August Images

A beauty mogul under fire breaks her silence. A fashion designer heiress is making the world a sweeter place. An international singing sensation fights back against aging. A beauty icon marks a new milestone. A wife

and mother proves she still got it.

Vicki Belo: Uncensored

FOR a while there, we thought celebrity doctor Vicki Belo would shun the public and keep her peace forever after the sex video scandal involving her ex-boyfriend, Dr. Hayden Kho Jr., and actress Katrina Halili, among others, broke. As the lady doctor, 52, finds herself embroiled in the controversy after allegations that she’s the mastermind of the uploading of the sex video on the Internet, putting her on a hold departure list, she faced members of the media at the recent Bulong Pulungan at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza to air her side of the story. Excerpts:

How’s business? Has Belo Medical Group been affected by the sex video scandal? The nice thing is that it has never affected the business. I’m not saying we’re better, but I’m not saying we’re worse either. It’s a good sign because I think, in a way, our patients really distinguish between Vicki Belo, the person, and Belo Medical Group, the corporation. It also brought me closer to my patients who tell me they support me. But I can’t leave the country, and that’s the hardest thing. Every month I train to keep improving Belo Medical Clinic’s services and to get the latest in beauty technology. Plus, we’re still waiting for the right time to launch our new endorser, Manny Pacquiao’s wife, Jinky, because of this controversy.

What can you say about the sex video suit against you? And what do you make of Katrina Halili now? From what Atty. (Adel) Tamano (her legal counsel) tells me, there’s really no basis. We should not even fight it. Actually, if you listen to Katrina, she doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s suing everybody. She’s doing a fishing expedition. It’s like, “Somebody in the Philippines uploaded those videos and I’m suing the entire country.” That’s what she’s been doing. And if you watch her interviews, she cries at the drop of a hat. If she can’t answer a question, she cries. I don’t know what I did wrong. The only sin I committed was fall in love with somebody who’s younger than me.

Up to what level are you bringing this suit? Are you willing to settle out of court? No, because I haven’t done anything. I think they want money. I was quiet the whole time and in the beginning, I was like, `Kawawa naman si Katrina, she’s going through so much.’ When she confessed, I even forgave her. And then she goes accusing me all sorts of things. Look, she fooled around with Hayden and who’s kawawa? Isn’t it me? Then she wants my license revoked and then she wants Belo Medical Group closed. Then I think, Teka nga muna, parang sumosobra na ‘to. Ano’ng connection nu’ng sex video (sa business ko)? Wala naman ako’ng ginawa, ‘di ba? As in wala. Siya nga may ginawa sa ‘kin and yet she’s blaming me for everything. Why will I settle? 

What drew you to Dr. Hayden Kho? Are you still in love with him? He’s so my type. And Hayden seemed loyal and faithful and maalaga. He made me laugh so much. We had a wonderful time. Even today, he’s the one who’s taken care of me the most. He’s the sweetest. I don’t want to define relationships, but we had such a happy one. I really haven’t gotten over him, and the whole incident’s so painful, I still don’t know what hit me. But I’m proud of him because he’s strong in tackling his cases. He’s a people pleaser-he wants to be admired, he likes people to think good things of him, and this scandal is so negative.

Any regrets about this whole controversy? If I wasn’t so curious and I didn’t have to open that hard drive and I didn’t have to see the tape, then there wouldn’t be a copy of anything. Then Hayden would be fine. We made a video with my consent, of course. We’d watch it then delete it. But I was thinking, what if he didn’t delete it? Oh my God, what if he blackmails me? Curiosity kills the cat. - Lulu Reclusado-Nario

Ed’s Note: Katrina Halili had not responded to MOD calls for her comment.

Luli Arroyo-Bernas: Photography Fanatic

PRESIDENTIAL daughter Luli Arroyo-Bernas recently graced Donald Tapan’s Cordillera Exhibit at The Podium, Ortigas Center. The exhibit, held in line with the recently concluded Heritage Festival, showcased breathtaking photos of the Cordillera region.

Joining Arroyo-Bernas were Consul Antonio Rufino, Consul Helen Ong, The Podium mall manager Iñigo Bilbao, Howard and Christy Belton, artist Romulo Galicano, Sofronio Mendoza, Japan Airlines’ Armita Rufino, and Chichi Salas. 

Lea Salonga: Delaying Aging

LEA SALONGA does not wear makeup when she’s not working. Because for her, putting on makeup is work. She started putting on makeup way back when she was a toddler-on her first little steps toward becoming the country’s top international star.

At the recent media event to mark her launch as the image model of Avon’s Anew Rejuvenate skin care line, she revealed a secret why she said yes to Avon: “Not everyone knows this, but I started using Avon products when I was just a seven-year-old budding stage actress at Repertory Philippines. It was my mom who introduced me to the brand and since then, Avon has been a staple item in my kikay kit. So when I started doing plays at West End and eventually on Broadway, the habit stuck.”

Fresh from a well-received concert with David Benoit and the Asia America Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles, Lea is now preparing for shows in Indiana in September, New York in October,   and California in December.

 But this icon’s top priority is her husband, Robert Chien, and their two-year-old daughter, Nicole. “Robert and I prefer to just stay home together, watching Nicole who’s turning out to be a performer,” Lea beamed with pride.

She added, “At this stage of my life, I need additional care for my skin. Anew Rejuvenate perfectly meets this skin care need. It’s like an antiaging facial spa at an affordable price.”

So she may not be wearing  makeup, but she sure is delaying the aging process.

DYLAN LAUREN: Sweets Sensation

AS the daughter of American designer Ralph Lauren, Dylan Lauren grew up surrounded by fashion. But instead of getting involved in the family business, this 35-year-old opted to put up a Willy Wonka-inspired candyland named Dylan’s Candy Bar in Manhattan, now the world’s largest candy store and, according to Oprah Winfrey, a ‘must-see destination’ when visiting New York City.

The Manhattan store, one of five Dylan’s stores in the United States, has the largest sweets collection under one roof-custom-colored M&M’s, taffy, toffee, gummy bears, yards of licorice, every conceivable flavor of jelly bean, and the store’s own line of gourmet chocolate bars. There’s also a line of sugar-free candy for those cutting back on the sweet stuff. Aside from a variety of candies and chocolate bars, Dylan’s also has fun-inspired ready-to-wear items such as pillows, T-shirts, pyjamas, jewellery, and scarves. It also launched a spa line of candy-inspired products such as body creams, shower gels, lip balms, and body scrubs.

Lauren has always dreamt of putting up a candy business since celebrating her fifth birthday with a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory theme. After graduating with a degree in Art History at Duke University and spending her junior year in London and Rome, she returned home to finally fulfill her childhood dream. In 2001, she opened the first ever Dylan’s Candy Bar. Since then, Lauren has won several awards. She won the prestigious Fashion group International Rising Star Award for Retail Design and was named Crain’s 40 under 40 rising stars. Dylan’s Candy Bar has also received numerous Retailer of the Year awards and was recognized by the Association for Retail Environments Design Awards.

Jahzel Gonzales: Philippines’ Candidate for Mrs. Galaxy International

MRS. Philippines 2009 Miss Friendship JAHZEL Gonzales recently represented the country in the Mrs. Galaxy International 2009 beauty pageant in Tampa, Florida. She competed against 23 lovely and talented mommies from different countries all over the world.

Standing 5’5 and with a vital stats of 34-26-36, she is the wife of Jose Rolando, an architect, and mother to two kids, Jahlan Mathew and Maria Zhofia.

A Fine arts graduate with major in Advertising at the College of Holy Spirit in Manila, Gonzales excels in abstract and oil paintings. Small wonder-the late great cartoonist, Larry Alcala, is her great grandfather.

Barbie: 50 and Still Fab

SINCE making its debut in a zebra striped swimsuit and a topknot ponytail 50 years ago, the Barbie doll has continuously reinvented itself, going through various fashion statements, hairstyles, careers, and nationalities.

Barbie fans and mallgoers recently became witness to this when Toy Kingdom paid tribute to one of the world’s most iconic dolls with Barbie Museum, an exhibit of Barbie dolls over the years at the SM Megamall Atrium.

At the Barbie Museum, kids and moms enjoyed watching and viewing the vintage Barbie Fashion Fever, Stylin’ Tattoo, and Cut and Style dolls, as well as Barbie dressed in Vera Wang and Givenchy couture, in costumes celebrating various festivals of the world, as Wonder Woman and Lois Lane, and even as a Filipina in a Patis Tesoro creation.

Barbie dolls and accessories are available at Toy Kingdom Express outlets at all SM Department Stores and at Toy Kingdom stores located at SM Makati, The Podium, V-Mall, SM Megamall, SM Southmall, SM City Fairview, The Block at SM City North EDSA, and SM Mall of Asia.