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Young Hot Pinoy Trailblazers
By Nicai de Guzman with additional reporting by Nicholo Jallores
They’re young, they’re good-looking, they’re intelligent, they’re talented. These young Filipino men seem to have it all. And with all their God-given gifts, they find purpose in giving pride to their country and serving their fellow Filipinos.
Meet these young men of good looks and substance who have made it to local and international news – out to save the world or make it just a tad better by simply existing for womenkind.
1.) Kobe Paras: MVP
At six foot and six inches, Kobe Paras can reach for both the moon and stars. Son of basketball legend Benjie Paras and actress Jackie Forster, young Kobe was named after the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. At seventeen, Kobe is not showing any pressure of living up to his namesake.
He first shot into fame when he outmaneuvered LeBron James for a slam dunk during the King’s Nike exhibition in Manila. This moment was captured on video and uploaded to YouTube, where it now has over 1.5 million views.
“They’re calling me the kid who dunked on LeBron,” Kobe said during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Another claim to fame of this basketball prodigy was winning the Slam Dunk contest for the FIBA 3×3 Under-18 Tournament. For his stunt, Kobe literally flew over a teammate who was riding a motorcycle.
The teen dream was playing center for La Salle Greenhills when his father, who saw his potential, sent him to Cathedral High School in Los Angeles for training under Coach William Middlebrooks.
When he played guard for Cathedral, he drew the attention of no less than 20 college scouts, including those from Arizona State, Texas Arlington, UC Irvine, Fresno State, Portland State, Boston College. Then a scholarship offer came from the prestigious University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) to play for the US NCCA. The team’s head coach Steve Alford personally paid a visit to Middlebrooks, who later discussed the offer with Benjie and Kobe. Then it was Kobe himself who revealed their decision, tweeting, “I’m really happy to say that I have committed to UCLA!”
In his interview posted in Middbrooks’ Facebook page, Kobe said, “I could touch the moon and the stars… It’s an unbelievable feeling, especially for a kid coming from the Philippines.”
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2.) Barney Almazar: Lawyer
When Filipinos in the UAE find themselves in dire need of legal counsel, they turn to Barney Almazar: the Director of the Commercial Department of Gulf Law in the Middle East, the UK and the Philippines. As legal adviser and an authority in UAE laws, Barney’s expertise has been sought out by many kababayans with scruples that range from credit card debts, to labor issues, to protecting investments and properties.
Since joining Gulf Law a few years ago, Atty. Barney’s practice has been characterized by a highly spirited focus on helping the Filipino community thrive and flourish within the context of UAE laws and customs. He works closely with the Philippine Consulate to extend free legal support to Filipino expats that are caught up in financial woes. He also leads in conducting free seminars to help kababayans understand the intricacies of the UAE’s legal framework. He is also a regular contributor to many of the UAE’s largest and most respected publications.
Recently, we published a highly informative article written by Atty. Barney about the responsible use of Social Media. His approach to avoiding legal troubles is that of constant vigilance, cultural sensitivity and keeping an ear on the ground for any changes or updates in the legal system. His passion for helping out his countrymen elevates him from lawyer to a true trailblazer and an indispensable guiding light in the Filipino expatriate community in the Gulf.
3.) Neil Perez: Mr. International
Neil Perez, also known as Police Officer 2 Mariano Perez Flormata Jr., does not fit the stereotype of a cop. A graduate of Criminology at the Manuel L. Quezon University, this 29-year-old law enforcer had ladies begging to be cuffed after his photos went viral in social media.
Most photos or videos about cops going viral usually involve these public servants doing something illegal like the infamous “hulidap.” But Flormata’s “crime” was simply being too good-looking. In fact, he landed as one of the candidates for 2014’s Mr. Philippines where he took the stage name Neil Perez.
The viral photos, which include half-naked shots of his well-sculpted body, were actually part of his campaign as he was running to become Mr. Philippines. He was eventually declared as Mr. Philippines International after a much-publicized competition. When he walked the ramp in national costume, swimwear, and formal wear, reporters have noted that crowds of women went wild.
When he isn’t walking runways or smizing at photo shoots, this 5’11” young officer is actually working as part of the Aviation Security Group at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. In his spare time, he also plays the guitar and does some sketching.
He officially joined the police force in 2008 where he specializes in bombs and explosives. Since joining the team, he has received 13 medals when he responded to civil disobedience and occasionally, even disasters.
His lives in Tondo, Manila, and was said to have followed in the footsteps of his father, who is a retired police sergeant of the Manila Police District.
He is expected to go to Seoul as the Philippines’ bet for the Mr. International competition, the male version of Miss International, which Megan Young won for the country only a year ago.
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4.) Atom Araullo: Journalist
As a graduate of Applied Physics from the University of the Philippines Diliman, you would expect 32-year-old Atom Araullo to be cooped up in a laboratory. Yet his passion to be a journalist started young. He was a reporter and host for Probe’s 5 and Up in the 1990s and a host for Kabataan News Network, a show made by the youth and for the youth.
His charm and talent in front of the camera did not go unnoticed. He started to do more hosting jobs, including Studio 23’s morning show Breakfast and another youth-oriented show, Y Speak.
During his stay in the university, he was also active in student groups as a member of the League of Filipino Students, UP Mountaineers, and founder of the UP Laya Football Club. He was also the chairperson of the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights – UP and served a term as a councilor for the student government. Having a background in media, he was also the editor-in-chief for Scientia, the publication of the UP College of Science. Atom isn’t shy about his political activism and in fact, he was arrested and detained at the Pasay City Police District during a mobilization against a senate bill that was going to change the UP charter.
Known as a triathlete, Atom was later asked to be a sports reporter for 24 Oras. He then transferred networks, also to become a sports journalist for ABS-CBN’s Basta Sports. When he gained a huge following, especially among teens and young women, the network decided to make him a regular in more shows, including Umagang Kay Ganda, TV Patrol, Hiwaga, and Red Alert.
In 2013, when Yolanda hit Tacloban, Atom was the one assigned to cover the super typhoon. His reportage made rounds on international news and he trended on Twitter as #GuyInTheRain. He gained more female followers, this time from different parts of the globe. Online news magazine SPOT.ph also named him as the “cutest newsman” in the Philippines for four years in a row.
His contributions to Philippine media were also recognized by award-giving bodies. He has won various awards, including Outstanding News Magazine Program Host for the 5th Golden Screen Awards and 2014 Male Broadcast Journalist of the Year by Rotary Club of Manila.
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5.) Ronald Molit: Triathlete
As a champion triathlete, Ronald Molit is a trailblazer in an almost literal sense. In April 2014, Ronald emerged victorious in the open men section in the sprint category of the Pearl-Qatar Triathlon – a truly breathtaking achievement that involved a 750 meters swim, 20km biking and a five kilometer run. Recently, Ronald placed 2nd in the 2014 Flying Start Triathlon in Kuwait, further cementing his reputation as a world- class champion and a global Filipino to be proud of.
A prime proponent of Spartan-like training discipline, this Bicolano iron man attributes his success to dedication and self-control, armed with the mantra of “ There is no finish line, so we swim, we ride and we run some more!” He has participated in several prestigious competitions in the Philippines and abroad and is now training to join the crown jewel of all triathlons the KONA Ironman, and its double the Ironman 70.3. When we asked him about what he eats to fuel himself for his training, he said, “There is no diet that will do what healthy eating does. I suggest that you all skip the diet, and instead, choose to eat healthy. With the volume of activities I indulge in, I just choose the kind of food that fuels me best: lean meat of beef and chicken, with generous servings of fruits and vegetables, plus seafood from time to time.”
Ronald is also an active member and a leading voice in the Filipino Runners UAE and the Filipino International Triathletes Club.
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6.) Paolo Ballesteros: Makeup
TV actor and noontime show host Paolo Ballesteros surprised everyone this year by mastering the art of makeup transformation. Makeup transformation started as an Instagram meme, which allows users to “transform” themselves to celebrities using only makeup in a four- panel photo collage. The actor, who paints as a hobby and works as a makeup artist occasionally, took on the challenge with amazing results.
He was able to “transform” into celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Madonna, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Miley Cyrus, Kim Kardashian, Audrey Hepburn, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Demi Moore, Britney Spears, and many more. Soon, his photos garnered international media attention. Websites like BuzzFeed, Mashable, Elite Daily, Cosmopolitan US, Cosmopolitan UK, Bored Panda, Entertain This! and MTV reposted his photos and did write-ups about the actor. US Morning show USA Today also featured him. Even gossip show TMZ requested for an interview with Paolo. His fans also started a campaign for the Paolo to guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show.
Supermodel Tyra Banks reposted the photo of the actor as herself, with the caption, “I think he did a great job looking like me.”
A graduate of AB Comminication from St. Louis University in Baguio, Paolo is actually the great grandson of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo. Many fans say that Paolo’s talent with a brush, whether it be on a canvas or a face, was probably inherited from his great grandfather.
Paolo started his career in show business in 2001 as a host of noontime variety show Eat Bulaga. Paolo has also starred in different comedy shows and movies, including the indie action flick Xenoa. He was also an Image Youth Model for the Philippine Red Cross.
7.) Bryan McClelland: Socio- Ecological
Filipino-American Bryan McLelland came to the Philippines with a cause: to make bikes out of bamboo and help impoverished communities sustain themselves.
Bryan’s socio-ecological enterprise is called BamBike. They are handcrafted bamboo bikes created by well-trained and highly skilled Gawad Kalinga villagers called “Bambuilders.” Bamboos are natural shock absorbers and riding a bambike reduces vibrations or chatters. Soon, this green product became a convenient choice for bikers.
Aside from being sold, bambikes are also used for “Bambike tours” around the historic compound of Intramuros, where Bryan is one of the tour guides. Part of the proceeds they obtain from their tours and sales are reinvested into the community for development, such as their feeding program, scholarship program, maintenance of the bamboo playground and others.
He returned to the Philippines in 2007 after he completed his Masters in Environmental Resource Management in the University of Pennsylvania. He heard about bamboo bikes being built in Africa as a community development project and he thought that the same can be applied to Gawad Kalinga.
For his undergraduate degree, Bryan studied Environmental Science with a track on Anthropology. During interviews, he always says that he was interested about how people and the environment interact. In an interview with OpenBrief.Co, he said that he wanted to “befriend a community, figure out what they needed, what resources were available to optimize, both human capital and natural,” so that he can utilize his knowledge and create a solution.
Before coming to the Philippines, Bryan was a whitewater kayak instructor in Keewaydin Camp, one of the oldest summer camps in North America. This inspired him to create his first business endeavor, Rapid Stream Ecotours. He also has certifications as a Wilderness First Aid from the SOLO Wilderness Medical School, an Open Water Diver from PADI, and a Paragliding Student Pilot Course from the Malaysia Gliding Association.
8.) Wesley So: Chess Grandmaster
Sapiosexuals have a field day every time Wesley So is in the news. And these days, he is featured in both TV and blogs a lot.
Wesley learned to play chess at the tender age of six. When he was nine, he started to compete in the junior division of tournaments. In 2003, he won the Philippines U-10s Championship and later competed in the World Youth Chess Championship, where he emerged victorious for three years in a row. In 2003 he finished 19th, in 2004, he moved up to 13th place and finally, in 2005, he won 4th place.
The child prodigy also competed in the 2003 Philippine National Chess Championships U-10s and took first place. He later tried his luck at the ASEAN Open U-10s in 2004 and won gold medals in the standard and rapid sections and team silver medals in the same categories. In 2005, he joined the same competition and won individual gold medals in the standard, rapid, and blitz sections.
He soon drew the attention of professional chess players like Rodolfo Tan Cardoso. The chess grandmaster praised Wesley’s playing style, which entails him sacrificing a queen or other important pieces so that he can get a winning attack.
From 2006 onwards, he competed in various chess tournaments around the globe, placing high and giving the Philippines much pride. This includes being the victor of the Philippine Chess Championship for three times. He also gave the country its first gold medal at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Russia. His ratings increased and he was invited to more high-level events.
In 2012, he entered the Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri under the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence program. This made Wesley sought a transfer to the United States Chess Federation in accordance to the rules of the World Chess Federation. It caused quite a stir in the local chess scene but the controversy was overshadowed by his glorious win in the 2014 Millionaire Chess Open in Las Vegas. He bagged the first prize of $100,000, the biggest in the history of open tournaments. His exceptional performance in Las Vegas earned him a spot in the Top 10 on the rating list of chess players.
9.) Kevin Espinosa Murphy: Singer & Dancer
Kevin perfectly typifies the world’s strong fascination towards Filipino singers: onstage he is electrifying, so driven to please the crowd to the point that one cannot help but be affected and infected by his boundless energy. He considers himself a “travelling” performer, having gigged in various countries in Southeast Asia, as well as the Middle East. Of all the cities he has resided in, he considers Dubai as the most comfortable and receptive, and indeed it has been. In just a few short years, Kevin has performed in the city’s most prestigious venues, and has even collaborated with the internationally acclaimed dance and electronic group Hollaphonic, producing the hit single “Fabric” which peaked at no. 4 in iTunes. He even snagged a small endorsement opportunity with a well- known shoe brand, and has performed in Creamfields and Sandance: two of the biggest party events in the Middle East. To top it all off, he is now nominated for an award in the Best Local Act category of an awards show organized by a popular UAE- based entertainment publication.
It sounds like a lifetime’s worth of achievements already, and yet Kevin is showing no signs of slowing down. He says, “Because I grew up with music, it has become a passion for me. Music is a never- ending learning process. Even though I perform and count myself as a professional, I still look for songs that could give me more inspiration in performing because I believe that there is always room for improvement.”
Through his hard work and passion, Kevin Espinosa’s career has become a blueprint for other Filipino performers. One look at him onstage and you will see how committed he is to his craft – a fine example of how much a performer can achieve by putting his heart and soul to the music.
10.) Froilan Malit: Director of Labour Research
Froilan is barely in his 20’s, yet his job and position in his company befits a man twice his age. No stranger to hard work, Froilan’s humble beginnings can be traced back to his early career as a Sampaguita flower picker in Lubao, Pampanga. Since then his life took amazing twists and turns and led him to where is now, working as the Director of Labor Research at International Gulf Organization: a Dubai-based international civil society group. Froilan describes his immensely challenging role as “leading various field-based labor policy studies in the UAE and broader Middle East/Asia region, focusing on low-skilled temporary labor migrant workers under the Kafala Sponsorship System. “
His knack for research also led to him being assigned as the Special Research Officer to the Philippine Ambassador of the UAE, focusing on low-skilled migrant labor. His work has culminated in several well-received proposals on how to improve labor policies in the region to maximize the welfare and benefits of Filipino workers.
Froilan’s rapid rise to success is a testament to the power of sheer determination and hard work. In a previous feature for Illustrado, he mentioned how he believes that “productivity is significantly influenced by one’s ability to rise early in the morning.” The early bird catches the worm they say – or in Froilan Malit’s case, he blazes the trail.
11.) Ramon Bautista: Internet Superstar
Ramon Bautista may not your typical gwapo and he isn’t your typical film professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, either.
He started appearing as a guest in the “anything goes” show Strangebrew with Angel Rivero and the late Tado Jimenez in UNTV during the early 2000s. It later became a radio show Brewrats in which Ramon was also a host. In 2007, MTV Philippines gave him the chance to star in his own program, The Ramon Bautista Show. He also made short episodes called Dan Michael: Master Magician for the music channel. He was slowly being recognized for his appeal and he was invited to be part of the Ako Mismo campaign.
In the advent of social media, Ramon became a superstar among young people with his witty one-liners, pick-up lines and love advice which he broadcast in his Twitter and Facebook accounts. He gained thousands of followers more after hosting his web series Tales from the Friend Zone. In this web series, Ramon gives his ligaw tips or getting over to letter writers. His interesting pieces of advice and fresh approach to love problems were eventually compiled and made into a book, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? This was later turned to a movie by Star Cinema, starring Xian Lim and Kim Chiu. And due to popular demand, his second book, “Help!!! Ayoko Na Sa Syota Ko!” was released this year.
Traditional media joined the bandwagon of Ramon Bautista mania. He soon became an endorser to big brands like Nescafe, McDonalds, Petron, Nissan, Smart, and Head and Shoulders. He appeared in commercials with network stars like John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin. He became a recurring guest DJ in the popular radio show Boys Nights Out. At some point, there were rumors that he was involved with fellow DJ and Korean model Jinri Park. He became the main host of GMA News’ May Tamang Balita. He also appeared for a supporting role in Dingdong Dantes’ action flick, TikTik: The Aswang Chronicles. Its sequel, which will appear later this year, will also have Ramon reclaim his role.
Ramon was put in hot water August this year when he referred to Davao residents as “hipon” during a festival. He meant it as a joke but Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took offense and declared him as a “persona non grata.” Instead of calling the mayor and his constituents as “OA” like some of his followers did, Ramon dealt with the situation as a gentleman and issued a public apology. The mayor accepted the apology and even sent a handwritten note with the words “Mabuhay Ka!” which Ramon posted in his Instagram account.
12.) Erwan Heussaff: Restaurateur
One could say that French-Filipino Erwan Heussaff deserves a spot on this list on the sole basis of being Anne Curtis’ boyfriend and Solenn Huessaff’s brother… but that isn’t the case. The self-confessed “fat kid” earned his well-deserved recognition with his crusade to promote healthy living.
Erwan learned how to cook when he was eight and he soon fell in love with food. This love, however, became destructive when he overindulged and settled on a sedentary lifestyle. He gained 240 pounds and in his late teens to early 20s, he verged on obesity. It was his determination and discipline that got him through those days. He modified his eating habits and started to exercise. He successfully emerged fit and healthy, with a mission to transform those who are going through the same ordeal.
He started a blog, TheFatKidInside.com, filled with lifestyle tips, easy recipes, and cooking demos, to change people’s perspective about food. With his blog, Erwan encourages people to make fresh food in their homes and maybe even start experimenting. His mantra: healthy doesn’t have to be difficult or boring.
Erwan studied in Paris and earned a business degree from the European Management Center. He pursued this track, which seemed natural to him, given that his father is the president of an oil and gas exploration services provider. He never let go of his love for food especially when he accepted the post of Operations Manager at a hotel in Russia. He stayed there for two years and produced around 1,000 meals per day. When he came back to the Philippines, he worked with his father to set up industrial catering in the oil rigs but soon left it to pursue his passion that is food. This was around the time he founded TheFatKidInside.com and became the Food and Drinks editor for Esquire Magazine Philippines.
As his blog following grew, so did his enthusiasm to put up his own food hubs. He started with Manila Pop Up which specialized in pop up events. This experience led him to more restaurant ventures. Currently, he is the managing partner of Hatch22 and Pink Panda in Makati. He is also a partner of Hungry Hound / Niner Ichi Nana in Bonifacio Global City. His latest restaurant, Crisp on 28th, is also located in Bonifacio Global City and serves all-day breakfast with Filipino ingredients.
13.) Chino Roque: Astronaut
The AXE Apollo Space Academy changed Chino Roque’s life. The Crossfit instructor and Psychology graduate from the De La Salle University became the Philippines’ representative and among the 23 newly- certified space travelers who will be aboard a suborbital Lynx plane next year.
In the Philippines, Chino had to beat over 28,000 applicants to the program. The 23-year-old and two others represented the Philippines in the international arena where Chino bested over a hundred candidates from 60 countries. All the candidates went through a series of physical and mental challenges in the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch site for NASA human space flights since the late 60s. This includes an assault course, which is similar to an obstacle course, an air combat training in a fighter jet and zero gravity flights, and an aptitude test. His training as a Crossfit instructor may have contributed a lot so that he could endure those tests!
The free space travel was made possible by the Space Expedition Corporation of AXE. The trip will be onboard the XCOR Aerospace Lynx Spacecraft, which will be available for commercial travel by 2015. Each space travel ticket will cost around $95,000 which is why Chino considers himself lucky to be flying for free and be the first Filipino in space.
Asked by the media what items he will bring to space, Chino said that he will bring a rosary and the Philippine flag. If he will be allowed to bring a third item, it will be a family photo, he said. A fourth item may be a green t-shirt memorabilia from the 20th anniversary of the La Salle Alumni Association.
Before leaving for space, Chino has been invited to several award and recognition events. This is where fans would ask an autograph on their copies of the photo of the future astronaut with legendary Buzz Aldrin.
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