Mother Lily with her new male contract stars dubbed Regal’s Desirable Men: Daniel Matsunaga, Ian Batherson, Ervic Vijandre, JC Tiuseco, and Fabio Ide, with Mercator’s Jonas Gaffud (3rd from left).

MANILA, Philippines -- They have the basic formula to make it in Philippine showbiz – the looks, the height, the body.

However, Brazilian-Japanese models Daniel Matsunaga and Fabio Ide, and British-Filipino Ian Batherson, the latest contract stars of Mother Lily, can’t speak Tagalog well. In local showbiz, as proven by Fil-Am actors who tried but didn’t quite make it, becoming well-versed in Tagalog is a prerequisite for a successful acting career.

Daniel, 22, who has already appeared in a number of GMA-7 soap operas like “The Last Prince” and “Machete,” hones his Tagalog speaking skills with a tutor and by attending a three-hour class on Tagalog every day.

“I’m really forcing myself to the highest point so I can study and learn as much Tagalog. Para sa bagong project ko para mas madaling magsalita,” he said.

Fabio, who appeared on “Dwarfina,” and currently on “Comedy Bar” and “Tweetbiz,” as well as in the upcoming Cesar Montano sitcom “Andres de Saya,” confessed that learning Tagalog is hard. But before he joined showbiz and before signing-up with Mother Lily, he has been traveling back and forth to Manila as a model since 2006. He even had a Filipina girlfriend. Unfortunately for him, he never got the hang of speaking Tagalog.

“I have a teacher who teaches me Tagalog twice a week. Gusto ko magsalita ng Tagalog para mabilis matuto,” Fabio shared.

Ian Batherson gets Tagalog help from his mom, a Bicolana. According to him, she speaks to him in Tagalog all the time.

“I’m having a hard time with my Tagalog. But I watch the latest Filipino movies and I read Filipino comics. I’ll be in the TV series ‘Sisid’ so I really have to learn Tagalog well,” related Ian.

Their drive to learn or at least be skillful in the vernacular stems from the opportunities that will come their way as Regal Entertainment’s newest “Regal Hotties” or “Men on Fire,” as Mother Lily described them.

“I’ve been modeling in different countries but since I got here I saw a different culture and something I really like that changed my life like I found Heart (Evangelista). I also have a sister who is married to a Filipino now,” he said.

Fabio and Ian are also delighted with the opportunity of being part of the Regal Entertainment family.

As Regal Hotties, how sexy can they go?

Daniel, Fabio and Ian agree they can easily take off their shirts on cam. But for other “sexy requirements,” they all pointed to their manager Jonas Gaffud to decide on that.

Other male stars that Regal Entertainment signed up recently are JC Tiuseco and Ervic Vijandre.

‘Third World Happy’ shown Wednesday

A heart-warming balikbayan movie entitled “Third World Happy,” which is matinee idol Sam Milby’s first Cinema One Originals movie, is slated to be shown in selected SM theaters starting today, May 25.

Directed and written by EJ Salcedo (he produces, writes and directs short films, TV commercials, corporate and music videos and also directs for television), “Third World Happy” has Sam Milby playing the role of a balikbayan named Wesley who has left the Philippines and his girlfriend to pursue his dream of becoming a painter. Everything changes when he attends a funeral and reunites with his friends.

Jodi plays Aylyn, the girlfriend Wesley left behind. She is now a working single mom with a 13-year-old son. Richard Quan is Kuya Danny, who’s always been the big brother to Wesley. Also in the cast is Melissa Mendez.

The director said, “This is a semi-autobiographical story. I combined homecoming and the stories of artists not being able to pursue their dreams to build the story of ‘Third World Happy.’”

For this movie, Sam earned a Best Actor nomination in the 34th Gawad Urian Awards of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Earlier, Jodi got a Best Supporting Actress trophy in the Cinema One Originals 2010 awards.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 25, go to MB columnist Ms. Beth Day Romulo, Tacloban Councilor Cristina G, Romualdez, Alma Moreno, Anita Magsaysay, George Sison, Lilibeth Vera Perez-Nakpil, Loida Navarro-Fernardez, Anessa Fiona F. Caalim, Matteus Mopera, France Bonnin, Bobbit Avila and Gelli de Belen… Happy wedding anniversary to Richard Goldwin and Lynette Marie Monteverde… Condolence to our friend Pete Dacuycuy for the untimely demise of his brother Monching who was buried recently in their hometown San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. The Dacuycuy family would like to thank relatives and friends for their prayers and sympathy…