PRETTY BELLES all in a Row. FIONA Xie, JESSICA Liu, FELICIA Chin, JOANNE Peh, ROCK ON !!

There's an enchanting haven out there in Sunny SINGAPORE with its fine share of beautiful damsels.

Yeah, we are again touching on the subject of A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER.

We all know that good things never really last.

And as long as they are beautiful right now, they will continue to pique our minds with a sense of escapism.

So let's herald in sweet ,sweet treats in the form of FIONA XIE, JESSICA LIU, FELICIA CHIN and JOANNE PEH - (their above pictures in descending order), pretty belles all in a row, who often ignite the small screen during the prime time soap in Singapore.

They are not just known faces, and each of them has her own unique character that shapes the brand - their effervescent personality.

This is show business, the land of fake implants and fake smiles.

Who's real? We can never know sometimes.

FIONA XIE - She reeks innocence with her wide sparkling eyes and we adore her absolutely for her supposedly waif-like appearance, a la VIVIEN HSU. Is she pixie-ish? Well, she is really "boobsy" and that alone can make any hot-blooded male drool for sure. We love this one.

JESSICA LIU - This delectable JESSICA LIU is captivating, ermm...electrifying when she etches out her screen roles. However her publicity pictures- more often than not, left much to be desired. One producer told me that she's a real gem to work with, no airs at all.

FELICIA CHIN - Ever bubbly, ever friendly, she is your "feel-good" chum. She's unpretentious, a trait that is so rare in the show business arena. That's why she has so many friends (her management, producers and stylists) and fans. She's scaling heights and she's that much adored.

JOANNE PEH - This one is sugar with a brain to match. She may be sharp witted due to her self-assurance and confidence. But past bad experiences have toughened her, and she's more appreciative and receptive now to positive criticism. This one should go a long way.

Beautiful women are liken to music for weary souls, as an old song goes:

"POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS

TO THE MUSIC THAT NEVER ENDS,

TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE

BABY, POWER TO YOU AND ME."

Here's another homage to the PRETTY BABES:

"When the golden sunset
Sets over the amber hills

And when the moon shines bright
And all the world stands still

There is beauty, awesome beauty
God took the dust and formed a man

He paints each sunrise with His hand
He took all the love within His heart

And gave us beauty from the start
There's beauty, awesome beauty

When the storm clouds come
And thunder rolls

When skies are dark
And it hardens the soul

There's beauty, awesome beauty
God took all the love within His heart

And gave us beauty from the start
There's beauty, awesome beauty

Through every age."

PEACE, and have a bright, sunny day, folks.

LOOKING BACK AT THE EARLY 90s in picturesque SINGAPORE. A NOSTALGIC TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

IN RETROSPECTIVE, 2008 had been a turbulent year.

It could have been worse.

There were the usual upsides and downslides in terms of global economy and politics.

We are soon embarking on a brand NEW YEAR.

Did you enjoy the little moments that made up the last 12 months?

YES?

Then you know what LIFE's about.

NO?

Then it's a tad sad, since moments gone can never be retrieved.

As far as time is concerned, there's no second chance.

TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN.

From old archives, I wiped off cobweb and dust.

And discovered vintage pictures of some SINGAPORE MEDIA CORP artistes of the 90s.

That was a cool 15 years ago, some time between 1992-3.

OH, THOSE GLORIOUS YEARS!

Do you still recognize a few of these Artistes who may still be around with Singapore TV Station?

Did their looks change much during the past 15 years?

You're asking me?

TIME REALLY FLIES!

Like they say, an ARTISTE is "public property", subject to incessant gossip about their private lives.

We chart their growth, their ups and downs in the media.

Some fare pretty well and are still scaling new heights.

Some fell from grace ....

Others just simply disappeared into oblivion.

THE SMARTER ONES USED THE TV STATION AS A STEPPING STONE TO GREATER SUCCESS AND ARE NOW BASKING IN THE GLORY OF THEIR CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENTS.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IN THIS BRUTAL ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

Career security is something virtually unheard of.

Being an actor is great when he achieves both money and fame.

But what happen to those artistes who have been shunned by the Station, and are down and out?

Behind that sweet smile, an entertainer's life may not be that charming.

There's no glamor finally, when he reaches the sunset of his acting career.

He may turn his back to you and brushes away a tear or two.

DID YOU SEE HIM CRY?

He wishes that you understand, when all around him is crumbling.

He was your idol before, but now you are clamoring and rooting for his competitor.

He feels desolate and lonely without your support.

But do you know?

Or care?!

HAPPY TIMES OR SAD TIMES - MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THESE.

ALLAN WU. He's one AMAZING HUBBY, BEST FRIEND, SOUL MATE.

Let's check out on ALLAN WU, the personable HOST of AMAZING RACE ASIA.

ALLAN IS AMAZING, but this hunk is no longer available.

Let's say he has been happily hitched for five years.

He's one prized possession of WONG LI LIN, SINGAPORE ACTRESS, to have and to hold, now and always.

So GIRLS, you can pass up on this one.

He's taken.

ALLAN WU's fans, specially from the PHILIPPINES, HONG KONG, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA and THAILAND are clueless that this popular hunk is already a happy FAMILY man.

HERE's one famous Chinese adage:

The SUCCESS of any man is due, in large part, to the SUPPORT of his wife.

Just watch any international presidential campaign.

The presence of the spouse is ever omnipresent.

She'd always be in smiling accompaniment, rendering support by his side.

If a man loves his family, then he is a good leader maketh?

Let's take a cue from here then.

For WONG LI LIN these days, her immediate world is to be there for her hubby ALLAN WU and her two adorable kids, SAGE and JONAS.

They are currently residing in SINGAPORE.

ALLAN WU is Asian American.

LI LIN's family is her "rock" - pillar of strength.

She is an established actress in her own right, and a fine one too.

But after her marriage to her beau of eight years, she's more than contented to prioritize on being a housewife and bringing up the kids.

Love is all around.

I remembered in early 2007, I had contacted LI LIN with an offer of a lead role in a Hong Kong cop-and-robber genre feature, courtesy of my strategic partner in CHINA.

But she politely declined the part that required her to spend almost a month away from home in HONG KONG.

"ALLAN WU is my soulmate, confidante, best friend and hubby," gushes LI LIN with pride.

For ALLAN WU, the charismatic HOST of the AMAZING RACE ASIA now spawning into Season 3, his BRANDING has grown immensely by leaps and bounds.

He had wasted some mundane years at the SINGAPORE TV STATION acting in predictable mediocre dramas that sees the real need for him to reinvent his image now.

Because staying ahead needs global perspective.

And the Singapore's fledging film industry, only now in its infancy stage, has hardly anything worthwhile to offer any established artiste.

So ALLAN WU is casting his net far and wide and looking beyond bondaries, if ever there's a need to.

Out there, there may be a whole new world - but hey, no venture, no gain, right?

Most of Singapore's best directors and actors are now making a foray into CHINA for better opportunities. SMART MOVE.

With mindless slapsticks made for the singlish heartlanders (SINGAPORE HDB flat dwellers), there's hardly any chance for any serious actor to survive in the acting arena.

But ALLAN WU is sturdy as a oak tree.

He's has proven himself as a charismatic, tireless and respected HOST of the AMAZING RACE ASIA series.

This HUNK is back with a vengeance, taking an aim at everything and everyone.

Let's take a peek inside the mindset of MR. ALLAN WU, courtesy of WONG LI LIN.

To be the HOST of the AMAZING RACE ASIA is no mean feat,

You need to have the cut for ultimate toughness - to be mud resistant, shock resistant, whatever.

ALLAN WU has delivered his task admirably.

NOW, THE AMAZING FACTORS:

- ALLAN and LI LIN bumped into each other at the Artiste Area of one Singapore Television Station in the last quarter of 2001 in between their respective shoots. Courtship followed. They fell in love..

- His hobbies?

MUSIC, BASKETBALL, RUNNING and CYCLING.

- What attracted ALLAN to LI LIN? ALLAN's devout sense of filial piety which was apparent during courtship.

- They both described themselves as hands-on parents.

"Married life is great," enthuses LI LIN.

"It's an inevitable tool towards personal growth."

Here's wishing this celebrity couple all the best in life and happiness.

CHAIWAT THONGSAENG. Do YOU want me to be a STRIPTEASER or FASHIONISTA?

Who'd not have heard of this popular THAI HUNK?

He is CHAIWAT THONGSAENG, the irresistible actor from the BANGKOK LOVE STORY feature.

Some critics panned this film as an "insipid and woeful box-office hit".

You are the best judge, whether you agree to this one or not.

If there's any truth, than POJ ANON the director who is working non-stop film-after-film on features of this "queer" genre would really be out of business.

Critiques may want to shoot him down, but POJ ANON is nonetheless, laughing his way to the bank.

So there!

Box office success counts.

Now to appease enquiries from readers for updates on CHAWAT THONGSAENG - here goes:

BANGKOK LOVE STORY is one weepie of a movie about a sullen and brooding hitman who ironically fell for his handsome victim played by CHAIWAT THONGSAENG.

This movie received scathing reviews from critics

and the saving grace was the excellent cinematography by lensman TIWA MAITHAISONG plus the lead actor CHAIWAT who can easily pass off as a Korean, Japanese or Chinese actor.

He gave a terrific performance, intense and complex, and became an instant hit.

The rest is history.

CHAIWAT THONGSAENG is currently the hottest celebrity hunk in Thailand.

He is only 21 years of age, mind you, but you can always cast him in a 20+role unlike teenage icons MARIO MAUER or WITWISIT HIRANYAWONGKUL (both from LOVE OF SIAM fame) who definitely look like kiddos.

CHAIWAT THONGSAENG is the epitome of the ultimate sex symbol, the 2-in-1 pretty boy model cum rugged film star: a semblance of physical harmony.

He has immense sex appeal.

He's going places.

And he knows it.

Damn well.

He has a body to die for, so when it comes to doing fashion spreads, his stylists often insist that he strips to his undies to exploit his glorious torso and abs.

Showing undies is OK.

And CHAIWAT's almost ready to expose his well toned butt cheeks - but doing the full monty is quite another story.

Unless there is a renowned film director and a great script that can tempt him to drop his "Adam's leaf", he prefers to keep his genitalia discreetly covered.

This "restricted zone" is made available for his girlfriend's private viewing only.

Quite a quintessential guy, his experience both as a fashion and catwalk model has earned him the respect for being a Thai fashionista.

Good looks are truly skin deep. Performance is lasting.

Physical fitness isn't only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.

You are the most important person in your life.

The fact is, if you're not looking after yourself, you are in no position to look after others.

In humid Bangkok, where temperatures can be sometimes merciless, CHAIWAT knows how to look hot in scorching style, both in attire and without.

Just take a peek at some of the pictures provided here.

We are living in a pained world and the poem EMOTIONAL NUDITY by GEANTI LIGHTBOURNE aptly describes it:

"Remove the thongs of this world's

hatred and prejudice from my hips and slide

them slowly down to the floor.....

Where they can be no more,

Undress me until I am stripped bare of this world's evil and tainted essence

Until, like the day of my birth -

I emerge BEAUTIFUL, UNTOUCHED and UNPOISONED."

Sexy, isn't it?

What about LOVE?

"LOVE is really in the little the little things

best exemplified in everyday life,

Nothing fanciful, but everything meaningful."

Boyish face, steamy bod that can set hearts a-flutter.

For CHAIWAT THONGSAENG ....

LIFE is very, very sweet.

CHAIWAT THONGSAENG. There's LIFE after BANGKOK LOVE STORY.

BANGKOK LOVE STORY was the movie that established CHAIWAT THONGSAENG as this NEWCOMER-to-look-out-for,

probably the hottest in Thailand now.

It was his lucky break and right opportunities just don't happen all the time.

But CHAIWAT's second shot at stardom in a follow-up film by director POJ ARNON in HAUNTING ME or THAILAND GHOST STORY did not live up to critics' expectations.

In this highly competitive albeit relentless world of film making, you need a resourceful manager, an established producer and a competent film director to get your acting career going. You may be endowed with youthful good looks and a chiseled body attained by vigorous hours of gym training, but acting is more than just being a popular pretty pin-up boy.

So what's in store for CHAIWAT THONGSAENG now?

To begin with, CHAIWAT is a modern day academic, a metrosexual with a positive zest for life and living. Here's his philosophy to deal with negative situations on days when things simply "go wrong" :

TRUST IN LIFE's FLOW

IF you find that you are struggling to achieve a desired result in any situation, it could be that you are trying to force the issue. Instead, sit back and accept whatever happens. That which is rightly yours will come back to you. Nothing takes place before its designated time.

ACCEPT CHANGE.

NOTHING stays the same forever. True relaxation comes not from controlling life's flow, but from allowing yourself to be carried along by the flow without fear of the future or nostalgia for the past.

LET GO OF OPPORTUNITIES LOST

THERE will always be opportunities in your life that you didn't take, because you didn't see them, because you were already committed, or because you valued something else more highly. Rather than cursing yourself for missing these opportunities, remember that you made the best choices you could at the time.Look ahead and follow your chosen path, seeking the doorways that are open to you and forgetting about those you have closed.

Barely 23 years of age and with a brain to match, let's say CHAIWAT THONGSAENG is set to go places as he has already charted his course.

In the months to come, we shall watch CHAIWAT's progress.

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. SEXY ACTRESSES. Smart Maneuvers.

The famous line-up above is pretty stark here. Top most (from left to right) are SHU QI, TANG WEI and VIVIAN HSU.

Right below, pretty-in-pink, is sultry PAI LING.

These are Asian beautiful women with immense sex appeal, whether you care to admit this or not. They grace myriads of magazine covers and are also renowned screen actresses, with million of dollars stashed in their bank accounts for the advertising product endorsements they gave.

Paparazzi will camp outside their residences to get latest bits of information about their lifestyles and then "juice" it up to enhance magazine sales.

There you are, it pays to be famous despite your loss of so-called privacy, as fame comes alongside recognition and that fat dollar bottom line !

Which other job can bestow you with such enriching perks ...... to be rich, successful and famous? Indeed, life is never fair. Some people toil for donkey years to earn what these stars can fetch in a single day.

All the above actresses got their big breaks from Asian supposedly soft porns and they are smart enough to ride on "this calculated break" as part of a strategic direction they set their minds on. They are endowed with looks, bodies and and "brains to match". They are definitely nobody's fools and sometimes in this filmsy world of show business, artistry "sacrifices" in choice of film roles and proper planning are key ingredients to a successful entertainment career.

CONNECTIONS are all that important and taking short cuts to garner media attention is better than than waiting for years for a plum role to land on one's lap !

It is a clear cut fact why some artistes fail miserably in this endeavour. Even before fame really beckons, they are adopting "attitude" tantrums. Get real, falsies ! Learn from the veterans as you are a product of the media machine, whatever the media make you out to be. The media can either make or kill you.

Just take note that every other day, a new star is born and another competitor is already in the pipeline. A square example is ZHANG ZI YI. She was the media's overexposed darling until director ANG LI groomed new starlet TANG WEI for his latest film LUST CAUTION.

For any artiste, established or aspiring, it pays not to adopt the media offensive stance.

SHOW BUSINESS can be quite a sleazy business, and sometimes things that you may have read or been told may be a little too close for comfort. But not necessarily untrue.

Because as you know, there's no business like show business. Neither is there any fire without smoke.

GAY VISIBILITY in FILMS. Can the PINK INFLUENCE be this AFFLUENT, more WIRED?

IF you're a true blue film maker, you'd soon realize that film production is not just about this glorious dedication called PASSION.

For one, you can't eat ART.

Film making is a BUSINESS, it's all about BOX OFFICE SUCCESS.

That is, if you want to stay afloat in this fickle entertainment arena.

If your movie tank at the BOX OFFICE, then you might well be singing your swan song on the way out.

This industry is that brutal.

GAY VISIBILITY IS FILMS?

Can the PINK INFLUENCE be more affluent or more wired?

The other day I was enjoying an AUDREY HEPBURN's 1957 classic movie musical called FUNNY FACE on DVD. It's this dreamy feel-good yarn of a Miss plain bookworm-turned-beautiful fashion model.

As Co-Actress KAY THOMPSON belted out the snappy but whimsical song THINK PINK!! with the beautiful scene bathed in glorious CHRISTIAN DIOR's pink....it suddenly occurred to me that the word PINK has a different connotation these days, one of a sexual gender.

Think PINK?

Because if you do, you may be treading on solid paths of gold.

Do NOT undermine the true value of the PINK dollar.

These days, the PINK dollar can garner votes, wields so much power, too much strength.

Even our singing divas, MADONNA and KYLIE MINOGUE know this and play by the rules.

In return, they earn the unwavering support of the the international gay community, thus accounting for their "star staying" power and their consistent growing CD album sales. Where many failed, they have succeeded. Smart manoeuvre.

Even ace film director ANG LEE is no exception. In his early directorial career in Taiwan, he helmed a very successful family but gay genre film called THE WEDDING BANQUET, a 1993 breakthrough film about a chinese son based in the USA who was torn between parental expectations to marry and his closeted sexual identity.

THE WEDDING BANQUET was all-at-once funny, touching and poignant.

In 2005, ANG LEE took the ACADEMY AWARD for Best Director in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, a tragic tale about two lustful but confused cowboys and their marital angst.

In 2008 it has been earmarked that ANG LEE is exploring again, the making of a new gay-themed Hollywood film revolving around the 1960s WOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL.

The glowing success in terms of box-office popularity of ANG LEE's gay-theme genre has inspired many of hisASIAN counterparts and paves the way for them to jump onto the bandwagon.

Targeting the PINK dollar is brisk business these days for film makers, executive producers and investors.

And how are we going to ensure a surefire successful formula?

Rule Number One :

Throw in gorgeous hunks with chiseled bodies. Go fishing, cast your net wide and audition, audition, audition with help from your neighborhood's friendly media. Before this, arm yourself with a solid script and a competent storytelling film director.

Rule Number Two:

Add a couple of beautiful actresses but get them only for cameos. They are after all, "vases", but an inspiration to the core story. Hey, surely you are not going to make a film featuring guys only? My bet is that it's going to be so boring !! We need nubile belles for eye candies thrown in for a measure, lo.

Rule Number Three:

Next, infuse sizzling scenes of half-draped hunks in " scanty white undies" or "dare-to-bare-all" penile shots of the aspiring actors. If these hunks are hungry for fame, undressing to make it big and displaying their manhood in full glory - would never be a problem.

Rule Number Four:

Then the FINALE. The lead hunk must die, for whatever tragic reasons. It is a love that is never meant to be. This is to induce the audience to leave the cinema with misty eyes and clamoring for more. Sex sells, so do tragedies, given that myriads of die-hard fans craving for Korean soap operas these days.

Now let's talk about the success stories on the ASIAN circuit and the LEAD ACTORS who had since made it big on the big screen:

HONG KONG celebrity-stills photographer-turned-motion-picture Director YANG FANG paired newcomers DANIEL WU and STEPHEN FUNG in the 1998 controversial gay-themed flick BISHONEN on the unlikely tale of a young policeman and his gigolo boy friend. BISHONEN made superstars out of DANIEL WU and STEPHEN FUNG and was YANG FAN's best film to date.

In 2002, award winning Hong Kong director STANLEY KWAN took a gamble on the then unknown CHINA actor LIU YE to play the lead in LAN YU, a tragic story about a bankrupt middle aged businessman who sought solace in the arms of a call boy. LIU YE disrobed to reveal his flaccid pecker in a bedroom scene that was deemed not absolutely necessary, but garnered media attention anyway.

LAN YU went on to win many festival awards. including BEST ACTOR for LIU YE. Today, LIU YE is much sought after, super rich and successful.

Taiwanese director LESTE CHEN helmed the production of a similar ETERNAL SUMMER in 2006 and launched the career of wannabe BRYANT CHANG who won a best new performer award for his screen debut.

In the PHILIPPINES we are lauded with a slew of gay related films that were hurriedly made between 2007 and 2008 on digital beta and HD mostly, usually produced on very modest budgets. Not easy, therefore we should take a lesson from our Pinoy friends for their unwavering belief to stay "within budgets" and schedules. Dedication to the art reduces operational overheads and saves costs.

Such were MAN IN THE LIGHT HOUSE, DAY BREAK, SIKIL, SERBIS and the most recent BUTAS to mention a few.

HARRY LAUREL, COCO MARTIN and MARCO MORALES are stereo typed in a number of these flicks where they get to display their "precious jewels" in full glory.

COCO MARTIN is one smart actor who believes in crafting his art by venturing into a variety of roles in the direction of a la EWAN McGREGOR to establish his portfolio's stronghold. His performances are a delight to watch and gives fellow actor JERICHO ROSALES (who is now better known for his love escapades), a run for his money.

HARRY LAUREL's daring erection saw his popularity soared immensely as a no holds-barred gay icon.

Yet despite all the brouhaha, HARRY is still awaiting his big break into the foray of serious acting. No concrete offers yet, apparently.

Hopefully, aspiring sex symbol hopeful - MARCO MORALES' shameless rounds of showing off his tantalizing penis in BUTAS would do him justice for this selfless "sacrifice".

From exotic THAILAND, it was CHAIWAT THONGSAENG, a new Thai hunk who stole the thunder in BANGKOK LOVE STORY in 2007 with his vivid portrayal of a rugged policeman who fell desperately for a hitman and neglected the needs of his exasperated fiancee.

The ending was predictably tragic. CHAIWAT THONGSAENG has since gone to do serious roles and is now preparing for a movie musical in 2009.

From the shores of rigid SINGAPORE, young directors KAN LUME and LOO ZIHAN co-directed an eye-popping SOLOS depicting the perplexed love of a junior college student for his male teacher. This Singapore film was withdrawn from the Singapore Film Festival in 2007 on the pretext that graphic homosexual love making scenes and other content needed to be cut. Audience outside Singapore are looking forward to the screening of SOLOS.

A trite sad for the Singaporeans, but kudos must be given to the entire production team for their commendable effort.

KAN LUME, LOO ZIHAN and BOO JUN FENG (of short story KELUAR BARIS 2008) are the multi-talented next-generation wave of film directors to watch out for in the Asian film circuit.

So think PINK.

It's the battle of the PINK dollar these days.

In tinseltown the PINK dollar ensures brisk business.

And for sure, which professional long-sighted film maker who believes in the magic of BOX OFFICE clout, would ever want to ignore this fact?