Golden-guy
I’m Goldfinger,” with a naughty wink and a playful tap, Dra. Vicki Belo teases me as she claims her chair right in front of the stage amidst a flurry of cameras following her like bees to honey.
Her artillery in the form of a golden LV bag (luxe!) on one side, and her Kho (Dr. Hayden, that is) commander on another (naks!), she grinned with the grace of a secret agent about to reveal a top secret mission.
As the night unfurled, the hush was replaced by a rush; a secret about to be spilled. Double agent Mo Twister stripped the surface to reveal onstage, the Big D. In a spiffy tux, Dingdong Dantes, the man with the golden run of telenovelas, endorsements and clamoring hearts, zoomed into the NBC Tent, shaken by the applause, but never stirred by the wiles of the glitzbiz.
To say that double D has paid his dues is a done statement. With a winning streak at the casino royale of his career, DDD is playing his cards right. Showbizzle after all, is like a spin around a roulette with lots of numbers and colors. But the whole point of the game is to stay ahead. And if you are not ahead, to graciously await your chance.
New Belo boy
But the whole point of the night was to celebrate not just the Bond-ness of Dantes, but to also toast to his triumph as telenovela torch bearer and more. That night, aside from being his birthday, was his launch as the face and body of Belo for Men.
You can almost hear a crack of a whip or gunshots fired in the distance when Dingdong gives you that signature glare of intensity — bluer than blue steel. This was no ordinary Bond. This was Mighty Bond. “I’ve been going to Belo Greenhills before pa — doon ako nagpapa-prick ng pimples,” said the Awe-mighty.
The guest list ranged from GMA bigwigs to Bench bosses to Belo loyalists. The loot showcase (bear in mind I said showcase, not bag—like “pang-kabuhayan shooowwcaase!”) had a Belo Essentials kit with DD’s face plastered on it, a Bench goody bag with a full body of products (even Medicol!) and a party pack of Gran Matador Brandy. Dingdong’s manager Perry Lansigan was busy table hopping around the tent while TV novela’s marquee names led by Marian Rivera all gave a show of hands. Nyko Maca mystified the TV mod squads with her vocal calisthenics.
The hot highlight was when DD’s sultrified girlfriend Karylle went up to serenade the birthday Belo boy. Like a true Bond girl oozing with seduction, she took the stage, and easily provided the (winks) “extra” Bond that bound the bond.
Now put your gold finger on that.
