One of the most awaited event in the Philippines, Experience Blackout: the Bench Denim and Underwear show 2008, was held last night at the Araneta Coliseum. The grand event closed several weeks of preparation for the show, including brainstorming, props designing, go-sees in Baguio, Cebu and Manila, fittings, stylings and rehearsals. According to the blog maintained by Bang Pineda, stylist for the event, the show was “nakakangarag” (stressful), but I’m sure all of their efforts did not go to waste as they were able to present a very wonderful show.

The event at the Big Dome brought together older male Bench endorsers Richard Gomez, John Estrada, Antonio Aquitania, John Hall, Wendell Ramos and Jomari Yllana as well as the new breed of Bench hunks Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, Diether Ocampo, Sam Milby, Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca, Rafael Rossel, Jon Avila (Mullally), Zanjoe Marudo, Marvin Raymundo (Wijangco), Luke Jickain, JC De Vera, JayR Sillona, Marco Alcaraz, John Prats, Bruce Quebral, Rayver Cruz, Enchong Dee, Brent Javier, Ron Morales, Carlo Guevarra, and John James Uy. It also gave the opportunity to walk the ramp wearing the new Bench denim and underwear creations to up and coming models and lesser-known stars Niko Arellano, Benj Besa, Chad Burden, David Chua, Carlos buying viagra online Concepcion, Harvey Cruz, Bugz Daigo, Janvier Daily, Gabz del Rosario, Robi Domingo, Ryan Eigenmann, Ejay Falcon, Mark Joseph Griswold, Kian Kazemi, Mark Manicad, Marvin Miranda, Josh Ivan Morales, Chris Ong-Hay, Jobo Roa, Eric Soriano, Sadatsugu Suzuki, Johnron Tañada, Mario Lee Zamboni and foreign models.

Noticeably absent during the biennial event were Andrew Wolff, John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual (who was reportedly going to be that night’s star for the finale). Nevertheless, the show was a great success despite their absence. Kudos to Bench for another great production. We can’t wait to see what’s cooking up in your next denim and underwear show two years from now.

Special thanks to Chuvaness (Cecille Zamora), Bryanboy and Bang Pineda for the pics in this post.