Were you there at the PENSHOPPE Fan Conference 2012 last night?

The Candy editors and I trekked to the SM MoA Arena and sat front and center (umm, okay, maybe more like at the side, but still!) to see our October cover boy in the flesh.

The lines were long and the wait was even longer, but when the program finally started, it felt like we were in the Candy Fair all over again (the shrieks were deafening, and the crowd was simply wiiild). There were multiple song and dance numbers performed while video footage of the PENSHOPPE photo shoots played over multiple screens. I had to contain myself especially when my favorites Ed Westwick and Ian Somerhalder dominated the screens in all their hotness.

Moments before Zac came out, the UP Pep Squad danced to a medley of High School Musical songs. The crowd went crazy over the squad’s amazing stunts, but of course, they were all eagerly anticipating someone’s arrival…

When Zac finally appeared onstage, he did not disappoint! The ultra-charming actor pumped up the crowd by shaking as many hands as possible, moving around the arena to throw flying kisses (and an actual kiss to one lucky girl!), giving free hugs, answering questions gamely, and mentioning the name Vanessa repeatedly–making us hope that there was really a chance he could fall in love with yet another Filipina. (Zac to host Boy Abunda: “She might be here somewhere.”) At the end of the fan con, we left the venue with our throats sore, the memory of his dazzling blue eyes, and the promise that he would come back.

Oh, Z! Don’t make us wait too long…
Mimi