JON AVILA seems to be the newest “it” boy in showbiz now. After his successful stint inside the Pinoy Big Brother house, people have discovered that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to this half-Irish model-actor. They have seen how he developed feelings for “special housemate” Mariel Rodriguez.

And although it’s now apparent that Mariel has turned him down and run straight back into the arms of rumored boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo, Jon isn’t crying as he is busy left and right with new projects and endorsements.

You were recently named as one of the faces (the other being Nadine Samonte) of Activewhite. Tell me about it.

Activewhite is a line of whitening products that are quite effective. They have glutathione tablets, soaps, scrubs and many more.  

But you’re so fair already. Do you still need it?

Believe it or not, I do. I am quite an active person, [like] I was in Boracay recently for the Velvet and Cinema One events. I love going to the beach and their products help me maintain my skin color so that I won’t give production a hard time when it comes to continuity. 

You have projects left and right. How does it feel?

It’s all so fast, but I’m coping with everything...the pressure, the fame. I’m enjoying the ride and I hope people will enjoy what I can offer them. 

You’re now part of the Coverboys (a group of upcoming actors who have banded together), and you get adulation from girls and gays alike. What do you think of that?

I don’t mind. I just see it as part of my job.  

But what about gays ogling at you?

(Blushes, laughs) It’s all part of the job as I said. I have a lot of gay friends, that’s why I don’t mind. 

Speaking of friends, are you friends with Zanjoe Marudo?

We’re part of a group and he’s a very nice person. He’s quiet, just like me, and there’s no reason for us not to be friends. 

But what can you say about Mariel and Zanjoe now playing music sweeter than ever?

Mariel is a woman I met in the house and had a connection with. Nothing went beyond that and she was, and is still, actually, a friend. She’s very pretty and very kind and very nice. What you see on TV, her kikay-ness, isn’t the whole Mariel. That’s why it’s not surprising if lots of people fall for her or have a crush on her. 

But do you still like her?

Yes, of course, but I respect her decisions.  

A few months ago, you told me you would never date someone from showbiz....

But I also told you I am not saying anything final. At the time, I felt like I wouldn’t know how to handle the pressure, but now that I am more into this business, I’ve accepted everything about it. So it wouldn’t matter if I date someone from showbiz or not. 

So are you taking Activewhite so that Mariel would find you more attractive?

(Laughs hard)

Man of the Moment...And Still Counting

THE turmoil still roils in Brian Gorrell as he drives up to his home in the rain forest at Byron Bay, New South Wales. It is turmoil his voice can hardly contain, as off-the-track as this weather-beaten road very much like those leading to mountainous towns in the Philippines.

Eric Clapton and the sound of April

AND we don’t mean April Boy Regino, who is now a US-based entertainer. Believe it or not, the original Philippine Idol (he used the word “idol” as an expression and incorporated it in all 12 albums) is touring the US, from Guam to Hawaii to Chicago, any place where there are kababayan. 

Gab Fab: Jon opens up about Mariel

JON AVILA seems to be the newest “it” boy in showbiz now. After his successful stint inside the Pinoy Big Brother house, people have discovered that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to this half-Irish model-actor. They have seen how he developed feelings for “special housemate” Mariel Rodriguez.

Briefs: Megan Fox tops ’FHM’s’ sexiest women list

LOS ANGELES—Megan Fox is the sexiest woman in the world—at least according to FHM magazine.

The Transformers costar tops FHM’s annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll of FHM readers.

More island flavors

TO conclude our story on a couple of new flavorful discoveries in the island paradise that is Boracay, Courtyard Bistro will no doubt also titillate discriminating diners with well-loved family recipes and steak/seafood delights.

Cascada and cross-cultural cuisine

FOR a while there, we thought fusion cuisine had become a thing—or better yet, a taste—of the past. Fusion cuisine, the term, is as bland as hotel food, and gone are the days when every food establishment used the word “fusion” to add sophistication to their steak and paella swimming in oil.

So you want to be a chef in six hours?

THE home of celebrity chefs, the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) in Manila proved true what Auguste Gusteau of Ratatouille passionately claims—“anyone can cook”—through its six-hour kitchen-immersion program known as Kitchen Discovery Class (KDC), a short program where students can learn the basics of cooking for the first three hours while dedicating the three remaining hours to the rudiments of baking.

Something Like Life: When letting go is the only solution...

AS Celia woke up that morning, the news bludgeoned her.  At first, she couldn’t make out the words that were spewing forth from her mother’s mouth. “What? What?” she asked, still bleary-eyed and feeling dull from her forever sleep-deprived condition.