Atty. Adel Tamano with Dr. Vicki Belo

Smart is the new sexy!

This slogan has been coined by Atty. Adel Tamano, and of course he should know, smart as he is, making him sexy too. “Smart is the New Sexy” is now one of the slogans being used by the Belo Medical Group, Adel being one of its endorsers.

In an intimate meeting with a select group of entertainment writers a few days ago, the bedimpled Adel charmed his way once more into the hearts of the writers even if he was late, because he was busy organizing a group of doctors to give medical assistance to those adversely affected by typhoon Ondoy and he also came from a series of relief operations around Metro Manila. And while he was at it, the Belo Medical Group was also conducting its own medical missions, he said. “Akala natin pang-beauty lang sila but they’re also doing their share of charity work.” On Sunday and Monday, the BMG was in Concepcion, Marikina to distribute about 2,500 goodie bags and medicines. They also gave a donation to the Philippine National Red Cross.

Adel expounded on what the “Smart is the New Sexy!” slogan means to him. “Everyone can be beautiful, and being beautiful is a plus” he said, “but the edge one has over the others comes from inside. It could be intelligence and because intelligence lasts, smart is sexy. It is the new sexy!”

Adel, who has always been described as someone good-looking enough to be in show business, bared that when he was young what he really wanted to be was a singer. In fact, he was a member of the Kundirana group of La Salle. But when he auditioned with Boy Abunda, “I failed,” he laughed. So he went a different way, towards the legal world. Adel first took up A.B. Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University where he also studied Law. He earned his Masters in Public Administration from UP in 2003, and in 2005, he got his Master of Laws from Harvard Law School. He was a Graduate Program scholar, an Islamic Legal Studies Program scholar and was the first Filipino Muslim to graduate from Harvard Law School.

Adel, who is one of the spokesmen of the Nacionalista Party and a strong senatorial contender in the 2010 national elections, said the Filipinas are one of the most beautiful in the whole world, and when asked who among the stars are the sexiest to him, he named Angel Locsin and Marian Rivera among his choices.

And for giving everyone the chance to be beautiful and sexy, Adel commends Dr. Vicki Belo for her efforts in the beauty business. But before he went further, he informed everyone that he has been able to work for the lifting of the travel ban of Dra. Vicki, and actually she was scheduled to travel abroad the day after the press conference.

On her part, Dra. Vicki said Adel will soon be resigning as her lawyer “not because I’m not a good client, or he doesn’t like me anymore, but because he is going to run as senator.” But of course, Adel will continue to avail himself of some of BMG’s services like facial treatments.

“He comes to the clinic at least once a week for skin treatments, like botanical and oxygen facials, and also firm plus,” Dra. Vicki said. As to why she got him as endorser, it’s because “I was looking for a new market to penetrate,” and of course she thought that with his popularity and fame, Adel would be the most perfect endorser to reach that market.

By the way, Atty. Adel Tamano is also the president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, the youngest to become head of the PLM and the first Filipino Muslim to become president of a university in Metro Manila.

The position of PLM president was offered to Adel by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim two years ago. Adel declined it at first, but then when Mayor Lim persisted, he accepted knowing deep inside of him that he has always wanted to help the poor. He used to be a professorial lecturer at PLM prior to his appointment as president. He was also a lecturer in Constitutional Law at the Ateneo College of Law, and associate lecturer at FEU’s Institute of Law.

During his tenure as PLM president, the university experienced a lot of improvement.

By the way, Adel, who turns 39 tomorrow, Oct. 2, is the son of the late Sen. Mamintal Tamano and Hadja Putri Zorayda Abbas Tamano. He is married to another lawyer, Atty. Rowena Kapunan-Tamano.

Vicki, Hayden together again?

No, Dra. Vicki said she and Hayden are not together again as a couple, although they’ve been seen together like when they went to see the visionary Emma recently. “We are still friends, mabait naman siya and he’s one of the gentlest persons I’ve ever met,” Dra. Vicki said.

As to the possibility of Hayden’s losing his medical license due to the video sex scandal he got himself into, Dra. Vicki said, “unfair naman siguro na basta ma-revoke ang license niya. He studied for 10 years to be a doctor, sayang naman na he cannot practice anymore his profession…”

She reiterated that she and Hayden are not back into each other’s arms contrary to the perception of some.

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GMA News and Public Affairs shows cited in MTRCB, La Sallian Awards

From the pigeonhole:

GMA News and Public Affairs continued its winning streak as it recently received honors from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the 2009 Lasallian Scholarum Awards.

Q Channel 11’s noontime newscast, “Balitanghali” was chosen as Best News Program by the more than 30 members of the MTRCB board. The 1st MTRCB Awards also gave Kara David’s “I-Witness” documentary, “Ambulansyang de Paa” (Ambulance on Foot), the Best Public Affairs show trophy. Jessica Soho, one of the most awarded broadcast journalists in the country, was cited as Best Female TV Host.

“I am honored to be the very first recipient of this award from the MTRCB. I hope I will be able to live up to the board's high standards and strict screening and evaluation process,” Soho, the concurrent GMA VP for News and host of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” said.

The groundbreaking nature and wildlife show, “Born to be Wild,” was also given the Special Award for Promoting Environmental Protection.

Meanwhile, this year’s recipient of the Lasallian Scholarum award for Outstanding Televised Feature on Youth and Education beating 30 other entries was Howie Severino’s “I-Witness” documentary, “Papa, Papa, Paano Ako Ginawa?” The documentary was recognized for its brave discussion of the state of sex education in the Philippines.

Other finalists for the category were Sandra Aguinaldo’s “I-Witness” documentaries, “Kapatiran Sa Laman” and “Gangsta Girls.”

This is Severino’s second win from the award-giving body after being bestowed the same recognition in 2005 for his documentary, “Little Bad Boy” that revealed little-known facts on Jose Rizal’s life in Belgium.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Oct. 1 go to Fr. Gerry Orbos, Ma. Elena Sen Lim, Remy Umerez, Angelita Consignado-Lee, Juliet Lee-Uy, Charito Makalintal, John Paul Uminga, Ralph Laurence Dellosa, Mario A. Somera, California-based Rhoeda Farolan, Shirlee S. Castro, Vikki Lizzi, Charo G. Yee and Reginaldo A. Oben, president of Wallem Phils. Shipping Inc.