X

1. The clinging type

     I don't want confinement. Of any kind. And that's NOT negotiable.

2. Demanding type

     Read rule # 1. I am generous, but never demanding. Ah, I do demand some, but it is always to your advantage, I promise.

3. Jealousy

     I'm never jealous. So, turnabout is just fairplay.

4. Heavy make up and overly done hair on a date

     I wonder why women are so into make-ups. Don't they know that a guy gets turned off at the thought of leaking oil and grease? Or sniffing hair spray? Ugh! Imagine getting your fingers stuck on hair mousse?

5. Hairy legs

     What can I say? I'm a leg man. I like 'em smooth and soft. Uhm, no hair on armpits too, but I can probably tolerate that one LOL. Hair on your kittycat, I can handle that, too. (wicked grin) But please, shave those legs.

6. Silicone boobs

     You can't touch 'em the way you want to. It's like holding twin boobie traps. You gotta be so gentle and slow or they'd explode! Major bedroom turn-off. I like women who are comfortable with their natural bodies. Big boobs don't necessarily make a woman more beautiful or sexier. It's how naturally confident she is with her inherent assets that matters.

7. Collagen lips

    They're made for lookin', not kissin'. I like to smooch.

8. Cloying perfumes

    I like fresh, mild scents or just your natural body smell. B.O. is another story, okay?

9. Very long fingernails

     Just the right length and cut will do. I don't want bloody ribbons on my back, thank you. Little half-moons I can tolerate the first time 'coz I know how excited you can get, but the next time, cut those bloody nails, okay, or no more encores.

10. Anorexic thin

     I wonder where women got the idea that starving themselves to death could make them sexier in the eyes of men. Maaaan, I want some flesh in my woman, somethin' to hold on to, to squeeze, to bite, to grip. Sorry thinny babes, if you wanna date me, EAT! But not too much, to the point of...too much, okay? Just have a healthy, normal body with womanly curves, that's all.

If you can handle those ten ground rules, I'm all yours, baby.

BLOW magazine January 2003 issue.

Interview by: Tessa Sizon, socialite, senior contributor of BLOW

Marcus Alexis Benedicto walked into the studio looking like his usual self, relaxed, casual, suave, cool, his lopsided and bedimpled grin zapping every estrogen dominated body in his path---impossively, unbelievably gorgeous! He greeted me with a warm hug, his megawatt smile taking my breath away as usual. This is my third interview with the guy and it always feels like its the very first time that I meet him. The thing about Alex is, he treats you like he's known you forever. He remembers every detail that you've told him about yourself and he would look deep in your eyes like you are the center of his universe. And he is always, always a gentleman. He would open doors for you, get a chair for you, and would even offer to carry your clutch bag! For this interview, he arrived with a bouquet of flowers for me. It's no wonder why women of all ages are drooling over this guy. He treats every woman like his personal queen...well, only during the time that you are together, at least...but nonetheless, during those moments, his undivided attention is all yours. Like now. We are sitting face to face on lounge chairs, the subdued lighting of the studio bathing us in intimacy...and I feel that he would tell me everything...everything that's inside his mind, his heart and soul...

TS: Thank you for granting this interview, Alex."

X: (smiles humbly) Anything for BLOW. I'm a regular subscriber."

TS: What do you like about our magazine?"

X: (grins wickedly) Aside from the fact that you feature only the most beautiful women, I like what they have to say, too. You have the smartest, classiest babes. Awesome."

TS: "A lot of women would be so happy to hear that a man like you actually appreciates what's between their eyes."

X: "What do you mean by a man like me?" (sounding slightly affronted)

TS (smiles) I ask the questions here, Alex, not you."

X: (lounges indolently in his chair) "I admire women. As all men do."

TS: So, if you have to choose between intelligence and beauty, which would you have?"

X: "Intelligence for me is beauty. And vise versa."

TS: "So a dumb beauty turns you off?"

X: "Dumbness is subjective. People have different levels of stupidity. Men and women are the same. We all make mistakes. I haven't encountered a totally dumb woman, yet. She may be dumb in some aspects but she's pretty sharp in others, too. So, it's a fair trade-off. Nobody's perfect."

TS: "That's interesting. Don't men always calculate our cupsize rather than our IQ's?"

X: (Grins) I'm not most men. I have laser vision. It penetrates beyond a woman's chest. And I like to look at what's behind her spectacular bossom."

TS: "Alexis Benedicto talking about the essence of a woman. This, I never expected in this interview."

X: "Why? I'm a big fan of women. They're wondeful, magnificent, amazing!"

TS: But you have quite a reputation with the fairer sex, Mr. Benedicto."

X: (sighs and shrugs) "I know. But like you said, it's only a reputation. 10 percent truth, 90 percent bullshit."

TS: "You have plenty of titles, you know."

X: "Hmm, do tell."

TS: "The consumate loverboy,The ultimate lothario, The elusive heartbreaker, Casanova extraordinaire, among others."

X:  "Whoaa, that's quite a mouthful. I'm flattered that they actually take time to coin all those words for me." (sarcastic tone)

TS: You have quite a female following, too, they say."

X: "All rumors."

TS: "Are you denying all that's been written about you?"

X: "No. But I object to the manner they've been written."

TS: And what manner is this?"

X: "They paint me as this heartless playboy who seduces women indiscriminately. I'm not like that."

TS: "You mean, you don't seduce women?"

X: "Seduction is a normal human behavior. We are social human beings. It's just plain flirting. Everybody flirts. I've had my share of these things like any normal man. But I don't seduce women who don't wanna be seduced. I choose who I associate with."

TS: "Ah, so they've all been willing."

X: (admits reluctantly) "Quite. But these women know themselves. They know what they want and they go for it. We are on the same plane."

TS: "And they want you."

X: (smiles shyly) "What can i say, I only aim to please."

TS: "I'm not surprised at all. So what do you think it is that attracts women to you? Aside from your looks, of course. And your uhm... obvious stature in society and uhm...financial assets...?"

X: (looks worried) "You think a woman only likes me because of those?"

TS: (Laughs) "Even if you're probably the poorest boy in the world, they'd still wanna be with you."

X: (exhales as if relieved) "Thank you. That's so kind of you, Tessa."

TS: "So, answer my question, boy."

X: (Grins and pauses to think) "Yes, ma'am. Hmm, my honesty, I think."

TS: "Honesty...tell me about it."

X: "I have discovered the real strength of a woman. In fact, she is stronger than a man, emotionally. When I'm with a woman, I never lie to her. I present myself as I really am. I don't pretend to be who I'm not just to gain her trust. Her trust is important to me. That she gives it to me willingly is even more important, and I don't ever betray that trust. I respect her wishes all the time and she respects mine. And when she says no and I feel that she means it,  it means no, period. I don't feed a woman with crap just to get her approval. And I think, women in this time and age like that.They like to be treated as  equals, as individuals capable of taking care of themselves. They like to make their own decisions, to be given that ultimate choice to be whoever they wanna be. Always."

TS: Oh wow...women are gonna line up at your frontdoor by the thousands once this issue is released."

X: (Laughs) "Hardly. But just in case, I only wanna make them happy, treat them right and special." 

TS: (He must think I'm an idiot now 'coz I'm about to throw myself at him and scream, marry me!) "How do you know if she means no?"

X: "I look in her eyes and I just know. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out if a woman is into a man. And like I said, I choose who to go out with. If she's taken, I mean in the true sense of the word, then no matter I'd do, I won't ever win her. Simple as that."

TS: "You also have this reputation of being with older and sometimes attached ladies."

X: "Yeah. These ladies are my friends. I like their company and they like mine. I learn a lot from them and vise versa. I respect them a lot."

TS: Hmmm. I'm curious though. Have you ever encountered a woman who said no to you?"

X: (Pauses and thinks)...A few. Yeah."

TS: "Really?"

X: "You don't believe me, do you? You think I'm an insensitive bastard who cannot take a simple no from a woman? I am not an egomaniac. Believe me, I've been heartbroken a few times."

TS: (Laughs) "No way!"

X: "Yeah. Way back when I was in Greece, I met a woman, quite older than I was. I sort of worshipped her and she dumped me for an older, rich as croesus guy. I felt like hangin' myself on a tree." (chuckles)

"TS: "Really? How old were you?"

X: "Seventeen, eighteen, thereabouts."

TS: (laughs) "I can't imagine you being heartbroken."

X: (Unbuttons his shirt and takes my hand, places it over his heart.)

TS: "Oh boy...!"

X: "Yeah. Feel that? I'm human. I get hurt, too. The media has portrayed me as this reprobate who gets all the girls, use them and dump them, not caring about their feelings. I've never, not to my knowledge treated a woman with disrespect. She is with me  only because she chooses to be with me. It's always her choice. It's way overkill, the crap they say about me. Most are completely untrue and merely speculations. I'm a normal guy who likes to have fun. But I get some really bad hair days too, if ya know what I mean." (Lets go of my hand carefully)

TS: "But have you ever broken a woman's heart?"

X: "If I have, I didn't mean to. I make it a point to be still frineds with a woman even if we're no longer seeing each other." (very sincere tone)

TS: "I guess they just can't help it huh, fall in-love with you?"

X: (scratches his nape self-conciously) "When I am with a woman, I take care of her real good. I guess they like that."

TS: "But...have you ever been truly in love with a woman? I mean, with only one woman."

X: (Pauses) "Love is subjective. If loving is to care for someone, then yeah, I've been in love aplenty. I am now. I love my friends, my brothers and sisters, my grandparents, my stepmother..."

TS: "You are evading my question, boy."

X: "Define this love you are talking about. Maybe I've never heard of it?"

TS: "All-consuming love. You will die without it. You would give up everything for it. Like what you felt for this Greek woman."

X: (Smiles boyishly) "Ah that. Well, I wanted to hang myself on a tree for only two minutes then I changed my mind. I love my neck. I don't think I like that kind of love."

TS:  "So...you have never been in love."

X: " Not in that manner. My heart is big. I don't wanna confine it to one woman only. I believe in sharing. And I'm pretty generous with my love."

TS: (giggles) "I think women are gonna both love and hate this interview."

X: "Hate it? Why?"

TS: "A woman wants to be loved exclusively by her man."

X: (mulls it over) "I can be her alternative lover is she gets bored with her man. I'd be patiently waiting. Like I said, I won't mind sharing." (grins wickedly)

TS: (laughs) "Alex, you are incorrigible. But so adorable."

X: I'm actually a good boy, Tessa. Do you believe me?" (boyish, innocent grin)

TS: Yeah, yeah. I believe you, boy. For now at least."

X: (Takes my hand again and kisses it) "Dinner tonight? I'll cook for you."

TS: (Oh boy, oh boy!)

Did I say yes? Your guess is as good as mine:) But I tell you, Mr. Benedicto was a real gentleman. I felt like a queen. A pity it was only one night. Hmmm, I gotta schedule another interview with him :)