ou can blink now. That's really the Vivien Tan staring you in the face. This gorgeous, sexy, and intelligent Star World TV host melts us faster than chocolate on a scorching afternoon.

We at UNO believe that a proudly Filipino-made magazine like ours can compete with worldwide titles. We revel in the fact that we can pull off issues featuring the best in local and foreign hotties. Now were privileged to have an international celebrity UNO Girl in the person on Channel V VJ and Star Asia Travel host Vivien Tan. And you better believe it, this is no canned pictorial. Whenever Vivien would say, “Welcome to Singapore ! In one of the Star World TV Ads, your heart would ache, and in a knight-like move, you planned to pack your bags and take her away from the limelight and into your strong arms to build a home for your children.

And already-established household name across Asia , Vivien Ilana Tan comes to our shores anew as an endorser of Addict Mobile. And while she isn't exactly available (sorry boys, she's married), there's still a certain something about her that keeps us interested. Is it the magnificent Bristish-Asian accent? The facial features that mix both the East and West? You decide. Right now we're just at a loss for words looking at this Chinese-English natural wonder.

Being known almost all over East Asia , do you feel sometimes there's little room for you to hide?
Umm, you have 7,100 islands in the Philippines . I can go and hide in one of those? Haha. Yeah…I don't really find that I need to hide.

So you're ok that people recognize you wherever?
You know, I'm not known for being an actress; I'm known for being TV personality. I think if you're an actress there's more of an “untouchability,” that, “you can't go and talk to her.” But if people see you in commercials, and they see me on TV shows, they go, “Hey, I recognize her.” But they recognize you as a friend, like they've seen you somewhere before, rather than someone who's elusive or exclusive.

Where do you hang out usually when you're in Manila?
When it's not raining, I go with my sister-in-law and my nieces, and we take the dog for a long walk. That's in Ortigas. I hang out in place like Malate, in Makati , in Rockwell—and go to standard areas for shopping. Mostly at friends' places actually. You get invited for lunch, visit on the weekends, go play squash or badminton, or something like that.

What are your addictions?
My addictions…chocolate. Still addicted to chocolate. And I love traveling. It's a need, it's a spirit of adventure, it's a spirit of learning. I love to learn new things. So whether it is actually reading a book, or learning everything that comes with life; whether it's going on business, whether it's traveling, learning a new language, learning about new cultures, meeting different people… that to me is a sense of experience that I live for. I enjoy the glamour side of my life. It's not constant, ‘coz there are days when I'll be down and dirty—hair short, in a T-shirt and singlet and I'll be out in the garden digging holes, repotting, trimming, planting… That's the part of me which is kind of like the “homegirl” who likes staying at home, painting the walls or doing my interiors. But in the same token, it's kind of nice to just get to the glamour side o fit where you get dressed up and you're wearing your make-up and you put your hair down and you're wearing millions and millions of pesos worth of jewelry on you, and you're looking out into huge crowds of 5,000 people. That's also a real adrenaline rush as well.
 
Did you go out on a date with anyone from “the other music channel” (MTV)?
That's private, hehehe! We do hang out. I've spoken to, and had an interview with Donita Rose, KC [Montero], Sarah [Meier], with Jamie [Aditya], these were the old MTV VJs. And even the newer ones, like Utt, and Denise as well. So yeah, I think the television stations themselves have an internal rivalry, but the actual VJs—we're all artists in a pool. We're trying to make a living, we're trying to enjoy our work life, and most of us are friends anyway.

Were there creepy things that were happening while you were doing Star Asia Travel?
Oh, always! Always!

Oh, like what?
The creepiest thing was one night, I was in Bali and we were shooting the Balinese New year [episode]. I was in bed about 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, and I just got this feeling, like “uh-oh.” I was asleep, and I was awakened by a really strange feeling. I had goosebumps on my arm and I had this feeling that a ghost came into my room. Because this was the time in a year where they pray in Bali , and they kind of get rid of evil spirits and things like this. I'm a bit sensitive to these little things and I don't know, maybe all the stories got to me, but I woke up at 2 o'clock in a little bit of a fright, going “Huuh! There's something…” I couldn't sleep at all. I was too scared to sleep.

Have you ever been to nudist beach?
Yes, in Sydney . In Australia , there are designated beaches which are nudist beaches. In fact there are islands which are nudist colonies. I've never actually gone naked on a nudist beach. I find it a little bit uncomfortable. I'm a little bit shy when it comes to something like that. And to go totally naked is something I do in the shower. For me, being totally naked is a private affair.

What Filipino masculine trait do you admire the most?
You know, Filipino men, I think, are the most sensitive of Asian males. And they're also in touch with their feminine side. There's still chivalry in this country. There's still “carrying your bags, opening your door, ushering you're through, making sure you're ok, holding the umbrella…” And I know these things don't actually sound a lot, but for a man to have that, it's actually really nice, that you're actually thinking about the other person. You know in Singapore or in Hong Kong , they'll fight you for a cab. But over here, if there's a taxi in front of you, and then you look like you're in a hurry or stressed out, they'll go, “Ok, you go ahead first.” And that's so nice! It's just thoughtful and caring. And that may not be the best thing, but it sure is alluring. It's a lot more meaningful that some guy having a great body. So I think you really have that going on. That's really cool, and don't lose it.

What's the sweetest thing a guy can do to you?
Well you know, I have these really gorgeous text messages. That's kid of the sweetest thing. I mean chocolates and candies and flowers and gifts and things—those are more materialistic possessions, and sometimes they kind of don't mean anything. That chocolate cakes get eaten, the flowers wilt and fade away, but a little text message—something that comes from the heart—that's the sweetest thing you can possibly do for a woman. Writer her a love note, a poem, a really nice text message, a card—things like that.

We're glad to hear that! What's the lamest pick-up line that was used on you?
Oh man, I've had so many lines. I think... “Your father must have been a thief,” and I'm like, “Okay, why?” “Because he stole all the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes.”

Is it really the size of the ship or the motion of the ocean?
That's a hard one, you know! ‘Coz it also depends on the mood of the loving too, you know. I think it depends on what you love in a person. Sex is not just about physical attributes. For me, I have to be in love with a person. I have to be able to have conversations with them. I have to have a spiritual connection with them. Because, otherwise, it's kind of meaningless the morning after.

What were the craziest stunts you've pulled off?
I did a music video in Singapore for a Chinese drama. It was pretty raunchy. It was actually on set and everything. It was like a love scene. You believe what you see on TV, but what you don't realize is that there's lights, cameras, director, producer, make-up artists behind the scenes. You've got 101 people around you and you're just here to do a job. But the outcome of what you see looks great. ‘Coz people are thinking, “Wow, she really made out with that guy.” And I guess that got a lot of attention from the press. I had Singapore talking about it for 5-6 months after that.

Five to six months?
Yeah. It's a very small country, haha. They don't have a lot going on right there.

Being in media, I'm sure you hear a lot of rumors. What was the best rumor you heard about yourself?
Oh, that I was actually dating my co-host and was carrying a lovechild.

So what was your reaction?
Oh, I mean sometimes it gets a little bit annoying because people sort of actually believe what they read in the press. But I think it comes with the territory. I believe there's a certain amount of things that get written about people because that's what makes them glamorous. That's what makes them interesting—they're a lot more interesting on paper than what they are in reality. But that was fun. We had to laugh at that. Because my co-host and I, we were such good buddies. We can hang out together, we can work together. But he was dating someone and I was dating someone, so both of us turned to each other, rolled our eyes, and said, “What do you do? What can you do?

Do you still plan on doing sexy shoots even if you have kids?
I hope so. You know if I can, I will. Who knows what I'm gonna look like after I have kids? I have friends and girlfriends who've had children and some of them, they've bounced back into amazing figures after they've had children. For others, it's been a struggle to get back that figure. Because children take so much of your time. You sacrifice a lot of your life for your children. And I think one of the things that go off-course if your body. So we'll see. I hope to be able to have the time and the family support to be able to have a great figure afterwards. I'm definitely gonna try. I mean, being pregnant is sexy. I'd love to do a shoot while I'm pregnant.

Something like Demi Moore in Vanity Fair?
Yeah why not? She looks fantastic!

more into the arts. (Articles lifted from Uno Magazine) - -