Showbiz ... Obsessed With Eternal Youth

It maybe is a cliche to borrow a showbiz popular line describing a star-studded affair but I can't help it. So a mammoth fashion show ... Bench Under the Stars promising to gather more stars than there are in heaven is shaping to be TRUE. It's not a hyperbole ... and it was not an exaggeration! I saw it with my own two eyes!

The empire of the beautiful and the famous has successfully gathered in one massive stage a bevy of showbiz, sports and modelling personalities and by virtue of its popularity and fan's patronage ... not being included in the list can be misconstrued by one as a demotion, or your star starts to flicker and your losing steam, or your career is teetering in a balance and heading towards an abysmal downfall. Simply said, your exclusion meant ... you didn't reach the Bench bar. (Of course those stars and models with contracts with Folded and Hung, Guitar, Cinderella, Boardwalk and other name brands are exempted)

Indeed your non-inclusion is a big kick in a butt. Your ego and self worth were wounded. You want to be alone ... and in the moment of deep introspection and self assessment was a rude awakening ... a realization that you were not as popular or as young you used to be. You felt ignored ... and snubbed. You started asking questions and you wonder how long are you going to put up with this and how long are you going to live a life fearing what you will see in the mirror the next day. Anxiety makes you feel that way, and figuring out what to do with your life after a modelling or acting career is doubly frightening.

This is showbiz reality. Everybody loves whoever that is YOUNG and PUBESCENT ..., and you are living in an industry obsessed with eternal youth. You used to be the star in similar fashion campaign before. Everybody chants your name, you were included in the list of the creme de la creme, until you found out one day ... your fashion colleagues gradually dropped you like a hot potato ... your modelling assignments are dwindling and your phone that used to irritate you because of its incessant ringing is now DEAD.

The situation is not only confined in showbiz and modelling. Even in hospitals, how often have you heard about nurses being forced to resign because of age. And how many teachers have you heard taking their swan song in exchange of some younger and perky wannabees?

I am writing this piece because I know of one model who is in similar situation. Asked why he didn't joined the show and he answered: "I guess they don't need me anymore ..." One should prepare for this dreadful day, because if you don't depression may sit in. One should not wallow on the fact that having a job as a model or an actor meant it is forever. Get another job you can fall back to ... and when push comes to shove ... the other job will catch you like a cushion when you fall.

Meanwhile the showbiz stars who come to grace the show are still the apple of the eyes ... and all things nice to Master Ben Chan. They are the following: Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Enrique Gil, Inigo Pascual Julia Barretto, Kim Chiu, Julia Montes, Coleen Garcia,Dominic Roque, Diego Loyzaga, Anjo Damiles, Ruru Madrid, Derrick Monasterio, Enzo Pineda, Rocco Nacino, Tom Rodriguez, Lovi Poe, Solenn Heussaff, Kathniel, Richard Gutierrez, Paulo Avelino, Albie Casino, Marco Gumabao, Addy Raj, David Licauco, Kiko Estrada, Ahron Villena, Bruno Gabriel,Mark Mugen, Bianca King,Beauty Gonzales,Max Collins,Pancho Magno, Ken Chan, Kim Domingo, Andrea Torres, Maine Mendoza, Miho Nishida,Gabbi Garcia, Ash Ortega, Sanya Lopez, athletes like MMA fighter Mark Streigl and of course the Philippine Volcanoes stars Joe Dawson and Evan Spargo.

Models, beauty queens and kings also come in strong force: Mustafa Galal Elizali, Pietro Boselli, Ivo Buckta, Trevor Signorino, John Spainhour, LA Aguinaldo, Wynwyn Marquez, Bea Rose Santiago, Maxine Medina, Ara Arida, MJ Lastimosa, Joanna Eden, Gwen Ruais, Cynthia Thomalia,Ali Forbes.Andrea Biondo, Paul Guarnes, Mark Andrew Baron, Verge Llego, Wilfred Placencia,Allen Molina, Albert Gonzales and Clint Karklins. There are still a truckload of male and female models not mentioned, they are the unsung heroes of the show. Without them, the huge ramp will look bare so don't discount their contributions. If you know them feel free to write and we can include their names in the write-up.

Everybody was the toast of the town ... so keep on working hard and polish your craft. And don't forget my advice to get a fall back job ... and from Man Central and Pageant Junkie ... here's wishing to see everybody in the next Bench Shows and fashion campaigns.