Markki Stroem's ideal woman

Markki Stroem, the Filipino-Norwegian “Pilipinas Got Talent” season one hopeful, has moved out of his boy-next-door image and into “Cosmo Men” celebrity centerfolds.

Markki was with nine other hunks at the Cosmopolitan magazine’s Bachelor Bash press conference last Tuesday, September 11 at the 55 Events Place along Scout Rallos in Quezon City.

He let members of media listen to his jazz cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s viral hit, “Call Me Maybe.” It’s part of first solo album “Thousands of Pieces,” which was released end of August this year.

Markki's type of girl

Yahoo! Philippines OMG! poked around to get an idea of what the 24-year-old finds irresistible in a woman.

“I like them very smart, (I like girls) who can make me look stupid. I don’t know—I’m the kind of guy who likes that.”

Asked to expound, Markki said, “I like street smart with a hint of bookishness, more on a writer, someone who expresses herself through poetry.”

And while he isn’t seeing anyone special at the moment, Markki knows exactly what he’s looking for.

“I like really mysterious. I like when you talk to them and then you find out about them like after a long period of time, (and it’s) not given away.”

Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

What Shamcey wants for the future

It seems as if Shamcey Supsup already has everything a girl can wish for: a beauty pageant title, topping the architecture licensure exams and a great love life. But there’s a lot more that she wants to do.

“I always talk with my friends. Sabi ko sana pag medyo experienced na tayo, we’ve explored all the places, we’ve worked in different constructions kasi architects, I would like really to go back and teach."

“Kasi it’s something na, it’s a legacy eh na even long after you’re gone what you teach these children will always be there, what you impart, the knowledge you give them will always be there. It’s something na parang kahit anong mangyayari, hindi mawawala. Kumbaga may maiiwan kang sarili mo ditto sa mundo,” Shamcey shared during the Miss Supranational press conference at the Gateway Suites last August 23.

Different kind of teaching

Shamcey also revealed that that she wants to teach construction.

She explained why she would like to focus on this masculine topic: “I want a different kind of teaching. Gusto ko yung much more practical, yung not just theories, not just books. I want to expose the students to real life, to real industry, to real construction. I want to give projects that will make them appreciate talaga, make them learn what they’ll be doing outside school.”

“Sana magawa ko. Pero that’s my dream,” she added.

The Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up graced the press conference to support Binibining PiIipinas 2012 first runner-up Elaine Kay Moll, the country’s first-ever representative to the Miss Supranational beauty pageant in Warsaw, Poland on September 14.

“Nakita ko yung dedication nya (Kay). Hindi sya agad nagrereklamo o nag-gi-give up every time may bagong challenge na binibigay sa kanya,” Shamcey observed.

Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Alden and the fame factor

Almost two years in showbiz has made Alden Richards a lot wiser.

“God, a lot,” he quantifies what he learned to Yahoo! Philippines OMG! at the Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Bachelor Bash press conference last September 11.

“Like in terms of acting, in terms of how to manage yourself, in terms of how to be confident and show what you have sa television… Yung showbiz ang laki nang na-contribute sa personality at sa buhay ko.”

More importantly, Alden has learned to recognize the “pros and cons” of fame and the business’ uncertain nature.

“It’s hard kasi with fame, you have intrigue, you have—of course there’s always pros and cons when it comes to any situation,” the Kapuso actor said.

“Pero sa showbiz, mas more na kailangan mong i-handle yung fame in a good way because it will get (to) you, drown you and that’s not good. If showbiz drowns you, alam mo yun, parang you’re famous now, tomorrow you’re not, you’re gone.”

Alden, one of 10 of Cosmo’s centerfold hunks, shared that he was already able to play his dream role in “The Road,” where he played a teenage serial killer.

If he had his way, Alden wants to see action on screen the next time around.

“Actually I want to do another project, like an action movie, something like that, (something) more of a Fernando Poe, Jr. kind of thing. That would be one of my dreams.”

Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Mikael Daez on being sexy

Mikael Daez has an easy, pleasantly familiar smile. That’s because a year and a half or two ago he was an anonymous pretty face for some of the country’s biggest brands. Then he auditioned for a lead role in the GMA drama-fantasy series “Amaya” and began his career as an actor.

Now Mikael has his eyes on two things in his immediate future: first, his starring role in the remake of “Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga,” and in the more immediate future, the Cosmopolitan Bachelor Bash on Tuesday, September 18.

Cosmo hunk

The pressure to look “hunky” or “sexy” for the event was expected, but most of them seemed prepared, willing to prepare some more, or undaunted. Mikael was somewhere between all three.

“At first I felt the pressure, but then I realized this is me, I have never been the type to be a body builder, I’ve never been the Arnold Schwarzenegger type naman. So I don’t think people expect me to look like The Terminator.

“I’m a lean guy. I’m relatively on the thin side, lighter side. Hey, this is my body, I guess this is my appeal, I guess. So I’m just gonna be proud of that and then work on that. I’ll work out naman, try to be as sexy as I can possibly be. But I’m not gonna conform to any stereotype,” he told Yahoo! OMG! Philippines.

'Pretty happy' in showbiz

Mikael shared that since they started taping for “Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga” he’s had about as little as two hours of sleep each night. And he makes up for lost sleep every time he has the chance to. But the lack of sleep seems worth it.

“I’m pretty happy. I’ve been in showbiz for a year and four months now, I think, and I feel really fortunate. I’ve been getting great opportunities. I just try to do my best, give it all I got because, I mean, these only come once in a lifetime so I might as well just pour my heart and soul into it.”

He is reprising Dingdong Dantes’ role in the 2002 version of the afternoon prime series, alongside Andrea Torres who is taking over Tanya Garcia’s character.

Mikael also shared that he considers his current roles his favorites because they challenge him.

“I really get to immerse myself and discover where I need to grow, where I’ve been growing as an actor, as a person, as someone who’s working.”

Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Gerald Anderson moves on

An extra cautious Gerald Anderson faced members of media at the launch of FHM’s September issue on September 13 at the Holiday Inn’s Bar One in Pasig City.

Gerald is the magazine’s fourth man on the cover following Robin Padilla, Cesar Montano, and last year’s Derek Ramsay for the annual FHM Collections issue.

“Ang galing, ang galing. Sobra akong nagpapasalamat na naisip nila ako na gawing pang-apat after those guys na alam naman nating mga idol talaga,” he told members of the media.

For the job, Gerald went to Hong Kong – his first magazine shoot abroad.

While the “Budoy” star was mum about Sarah Geronimo, he enthusiastically talked about the FHM cover, upcoming drama series with Cristine Reyes and shooting director Tikoy Aguiluz’s “El Brujo.”

Back on TV and film

It’s been around five months since “Budoy” ended, and Gerald has made the most out of his break time.

“Natutulog ako. At saka exercise at saka marami akong sports na sinasalihan,” he shared, adding that he’s been into kayaking, running, and wall climbing.”

He’ll be back on the primetime block with a new series. Although there are no complete details yet, he shared that he will be starring with Cristine and Diana Zubiri, who is making a comeback on ABS-CBN.

Gerald said post-“Budoy” expectations are making them take their time in making an apt follow-up project.

“Yun mismo ang gagawin ho ng ABS. Syempre kaya medyo natagalan din. Kasi, you know, nag-iisip sila ng magandang follow-up. At nag-iisip din for me, and no rush para sakin, kumbaga. Unang-una sobra kong blessed to have projects from ABS at ngayon magsa-start na rin ako (uli), malapit na.”

Aguiluz’s latest production, according to Gerald, “is an action film na hindi naman fantasy pero may drama.”

El Brujo is Gerald’s first action film. Two shooting days short of wrapping up, Gerald revealed that he and co-actor Jake Cuenca are looking forward to doing the last few action scenes.

Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom