Excerpt: BENCH/ Under the Stars 2017 teaser

ABS-CBN Kapamilya stars Ellen Adarna, Johan Aguilar, Gerald Anderson, Regine Angeles-Leaño, Alex Anselmuccio, Jon Avila, Edward Barber, Luke Conde, Zeus Collins, Kisses Delavin, Robi Domingo, Maymay Entrata, Ejay Falcon, Marco Gallo, Luis Hontiveros, Mikee Lee, Zanjoe Marudo, Sam Milby, Ron Morales, Sam Pinto, Bruce Quebral, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, Johan Santos, Hermes Bautista, Tibo Jubalon, Paul Jake Castillo, John James Uy, Sam Ajdani, Nico Antonio, Phoemela Baranda, Benj Basa, Ivan Carapiet, Alex Castro, David Chua, Sam Concepcion, John Lloyd Cruz, Rayver Cruz, Jake Cuenca, Alessandra de Rossi, JC de Vera, Franco Daza, Isabelle Daza-Semblat, Enchong Dee, John Estrada, Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Catriona Gray, Kristine Hermosa-Sotto, Agot Isidro, Brent Javier, Luke Jickain, Karylle, Kian Kazemi, Xian Lim, Mauro Lumba, Nadine Lustre, Mark McMahon, Philippe Magalona, Shaina Magdayao, Bianca Manalo, Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, Robby Mananquil, Joseph Marco, Coco Martin, Jessy Mendiola, Don Mendoza, Priscilla Meirelles-Estrada, Marc Nelson, Kristine Nieto, Diether Ocampo, Bela Padilla, Angelica Panganiban, Bubbles Paraiso, Angelo Patrimonio, Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio, Tyrone Perez, Pokwang, Cassandra Ponti, John Prats, Angeline Quinto, Wendell Ramos, Miko Raval, James Reid, Keanna Reeves, Thou Reyes, Raphael Robes, Randy See, Jiro Shirakawa, Victor Silayan, Jay R Sillona, Nicole Uysiuseng, Arron Villaflor, AJ Winkler and Kerbie Zamora and GMA Kapuso stars Carla Abellana, Aljur Abrenica, Carlene Aguilar-Ocampo, Marco Alcaraz, Victor Aliwalas, Benjamin Alves, Antonio Aquitania, Lana Asanin, Christian Bautista, James Blanco, Kris Bernal, Chad Burden, Rainier Castillo, Carlos Concepcion, Rodjun Cruz, Assunta de Rossi-Ledesma, Dingdong Dantes, AJ Dee, Martin del Rosario, Lalaine Edson-Forgham, Ryan Eigenmann, Jason Francisco, Frencheska Farr, Vince Ferraren, Tanya Garcia-Lapid, Carl Guevara, Edgar Allan Guzman, Katrina Halili, Jon Hall, Maureen Larrazabal, Kris Lawrence, Grace Lee, Ehra Madrigal, Michelle Madrigal-Woolfolk, Alicia Mayer, Jennylyn Mercado, Aubrey Miles, Diva Montelaba, Iwa Moto-Ablan, Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Jinkee Jamora, Andre and Kobe Paras, Camille Prats-Yambao, Francine Prieto, Dex Quindoza, Rufa Mae Quinto-Magallanes, Marian Rivera-Dantes, Shaun Rodriguez, Rafael Rosell, Steven Silva, Prince Stefan, Suzuki Sadatsugu, Mike Tan, Geoff Taylor, Dennis Trillo, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas, Iya Villania-Arellano, Maggie Wilson-Consunji and Paranaque City Councilor Jomari Yllana, Bench Body Whitening Lotion endorsers Dominique Cojuangco, Addie Manzano and Allison Rodriguez, Geena Rocero, Ken Anderson, Janvier Daily, Wowowee girls RR Enriquez, Saicy Aguila, and April “Congratulations” Gustilo, America's Next Top Model alumnus Allison Harvard, Dominique Reighard and Sophie Sumner and PBA players Rob Duat, Doug Kramer, Anthony and David Semerad, Jeric and Jeron Teng and Arnold van Opstal were unable to appear in the event.

To recall, Mr. Dee would wear JINS Airframe U377 (Spider), 2009 Adidas DLSU hoodie (green), 2011 Nike exclusive De La Salle Dri-Fit tee (white), BENCH/ body Hipster Brief - White (BUB2032WH3), BENCH/ Skinny Jeans - Black (LAM6000) and DC Shoes Men's AT-3 Mid Sneaker (Royal Blue/Armor) would be exhibited at BENCH/ stores nationwide because he was in Bench Uncut 2010 also got wild cheers from the audience and he shows his athletic side with these dance moves, and doing workouts at Bodyworx Spa & Fitness Club instead of Anytime Fitness Dona Hemady before doing a photo shoot at BENCH/ Tower.

See: https://youtu.be/QczKicWg80U?t=46, https://youtu.be/QczKicWg80U?t=47

FAR EAST. Part 2 was the Far East segment with China’s top male model Ji Huan Bo leading the pack.

He was soon followed by hunks Ron Morales, John James Uy, Jon Avila, Jon Hall, and Andrew Wolff; singers Karylle and Christian Bautista; StarStruck graduates Paulo Avelino, Steven Silva, Sarah Lahbati, Enzo Pineda, Diva Montelaba, and Rocco Nacino; Survivor Philippines castways Shaun Rodriguez and Suzuki Sadatsugu; actor AJ Dee; teen heartthrobs Robi Domingo and David Chua; sexy stars Iwa Moto, Iya Villania, and Zanjoe Marudo.

While for Domingo, the former Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition Plus first runner-up and Ateneo de Manila University graduate who wears JINS Airframe U377 (Faded Charcoal), 2008 adidas Ateneo Sesquicentennial jacket (Blue/White), GetBlued Designs “We Fight for the Blue and the White” Tee (Blue), BENCH/ Furne One’s Far East collection men’s costume white sando and denim pant and appeared in the said show when he ripped his sando in the Furne One's Far East segment.

A Twitter user who said "Nakakatawa yung ginawa ni Robi Domingo sa Bench Uncut."

The loveteam of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, wearing elaborate costumes, closed the segment.

BRAZIL. The show reached its peak during the Brazil segment.

Pokwang was followed by Kapuso actress Carla Abellana and Kapamilya heartthrob Enchong Dee.

"The colorful Brazil portion was inspired by exotic birds of the Amazon, according to designer Val Taguba. The most action-packed segment featuring accidental porn star Katrina Halili and young heartthrob Enchong Dee." ('Bench Uncut': It's a tradition!', CHUVANESS By Cecile Van Straten, The Philippine Star, July 7, 2010)

“When Enchong Dee made his entrance at this year’s Bench Universe show, he owned the night in no less than an aerial canoe, looking every bit the gladiator with his toned body and feisty stance.” (Metro Magazine, November 2012)

Also available: Bench Uncut: A Bolder Look at the Future (2010 Denim and Underwear Show) and Bench Universe (25th Anniversary Denim and Underwear Show 2012) full show on YouTube in High Definition.

Bench Uncut: A Bolder Look at the Future (2010 Denim and Underwear Show) held last July 2, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum and aired last October 24, 2010 on ABS-CBN Sunday's Best, while Bench Universe: 25th Anniversary Denim and Underwear Show held last September 13 and 14, 2012 at the Mall of Asia Arena and aired last November 18, 2012 on ABS-CBN Sunday's Best and December 8, 2012 on Star World.

Where Is God In Times Of Trouble?

 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; and when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon you, for I am the LORD, thy God, the Holy One of Israel.   Isaiah 43:2‑3, KJV

When I was in Jerusalem years ago, our Jewish guide began to tell about his birth in Germany and the persecution that followed in the early days of World War 2.  With growing emotional intensity, he told how his father was seized by the Gestapo and never heard from again.  The family escaped to another country in Europe.  With growing anger, the tempo of his conversation increased, and then almost as though he was venting some of his wrath, he said, "Where was God when the 6 million Jews were cremated?"  It was an old question.  Where is God in times of disaster?  Where was God when 4 million Cambodians were slaughtered in 1975 and 1976?  Where was God when men and women were slaughtered in the other conflicts?

Thousands of years ago some of my Jewish friends' ancestors were facing a difficult period of trial.  The Jewish people faced the prospect of captivity in Babylon.  Families were being torn apart.  Lives disrupted.  And God said, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; and when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon you, for I am the LORD, thy God, the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 43:2‑3, KJV).

During another time of national disaster, the prophet Nahum said, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him" (Nahum 1:7, KJV). Right here, we find a key that helps us understand God's position in times of disaster.  "He knows them that trust in Him."  What does that mean?  Certainly, it does not imply that some are spared suffering while others who are less righteous are confronted with it.  When a nation suffers, the righteous, or the good man, alongside the evil, suffers the same; but there is a difference.  The man who trusts in the Lord finds a strength, a help, an answer that the unbeliever does not have.  One man in simple faith casts himself on the mercy of God.  He discovers that Nahum is right‑‑God is a stronghold in the day of trouble; the other man, not having anyone to turn to, curses the difficulty and dies in his despair.

Where is God in times of suffering?  When my Jewish friend asked about God's presence when 6 million Jews were cremated, I responded by saying, "He was in the same place He was when His Son was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem."  There are some questions that will never be fully answered until we stand in the presence of God, but to turn from Him in the day of trouble leaves only bleak despair.  Christ never promised deliverance from all difficulty, but He did promise His presence in the time of trouble.  He said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  So we may say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

And how does this affect your life?  Chances are you will never face the mental anguish of our Jewish friend, yet who knows?  Nonetheless, you will face suffering, for it comes to all men.  You will face times of distress.  You will be confronted with pressure, and when these knock at your door you can either turn to Him, who will be a refuge, or face difficulty alone.  Trust Him, for you will find the promises of His Word are sure.  He will never leave nor forsake you.

Resource reading: Psalm 23:1-6

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/where-is-god-in-times-of-trouble/