Fast culture changes men’s idea of beauty, vanity, says actor Edu Manzano

Actor and TV host Edu Manzano. Photo courtesy of InterAksyon.

In this digital age, men are more conscious about their hair, grooming, facial whiteness and cleanliness, wardrobe, exercise, money, car, shoes and many other aspects of life that seem to belong to women’s domain.

As one fashion designer said, the prospect of seeing a sea of androgynous lifestyle has begun in the late 1980s, but it is only now that things are being viewed longer in a clearer light.

Has the fast grind of culture changed the Filipino men’s outlook in terms of good looks and idea of “mandom”?

Talk show host, actor, former male model and former U.S. Air Force man Edu Manzano thinks so.

In an informal pick and roll afternoon Wednesday session with newsmen at the Manila Peninsula in Makati City where he and former child actress Lorna Tolentino were declared Ambassadors of Watsons Generics Line, the Fil-Spanish showbiz personality said the audience or the fans want to be entertained by nice-looking, refreshing and credible stars when they watch movies, performances, musicals, theatricals, etc., to get out of mental and physical stress they suffer the whole day.

Is vanity openly catching up with men nowadays in competition with women?

“No,” Manzano said. ”In our culture, everyone wants to look his best, not only to impress himself but the world as well. Let’s be frank about it, everybody wants to deal with somebody who has a clear skin, nice smell of breath, proper outfit, ability to discuss any subject under the sun with proper language, good manners and yet authoritative person.

What about the current flow of men washing themselves with cosmetics or cage star Chris Tiu using a toner similar to what is usually meant for women?

”It’s just like using soap to purify the impurities of skin. By the way, a man’s skin is thicker than that of a female. What’s wrong about seeing Xian Lim endorsing Pond’s facial wash for men, panlalaki ‘yon, right? It’s up for the viewer to believe the user or not. It’s a job — a legitimate source of income.”

Manzano, whom socialite Tessa Prieto-Valdez described as “looking trim and fit and wonderfully, youthfully preserved,” shared a few hints of his unperturbed life amidst so many projects and appearances on or off the screen.

”There’s no mystery about it. I will be 59 next month and I want to enjoy life at its fullest; so, I’ve stopped smoking, I quit drinking, I choose my food well, I exercise to keep fit, always see to it that I drink vitamins and need medicine from Watsons which has existed for more than 117 years and is Asia’s No. I brand in the past five years. Tolentino, who used to be slim as a fish when she was much younger as a screen siren said, “It is important that as a movie star, I must always look at my best, no matter how hard it is at times.”

Born in 1961, Ms. T, as she is called sometimes, is still a great beauty with fine, fair and unwrinkled skin with a face that has grown fuller and angular.

She has added well-distributed pounds and walks with straight back despite having had some back problems in the past.

She considers having strong faith and trust in the medicine she takes in whenever she is not feeling well.

When it comes to beauty products, she readily endorses what Watsons produces for safety and quality.

“I have always been a Watsons user and now that it has launched a generics line, I am a part of it because it has a good track record with selling the best and the finest at the least price in the market.”

Tolentino added that she regularly uses gluthatione soap to keep her skin unblemished and firm, avoids fatty foods and sleeps well to avoid ailments.

She hunts for vitamins that helps in the maintenance of her complexion (Vit A, C, E) and avoid too much salt for her heart and blood pressure.

Of course, Tolentino and Manzano love working and moving and sitting very so often to keep their blood circulation working for the rest of the day, while keeping positive thoughts all the time for general good health —- spiritual and physical.