MANILA, Philippines - Neither of them wears an engagement ring to, as the song puts it, show the world that they belong to each other. But Dr. Vicki Belo and her beloved Hayden Kho don’t have to show off since everybody knows anyway that, through thick and thin, come hell or high water, for better or for worse and you can quote all the clichés in the whole wide world…they stick to each other with the tenacity of glue.
Together for more than five years (not counting their six-month cooling off following Hayden’s indiscretion to the tune of Careless Whisper), the sweethearts got engaged middle of last year but up to now they haven’t set a date for their wedding (if it will ever happen).
“It’s funny,” said Hayden Thursday afternoon before the press launch of his eponymous scent. “In showbiz, people keep on talking when a couple is getting married, and once the couple is married people start speculating when the marriage will breakup.”
Vicki once told The STAR, jokingly it turned out, that she and Hayden would march down the aisle (where, she didn’t say) after their friends David Foster and his girlfriend Yolanda did on 11-11-11. And when they didn’t, Vicki moved the date to 12-12-12.
But why get married? Why, so to speak, rock the boat? They have survived tests and trials in their romance perhaps made stronger and not at all hampered by a 25-year age-gap, so why not just continue to enjoy their company?
If ever they would get married (although their friends doubt it), Hayden said that he would make sure that they signed a pre-nuptial agreement.
“I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again,” insisted Hayden at the risk of sounding like a broken record, “I’m not after Vick’s money. I love her for what she is and not for what she has.”
And to prove that he can stand on his own two feet, again contrary to what people think that he’s dependent on Vicki’s generosity, Hayden has decided to produce his own perfume that comes in 13 fragrances, for both men and women — Elegant, Romantic, High Fashion, Bold & Sexy, among them. It was announced at the presscon that Hayden will be distributed by the reputable Ever Bilena.
“I studied in Paris how to make perfume,” revealed Hayden who put up his own company Inovacao da Vida (Innovation of Life) in June 2010, and four months later launched his perfume. “Ever Bilena is a trusted company so I feel secure,” added Hayden, in the same breath clarifying that there’s no conflict with Vicki’s The Belo Medical Clinic because the clinic isn’t producing perfume…yet. “This way, I can show people that the business (Inovacao) is my own and not associated with Vicki’s,” although he’s open to Vicki’s advice. (Vicki was at the presscon to support Hayden in his venture with Ever Bilena.)
Looking fresh and self-assured, Hayden confessed that “I was once stupid” but said that he’s a changed man now. “I won’t ever be stupid again.”
Besides promoting his perfume, Hayden has ventured into charity work. A few weeks ago, he and Vicki’s daughter Cristalle Henares found themselves together in Cagayan de Oro to help the flood victims. If the perfume can help sanitize his image and make Hayden smell good, extending a helping hand to the needy can even do much more than that.
Asked if he’s wearing Hayden, he said, “I do, every day,” inviting you to smell him.
Will Hayden the scent hypnotize women into falling for Hayden the macho man?
Hayden smiled, “If it does, it’s not my fault na ha…”
By the way, does he still look at other women?
“Yes, I do,” Hayden admitted. “Pero hanggang look na lang.”
Ladies should rest assured that there’s no hidden camera around.