What do you do to spike the hype factor of an already incredible mall?

Simple. You invite the Fab 5 over.

That’s exactly what Ayala Malls did last week when they invited the guys, or should we say gays, of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, to the Philippines.

Queer Eye’s Fab 5 is probably the hottest group in lifestyle and entertainment, setting the trends in fashion, grooming, food and wine, interior design and culture. So to catch up to all the hype, the fabulous gay men visited Greenbelt, Glorietta and Alabang Town Center last July 20 to 22. “This is part of our commitment to have only the best and the latest for our shoppers. They deserve only the best,” says Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Malls vice president and deputy group head.

And boy, she was right. Hundreds of local fans from all over the metro hurried to the malls to catch their favorite makeover gods. Girls and guys were screaming as they saw their favorite Queer stars on stage, raising their camera phones to get better angles.

Carson Kressley, Kyan Douglas, Ted Allen, Thom Filicia and Jai Rodriguez signed copies of their best-selling self-help books. Among the tomes were The Fab 5’s Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better, where our zesty celebs teach clueless straight men on how to improve lives in five aspects. As Carson would put it, “We’re not here to change you; we’re here to make you better.”

One could tell from the screaming fans who followed them at every stop that these gays have captured the hearts of Filipinos. “Thank you so much... It blows me away to see so many of you here with your warm, amazing reception. Thom and I were here last year. We went back to see the guys and told them the people in the Philippines are so warm, gracious and friendly,” says Kyan, grooming guru of the group.

“So now we’re thinking of moving here,” jokes design doctor Thom.

“We watch them to seek helpful tips on wearing the right clothes, taking care of the skin, what and how to eat, designing our home and proper etiquette,” confesses 30-year-old Andrea Sublay, who has been watching the show with her husband since it first aired in the United States in 2002. “We love them for their distinctness and truthfulness and because they’re experts in their fields.”

Carson, the blond fashionista who coined the word tsujh (pronounced zhuzh, with puckered lips) to refer to the way a shirt’s cuff, a pant’s hem, or a waistband is uniquely folded, has authored two books: A children’s book called You’re Different and That’s Super and the style guide Off the Cuff: The Essential Guide for Men and Women Who Love Them. He’ll soon launch his own brand, Perfect, which will carry “the perfect fashion staples.” (He also coanchored the latest Miss Universe pageant, apparently barely 24 hours after flying back from Manila.)

As for Kyan, his good-looking hair is always in place. Kyan is a specialist in men’s skin care and has had extensive training and professional experience in the hair, spa and retail industries. He has worked as a colorist for television and magazine projects including TLC’s What Not To Wear, While You Were Out, and Child magazine.

Food and wine connoisseur Ted Allen teaches guys how to negotiate the complications of the kitchen and the dinner table. The witty host has been a contributing editor to Esquire magazine since 1997, where he is coauthor of the Things a Man Should Know column—an irreverent guide for men on such items as fashion, sex, business etiquette, and cocktails. Ted was finalist for a 2001 National Magazine Award for his June 2000 feature story on male breast cancer, and again in 2003 for his part of an Esquire food-and-travel package.

One of House Beautiful’s Top 100 American Designers, Thom Filicia has emerged as a different kind of designer: One that blends the worlds of mass media and interior design to create an overwhelmingly indelible impression. On TV, Thom is the interior design specialist and he was even honored with an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program. Prior to his acclaim on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, He garnered recognition as a major presence in the design industry. He has recently designed the new home of celebrity couple Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony.

Finally, there’s culture vulture Jai Rodriguez, who appeared in last year’s production of The Producers and has even essayed the role of the transvestite Angel in Rent. But he is, of course, more popularly known as the guy who dishes out advice on etiquette and the charming gestures a man could use to get a girl on Queer Eye. Jai uses his skills and social charisma to coach men on everything from working the room in a social setting to feeling comfortable on the dance floor.

What’s new for the Queer guys?

“We’ve just launched three Las Vegas episodes that you’ll surely enjoy. We had a couple of little weddings in the Sin City and even had makeovers of gay guys,” Carson enthused. Queer Eye has also completed its much-anticipated 100th episode.

Asked if they’ll ever return to Manila, Kyan readily replied: “We’re ready to makeover Pinoy men.”

It seems we haven’t seen the last of the Fab 5 yet.