So young and so hot, two beautiful lasses, one laughing and the other contemplating, both enjoying life on the opposite sides of the world. Yet they share many similarities. Hmmm.....

Bea Binene on the cover of Total Girl (April 2012)
and Selena Gomez on the cover of Sugar (December 2010)



Bea Binene on the cover of Total Girl (April 2012)
and Selena Gomez on the cover of Girlfriend (July 2013)



          Up-posture, down-posture, get the drift? You probably didn’t notice, but there are a lot of similarities between Liza Soberano and Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach, at least on the magazine cover. Take a look.

Liza Soberano on the cover of Liwayway (March 16, 2015)
and Pia Wurtzbach on the cover of Liwayway (March 26, 2018)

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Christmas Around the World

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 24 Nos. 32, 33 & 34, December 12, 19 & 26, 2000
On the covers: Jomari Yllana, Aiko Melendez and their son Andre (Left),

Lea Salonga (center), and

Regine Velasquez and her nephew Trista Troy and nieces Hannah and Alliyah (right).

“I have written and re-written this article – “Christmas Around the World” – several times. Of course it is updated each time, with new information gathered. (SEE Blog post – FROM THE PHILIPPINES: LET'S CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD)

“The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw His glory, the glory which He received as the FATHER’s only Son.” – The Gospel According to John 1:14, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

Butterfly Raising: Conserve Nature's Beauties and Make a Profit on the Side

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 22 No. 33, December 8, 1998

On the cover: Regine Velasquez

My favorite magazine section, Let’s Save Our Planet, featured “Butterfly Raising: Conserve Nature’s Beauties and Make a Profit on the Side,” another article I had pleasure writing.

 

“Only a wise man knows what things really mean. Wisdom makes him smile and makes his frowns disappear.” – Ecclesiastes 8:1, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

Gift-Wrapping Tips

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 28 No. 31, November 30, 2004

On the cover: Regine Velasquez

 

The Yuletide Season is at hand, and this article, “Gift-Wrapping Tips,” is quite useful for the traditional gift-giving.

Here’s a crossword puzzle with six 13-letter entries.

“A secret gift will calm an angry person; a present given in secrecy will quiet great anger.” – Proverbs 21:14, The Everyday Bible, New Century Version.

That Bad Boy El Niño

Savvy Vol. 3 No. 18, November 17, 1997
On the cover: Regine Veasquez

Powerful and cataclysmic weather disturbances brought about by “That Bad Boy El Niño,” have been recurring more often, and this article, written 20 years ago, is still relevant today.

“Behold, the LORD has a mighty and strong one, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.” – The Book of Isaiah 28:2, Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

5 Scariest and Most Shocking Moments on Films & 13 Top Horror Movies

Atlas TV Guide Vol. 11 No. 142, October 2011
On the cover: “Animal Kingdom’s Finest and Weirdest”

Published before Holloween, the “Five Scariest and Most Shocking Moments on Films.”

MOD Vol. 38 No. 1843, October 2007
On the cover: Regine Velasquez

Another pre-Holloween article, “Scream Fest: The Top 13 Horror Movies of All Time,” co-written with Ms. Eden Carlos.

“Behold, the day! Behold, it has come! Doom has gone out; the rod has blossomed, pride has budded..... Every hand will be feeble, and every knee will be as weak as water. They will also be girded with sackcloth; horror will cover them; shame will be on every face, baldness on all their heads.” – The Book of Ezekiel 7:10, 17-18, Holy Bible, The New King James Version.

Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Lopez, Zhang Ziyi and More....

MOD V38 N1821, October 16, 2006

On the cover: Regine Velasquez

It’s another “Face Off” in MODels section of MOD, this time between a “Supermodel,” Naomi Campbell, and a “Sexiest Woman in the World,” Jennifer Lopez.

I also did a profile of Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, “The Geisha is Now an Empress,” in MOD’s Starliner section, and the brief movie reviews of The Guardian and Green Street Hooligans.

“Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the LORD should be praised. Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done.” – Proverbs 31:30-31, The Everyday Bible, New Century Version.

Love and Romance According to Jose Rizal

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 20 No. 8, June 25, 1996
On the cover: A rare occasion where Regine Velasquez and Kuh Ledesma
are together in a cover page.
Note: A typographical error on the date makes this magazine “valuable” for collectors.

Although published six days after the 35th anniversary of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal’s day of birth, it is always very interesting to recall his love and romances.

“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these GOD will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.” – The Book of Ecclesiastes 11:9-10.

Shark Facts

Celebrity World Vol. 4 No. 245, April 22, 1996
On the cover: Regine Velasquez

The “Topic for the Week” of Celebrity World April 22, 1996 issue featured my article “Shark Facts” (pp. 10-11), containing interesting information of one of the most feared creatures in the oceans.

“Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales.” – Leviticus 11:9, Holy Bible, New International Version.

Let's Save Our Planet: Stop Stuffing the (Sea) Turtles!

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 18 No. 46, March 21, 1995
On the cover: Emilio Garcia and Jenette Fernando

One of my earliest article contributions for Mr. & Ms. magazine is “Stop Stuffing the (Sea) Turtles” (p. 19) that was featured in the magazine’s “Let’s Save Our Planet” section.

Mr. & Ms. magazine Vol. 23 No. 45, March 21, 2000
On the front cover: Regine Velasquez
On the back cover: Sharon Cuneta for the Alaska Milk print ads.

 

In my early freelance career as a magazine contributor, I used to make all sorts of trivia “quizzes” and “puzzlers” like “Quiz for the Wiz” for Chinatown East magazine, “Showbiz Quiz” for MOD Filipina magazine, and “Braintwister” for Mr. & Ms. magazine. I try to make them unique and interesting. Here’s an example, “Word Countries” in Mr. & Ms. “Braintwister” March 21, 2000 issue, where I even added an illustration.

“To the LORD belong the earth and everything in it, the world and all its inhabitants. For it was He who founded it on the seas and planted it firm on the waters beneath.” – Psalms 24:1-2, The Revised English Bible with Apocrypha.

 

 

 

 

December 26



DECEMBER 26

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 24 No. 34, December 26, 2000 - January 2, 2001

On the Cover: Regine Velasquez and her nephew Tristan Troy and nieces Hannah and Alliyah.

Disyembre 26 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Noong Disyembre 25, 1968, ang Communist Party of the Philippines ay muling itinatag sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Amado Guerrero (Jose Maria Sison).

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GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST

John Richardson and Raquel Welch (for the film One Million Years B.C.),

on the cover of ABC Film Review (December 1966).

 

Personalities and celebrities born on December 26:

1894 – Antonio J. Molina, composer and National Artist for Music (1973) – in Quiapo, Manila (d. January 29, 1980).

1912 – Arsenio H. Lacson, newspaperman and Manila mayor – in Talisay, Negros Occidental (d. April 15, 1962).

1936 – Jose de Venecia (full name Jose Claveria de Venecia Jr), politician and Speaker of the House of Representatives – in Dagupan, Pangasinan.

1954 – Hajji Alejandro (full name Angelito Toledo Alejandro), singer and actor – in Manila.

Hajji Alejandro
on the cover of Jingle Songhits #35 (1978)

 

1957 – Reynaldo Fortaleza, amateur boxer, publisher and insurance agent.


1969 – JV Ejercito (full name Joseph Victor Gomez Ejercito), politician and 2007 Ten Outstanding Young Man (TOYM) awardee for government service – in Manila. 

Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito
on the cover of Men’s Zone (November 2000).

 

1973 – Darlene Antonino-Custodio (birth name Darlene Magnolia R. Antonino), congresswoman – in California, U.S.A.

1975 – Chris Calaguio (full name Christian Calaguio), propessional basketball player – in Makati City.

1989 – Jennica Garcia (full name Jennica Alexis Maitim Garcia), actress – in Quezon City.



 

Eva Longoria on the cover of
Pageantry (December 2007).

Picture Trivia

          Many will always remember Hollywood actress Eva Longoria for her role as Gabrielle Solis in the hit ABC television series Desperate Housewives, for which she won the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Do you know that before Desperate Housewives, she was in another hit TV series? This was the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless (2001-2003), where she portrayed the character Isabella Braña.

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December 19



DECEMBER 19

Celebrity World Vol. 3 No. 176, December 19, 1994

On the Cover: Dolphy and Vandolph

 

Disyembre 19 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Noong Disyembre 19, 1899, sa kasagsagan ng Philippine-American War, nagapi ng mga sundalong Filipino na pinamumunuan ni Heneral Licerio Geronimo ang puwersa ng mga Amerikano sa Battle of San Mateo (Rizal). Sa labanang ito, napatay ang bayani ng American Civil War na si Heneral Henry Lawton, na siyang namuno sa panig ng mga Amerikano.

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          Si Charice Pempengco ay naging panauhin sa Ellen DeGeneres Show kung saan kumanta siya ng dalawang awit – “I Will Always Love You” at “And I am Telling You I’m Not” – na lubhang hinangaan ng mga manunood.

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GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST

Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) as Superman,

on the cover of Films Illustrated, December 1978

(Morelos Collection).

Personalities and celebrities born on December 19:

1839 – Jose Ma. Basa, propagandist and businessman – in Manila (d. July 10, 1907).

1890 – Nemesio L. Mendiola, pioneer in plant breeding – in Angono, Rizal (d. 1983).

1896 – Geronima Tomeldon Palisoc-Pecson, suffragette, educator, social worker, first woman senator of the Philippines, and first Filipino elected to the executive board of UNESCO – in Barrio Libsong, Lingayen, Pangasinan (d. July 31, 1989)

1936 – Remgio Amador Presas, martial arts master known as the “Father of Modern Arnis” – in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental (d. August 28, 2001).


1964 – Isabel Rivas (Real Name Marilou Yap Gumabao), actress and model – in Zambales.

Isabel Rivas
on the cover of Tik At Tik (May 13, 1983).

Si Regine Velasquez bilang Darna,
tampok sa taklob-pahina ng ika-1000 isyu
ng True Horoscope (Disyembre 19, 2003).

Larawang Tribiya

       Alam niyo ba na nagsuot din ng Darna Costume ang singer-actress na si Regine Velasquez? Ang una ay noong mag-guest appearance siya bilang Darna sa pelikulang Captain Barbell (2003) na pinagbidahan ni Ramon “Bong” Revilla. Nagsuot din siya ng Darna outfit sa kaniyang The Singer and the Songwriter concert tour (2004).

Isa pang karagdagan trivia: Sa simula ng GMA-7 television series na Darna (2005) ni Angel Locsin, boses ni Regine Velasquez ang ginagamit sa tuwing sisigaw ang karakter na si Narda ng “Darna.”

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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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