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Philippine Showbiz Today
Xander Ford shocks,
delights netizens
Count Marlou Arizala as one
of those who does not believe in
the old adage “Sticks and stones
may break my bones, but names
will never hurt me.”
He started out as the oldest
member of Hasht5, a dance group
of five teenagers. The Hasht-5
member who first got noticed after
viral lipsync “papogi” videos, and
got his biggest break when he was
asked to guests in “Gandang Gabi
Vice,” got sick and tired of being
called ugly when he was younger.
So he decided to undergo
plastic surgery and morph into the
handsome Xander Ford with the
clear skin, aquiline nose and fuller
cheeks.
The transformation was so
amazing, Marlou and Xander Ford
became the number two trending
topic worldwide.
Netizens are having a field
day describing his transformation
from that of a pinipig to a classy
magnum ice cream. Up high in the
list of most well-loved comments is
how “words could affect a person
either physically or mentally.”
Netizens who support Marlou
say it’s just right for him to
change his looks if it makes him
happy. Another says that Marlou’s
experience proves that poverty can
make one look ugly.
Now that Marlou is dead, and
Xander Ford has taken over, the
man of the hour, his parents and
growing number of fans agree a
brighter future awaits him.
During a recent appearance
in “Rated K,” the camera showed
howXander Ford’s fans, waving
banners with his name printed
on them as they chanted his
name over and over.
His parents, Aniceto and
Merly, who were present at the
studio, shed tears of joy. They
went on stage to hug him and
show their happiness over his
new look.
Xander Ford told the
audience he can now finally work
seriously as an actor to help his
parents. He now talks and moves
with more confidence, and his
stylist can come up with various
types of clothes Xander can wear
with ease and composure.
Xander has also become
a photographer’s delight as he
changes his poses every now
and then to look more interesting
before the camera.
The “Rated K” episode
featuring the transformation of
internet sensation Marlou Arizala
into Xander Ford proved to be
October 8 - 21, 2017
Jan. 22-Feb.7, 2015
a big winner not just on social
media but also on TV.
On Sunday, the episode
became a trending topic on
Twitter in the Philippines and all
over the world. It also defeated
its rival program on GMA-7 in the
ratings game on television.
According to data from
Kantar Media, “Rated K” scored a
national TV rating of 26.4% versus
“Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,”
which had a rating of 18.2%.
For weeks, Ford teased fans
with his new look but it was only
on Sunday that he revealed his
new look.
Aside from having his nose
and chin altered, Ford also had
his teeth, eyebrows and lips fixed.
“Natupad na po ‘yung
pangarap ko,” he said.
Meanwhile, aside from “Rated
K,” other ABS-CBN shows ruled
the weekend programming.
Star Image Artist is managing
Xander Ford.●
- M. Ranoa-Bismark, PS
Before and after shots of Xander Ford circulating on social media. Screenshot from
Twitter/TheNelsonRemo