WHERE _S HYPERACT_VE?

IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME THAT EVERY MOLECULE OF MY BODY

HAD TO EXEMPLIFY HYPERACTIVE,

THIS IS IT.

_  BREATHE HYPERACT_VE.

_  MOVE HYPERACT_VE.

_  L_VE HYPERACT_VE.

! AM THE HYPERACT!VE GAY BOY™

HOLLA
HOLLA
HOLLA
C'MON, C'MON...

#GETHYPERACTIVE!

ASIA'S PR PRINCESS

I'm in the process of updating the Mr Gay HK media kit for 2013-2014. It's mostly tedious - re-looking at numbers, lay-out, new success stories, trends to watch out for, etc, etc - all in the name of grabbing potential brand partners by the balls and shaking them from side-to-side, until they relent and sign over precious sponsorship dollars for me to see my pet project through another year.

2013 is Mr Gay HK, Year 5.

I'm having a bit of a moment, reminiscing about what has been the past four years. How stories were created, how they were shaped, where I found fertile ground to plant the seeds of a campaign, and then watch it grow and intensify...

I used to enjoy this. I was really good at it, too. It's incredible, looking back at what you've done and realizing that you've accomplished some super-fucking-human feats. If I had met myself five years ago, I would have said:

Holy shit, princess - where'd you find time to get all of these done, plus manage a social persona, maintain friendships and a meaningful relationship with Chris, keep in constant touch with family, do drag, and blog??!

I was of course a lot more persistent when I was younger. These days, I wouldn't deem waste anybody's time. I'd move on as soon as I hear a No, because, I tell myself, it's not the end of the world. There are other things in life which will be a Yes, and they're just straight ahead, so keep on walking! But looking back at what I've been able to accomplish, armed with nothing more than youth and persistence and naivete, I'd say:

You fucking wore people out with your enthusiasm, until they just said Yes so you would go away!

I would have liked to be friends with that guy - that penniless, Hyperactive gay boy. He made things happen without knowing, fully, how he made them happen. He simply jumped into the deep end - and he'd ask questions later. But only if he absolutely had to. He was self sufficient and independent and driven and bullheaded and positive.

He was happy and energetic.

He was free.

Sometimes we need to force ourselves to look back, to inspire ourselves in the present, for what we need to get done tomorrow. That's just what happened to me.




POST-SCRIPT

Looking back on it, pondering, writing about it and congratulating yourself isn't enough. Pause for a moment and thank the universe for always making sure you see the redemption after every conflict she throws at you.

-Ryeness

THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BE A MAN™

2010 MR GAY HK RICK TWOMBLEY
2010 MR GAY WORLD 2ND RUNNER-UP // OSLO, NORWAY
BEST IN NATIONAL COSTUME
JOINT WINNER, MR CONGENIALITY

ph. VAN TENGGA for MGHK

2011 MR GAY HK HEIHEI YAU
2011 MR GAY WORLD SPECIAL AWARDEE // MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES

(FOR IRRESISTIBLE CUTENESS, WE SUSPECT...)

ph. VAN TENGGA for MGHK

2012 MR GAY HK JIMMY WONG
2012 MR GAY WORLD TOP 10 // JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

ph. DS MAGAZINE

2013 MR GAY HK BENJIE CARAIG
2013 MR GAY WORLD 1ST RUNNER-UP // ANTWERP, BELGIUM

ph. DS MAGAZINE

HEARTFELT THANKS AND MUCH LOVE 

TO OUR FAMILY, 

FRIENDS, 

LOVED ONES,

SPONSORS

AND FANS.

WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT,

NONE OF THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN

POSSIBLE.

2014 
MR GAY HK YEAR 5

THE PINK REVEAL

WATCH 
WHAT HAPPENS

NEXT.

RIP RUSS JORDAN.

WE REMEMBER YOU WITH FONDNESS
AND GRATEFULNESS.

CAN WE JUST STOP & TALK AWHILE?

The last week wasn't just a whirlwind of Hyperactive events; it was an HI (10) Tornado, where Hyperactive Intensity is calculated as follows:

HI = DW / NEo x nSH

(NEo +/+ NEp) A ^ S

That's days of the week (7) divided by number of events organized (2), multiplied by net sleeping hours (5).

The most volatile variable here, of course is NEo, which isn't always indicative of NEp (number of events participated in). In most cases, NEo and NEp are inversely proportional. After all, DW (days of the week) is a constant. The more events you organize, the less time you have to allocate to events you participate in. In my case, however, NEo and NEp are directly proportional - especially since nSH follows the Law of Diminishing Returns. It's only by keeping NEo and NEp parallel on the HI graph am I able to keep producing the amounts of A (adrenaline) required to secure a high S (success) rate.

THE QUEEN'S SILVER

BEFORE HK1K
AN EMPTY OPEN-AIR LOT

DURING HK1K
WITH MODEL HELENA CHAN
AND COLUMNIST YALUN TU IN THE BACK

AFTER HK1K
AFTER-PARTY AT MAGNUM

I organized HK1K, HK Mag's 1,000th issue pop-up "Hong Kong Hipsters" block party, on an empty lot in Fashion Walk. The event required the support of over 20 brand partners, over 100 support staff (technicians, stage managers, gophers, security, chefs, waiters and bartenders, door bitches, interns, photographers... and so on), managed through 5 Google Docs (guest list, contact sheet, rundown, budget, script and show flow), and mobilized via 5 buses, to pull off.

It wasn't perfect, but it was awesome. I think I did awesome... I'm my own biggest critic. So many things could have gone wrong. But so many things were OK, I'm tearful with gratitude to everyone who had in hand in making it a success. Also, my mom's 9-day novena before the event obviously worked! Thank you Mommy, and thank you God.

KEEP IT MOVIN'!

MANILA

KARE-KARE

HYPERACTIVE AND A BEVY OF BEAUTIFUL AUNTIES

#HYPRFAMOUSFLOORS
THE PENTHOUSE IN THE GREEN LOUNGE
ORTIGAS, MANILA

WITH MY BEAUTEOUS BABY SISTER, LOREN

As if that wasn't enough, I had an 8am flight to Manila immediately following HK1K, for Destination, I Do! - the highly conceptual wedding of my cousin, Mark, to his lady love, Abbey.

Upon my arrival in Manila, my youngest sister, Loren, speed-ironed my barong Tagalog and dress pants whilst I greedily gulped honey lemon water, multivitamins and a whole pot of kare-kare. I knew I had to make an effort to be fit for public consumption. I was hoarse, exhausted and sleepy, which is unfair because my family deserves to have the best of Hyperactive.

The wedding invites were mock passports, the guest cards were baggage tags, the tables' centerpieces were each inspired by a dreamy destination, the cake was a stack of luggages rendered in fondant, and of course, the entire thing was MC'd by Hyperactive. At one point, I had to grab my cousin, Boyang, to share hosting duties. I was simply too hoarse to be coherent. It would suck for Mark and Abbey look back to their wedding reception and remember only that I sounded like a broken accordion.

Luckily the happy couple seemed to guess that I might be at less than my usual 150%, and so they had a Starbucks concession especially licensed to operate at their wedding reception. They're coffee lovers, you see. Naturally, they want their guests to have free access to a caffeine fix. Of course.   

I got back to the hotel at 1.30am, by which time I figured it'd be futile to sleep and risk missing my 7am flight back to Hong Kong. In Manila, if something could go wrong, it will. So my sister, Loren and I, simply called for massages.

I was back in Hong Kong less than 24 hours after I left - too exhausted to even be aghast at the explosion of event detritus all over my flat.

BACK IN HK,
LAUNDRY AND A MESSY FLAT YELLED FOR ATTENTION.

DID ALL THAT JUST FUCKING HAPPEN?!

Clearly, there had just been a Hyperactive Intensity 10 Tornado.

I dutifully scrubbed and laundered and sprayed and cleaned.

Last Thursday was dinner with the British Consul General. Next Thursday is the Guest List event at Volume HEAT. And then Mr Gay HK's send-off for Mr Gay World, and my birthday. Somewhere in there, I have to squeeze a reading for The Maids. And I mustn't forgo my regular workouts, of course, because Chris is arriving next week.

July is stupid!

I am sleepless, restless and running purely on adrenaline.

And I'm still going.

Where I'm now pulling energy from, I can't even tell any more.

Can we just stop and talk a while?

FUNNILY ENOUGH, THIS SONG WAS USED FOR A COFEE TVC DECADES AGO...

 

// GET HYPERACTIVE! //

MR GAY HONG KONG AT IDAHOT 2013

YOU CAN STAND UNDER MY [RAINBOW] UMBRELLA, ELLA, ELA, EH EH.

IDAHOT CO-MC ABBY LEE WITH MR GAY HK BENJIE CARAIG

ACTIVIST AND COMMUNITY LEADER BILLY LEUNG (AND A CANDIDATE AT THE 2009 EDITION OF MR GAY HK)
ACTS AS HIS MUM'S TRANSLATOR.

BILLY'S MUM SAID:

"I MISSED OUT ON SO MUCH BEFORE BILLY CAME OUT. I'M MAKING UP FOR IT."

BENJIE, YOUNG ACTIVIST GEORGE, AND LAWYER MICHAEL VIDLER

L-R: HYPERACTIVE, MGHK TITLEHOLDERS HEIHEI AND BENJIE, AND MY CO-PRODUCER AD
PHOTO BY ANGIE PALMER

IDAHOT was once again held in the middle of Causeway Bay. I had my reservations about the location. We had trouble with the authorities two years ago. The rally was shut down during an interpretative dance number by high school students. The cops claimed our lack of the requisite entertainment license as the reason. I suspect the real reason to be complaints from shop owners who were panicked at the sheer density of pink and rainbow that descended on their precious commercial area. Hello! - we only make your place prettier just be hanging around!

So last year, we did the event at Chater Garden. It went great. The area is more contained, cleaner, safer. More families attended and the press had better access to the stage. This year, we returned to Causeway Bay - maybe to reclaim the experience, maybe to influence shoppers who wouldn't otherwise be exposed to an LGBT event, maybe to just be on the street.

Benjie, the current Mr Gay HK titleholder, spoke against bullying in all forms, at every stage of our lives. An entire squad of pink-clad boys stood behind him in support: Myself, 2012 1st runner-up Bridge Hudson, 2013 2nd runner-up Dickson Lau, 2011 Mr Gay HK Heihei Yau and my co-producer AD. We wore pink 'It's OK to be gay!' statement tees designed by Benjie himself, sales from which go towards the campaign against homophobic bullying in schools. (Buy it HERE.)

Activist Billy Leung, who competed in the very first edition of Mr Gay HK, acted as a translator for his mum.  All the more serendipitous that we had a testimonial from a loving mother, on Mother's Day. Benjie presented a bouquet to Billy's mum afterwards.

Other notable community leaders who got up onstage were Les Peches founders Betty Grissoni and Abby Lee (who was also Reggie Ho's co-MC), first openly gay legislator Ray Chan, Cantopop legend Anthony Wong, lawyer Michael Vidler, plus many more.

My favourite moment from the event was when we all opened our rainbow umbrellas to signify the voices of the LGBT community demanding legal protection from discrimination in Hong Kong.

The tide of history is turning.

It's not merely OK to be gay; it's great to be gay.

// GET HYPERACTIVE! //

IDAHOT. AND ICOULDATOLDYOUTHAT, TOO.

FROM L-R
HEIHEI, MR GAY HK 2009
BENJIE, MR GAY HK 2012
JIMMY, MR GAY HK 2011

It's a rare treat to capture three of my Mr Gay Hong Kong winners in one photo. Rick, who won the very first edition in 2009, has since relocated to Atlanta. Heihei and Benjie are always here of course and have become quite the dynamic duo in the LGBT community. Jimmy, who won back in 2011, is busy with the international theatre circuit. But he's in Hong Kong for a bit before he takes off for his next gig in Singapore, so the boys took in a junk trip last weekend.

Few people know what it takes to own the Mr Gay Hong Kong title. Sure, you win it onstage on the one night you get judged on rounds of competition that include swimwear, formal wear and interview. But you own it through your work in the community for the rest of the year. I'm ecstatic that three of my boys get to hang out, even for just a hot second.

Benjie has hit the ground running, designing an IT'S OK TO BE GAY statement tee (as seen on the video below), producing MGHK TV webisodes with Heihei, and now, pioneering community involvement with the I AM ME project.

Benjie will be taking the IDAHOT stage today (3-5pm, behind Sogo in Causeway Bay) to speak out against bullying, discrimination, and all that dark, ugly, painful, unfair shit we still need to deal with.

I know we're meant to be gay, but this is the one time we're meant to get angry. It's 20 fucking 13. Let's get on with the programme, bitchiz!


 

SHOOTING THE 1069 ANTI-HIV / AIDS TV COMMERCIAL

WHATASUNNYDAY STUDIO IN CHAI WAN IS, INDEED, BATHED WITH NATURAL SUNLIGHT.

OUR DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND OUR PRODUCER, JOE LAM, LOOK THROUGH THE CLIPS.

J BRIDGE HUDSON
MR GAY HK 2011 1ST RUNNER-UP.

IT WAS BRIDGE'S BRITHDAY, TOO!

HEIHEI YAU
MR GAY HONG KONG 2010

JAMES GANNABAN,
HYPERACTIVE MR GAY HONG KONG FOUNDER

BENJIE CARAIG
MR GAY HONG KONG 2012

BRIDGE AND HEIHEI SHARE A LIGHT MOMENT.

THE PRINT AD IN THE HK LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMME BOOK

TV COMMERCIAL WILL BE LAUNCHED AT THE HKLGFF PREMIERE.

// DOWNLOAD MOBILE APP 1069. //

MR GAY HONG KONG 2012 GRAND FINALE VIDEO

// AWESOME. //

DONNY THE CONTENDER

Finally, he's allowed to have a bit of ice cream.

Of all the candidates at this year's Mr Gay Hong Kong, it was Donny who approached the process with tactical caution.

"Darling, can we meet up for lunch or coffee? Just wanna know more about the competition... hear more what it's all about, so expectations are clear on both sides..."

So we had lunch at 208 Duecento Otto. Wait, that's a lie. I  had lunch; Donny simply watched me stuff my face with food from the antipasti buffet whilst he dutifully abstained from the salty goodness of the cured cold cuts. I knew then, I was in front of a serious contender.

"How can I do better?" he asked just before the candidates were interviewed by South China Morning Post's Joanna Chiu at Paul Gerrard. It was midway through to the Grand Finale and Donny was firmly middle of the pack in the Online Vote.

"Just be youself," I replied, slightly bewildered. After all, what else I could say which might make a difference to someone so good looking?

"Ace the final Q&A round," I added, almost as an afterthought. "Make sure you're relaxed and honest and not seem like you're trying too hard."

Donny, with his personable mien, kickass body sculpted no doubt by hundreds of hours in the gym, and a Herculean discipline to abstain from bad food (I'm making a note to myself) won Best in Swimwear and 1st Runner-up.

He also pulled away with runner-up in the Online Vote, at the very last day.

What a real contender, to the very end.



 

SIMPLY TREVOR ALT

I first met Trevor in the W Hotel, at the launch party of Mr Gay Hong Kong. Heihei Yau, Mr Gay Hong Kong 2010, facilitated introductions.

"Trevor is joining," Heihei said simply, in his usual manner.

And that was, quite simply, how we found Trevor.

Trevor is simply one of the most physically flawless creatures I've met. Perfect face, body, smile... He was made to be admired - like a Boticelli, maybe. And as a performer, he knew exactly how to use his physical assets to his greatest advantage. He took beautiful photographs, he made for an engaging interview, he compelled attention whenever he was in the public eye. He was charming and polite and delightfully quotable - but imminently competitive. After all, the life of a performer is one endless stream of auditions.

Simply, are you right for the part?

During the Grand Finale, he walked into rehearsals toting a McDonald's Happy Meal. I smiled inwardly, thinking that it takes an incredible amount of confidence to ingest junk food prior to a competition. Yet, reliable as ever, he performed perfectly.

Trevor, we are honoured to have had you trust in the process.

Quite simply, thank you.

         

GAY PRIDE

TREVOR ALT, DONNY DE SILVA, BENJIE CARAIG, DICKSON LAU, RAUL FRANCO

APPLE DAILY
WITH JUDGES EVAN STEER, SARAH FUNG, PRISCILLA I'ANSON, ANGIE PALMER & REGGIE HO

FRONT PAGE THE NEXT DAY IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, BABY!

 

Last Saturday night, I MC'd the Grand Finale of Mr Gay Hong Kong.

Benjie Caraig won over a super competitive field of finalists.

I could not have been prouder, happier, and - just honestly - relieved that it's all over!!! Thanks to the finalists, our sponsors, the media, friends, fans and supporters.

There's More Than One Way
To Be A Man.

// HYPERACTIVE IS NOW BACK 

TO REGULAR PROGRAMMING. //

VOTE NOW.

Trevor ALT

Benjie CARAIG

Donny DE SILVA

Raul FRANCO

Dickson LAU

HYPERACTIVE & GANG

// MGHK SUPPORTS 

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. //

Hair by Robin Lomas | Make-up by Daniel Minakata @ Paul Gerrard
Photography by Frankie To

Shot on location in Knight on Wyndham and Robata Zawazawa

CRAZY 'JINGERS

THE HYPERACTIVE GAY BOY™

The first time I visited Beijing, there was a freakishly early cold snap. It was winter before fall had properly made its exit. People were unprepared. Some families forgot that they had left their older members to "hang out" outside - some of whom froze to their death.

I was unprepared, too. I'm Filipino. I have no sense of dressing up for the season. I had to borrow really huge clothes from my imposing Jamaican-American friend, Aaron, who taught English to Chinese children.

"Crazy 'Jingers!" Aaron would holler in frustration whenever an empty cab would pass us by, obviously not in the mood to take on passengers who might not speak Mandarin. For the record, Aaron's Mandarin is perfectly functional. Except, he tends to wave down cabs whilst holding a big bottle of beer.

Aaron, it seemed, is just as crazy as the 'Jingers he hangs around with.

Chris and I stayed about a week with Aaron and his just-as-crazy roommate, Malazh, a tall goth who had a thing for Viking-esque bottom boys.

During that trip, I planted the seeds for Mr Gay China - the cancellation of which at the eleventh hour was widely covered by CNN, AFP, Reutres... Of course I was devastated. Luckily, the Beijing organizers managed to send a Chinese representative to compete for the Mr Gay World title in Oslo, anyway. Big news in the worldwide LGBT community.

This time, I'm traveling to Beijing not to rabble-rouse (although I have just been warned that Chinese censors have now blocked The Hyperactive Gay Boy™ in China).

I'm traveling as a guest of stylish boutique hotel, The Opposite House, to experience its enhanced facilities and programs for guests.

I am hoping for a relaxed, low-key weekend.

Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen.

// CRAZY HYPERACTIVE. //