‘Bench Uncut’: It’s a tradition!
The Bench underwear show is like a tradition for fans who try to be there every other year when it happens at the Araneta Coliseum.
Every two years there’s a mad scramble to get tickets because they’re not for sale. You either have to make a purchase at a Bench store (which includes jeans or underwear) or know someone from Bench to get the seats that matter.
On the night itself we usually get the gang together and leave the house at 6 p.m. in order to arrive at Araneta with allowance for traffic and ample time to grab a bite before entering the venue.
It’s a tradition to have dinner first at Café Bola. Years ago you also needed a connection at Café Bola to reserve a table. This year I forgot to reserve but we were lucky to get one of two empty tables.
For the first time, the show actually started on time. I was a bit disappointed because I thought I would have time to go around and take pictures of the guests. But as we came in at 8 p.m., the lights had already gone down and the set, designed by Gino Gonzales, was bathed in cinematic lights designed by John Batalla.
This year the show was directed by Robby Carmona, in collaboration with ABS-CBN’s starmaker and director, Johnny Manahan.
Working on the theme of Bench Global, the ramp was designed like an old sepia map, with very ambitious backdrops, props, plus a cast of 70-plus dancers, theater actors, and martial artists joining 150-plus models and celebrities onstage.
Five Dubai-based fashion designers were flown in to create costumes based on the themes. Cary Santiago and Doro Barandino opened with the “Pinoy Lab” segment, creating gilded accessories and perforated butterfly sleeves and skirts worn with Bench underwear.
Dingdong Dantes was the first big name to come out on stage, exposing only one arm. The segment featured fully clothed celebrities, like the skin-headed John Pratts; indie-turned-mainstream actor Coco Martin, whom I wasn’t aware had a huge fan base; and Diether Ocampo, who was heavy on the body makeup/contour. Marc Abaya provided song numbers.
China was next with acrobats, martial artists, dragon dancers, and costumes designed by Furne Oñe. China’s top male model Rock Ji, who models for Bench in the largest Asian country, came out in white Bench undies and a skeletal, metallic half vest.
The segment featured Bench staples Jon Avila, Andrew Wolfe, Karylle, and Christian Bautista, Iya Villania, Zanjoe Marudo, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, plus a musical number by Vina Morales.
The colorful Brazil portion was inspired by exotic birds of the Amazon, according to designer Val Taguba. The most action-packed segment featuring accidental porn star Katrina Halili and young heartthrob Enchong Dee.
I’m not usually this starstruck, but when Rafael Rossell accidentally undressed himself while tumbling down onstage, it was complete mayhem. The audience went so wild when he teased, pulling his undies down, that my hair stood up from the sheer sound of screams.
Tradition-wise, a Bench underwear show is not complete without Wendell Ramos exposing his dental floss — er, butt cheeks. This never fails to amuse the audience, and after all these years, he still has the license to do it.
Comedienne Pokwang provided comic relief in the tradition of Ai-Ai delas Alas and Keanna Reeves in previous shows. Dressed like a sea monster, Pokwang went through Caucasian models resting onstage and flirted with them to the delight of the audience.
“Africa 2020” was next, designed by Ezra Santos. This was the darkest portion of the show, not only in terms of skin tone but in costume design. The segment reminded me of the Survivor TV series, with the traditional “full monty” segment which elicits both screams and disappointment as the naked volunteers never exposed themselves fully.
Costume-wise I felt very tense for the models who wore the body paint and carried very imposing props on their bodies. The segment featured beauty queen Maggie Wilson, rapper Jay-R, the hot Pinoy Big Brother love team known as “Melason,” and the perfectly built Aljur Abrenica.
Finally, Michael Cinco, known for his elaborate beading, created the looks for the Russian portion. Gorgeous Georgina Wilson emerged from a giant gilded egg, wearing a crown fit for Araneta Coliseum, home of beauty queens.
Gerald Anderson made a second appearance showing off toned abs, as did young actors Rayver Cruz and Enchong Dee. Shaina Magdayao looked like a fragile little doll in an Oriental headdress. Finally Jake Cuenca undressed as a king, exposing a pair of butt cheeks for all to see.
source: Philippine Star
ASAP 2012
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