ast car. Blazing action. Pulsating street racing. Honk your horns as Angel Locsin zips through the high-octane world of Initial D.

Angel Locsin's face still turns as red as her Darna outfit every time she's addressed the sexiest woman in the Philippines .

“Could you please tell her,” her handler pleads, “how sexy she really is? Kasi ayaw niya talagang maniwala .” So we tell her the honest and official truth, reminding her of the whopping 1.5 million votes she had garnered throughout the polling period for this year's 100 Sexiest Women in the World campaign.

Then, seemingly right on cue, Angel blushes once more, looking as if she were the last in line to receive praise. “ Sa totoo lang, wala pa rin akong masabi hanggang ngayon ,” Angel says. “I'm extremely happy to be named the sexiest Filipina this year. Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa FHM at sa lahat ng readers ninyo na sumusuporta sa akin . I must admit, though, that I still am surprised of this year's result. I didn't expect it talaga .”

Just at that instant, we realized how hot an asset humility is and how Angel's presence radiates because of it. Fans gathered during this exclusive pictorial to herald her turn as voice talent for the Animax-produced anime series, Initial D: Fourth Stage, Project. D , and just to bask in the genuine vibes Angel glows with.

Ordinarily, such mad turnout of kibitzers would drive all of us here at FHM crazier than we already are. But Angel, perhaps sensing out trouble, gamely helps us with crowd control, politely asking fans (police escorts included) to stop snapping photos while the pictorial is underway. She smiles at them after delivering her plea.

And just like that, they all walk away, blushing…

Thanks for the assist. That you have such a mesmerizing hold on people is just so sexy to all of us. Still, we have to ask: Why are you always into downplaying yourself and your achievements?

Hindi naman . (laughs) As for this year's 100 Sexiest poll, I really though I'd get a lower ranking talaga . Feeling ko kasi nag -peak na ako sa rank No.6 kaya umaasa ako no I'd slide down from the list this year. Pero iba nga ang nangyari . Kaya nga sobrang thankful ako sa lahat ng bumoto sa akin at sa FHM kasi ang tiyaga-tiyaga ninyo sa pag -invite sa akin .

Would topping next years' poll convince you of the sheer power of your sexiness?

Hay, bakit ? (looks shocked) Hindi ko yata deserved yan . I'm not the type of person who expects too much. Kung magkatotoo siya , abot hanggang langit ang magiging pasasalamat ko sa inyong lahat .

What do you think is the one thing that people find irresistible in you?

My friends always tell me na gustung-gusto nila yung fact na hindi ako nagpapaka -feeling, na yung kilos at asal ko ay totoo sa kung sino ako . Sure, I've achieved some level of success. Pero hindi naman talaga rason iyon para magbago ako . Sa akin , out yang pa -pretend-pretend. Kung paano mo ako nakilala noong nagsisimula ako, ganun pa rin ako ngayon . I'm still the down-to-earth Angel na naging kaibigan ninyo .

Sweet! How taxing was it for you headlining the highly rated Darna?

I love what I do I really don't feel weighed down by work. To me, without Mulawin and Darna , wala rin ako rito ngayon . I'm sure FHM won't be that gung-ho booking me for pictorials kung wala ang mga yun . I feel truly blessed sa pagtitiwalang ipinakita ng GMA sa akin . Yung tulong na naibigay sa kain ng dalawang shows na yun , sobra-sobra talaga . At saka hindi naman ako nata -type kasi I get to play a variety of characters— bida man siya o hindi . Right now, I'm also doing two movies , I Will Always Love You and Mulawin: The Movie . Tapos involved pa ako rito sa Initial-D. So panibagong challenges na naman .

You look absolutely glorious doning the Darna uniform. Ever had encounters with unruly fans while you're out shooting scenes in it?

Awa ng Diyos , wala pa namang nangyari pambabastos sa akin nang harap-harapan . Kasi, una, hindi naman kabastus-bastos si Darna . Superhero, di ba ? Sobra ang respeto sa kanya ng tao . Besides, majority of Darna 's viewers are kids. Ano naman ang mga muwang nila sa pambabastos ?

Speaking of challenges, how did you find this anime-slash-racing-inspired shoot?

I'm perfectly comfortable with the theme because it's Initial-D. Tapos, this being my third FHM pictorial, hindi na ako masyadong naiilang . Kasi noong una nating pictorial, masyadong pa akong takot . Para hindi pa ako ganun ka -confident sa sarili ko kaya nagugulat ako kapag nakikita ko yung mga dapat kong isuot .

By the time this issue comes out, you'll be known as the voice behind Initial-D's Kyoko Iwase, the lone female racer featured in the series. How are you as a driver?

Hay, alam ba ninyo na hindi ako pinagda -drive ng mga taong close sa akin ? I think my relatives and friends are just protective of me because they know I tend to drive really fast. Kaya sa simula pa lang, takot na agad sila . Kung minsan tuloy, kaysa marinig ko ang reklamo nila , hindi ko na lang hinahawakan yung sasakyan . But if my schedule permits, I try to drive.

What does your ride mean to you?

Parang bahay na ang turing ko roon . I watch TV there or kung may time, natutulog lang ako roon .

Do you regularly order your driver to drive faster than usual?

Hindi naman masyado . But I must admit na gustung-gusto kong mabilis yung pagpapatakbo ng driver ng sinasakyan ko . Nasasayangan kasi ako sa oras. Tapos ayoko pang male -late ako sa mga natanguan ko . I'm the type kasi who honors all my commitments.

If you have the money to splurge on a car. What kind of car would you burn your cash on?

To me, it'll be a Chevrolet Impala form the ‘60s. I've always been a big fan of vintage cars. I don't know why. Basta gandang-ganda ako sa mga classic designs nila . If you noticed, talagang halos maiyak ako kanina when we were shooting the setup na nasa Mercedes Benz ako . Ganung look kasi sa car ang paborito ko . Mas naastigan ako sa mga vintage cars kaya talagang napatili ako nung makita ko siya . I'm very sure vintage cars cost more, but they're worth their price to me. Mas lalaong hindi mo sila pababayaan . And you know na you're only one of the few na merong ganun .

Are you going to push yourself some more in the name of fame and fortune?

In all honesty, hindi na talaga ako nag-aambisyon pa nang higit sa kinatatayuan ko ngayon . I'm perfectly happy and contented with the blessings that are coming my way now. Pero kung bibiyayaan pa ako at ang aking pamilya ng pagkakataon para mag -improve pa, magpapasalamat siyempre ako nang lubusan. I'm not far from a wealthy family. Lahat ng pinagpapaguran ko , I give talaga para matulungan ang pamilya ko . Sila lagi ang iniisip ko. Ako naman, hindi mahirap mapasaya . Kung anong meron, okay na ako roon .

Besides driving, when are you prone to rushing things?

There are times na sugod ako nang sugod and there are moments na atras-abante ako . Usually, if it's career-related, I rarely think twice doing whatever's necessary to get the job done. Pag sinabi ko na ang gusto kong mangyari , I use that as motivation para lalo kong ma-achieve yung goals ko .

One last thing before you speed off to your next engagement: Would you fall in love with a guy who drives steadily and slowly?

(Laughs) Gusto ko marunong siyang magtakbo nang mabilis , pero ayoko namang umasta siya na parang siya ang hari ng kalsada . Siyempre gusto kong magkaroon din siya ng konsiderasyon sa kapwa niya at sa akin na pasahero niya . Kung minsan, makikita mo sa lalaki kung ano yung totoo niyang pagkatao pag nagmamaneho siya .

- -