Blackout: The Denim and Underwear Fashion Show

Some of the biggest names in Philippine show business gathered and joined forces for the much-awaited denim and underwear fashion event of the year—Blackout: The Denim and Underwear Fashion Show—held last night, July 25, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The fashion show introduced the latest denim and underwear collection. Bench also featured the works of four Filipino artists: Abi Goy, illustrator/graphic designer; Jun de Leon, premier photographer; Raymond Red, filmmaker; and Lesley Lobo, fashion designer. Blackout, which ran for almost an hour, was directed by Ariel Lozada.

A black black silhouette of a nude man was flashed on the giant screen who eventually went out wearing nothing, his hands were the only cover of his private parts.

Four other hunks did the “full monty” later on the show. But the night truly belonged to some of hottest male and female stars who paraded their beauty and bodies in Bench denims and undies.

Richard Gutierrez and Dingdong Dantes proved their star power and great form when they got the night’s loudest cheers from the audience. This was said to be Dingdong’s first time to join the Bench fashion show and more so because he dropped his pants even for only a few seconds.

Also, there were Kapamilya leading men Jake Cuenca, Sam Milby, and Diether Ocampo who also became instant crowd favorites. Jake and Diether gamely played to the crowd by showing a bit more of their behind.

The crowd also roared with delight upon seeing ABS-CBN stars Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu, Enchong Dee, Zanjoe Marudo, Jon Avila, John Prats, Rayver Cruz, and PBB teen housemates Robi Domingo and Ejay Falcon.

Also getting loud applause and cheers were other ABS-CBN stars like Pinoy Big Brother ex-housemates Bruce Quebral, and Kian Kazemi; PBB teen ex-housemate Valerie Weignmann; Angelica Panganiban; Sarah Geronimo; Shaina Magdayao, Rica Peralejo; Iya Villania, Christian Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go; David Chua; and Ryan Eigenmann.

Aside from Richard and Dingdong, other Kapuso stars who joined this year’s Bench’s fashion show were Katrina Halili, Alessandra de Rossi, JC de Vera, sisters Ehra and Michelle Madrigal, Jay-R, Bubbles Paraiso, Margaret Wilson, Marco Alcaraz, and Francine Prieto.

The other stars who ramped on the catwalk were Carlene Aguilar, Precious Adona, Nancy Jane (formerly known as Nancy Castiglione), Jennifer Lee, and Jon Hall.

Bench favorites Jomari Yllana, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, and John Estrada with girlfriend and former Miss Earth Priscilla Meirelles also added more glitter to the star-studded affair.

Also on the roster were some familiar faces in the world of fashion and showbiz: Brent Javier, Luke Jickain, Bench discoveries Carlo Guevara and John James Uy, Carlos Concepcion of Showboys, Janvier Daily (ex-flame of comedienne Ethel Booba), former teen actor Benj Besa, and StarStruck graduates Bugz Daigo and Chad Burden.

Bench royalty couple Richard Gomez and wife Lucy Torres-Gomez did not ramp on stage like the other celebrities. They just walked along with Bench big boss Ben Chan at the finale to join the other stars.

Conspicuously absent were Bench endorsers Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz.

Blackout is the fourth edition of Bench’s biennial denim and underwear fashion event. The first three were One Night Only (2002), Understatement (2004), and Fever (2006). (PEP)