Twenty-two year old Jayvee Cepeda was the winner of Bar Uno’s Wet and Wild bikini show held recently. A native of Borongan, Samar, he is also a member of a university-based dance group in Manila. Incidentally, Bar Uno, which is located along Timog Avenue [beside the Korean convenience store], has been producing bikini contests ever since its inception. Among the notable winners of the the sing-along bar [which boasts as hosts a funny gay guy who admits that he was formerly an exotic dancer in Gigolo and a transvestite midget!] are Ian Porlayagan, who recently competed in Mr. World-Philippines; Troy Gomez, a veteran bikini pageant contestant; and, Andro Morgan, the scene-stealer at a recent sheer underwear show. For Richard Guebar fans, go to Bar Uno, as he is sometimes featured there as one of the dancers.

Jon Romano used to be a stripper and a “guest relations officer” in one of the gay bars along Timog Avenue in Quezon City. Since the life span of a bump-and-grinder in gay clubs is rather short, he ventured into the movies and television and got cast as one of the extras. His manager, the director Maryo J. de los Reyes, never fails to give him projects, however small the role. He was last seen in the movie So Happy Together [the Kris Aquino-Eric Quizon movie] and as a bit player in TV soaps.

Okay, I’m giving in. Here’s Gino Antonio, that actor in the mid-80s who made a lot of skin flicks, not just the ornery ones but the real deal with all the penetration shots. To those born in the 80s and later, who were too young to understand at the time, Gino Antonio was one of the go-to guys then [together with Mark Joseph, Tony Martinez, Bobby Benitez and Michael Alfers], in the era of the Pene Films, so-called because of the actual showing of the act of intercourse onscreen. Unlike his contemporaries, however, Gino Antonio got cast in mainstream films, albeit with a little showing of skin, in such movies as Private Show, Tayo na sa Dilim, and Rape of Virginia P. Gino Antonio was last seen in the 2002 Visayan soap Kapalaran and in the 2004 Nora Aunor-movie Naglalayag as one of the bit players. He has since aged.

Exotic model Marvin de Alban stands 6’1″ and is an AB Political Science graduate of the Far Eastern University in Manila. This 23-year old pro model once joined the Sta. Lucia Mall Generation East Model Search and the Mr. Campus Face Philippines 2005. Although he has not won any modeling competitions [yet], he was immediately hired and signed as a model by top agency Mercator Models of Manila.

Firm and taut Joseph Kidwell, of mixed Filipino and American parentage, won the Man of the Year 2005 model search and his modeling career has since kicked in. This 5’10” tall guy, from Oriental Mindoro, is also a student of BS Tourism at the University of the East in Manila. Lately, he has been appearing in various TV commercials and fashion shows in the metro.

Several years ago, he was gay-magazine stud-fodder. He was once part of the Cover Boys, a group of bare-all dancers who did the rounds of Manila’s gay bars then. Rusty Elizalde, as he was once known [photo below], has since hopped from one bar to another as an exotic dancer. He was also Malate district’s token go-go boy in the annual White Party and Gay Pride events. Now, he has resurrected and has taken on the name Kalvin [see photos above].

Perry Escano was only 18 years old at the time the picture above [red photo] was taken. Several years later, he is back in the movies, most notable of which are Twilight Dancers [promotional pic shown above, the one in the bamboo] and Compound [pics below]. Apparently he has gone back to theater, while the movie offers waned then.

From his resume: Perry Escano started as a performer on Philippine stage. He played the lead role of Lapu-Lapu, Philippine’s first hero, in Mactan 1521. Other credits include El Filibusterismo, Laro, Florante at Laura, Silang Magigiting, Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-araw, Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba, and May Isang Sundalo. Perry also played roles in the Philippine independent films Sitak and Kazuma vs. Amuzak.

Joel Posadas is another veteran bikini pageant contestant, even when he was plump [pics above] until he trimmed down [pics below]. Last seen at the Mr. Kouros 2006 [won by Merick Lumagui], 23-year old and 6′ tall Joel Posadas aka Jeric Ramirez aka Carlos Martinez, is a native of Pangasinan province and still a student at the Philippine Merchant Marine School in Las Pinas City. Expect to see more of this daring dude in the next few months as the summer season spawns swimsuit shows.

Except for the name, Verlyn Hizon is the Filipino macho archetype. This 27-year old pro model first won the Caribbean Nights Bikini Open held a few years back at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City. In 2002, he was one of the finalists in Bodyshots, a models-only bikini contest. In 2004, he resurfaced at the Mr. Bikini International-Philippines contest, with fellow contestants Carlos Concepcion, Ramon del Prado and Randolph Dungo.