Herbert Chavez pursuing his dream to be the (Pinoy) Superman, for a good cause

Herbert Chavez might easily be mistaken for a foreigner. With his muscular build, black hair, fair skin, and chiseled features, Chavez is a dead ringer for Christopher Reeve, the late actor who played the Man of Steel in the original Superman movies of the 1970s and 80s. But he wasn’t born this way. In 1998, at age 21, the once brown-skinned Chavez started undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures to look more like the comic book Superman. He had surgical operations done on his nose, ribs, and lips. He also got himself a cleft chin and underwent whitening procedures. Now at age 35, Chavez is the spitting image of the Man of Steel. He proudly calls himself the “Pinoy Superman.” In an interview on “Tonight with Arnold Clavio” last November 28, Chavez talked about his journey towards becoming the “Pinoy Superman.” He remembered feeling instantly enthralled when, at the age of four, he first saw Superman on TV. “Naiisip kong ako si Superman. Minsan napapanaginipan ko pang ako ‘yun at kaya kong gawin ang mga ginagawa niya,” he said. Having come from a poor family and struggled with a negative self-image as a child, Chavez said that Superman inspired him.  Considered an underdog in school, Chavez says he wanted to become more like Superman by looking more like the Man of Steel. He dreamed of becoming someone that others would admire. “‘Yung galing ako sa hirap, puro tigyawat, nilalait minsan... from that ko gusto makaangat,” he explained. In 1990, Chavez started collecting toys, posters, and other Superman memorabilia. He was even listed in the 2013 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest collection of Superman memorabilia. Some people have criticized his Superman fanaticism, saying he should not go too far with changing his appearance just to immitate his idol. Someone even commented on his photo on the Tonight with Arnold Clavio Facebook page that she’ll take her chances - she wouldn’t want Pinoy Superman saving her. Some haters, online and offline, tell him that he is more like Darna than Superman. But he confidently brushes them off: “Okay lang, sinasakyan ko lang sila. Minsan sasabihin ko, ‘Oo, sa next cosplay, Darna naman ako.’” Then there are people who admire Chavez for pursuing what he wants — although beyond the ordinary — saying he is so brave for doing having undergone the surgeries. “Astig si Pinoy Superman,” as one of his supporters would put it. Over the years, Chavez has held a number of odd jobs. He’s been a superhero impersonator at carnivals and children’s parties, made costumes for TV dance contests, designed outfits for the likes of Ai Ai De Las Alas and Wenn Deramas, and even trained Protégé grand winner Thea Pollisco. Nowadays, Chavez spends his time impersonating the Man of Steel at children’s parties, charities, and ‘cosplay’ events.  He said that when children see him, they think he’s the real Superman, and are even more surprised to hear him speaking in Filipino. He believes he can set a good example. By being the Tagalog-speaking Superman that he is, he can converse with children and that makes it easier for him to tell them about the importance of being and doing good. Chavez said he’s fulfilled by making children happy. For that, “worth it ‘yung mga surgery para maging kamukha ko si Superman,” Chavez said. “Gusto ko rin si Darna, nangongolekta ako ng memorabilia niya,” said Chavez, also an avid fan of the Pinay superhero. He has Darna collectibles from the comics, TV, and movies, custom and replica costumes, Barbie dolls dressed as the superhero, bust statues, posters, and even a life-size Angel Locsin Darna. When he was a kid, he walked from far places going home so he could use his commute money to rent Darna comics. —Ria Landingin, CM/PF, GMA News