A Prologue to FHM’s MArch 2012 Issue

Hah! It’s the 29th of February! And March is looking like a scorching one huh.

Well, I know I have yet to post my FHM February review (although I am not really tasked to do so) but the March issue has upstaged the wonders of this month’s issue.

You see, we will be having Bela Padilla debuting on the 12th anniversary issue of FHM. And you know that period when you are experiencing some awkwardness because you are slowly becoming an adult? Well, FHM will be a teenager next year. And their 12th anniversary issue has gotten some awkward attention.

People are accusing the cover photo to be racist. Why? a) because cover star Bela Padilla (and all her porcelain-white goodness) is placed alongside some dark-skinned models. b) the tagline of the cover reads “Bela Padilla: Stepping Out of the Shadows. and c) people are just too sensitive.

The cover looks really nice actually. Another bold move for FHM, if you ask me. Very risque.  But then again, you have to sacrifice stuff for conformity’s sake.

I don’t know if it’s  a wise move to pull out the cover and print the magazine with a new cover photo. I mean it could be so as not to offend anyone. or it could not be just because I want FHM to be unapologetic with the decisions they make. Either way, it has garnered a lot of attention worldwide.

I am just hoping that they will release something that is as bold and risque as the first one. And maybe we could hope for people to at least have a better grasp of the issue. And maybe, just maybe, a broader mind.

 

#138: Ellen Adarna on FHM January 2012

DISCLAIMER: This one should be very quick. I mean, my post is a tad too late for a lot of words. We’re halfway done with February. Heaven knows how much I wanted to ALWAYS update this blog o’mine. But because a lot of changes has occurred when the year started, I just can’t seem to do things I want to do. (I shall dedicate a separate post about that one, or not.)

So, FHM opened 2012 with Ellen Adarna on two different covers for January. I chose the one with the dogs since it looked very different from what FHM usually does.

 

So, yeah, the issue was fantastic. Although it was thin (well, January issues of FHM are thin).

The layout changed a bit, changed for the better I shall say.

The reads are very interesting too. Of course, there is the inevitable feature about the Mayan-predicted end of the world on December 2012. I find it amazing. You know, it’s kinda rad should the world really end this year and everybody would say “WTF!?”

The biggest win for this issue is the cover girl. I mean, Ellen Adarna posing 13 months after her December 2010 FHM debut. And her pictorials were very different in so  many ways and levels.

Ellen’s two FHM pictorials were both beautiful but of different types. Her first one’s sweet and coy while the more recent was edgier and more daring.

What I love about Ellen (aside from her new and perkier knockers) is her unapologetic vibe. She is very different from her contemporaries.  Aside from her goddess-like looks and petite frame, her devil may care attitude is something that is very scarce in the industry she chose to pursue.

Of course, Xander Angeles’ work is very commendable. Although Ellen looks lost in some of the photos. But over-all, the pictorial is very good. Ellen looked like a queen of an underworld castle. Or something dark and cold like that.

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It was a good way to start the last(?) year of the world with good articles, two covers and Ellen Adarna. Up next, FHM February 2012 issue!

*cover images from FHM.com.ph 

The FHM Year That Was 2011

FHM has played an integral part in my life and now, on my blogging. Most of my sites’ views are either from incoming search terms regarding FHM, referrals from FHM Bullboard and Jinri Park.

2011 has been a good year for FHM. They had 10 new cover girls and 3 returning cover muses over the past twelve months. Their articles have been better than ever. The 100 Sexiest campaign vote turn-out was overwhelming. And their covers for this year are impressive altogether.

I actually scored 11/12 issues, only missing the June 2011 issue with Stef Prescott on the cover.

Below is my review (nitpicks) for the issues FHM released this year in a nutshell.

#126: Carla Humphries on FHM January 2011

“Desert Fox”

PH: Doc Marlon Pecjo

HIGHS:

• Nice cover shoot concept
• The 2011 Forecast

LOWS:

• A not so explosive start for the year
• Thin issue
• The inside babes
• The free calendar

#127: Misa Campo on FHM February 2011

“Happy Camper”

PH: Xander Angeles

HIGHS:

• Misa Campo’s almost impossible cover appearance
• The stunning cover
• The articles (47yo Virgin, Philippine History myth busters)
• Inside babes (Sachie Sanders, Aya Alonzo)

LOWS:

• The cover price increase
• Thin issue

#128: Solenn Heussaff on FHM March 2011

“Bon Vivant”

PH: Mark Nicdao

HIGHS:

• Solenn’s photos
• Tourism via the Bikini Special
• The articles (Death of Pinoy Rock, Dog Breeds)

LOWS:

• The cover
• An underwhelming anniversary issue
• That crazy Premiere Condom page

#129: Regine Angeles on FHM April 2011

“Total Recall”

PH: Xander Angeles

HIGHS:

• Some of Regine’s Photos
• The articles (Myth Buster about certain body parts, Azkals)
• Given Teves

LOWS:

• A less daring Regine Angeles
• The cover

#130: Rich Asuncion on FHM May 2011

“Packed”

PH: Doc Marlon Pecjo

HIGHS:

• The cover
• Jinri Park
• Nika Madrid’s photo shoot
• OPM Songs

LOWS:

• Rich’s underwhelming photo shoot

#131: Stef Prescott on FHM June 2011

PH: Doc Marlon Pecjo

#132: Eula Valdez on FHM July 2011

“Full Circle”

PH: Xander Angeles

HIGHS:

• Eula’s photo shoot
• Inside babes (Nathalie Bee, Linda Persson)
• Female Imperfections
• Thick issue

LOWS:

• Eula looking ‘mad’ in most layouts
• The 100 Sexiest Women supplement’s layout

#133: Niña Jose on FHM August 2011

“Super, Super, Super Nice”

PH: Xander Angeles

HIGHS:

• Niña’s face
• More 3D pages
• Lingerie Special
• Articles (Php500 in 5 days challenge, the art of torture.)

LOWS:

• Niña’s noticeable weight gain
• PhotoShop

#134: Lovi Poe on FHM September 2011

“Her Royal Majesty”

PH: Mark Nicdao

HIGHS:

• The cover
• Some of Lovi’s photos
• Articles (The 90’s, Super Pinoys)

LOWS:

• Some of Lovi’s layouts
• The inside babes
• The FHM Collections

#135: Daiana Menezes on FHM October 2011

“All Yours”

PH: Xander Angeles

HIGHS:

• Pinoy Horror Death Match
• Inside babes (Chiaki Morita, Erica Bacani)
• Pizza

LOWS:

• The cover
• Daiana’s photo shoot

#136: Ornusa Cadness and Sanya Smith on FHM November 2011

“Deconstruction”

PH: Doc Marlon Pecjo

HIGHS:

• Sanya Smith
• The interview with the cover girls
• The comedy feature (Ramon Bautista, Jason Gainza, Tuesday Vargas)

LOWS:

• The cover girls’ solo spread
• Inside babes

#137: Sam Pinto on FHM December 2011

“Future Perfect”

PH: Xander Angeles

HIGHS:

• Sam Pinto
• The photo shoot’s concept
• Thick issue
• Act Your Age

LOWS:

• Other articles
• Some inside babes

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SPECIAL MENTIONS

Photographers who did the covers for this year were Mark Nicdao (March, September), Doc Marlon Pecjo (January, May, June, November) and Xander Angeles (February, April, July, August, October, December).

Cover of the Year:

Lovi Poe’s cover looking not like FHM. The cover looks expensive and oh, so exotic. The composition of the photo is very commendable as well as the positioning and the colors used on the texts.

Lovi Poe’s body, the elephant, Thailand and FHM. Whoa!

Inside Babe of the Year: Jinri Park

It’s a big deal when FHM features you on their pages. BUT it is a BIGGER deal when two months after they feature you, they feature you again.

Korean model Jinri Park first appeared on FHM in the May 2011 ish. Then she covered the 100 Sexiest supplement released on July of the same year. Her second spread then appeared the following month.

No wonder that she was voted number 79 sexiest woman of 2011.

She is now currently spreading love on the airwaves via Monster Radio RX93.1 late night show with DJ Tom Alvarez.

BEST ISSUE OF THE YEAR:

Stunning cover. Equally stunning cover muse and story. Interesting articles. Hot lineup of inside babes…

FHM’s February 2011 issue is their most loaded one this year. Although along with this issue wass the 15 pesos price hike in six years, FHM set the bar high on this issue.

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Here’s for a bigger, better 2012 for FHM!

MORE INTERESTING COVERS AND ARTICLES FOR 2012! I am hoping for fresh faces and long-time highly requested babes to pose for the country’s leading magazine. More risque concepts, too. And more traffic for my blog here.

See you next year!

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