224. The First Gwapos of ESKINOL MASTER, (1974-1987)

ESKINOL was a locally-made skin care product Eskinol that was created back in the 1940s by pharmacist Dr. Esperanza Castro-Palting. The first product,  Eskinol Facial Lotion, was made for men and women, but its early advertising targetted only the female market.

It was not until 1972 that and Eskinol product solely for men was developedand launched—ESKINOL MASTER. The new product gained enough traction and began advertising in 1974 using popular male celebrities.  Before its most successful campaign “Sikreto ngMga Gwapo” was rolled out in 1994, there were at least 3 models—alll “gwapos” in their own right, who preceded Rico Yan, James Reid and Alden Richards.

VICTOR LAUREL

Victory “Cocoy” Laurel (b. 1 Jul. 1951) is the first known celebrity male endorser for ESKINOL MASTERin 1974. The middle child of former Vice President Salvador Laurel and  stage actress Celia Diaz-Laurel, Cocoy  entered showbiz via the “Search for the Philippines’ Romeo & Juliet”, a contest to promote the Franco Zefirelli movie “Romeo and Juliet” in 1969 where the 19 year old bagged the “Romeo” title  to Lotis Key’s  “Juliet”. He debuted in the 1971 film, “Lollipops and Roses and Burong Talangka”,  where he played the love interest of superstar Nora Aunor. The movie blockbuster made him a screen idol. At his peak, he recorded songs, performed in a live concert and made a film with Miss Universe Margie Moran in “Oh, Margie, Oh!”  In 1989, Cocoy was cast as assistant commissar in Miss Saigon in London. This led to playing the lead role of the Engineer in Miss Saigon’s Australian version .

CHRISTOPHER DE LEON

Christopher "Boyet" Strauss de León (b. 31 Oct. 1956) is the son of top screen stars Lilia Dizon and Gil de Leon. He was launched to full stardom in the 1973 film, “Tinimbang Ka, Nguni’t Kulang”, for which he won a FAMAS Best Actor award, he would win a ttal of 5 FAMAS acting awards. He was first married to Nora Aunor whom he met when he did the film, “Banawe” with her. He is currently married to actress Sandy Andolong . He has done over 120 films, stage plays,  as well as TV programs—from gag shows like “ Going Bananas” and countless telenovelas. Boyet is the first actor to appear in a centerfold in a 1974 women; magazine. He was signed up as an ESKINOL MASTER model in 1984.

EDU MANZANO

Eduardo Barrios Manzano (b. 14 Sep. 1955)  was signed up as an ESKINOL MASTER model in 1987. This  American-born  actor spent his early years in the U.S. where he joined the Air Force at age 17. When he returned to the Philippines, he went to school in La Salle, where he dabbled in modeling, and appeared in a Lux Soap commercial that starred Hilda Koronel. He broke into movies and made many popular films in the 80s and 90s, like “Working Girls”, “Captain Barbell” ,”Maging Sino ka Man”,  “Separada” and “Tanging Yaman”. He tackled a variety of roles—as the handsome dramatic lead, as a movie villain, or as  a funnyman .  He was also known as talk-show host for TV aswell as gameshow host  of “The Weakest Link”, “Pilipinas, Game KNB?”, “ 1 vs. 100” and “Asar Talo Lahat Panalo!.” Manzano also embarked on a political career as Vice Mayor of Makati in 1998, but lost when he ran for the city’s mayoralty. He was also defeated in the senatorial race. Edu is the father of Luis Manzano, his son with Vilma Santos.