Why Is a Photo of Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, John Lloyd Cruz, and Diether Ocampo Flooding Social Media?

If you've been online the past couple of days, chances are, you've seen a photo of Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, John Lloyd Cruz, and Diether Ocampo all together. Had we been in 2014, the internet would've taken one look at the photo and (wholesomely) freaked out—just as they did when Ellen DeGeneres tweeted out that Oscar selfie. But, this is 2023 we're talking about, and the internet is now a wild, wild place... full of memes.

Yep, the seemingly fun reunion photo of Star Magic's leading men has turned into a full-blown meme. Not just any meme. A "caption this" type which, if you think about it, is probably one of the worst kinds since, you know, anything goes. We're not really sure how the whole thing took off, but one of the first ones to come out categorized Diether Ocampo, John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo Pascual, and Jericho Rosales dressed as an Ortigas gay, Cubao gay, Poblacion gay, and BGC gay, respectively.

Other creative takes on the photo did the country's top universities, professions, office departments, and even TV shows. We'd like to focus on the OG meme, though, because what makes an Ortigas gay? A Cubao gay? Poblacion gay? And, yes, a BGC gay? Here's a breakdown of Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, John Lloyd Cruz, and Diether Ocampo's looks.

Diether Ocampo

Ah, yes. You really can't go wrong with a pique polo, chinos, and sneakers. All kinds of people from different walks of life call this a uniform. Dads love it, the 13-year-old finding his style loves it, and the average working guy loves it too... which is why it's classified as something you'd see someone wearing in a central business district like Ortigas. Plus points if your pique polo of choice is from Uniqlo or Lacoste.

John Lloyd Cruz

This is where it gets complicated. What makes a look scream Cubao? Is it the possibly thrifted t-shirt? The workwear pants, for sure. Definitely the Maison Margiela tabi shoes. That's just one person, though. Each Cubao regular is unique. An easy way to spot them among others is a vibe that says "I'm in the creative scene, and I look impossibly cool because I wear underground labels."

Piolo Pascual

Categorizing Piolo Pascual's look as Poblacion wear is a stretch. This fit could be worn by literally anyone. With the denim jacket over a sweatshirt, slim jeans, and sneakers, this would fit better as a Makati look for the indoors. If he were really going to Poblacion, he'd probably be in a camp collar shirt and wide-leg trousers. Cool and comfortable.

Jericho Rosales

The oversized suit isn't necessarily a BGC gay staple. It's the fact that it's a trend, and you can always be sure that the BGC gay is up-to-date with all the coolest trends. Not just in fashion, but also when it comes to restaurants, shops, and clubs. It's a tough job, knowing what's cool at all times, but someone has to do it!