Mario Maurer and Baifern Pimchanok invade Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Global fashion brand Penshoppe has changed the endorsement game in the country by including international celebrities among its growing list of brand ambassadors. Among these international stars are Thai superstars Mario Maurer and Baifern Pimchanok, who first became popular after starring in the 2010 sleeper hit “First Love” (Crazy Little Thing Called Love).

Much to the delight of their Filipino fans, Penshoppe brought Baifern and Mario last year for their first-ever joint Fan Conference which, based on the huge turnout, was a massive success.

This year, Cebuano fans of both international celebrities will no longer have to feel left out as Penshoppe is bringing them to Cebu for the very first time. Mario and Baifern will be headlining Penshoppe’s first-ever Cebu Fan Conference on August 17, a Sunday, 5 p.m., at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu.

The young, in-demand celebrities became wildly popular in the Philippines when ABS-CBN received rights to broadcast their film “First Love,” wisely opting to ‘Tagalize’ it as it aired the following year. It was their strong Filipino fan base and equally strong sense of style that gained them admittance in Penshoppe’s exclusive roster of international endorsers.

Filipinos are no strangers to Mario. He won Best Actor in the 2008 Cinemanila International Film Festival for his breakout role in the critically-acclaimed drama “The Love of Siam,” and starred opposite Erich Gonzales in the romantic film “Suddenly It’s Magic.” In 2013, Mario starred in the hit Thai horror comedy “Pee Mak.” The film has earned more than 1 billion baht ($33 million) in revenue worldwide (mostly in Asia), and is currently the highest-grossing films of all time. The film has been screened in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, China, South Korea and the United States.

His striking, boyish good looks, and cool, free-spirited style clicked with Penshoppe, and he was officially launched as the brand’s endorser in 2011, even walking the runways for the brand’s show at Philippine Fashion Week during the same year. 

Baifern, on the other hand, is currently a student at the Srinakharinwirot University. This gorgeous ingénue is a model and actress whose flirty and feminine fashion (though she can pull off sexy quite well too) also caught the eye of the local retail powerhouse, becoming its muse in 2012.

After her turn as Nam in the “First Love,” she starred in several Thai films, and played a guest role in Mario’s first Filipino movie “Suddenly It’s Magic.” She has also been featured in a number of music videos and advertisements in her native country.

While the Cebu Penshoppe Fan Conference is open to everyone, fans will have the chance to get up close and personal with Mario and Baifern through a special Penshoppe promo. From August 8-10, customers can get a free Penshoppe FanCon 2014 entry pass with any purchase inclusive of a pair of Penshoppe pants or jeans. The first 100 people to get entry passes and present their Penshoppe Card will get an exclusive pass for a group photo with Mario and Baifern. For more details, log on http://bit.ly/penshoppefancon2014.  (FREEMAN)