What’s Bessie up to this time?

Here in Manila for her annual visit is Connecticut-based model-turned-TV comedienne Bessie Badilla del Castillo.

But unlike her previous trips to the Philippines, this time it won’t be vacacion grande for Bessie. Along with her good friend, art patron Marlene Aguilar Pollard, Bessie is working on a book, the Encyclopedia of Philippine Painting and Sculpture, which is due for release around this time next year. (Pollard also came out with a handsome coffee table book in 1999 entitled Fine Artists of the Philippines.)

Aside from going over manuscripts for the book, Bessie is also preparing for her return to the catwalk on Monday, Aug. 19, during the repeat of Ben Farrales: 50 Years in Fashion – Encore! at he Shangri-La Hotel in Makati.

When the Ben Farrales show was first staged last July 1, Bessie was supposed to have been part of this huge fashion event, except that she couldn’t fly back home for that since she had to be with her husband, Bambi del Castillo, who was then celebrating his birthday in the Bahamas.

But for the repeat, Bessie says that she wouldn’t miss it for the world since Ben Farrales is one of the people she treasures most. She’ll also gladly do the show because it is for the benefit of the Philippine National Red Cross, which is the territory of her Tita Tisay, her pet name for Ms. Rosa Rosal.

For the big fashion show on Monday, Mang Ben has advised Bessie to lose at least five pounds more, which is going to be quite a feat for her because while she was telling me this, she was sharing a slice of sans rival with her brother, Sonny. (But as far as I am concerned, she seems to be in perfect shape.)

The forthcoming show sure brought back memories when she was still one of the country’s top mannequins. Below, I’m yielding my space to Bessie and her trip down memory lane.

After retiring from modeling 17 years ago, I think I’ve turned suicidal! I can’t believe I just accepted an invitation from Ben Farrales to model for him on Aug. 19 at the Makati Shangri-La! What was I thinking? Okay, let me try to explain.

In the late ’70s and early ’80s, modeling was not simply donning designers‘ clothes and walking the T-ramp. Modelling then (at least, to me) was an art form that required skill, memory work, a lot of imagination, stamina, grace, some dance background (even acting) and a lot of guts. And then, there was also the ability to change quickly from one outfit to the next – my record time being only eight seconds. Yes, eight seconds and a lot of help from four gorgeous male models acting as my wardrobe assistants.

I remember Ralph Eigenmann (Mark Gil to you) holding up the gown for me, the late Miguel Rodriguez with my shoes, Jembo Montelibano with my earrings and hair accessories, while Edu Manzano was the designated "zipper man." He unzipped and peeled off my outfit and waited for a few seconds to zip up the next.

All these happened only a few steps away from the catwalk entrance. Whew! We had an unbeatable teamwork then, for which I’m very grateful since I had between 12 to 16 changes per show! That explains the need for stamina. And yes, I also changed wherever there was space – behind doors and hotel kitchens included.

With the hundreds of shows I’ve done, there are a few unforgettable productions and solo numbers that still make me smile when I remember them. There was this show for Christian Espiritu with 48 models. All the numbers were choreographed by the Gary Flores. Some segments even required props – like Shasta daisies that we had to throw to the audience on cue. Then, there were the white balloons that we gently kicked off the ramp with our four-inch heeled shoes! Sus, buti na lang hindi kami nadapa! My favorite number was gyrating to Donna Summer’s Could It Be Magic using revolving doors.

For Aureo Alonzo’s Fiesta Filipina, which took us models on a world tour, we also had a lot of beautifully choreographed numbers. My favorite was this one called The Black Tulip wherein I make my entrance holding up the outer layer of my double-layered skirt around my shoulders resembling a black tulip. I then dramatically unfolded the wrap revealing a bustier gown completely beaded in rainbow colors weighing 20 kilos lang naman. Juice ko! Parang kargador sa pier ano?

I also remember Pitoy Moreno’s state dinner shows at the Malacañang Palace. My favorite number was this black gown made of tulle sewn tightly like my second skin. It was completely transparent with very tiny black appliques strategically sewn to cover just the right areas of my body, three of them to be exact. This gown was worn with black high-heeled sandals, a lot of guts and NOTHING ELSE! You get the picture? Try it and you’ll likely end up with pneumonia. That was one challenging gown to model and definitely my favorite from Pitoy’s collection then.

And then, of course, there were the shows for Ben Farrales, whom we all fondly called Mang Ben. His Maranaw show at the Rizal Theater was so successful, it toured Canada and the US. Now, there were several numbers I enjoyed doing there and would like to do again on Monday for Mang Ben’s show. Here are just a few:

Malong – The models played around with the tubular skirt showing the 101 different ways one can wear a malong. I end the number using the malong as a turban! Hitsura ni Erika Badu!

Rainbow Caftan – Modeling this gown was so dramatic, Mang Ben had photographer George Tapan take pictures with the Niagara Falls behind me as backdrop. We created a scene and almost got into trouble with the park security! Kasi naman, George made me stand on the railings, which was obviously off-limits to tourists or any sane person for that matter! Imagine if I had slipped and fallen sa Niagara! To think that I don’t even know how to swim! Oh well, matigas ang mga ulo namin. But we got what we wanted and the pictures were breathtaking!

Vinta – Another weighlifter’s delight sa bigat! Modeling and posing for pictures in this fully-beaded caftan was also death-defying because George Tapan made me walk through eight inches of snow. My footwear? Our tour leader generously loaned me his Reeboks!

Umbrella beaded gown – This number required a lot of dance background. I had to cross the stage doing 10 full turns non-stop to make the skirt balloon resemble an umbrella. It ends with the heavy skirt throwing me off-balance while I try my best to look cool. If Mang Ben makes me model this gown again, I may have to take extra hours with the Ballet Philippines to practice how to "spot" when doing those frightening turns.

So you see, modeling then was so different from today – kaya nga suicidal, eh. And with Mang Ben’s dramatic vintage collection, some of which I expect to wear, I will have to try my very best to at least carry them with enough confidence like I used to – some 17 years ago. Now, if you see me later in a cast, you’ll know the reason why.