Good looks and intelligent minds! These seem to be the common denominator among the 16 hopefuls of the very first Mr. Cebu 2008 search. They had their first media exposure during Clothes For Life’s recent “One For Tomorrow” fashion show at the Teatro Casino-Pagcor in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug and were officially presented to members of the press yesterday at the Pino Restaurant, also located in Lahug.
One of the strongest bets is McBilly Wilford Sy, a graduating IT student at AMA Computer College who is a contender for Summa Cum Laude honors. Sy, who got featured in Cosmopolitan’s annual list of hottest bachelors this year, is also working as a Freelance Web Developer. A licensed nurse, Joseph Hornido of Southwestern University is another top bet. Hornido is now taking his masters in Nursing and is Mr. Siglakas 2008.
Completing the roster of participants are Jan Michael Contreras (CIT-Nursing), David Tingalin (call center agent), Dandie Dimataga (USC-Tourism Management), Donald Bahi-an (Cordova), Rhamric Simpron (USC- Electronics and Communications Engineering and a call center agent), Bassanio Causin, Jr. (UC Banilad-Tourism and print ad model), Jone Carlo Poe (licensed nurse from SWU), Cristian Labating (University of the Visayas-Criminology), Ram Jordan Lorzano (CIT-Marketing Management), Kurt Agbay (UC Banilad-Informations Management), Jazz Lazaga and Gerone Mirafuentes (UC-Main-IT), Hans Joakim Grogaard (USC-BA Entrepreneurship) and Marvin Campaner (SWU-Optometry).
During the recent Clothes for Life fashion event featuring the 16 hunks, they donned men’s wear created by different young designers who are also members of the Clothes For Life, a decade-old organization of Cebuano designers and stylists.
The fashion event was also highlighted with the induction of the organization’s new officers. Harley Ruedas is the newly-elected president and is supported by his co-officers namely Cary Santiago (Vice President), Edwin Alba (Secretary), Rey Humberto Villegas (Treasurer) and Mark Anthony So (Auditor).
“I am hoping that in my term, Clothes For Life will be made into a foundation already. We need to raise one million to become a foundation, that’s why we made and we will make a lot of fund-raising projects to serve our purpose and that is to share what we have to our less fortunate brothers and sisters,” Harley told The FREEMAN.
He added, “Clothes For Life also would want to produce and encourage more talents, more designers and stylists in Cebu. We are here to expose them to the industry and somehow be listed among the top designers, not only in Cebu but as well as in the national and international scenes.”