Every so often, FHM Philippines reminds us why it is still the number one men’s magazine in the country: Their choice of cover designs and cover girls, such as Alice Dixson in December 2013, are the reason for their sky-high popularity 13 years on.
Coconuts Manila speaks to team editor Allan Madrilejos, who, incidentally, is the only remaining original staff member of the magazine.
Trivia: This is actually FHM’s second try with Alice Dixson. About two years ago, the team approached and asked the actress if she’d be interested to appear on the cover. She declined. Well, two years later and look what we have.
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FHM Team editor Allan Madrilejos with December 2013 cover girl Alice Dixson
Why Alice Dixson?
Ako kasi, nabasa ko yung sinulat na nagbikini daw siya sa For Love or Money, yung show niya sa TV5 with Ritz Azul and Derek Ramsay. I entertained the thought, though at that time, feeling ko hindi naman mangyayari. This was around October and at that time, we were in the process of booking covers, holding meetings with possible cover girls, etc. I was about to call TV5 to inquire about Alice, when the head of their PR called me, asking “Would you consider Alice Dixson on the cover?” Sabi ko, yes. So we went through the process with them. Nag-present kami ng sangkatutak na concepts, assured her na walang pilitan. Nagulat na lang ako na mag-pu-push through na pala yung shoot. They shot on my birthday, kaya wala ako nun.
> See more FHM photos of Alice Dixson
So why her?
Personal reasons yung akin. Gusto ko yung Palmolive commercial niya then. Naalala ko nung college ako, pinag-uusapan namin yung commercial na yun sa Communications Department ng Ateneo. Junior year ako nun, so may advertising class na ko nun. Syempre ang daming palabas sa TV nun, yung caliber nung shows nung araw, buhay na buhay yung prime time television.
So we were talking about it, maganda yung jingle, magaganda rin yung mga babae. Dalawa silang maganda for me nun, si Shiela Israel na, on a side note, when I was still the Managing Editor of FHM then and she was still active in showbiz, gusto na rin namin i-feature siya nun. Kaso naging politician ata siya or something like that.
Pero syempre si Alice talaga, siya bida nun e. I can feel it, diba? Tapos yung Okay Ka Fairy ko was a must-watch every Thursday night. Tapos yung Dyesebel pa niya. I remember back in college, yung imagery niya bilang Dyesebel yung ginamit ko for one of the think pieces I wrote for Matanglawin, one of the school papers in Ateneo. So isipin mo gano katagal siyang [nag-simmer sa utak ko]. Nasundan mo yung career niya kahit, papano. Then she left. Two years ago, nag-attempt kami to ask her for the cover but she said no. So very serendiptuous yung tawagan ngayon. Nakakatuwa. Sobrang handful lang yung mga veteran actresses na nagpose sa FHM.
When you think of Alice Dixson, late ’80s, early ’90s right. What was the zeitgeist then? What were you listening to? Watching on TV?
Of course, prime time TV nga, buhay na buhay. John and Marsha, Chicks to Chicks, lahat sila. Stars like Alice Dixson then were very visible. The Palmolive ad aired in 1988, so by then Cory administration na. Laging walang pasok kasi puro kudeta. I was listening to a lot of Joey Ayala. Paborito ko talaga nung Sic o’ Clock News, every Monday night. And then when Okay Ka Fairy Ko started airing, early 90s, ito yung kasikatan ni Aiza Seguerra.
So what makes you and the team decide on the cover?
Mostly leap of faith. Gut feel and leap of faith. Recently, kung sino yung may kaya sa gusto naming concept. Of course, important yung buzz because you are selling the magazine nationwide.
In your pantheon of covers, where does December 2013 place?
On its way to the top 10. Hirap ako mag-rank ng favorite covers ko kasi may attachment ako sa kanila. Marami akong paborito. And when you rank them, it doesn’t mean that the higher ranking cover is more important than the others, di ba? As of this hour, this one is in maybe the 11th spot, slowly inching her way into the Top 10. Tawagan mo ko bukas, baka andun na siya.
Any other ’80s actresses you’d like to put in your cover?
Carmi Martin! But she respectfully declined. Kanina, nag-float yung pangalan ni Dawn Zulueta. Si Cristina Gonzales, maganda rin sana but she’s now a politician.
Who do you want to see on the next cover of FHM Philippines? Tell us below, and we’ll relay the message to them.
