The Mega story in 20 covers
MANILA, Philippines - A moment in time; a story told in pictures. It is exactly 20 years this month since Mega first published its pages. The Philippines’ first and only fashion glossy at the time, Mega today — 214 issues since — now carries the name “The Philippines’ best fashion magazine.”
To tell the story of Mega requires the story as well of its founder and editor in chief, Sari Yap. As a postgraduate student at University of Navarre, Sari would fall ill due to the harsh winters of northern Spain. With little else to do, she would browse through fashion glossies. It was there that the dream to create a fashion glossy for the Philippines began. Magazines would become her obsession, so much so that her classmates would take to nicknaming her la reina de las revistas (Spanish for “queen of magazines”). The rest as you can say, is history.
Unlike books, magazines have to be judged by their covers. They also have to marry art and commerce — capturing the star and the style of the moment and selling, of course. Sari shares, “I’ve seen how the women we’ve featured on our covers have evolved through the years. You can say that we’ve defined them as much as they have defined us.” Here then are the picturesque moments, both for Mega and the women on them, of the past two decades.
* * *
Mega magazine is a prestige publication of Mega Publishing Group. For the latest updates, visit www.MegaStyle.ph. Like Mega on Facebook at <www.facebook.com/megamagazine> and follow Mega on Twitter at <www.twitter.com/mega_magazine>.
Gerone Olorocisimo, February 1992
The cover that started it all. “To this day, I still get chided that Gerone looks too much like a flight attendant in this maiden issue,” laughs Sari, “now, I can admit that I didn’t really know much about styling or making a magazine at that time.”
The supermodels, April 1993
The ’90s was the era of the supermodel. Naturally, the Philippines would not be far behind. If the US had Linda, Cindy, Naomi and Christy, “we had Tweetie, Apples and Joyce.” Then called the Philippine Designers Group, this photo is rounded up by Bea Recto, Chiqui Samson, Jessica Rodriguez, Nol Cueto and Gina Llanos.
Angel Aquino, February 1994
The second anniversary issue saw the debut of the new masthead of Mega. “We changed the logo to a serif font style. It’s been the same ever since. This was also Angel’s debut as a cover model.”
Sharon Cuneta, Jan./Feb. 1995
“Mega (star Sharon Cuneta) is actually one of our biggest supporters. She used to call the magazine herself to renew her subscriptions!”
Wilma Doesnt, November 1995
“Back then the standard for beauty was the mestiza. The morena and black beauty was not accepted. Wilma was then part of a double cover (with half-Russian Kat Mayers) and the subscribers who got Wilma’s cover wanted it to be replaced by Kat’s, even if the content was exactly the same! Wilma, of course, would go on to become a successful model, endorser and host. Look who had the last laugh! This issue was also memorable because we were able to photograph supermodel Linda Evangelista.”
Tina Maristela-Ocampo, November 1996
“Androgyny is not a new thing. We had Tina Maristela-Ocampo back then straddling fierce with feminine. This issue also featured Naomi Campbell.”
Richard Gomez, August 1997
“Our first and only cover so far to have featured a man! Who better of course than the top matinee idol of the time, Richard Gomez?”
Lucy Torres, July 1998
“Less than a year later, Richard would propose and eventually marry Lucy Torres. This was Lucy’s first magazine cover and fresh from the province, she was more starstruck at meeting the editors than we were at meeting her. Since then, she has kept her A-list status as a celebrity and endorser.”
KC Concepcion, July 2001
“Sharon being one of our loyal readers, she promised me that when KC turned 16, her first cover feature would be Mega’s. When the time did come, we got a call and voila, this cover. It was such a hit that we had to reprint the magazine.”
Judy Ann Santos, October 2001
“I literally had to fight for this cover. A first for Judy Ann, people back then couldn’t see that she was a diamond in the rough. Some advertisers even threatened to pull out because the cover subject was not high fashion or luxe enough. But we remained resolute. Looking back, it is one risk that has certainly been vindicated. Judy Ann is back with a vengeance in our cover this month.”
Zhang Ziyi, October 2002
“In Mega, we don’t just look inward but outward as well. Zhang Ziyi captured the globe when she did Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. We were lucky enough to be the only Philippine magazine to have been granted time with her. Proof of her staying power is today, she is still the only Asian endorser of (luxury brand) Omega.”
Bea Valdes, September 2005
“This is probably the only cover where you barely see the woman’s face. However, Bea’s cat-like eyes pierce through and until now, this is one of the most arresting covers we’ve done.”
Cristina Garcia, April 2006
“If this cover had been published recently, we surely would have gotten a memo for the smoking. Artistically though, this cover evoked so much worldliness that it remains to be one of our favorites.”
Anne Curtis, September 2008
“Anne was photographed in a hangar and she’s been a style high-flyer ever since.”
Kim Chiu, November 2008
“We don’t know which came first — this cover or Kim’s A-list status. Regardless though, it’s been a partnership that we’ve cherished since.”
Cherie Gil, November 2010
“The first time we put a forty-something woman on our cover was in February 2001, featuring Loren Legarda. Cherie Gil being Cherie Gil, of course, we could get away with putting her in shorts and riding boots. We’ve always known that 40 is the new 30.”
Ruffa Gutierrez, September 2010
“This was my first major fashion issue when I returned as EIC of Mega. Ruffa is known for being timeless but in this issue, we wanted to show her youthful, sassier side.”
Melai Cantiveros, January 2011
“By now you know that we in Mega like swan stories. Melai was our swan for 2011 and we proved to many (and to her) that she could go high fashion. Our advertisers loved it.”
Jinkee Pacquiao, January 2012
“This cover generated the most buzz ever.” Especially with Twitter and Facebook (two things that did not exist in covers of years past), Jinkee caused a virtual wildfire that spread into TV and broadsheets. Regardless of the opinion, this became one of the best-selling covers of Mega ever.
Judy Ann, Sharon Cuneta and Kim, February 2012
“It is the best measure of success for us to see that the women we’ve featured have achieved so much. These last three covers are both a tribute to the past and a toast to the future — to Mega and the wonderful women we celebrate.”
