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HEAVENLY CREATURES
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(JULY 2001)
Armed with a load of snappy dance choons and soppy love songs on their debut English album, fast- rising boy pack MDO prove there’s more to Latin music than Ricky Martin! Evelyn Mak catches up with the precocious Puerto Rican popsters and checks out their sexiest body part- one by one!
It’s tough trying to figure out who’s who in MDO. For a start, the five fellas in the Marina Mandarin Hotel suite are way more interested in picking out threads for the photo shoot later. ‘We just don’t have the same taste in clothes,’ Didier Hernandez (22), the group’s unofficial babe magnet and a dead ringer for Ricky Martin, stops to explain.
Soon
as the crazy tog talk ends; the boisterous blokes dash off, eager to parade
their new outfits. Curly haired
Caleb Reyes (22), the first to return in his white long sleeved shirt and grey
fabric pants, takes his seat next to the stylist obediently.
Alexis Grullon, the oldest member (he’s 24!), is wolfing down a large
plate of sandwiches. ‘These are
good!’ he pronounces. Meanwhile,
22- year- old Pablo Portillo, who can’t quite decide whether he’s satisfied
with his printed-shirt-and-white-pants-ensemble, is scrutinising his reflection
in the mirror, looking out for any sign of imperfection. Chirpy Abel Talamantez (22) strolls in and sinks himself into
the armchair opposite. ‘Ooh!
Have you heard our first single? It’s
called ‘Just A Little Piece of Heaven’ and it’s a fantastic track!’ the
petite chappie parps unabashedly. He
rambles on, staring wistfully into my eyes and whispering saucily: ‘I want to
leave my heart in Singapore…’ Help!
LIME: Hi guys! First thing first. How did you get together?
Didier: MDO evolved from Menudo, the first boy band ever that was formed way back in 1977. The band was made up of kids from the ages of 12 to 15, and they’d kick them out when they got older. In 1997, we changed our name to MDO, cos we didn’t feel like Menudo anymore; we’re older and more mature. Alexis, Abel and I were already in Menudo, while Pablo and Caleb joined later.
LIME: Ricky Martin used to be a member of Menudo, too! Ever run into him?
Didier: Of course!
Abel: (proudly) He’s an inspiration! He’s like our big brother and he’s always offering us advice whenever we meet him. And we really respect and admire what he’s achieved through his hard work and dedication. And, we’d love to have a solo career like his some day!
LIME: Describe your debut English album Little Piece of Heaven in one word.
Alexis: Genuine!
Abel: Flavoured!
Caleb: Different!
Pablo: Magical!
Didier: Unique!
LIME: What would heaven be like for you, then: dating your dream girl, earning a billion bucks or scoring a Billboard no 1 single?
Caleb: None of the above! Heaven would be living my life to the fullest and being happy!
Didier: (Nodding his head) He said it!
Abel: Heaven simply means appreciating the little things in life. Breathing, looking at a beautiful flower, watching a sunrise or sunset. Even a genuine smile!
LIME: Now, for the most important question: are you seeing anyone?
Pablo: I’ve got a girlfriend! She’s absolutely lovely and I miss her lots.
Abel: (Dreamily) I don’t have a girlfriend and I’m looking for a beautiful girl from Singapore! So that I can come back all the time, and have someone to welcome me with a big kiss!
Alexis: I do have a girlfriend, and I really miss her. She’s in Miami right now.
Didier: I’m still…(Searching for the right phrase) ‘under construction’? I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship yet. I’m still waiting for the right girl!
Caleb: I have a girlfriend in Puerto Rico, and I think of her all the time.
LIME: Most gals find Latin men very sexy. Say, what’s the sexiest part of your body?
Alexis: (Thoughtfully) It depends on how you look at someone.
Didier: (Eagerly) It’s my legs! Once they look at my legs, they go crazy! Especially the women at the swimming pool! (Everyone laughs) But hey, they go crazy when they see Abel’s legs too!
Abel: No! I’ve got skinny legs! (Cheekily) But my butt cheeks are nice!
Pablo: (Confidently) My eyes! There’s just something about my eyes. They allow me to get really sensual and romantic with someone.
Caleb: People tell me my arms are sexy. Other than that, I really have no idea!
LIME: What’s your favourite chill-out activity?
Alexis: Listening to music, reading and writing. I listen to anything! Latin, jazz, American, the oldies… I have them all. And maybe soon, Mando-pop!
Caleb: Trekking the rainforest! I love going to the one back home in Puerto Rico.
Pablo: Surfing the Internet! I’m always on the computer! (Boasts) It doesn’t strain my eyes ’cos I’ve got bionic eyes!
Abel: (Half-seriously) Actually, he’s got a glass eye! He can take it out anytime!
Caleb: (Joins in) You’d hurt your finger if you poked at it!
Abel: For me, nothing’s better than taking a hot shower, putting on me pyjamas and then lazing around all day at home! I’d also need a pair of brand-new socks! Hmm… I love fresh socks!
