Bench Body show brings sexy back and ‘kilig’ whispers on a new love team
When the Bench “Body of Work” show was announced after an eight-year hiatus, it easily became the most coveted ticket for a fashion event this season and the long lines last Friday outside the SM Mall of Asia Arena—with scalpers to boot—confirmed it as hot as the most-awaited pop concerts in the venue’s history. The country’s leading fashion and lifestyle brand, after all, has been presenting the most spectacular, star-studded underwear and denim shows since the late ’90s.
Ben Chan, Bench founder and Suyen Corporation chairman and CEO, related during a preview at Bench Fashion Week last year how they have been preparing for this major comeback for a long time: “As things normalized post-pandemic, our eagerness to uphold the tradition of delivering a most unforgettable show for our loyal patrons only grew stronger.”
As creative director, Ben assembled a dream team: Gypsy Snider, the Canadian-American artistic director and choreographer of Les 7 Doigts which also did the lights, music, video, and acrobatic performances; fashion show director Robby Carmona; creative consultant and head stylist Noel Manapat; and stage designer Gino Gonzales.
The patrons who filled the venue to the brim that evening were certainly not disappointed—if the incessant screaming was any indication manifested early on—as photos of their favorite stars flashed on the LED screen for the prelude to the show. By the time Box-Office King Alden Richards came out, it was absolute hysteria.
The art of the tease, heartthrobs, and love teams
Alden may have a wholesome façade but he was ready for the grand tease: First taking off his denim jacket to reveal overalls with straps that he dropped with a smile, revealing a tank top, an updated version of the famous one Richard Gomez wore in the first Bench TV commercial in 1991. He began to exit only to turn back after the vehement protests. He feigned innocence over what the crowd wanted, increasing the shrieks further, only to finally appease them by tearing off the velcro-attached piece a la-Chippendales and owning the stage in shirtless glory.
But where was Kathryn Bernardo, the other half of his love team? Calls for KathDen were only satisfied with the appearance of other love teams and heartthrobs. AlFia (Allen Ansay and Sofia Pablo), aka Team Jolly, brought teenybopper school vibes in bowed white and khaki twinning ensembles. JMFyang (JM Ibarra and Fyan Smith had a Pinoy Big Brother housemate chemistry while FranSeth (Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin) showed their My Future You power bond. Twins Andres and Atasha Muhlach, on the other hand, exuded sibling harmony.
Robbie Jaworski, who got his famous parents’ good looks, wowed the audience in his walk down the runway in a stylish asymmetric jacket, while Kyle Echarri went rock star mode in a lace-lined backless top and trousers made of buckled belts.
Box-Office Prince Joshua Garcia did his own kind of tease, emerging from under the sheets of a bed in all his cuteness that started fans roaring again. There was also an uproar when Bianca Umali came out of a giant refrigerator without her boyfriend Ruru Madrid. Our seatmate Tessa Prieto protested, “Where’s the beef?!” Thank goodness, Bianca made a trip back to get him out of the ice box soon enough to turn the heat on in the runway.
The bad boys
The stage sizzled even more with the bad boys, led by Jake Cuenca, making a dramatic entrance, incognito, in a motorcycle. He didn’t stay covered for long, stripping to a white T-back. Teejay Marquez, Royce Cabrera and EA Guzman couldn’t keep their hands off their briefs to titillate the audience.
Bringing sexy back
Kirk Bondad, no doubt, was one of the sexiest of the night, opening the Bench Active portion with a football as accessory. Bench Body mainstays Josh Barfuss had a brooding allure while Shaun Pelayo had a simmering sensuality. Derrick Monasterio alighted from a shower but was still hot as ever, especially after removing his towel to reveal his yellow Hawaiian briefs.
Hot mommas
Motherhood didn’t preclude hotness as Ina Raymundo, Sunshine Cruz, and Priscilla Meirelles proved. Ina entered in a white swimsuit, hounded by paparazzi played by the acrobats of Les 7 Doigts, who also did some death-defying feats throughout the show. Sunshine was fiery in red, while Priscilla samba’d her way in floral vacay mode.
Olympians
Olympic Gold champion Hidilyn Diaz arrived like a princess borne on poles, exemplifying Bench Body strength and athleticism. Other sports were represented, from Volleyball’s Johnvic Guzman and Eya Laure to Soccer’s Anton del Rosario.
Queens
Beauty Queens, led by Ara Arida and Celeste Cortesi, shone in boudoir loveliness with a Spanish theme. Showbiz royalty Lovi Poe stole the show in a long, ruffled flamenco train. Drag Queen Veruschka Levels didn’t do bad herself, in a black maillot and crown.
Lovi Poe in front of Michelle Dee, Sunshine Cruz, Ara Arida, Gazini Ganados and Shaun Pelayo
Lovi Poe in front of Michelle Dee, Sunshine Cruz, Ara Arida, Gazini Ganados and Shaun Pelayo
Ara Arida
Veruschka Levels
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Song and dance
Michelle Dee premiered her new song Reyna which was very apropos for the Bench Body themes of diversity and inclusivity.
SB 19, on the other hand, brought the house down with the stage debut of their song DAM which recently made number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart.
New love team?
After the long wait, KathDen fans were in screaming mode again when Kathryn Bernardo finally came out to close the show. Behind her was David Licauco who passed her on the runway, stealing glances at her that made for a major kilig moment for the crowd. Could this be the new love team of KathVid brewing? Speculations only increased when Alden conspicuously did not greet her at the finale when all the stars and models gathered around Ben Chan who was congratulated by everyone.
It was a most emotional moment as former Bench endorser couples Richard and Lucy Gomez and Dingdong and Marian Dantes joined them onstage. Bench Body has gone full circle as the zoomers take over with a new era of inclusivity, diversity and individuality that reflects on how Bench continues to evolve with the times. Always in touch with the youth and the zeitgeist, Ben has continuously worked hard to innovate the brand through the years from its beginnings in 1987. It is, indeed, his impressive “Body of Work” and the show’s closing song Forever Young certainly sums up the Bench ethos.
