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Men: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
By Lalaine Chu-Benitez
I’ve always wondered why most of my friends are men. Or why it was always easier for me to make a connection with those of the male persuasion. Is it because women relating to other women can be so catty and competitive? Or that it doesn’t hurt to be treated like a princess by male friends? There might be some truth to what author Dr. John Gray postulated – that ‘Men are from Mars and women are from Venus.’ But, I believe that the even bigger truth (if that were possible), is the fact that this world is certainly richer and a better experience shared with our male counterparts.
But let us separate the real men from the boys. Men, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
I love them matured, aged gracefully like smooth single malt – honed by life and softened by quiet confidence, especially if they have a wit that’s as sharp as a knife, and a devilish glint in their eyes. I love men who don’t feel the need to demonstrate themselves, or show off their wares, knowing deep inside that greatness and confidence simply do not need to be sold – just because, it’s either there, or it isn’t.
Men: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
The handsome are kind to the eyes, but substance always trumps mere looks. I love them immaculately well-put together, but certainly not prettier, nor better coiffured than me. There is so much more to be said for a man who is fully clothed and does not feel the need to bare his chest (or his all) just to display his masculine wiles. They are far more potent than the pretty vacuous boys you sometimes see on the billboards.
I love them naughty and irreverently funny, embracing the joy of childish abandon whenever the opportunity strikes; even better, when they know where to draw the line of propriety, or employ tact and diplomacy with a deft tongue.
I love the gawky youngster, with just that spark – that promise of brilliance to come, the passionate self-made man with a distinct purpose in life, or even the moody and broody artsy types who ponder the mysteries of life, and art and sometimes, simply being.
Beware of the man with the persuasive eyes. Moreso, the charismatic take charge type. Most of all, beware of the man who knows exactly how to treat a lady. He is usually the one who gets his way with ease.
Our son, a young gentleman, astounded me once when he quoted, “A man who treats his woman like a princess is proof that he has been born and raised in the arms of a queen.”
To that I counter, “A queen can only be truly a queen, when nurtured in the embrace of a real king.”
And so it goes, and quite rightly so – we dedicate this month’s issue to our men, who make this life so much more colorful and enjoyable. And if it weren’t for them, we would be merely half of a whole.
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Editor-in-Chief “almost superwoman” Lalaine has been driving Illustrado’s mission to uplift Filipinos in the region for almost a decade now. A former corporate dynamo living in Dubai for over 20 years, her natural knack for marketing and mass communications makes her a formidable authority in any dialogue regarding the re-branding of the Filipino image on a global scale.
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