The cast of the Emmy-award-winning “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” came, saw -- and noted many beautiful things and people in the Philippines, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” said Kyan Douglas, the “grooming guru” of the TV reality show, as he examined Ms Arroyo’s portrait that hangs in the Presidential Lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal.

Collectively known as the Fab Five, Douglas, Carson Kressley, Thom Filicia, Jai Rodriguez and Ted Allen flew in early yesterday morning for a three-day visit. Armed with wit and intelligence, they have been making waves with their global hit TV show that is dedicated to transforming “drab guys” into “fab guys” all over America. While Douglas is in charge of grooming, Kressley is known as the “fashion savant,” Filicia the “design doctor,” Allen the “food and wine connoisseur,” and Rodriguez the “culture vulture.”

Fresh impeachment complaints and accusations of corruption and electoral fraud notwithstanding, Ms Arroyo’s physical attributes and style appeared to have impressed these authorities of beauty and fashion.

Douglas drew Kressley’s attention to the President’s smiling portrait, which the airport authority had gotten from Malacañang, and said: “Carson, look! This is their President. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Kressley sauntered over. “Oh, yes, she is!” he said.

According to Douglas, the 59-year-old President has “the essential” for every woman -- a pair of pearl earrings. “I love her pearl earrings,” he said, pointing at her left ear in the portrait.

Came a wicked question from reporters: Does she need a makeover? Douglas’ response: She certainly does not. But naughtily, Douglas and Kressley noted that the color of Ms Arroyo’s suit matched the color of the foliage perched beside the portrait. (The petite President, who usually wears pantsuits and really high heels, gets fashion tips from model Joanne Zapanta-Andrada. Her personal hairdresser is Gener Miranda.)

Douglas disclosed that he and Filicia met and had lunch with the widow of the strongman Ferdinand Marcos last year in Manila. “We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful lunch with Imelda Marcos, and we had a great time,” he said. Douglas described the former first lady, a beauty queen in her youth, as “a lovely woman, highly intelligent, [with an] incredible perspective, and an immaculate, incredible sense of style.” Flashing his trademark gorgeous smile, he said: “We’re excited to see what trouble we’ll get into this time. You’ll never know. It’s like when you come to the Philippines, who knows what’s going to happen?” Douglas and Filicia made over two girls and a guy during that brief visit last year.

But yesterday at the airport, the Fab Five had not been inside the Presidential Lounge for more than an hour when the usually ignored things in the 180-square-meter room used mainly by heads of state, government officials and other dignitaries caught their trained eye. Rodriguez constantly took pictures with his manual camera.

Filicia, one of House Beautiful’s Top 100 American designers, admired the wooden carvings mounted on a wall partition. “I love them. I think they’re beautiful,” he told the Inquirer as he examined the carvings made in Paete, Laguna, depicting highlights in Philippine history. “The details and the craftsmanship are amazing. I think it’s a very cool and interesting and modern way to tell the story of the Philippines,” Filicia added.

Douglas et al. engaged in an easy discussion of such subjects as Filipino fashion, gayspeak, high credit card limits and George Clooney at the press conference held later in the day at the Makati Shangri-La hotel. They had the crowd laughing the minute they entered the Rizal Ballroom, as they dished out comments on stuff like the chandelier and Kressley’s clothes in particular. “I haven’t sat down in these clothes before,” Kressley said, referring to his zebra-print shirt and tight-fitting, cream-colored slacks.

The Fab Five recently finished filming their 100th episode -- a milestone for “Queer Eye.” (The series is shown exclusively on ETC every Monday at 9 p.m.) The show is about five fashion-conscious gay men taking on a clueless straight guy -- recommended for makeover usually by a girlfriend or a family member -- to teach him some style. The straight guy’s clothes, demeanor, furniture and cooking skills (or lack thereof) are all targets. The hosts introduce him to the delights of facials, tanning salons, gourmet food and fashion labels, at the same time giving his home a makeover.

Douglas, the first-ever L’Oreal male spokesperson, reminisced about his visit to the Philippines last year with Filicia and said he was glad to come back with the rest of the Fab Five. “Everyone here is so warm and friendly. I told Carson that I was impressed that everyone, male [or] female, is dressed to the nines, and everyone has an incredible fashion sense,” he said.

Douglas and company are here on the invitation of the Ayala Malls in partnership with Bench, to share “lifestyle-enhancing tips” on grooming, fashion, culture, food and the home with their Filipino fans. According to their manager, Michael Flutie, the Fab Five would have come for a visit even without an invitation. “Kyan and Thom have said such good things about the Philippines to the others, so it would have been on their vacation list,” Flutie said.

Kressley, who is hosting the Miss Universe 2006 pageant, said doing makeovers made him feel good. “In the show, we do the makeover and bring out the best in the person … It’s about making someone feel good and look good,” he said.

Each member of the group is involved in projects other than the show. For examples, Filicia recently completed the interior design of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s house in New York, and Rodriguez is in the cast of “The Producers,” which stars Uma Thurman and Matthew Broderick.

The Fab Five said they would want to visit some of the Philippine islands if they had the time, and dispelled rumors that they had wrapped up their last episode. “We are definitely coming back,” said Kressley. “If you want more, we’d be happy to give you more.”