There’s so many “sexy” and “young actresses” out there now–Anne Curtis, Iwa Moto, Angel Locsin to name a few. Oh, I forgot Kat Halili. Another pretty young thing going the bold or sexy route seems extra headache. The market has been saturated already by these baring and daring teeny boppers. Another one might be too much already for a people already burdened by high prices (Good thing FHM, Maxim, UNO and Playboy did’nt raise their prices. They’re getting rich thru sponsorships anyway).

And oh, the recent Playboy issue is really trashy. They pictured a malnourished model, reputedly a sexy one. I’ll not say who she is, but probably the reason why Playboy hired her is for her to epitomize the modern Pinay. With high fuel and food prices, many Filipinas would naturally have that kind of body. So, Playboy, is that cover a social commentary?

Sex sells, really. Some people don’t know why but I have some ideas why. People like to imagine things. People like sex not because of the “act” rather because of the novelty attached to it.

For example, why are we so engrossed with men’s magazines, when its just 30% baring and 70% content? Sex, like any other, is a gadget, an emotive one. Those real tech gadgets are symbols of sex, albeit, without an emotive value.

Sex is a must-have, like real gadgets. Sex is what you must get to feel that “you’re in”. For others though, sex is…well…a good-to-have.

Men’s magazines, like Playboy, FHM, Uno and Manual should not be hypocritical and say that they’re not selling sex. They are. In fact, even if they don’t show pink nipples or brown bushes, they still sell sex. These magazines offer refuge to the saint as well as to the sinner. It satiates primal desires that often are lodged deep inside everyone’s emotive cavities.

So, don’t believe that crap when your husband tells you that the reason he’s buying all those FHM, Uno and Manual that he’s in for the gadgets. Sure, that’s true.

He’s really reading those articles about cars and gadgets because he likes sex.

The bad news is–I did’nt buy it. The last issue that I have of FHM was a few months back. The articles seems an enticing read, but sadly, lacks the potent power of a good read. Maybe the editors of FHM should look back and re-assess their retinue of writers. I mean, we, men, don’t just look for pretty ladies. No. We want our magazines to satiate both our thirst for beautiful things and nice-to-have gadgets and our intellect. Hey, we’re not that sex hungry. Sex, as they know, is just a selling tool. Its all marketing.

Maybe the guys over FHM is misinterpreting their market. They probably assume that the fight right now is confined to whoever is more baring, more daring and more nipple-showing. No.

Your audience deserves something better. They want a good read. They want an engaging read. You’re market is not your tambay boy or those guys meandering in a street store.

Your audience, I believe, are professionals. They want nothing more than premium stuff.

That’s why I hate to reiterate it–you guys at Playboy Philippines ought to give us what Hugh gave the Americans–a premium magazine that raises both the testosterone levels and brain cells. Not some stuff that speeds up our disgusts and reduces our brain cells.

I expect the second outing of Playboy Philippines to be more premium, more classy, and more “engaging” so to speak. Magazines are personal things for us men you know. We want mystique. We want exclusivity. We want nothing more than the best.

I’m expecting other men’s mags, such as Maxim, Uno etc. to follow the lead.