"Mara Clara" stars debut on Bench Summer 2011: Return To Temptation Catalog

The lead stars of "Mara Clara" made their debut on a Bench ad.

Kathryn Bernardo (Mara), Julia Montes (Clara), Albie Casiño (Christian) and John Manalo (Eris) together appear on Bench's Summer 2011: Return To Temptation Catalog, which can be found on Bench's official website.

The "Mara Clara" stars are Bench's newest endorsers and the one above is their first ever ad campaign for the said top clothing brand.

Does this make them as the hottest tween stars of today?

Knowing Bench, they usually get as endorsers those who they believe are "currently hot", just like the Kimerald, the Melason, Robi Domingo and Ejay Falcon right after they exited PBB house, Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal and the StarStruck V winners.

Aside from the Mara Clara stars, also making their debut on a Bench ad are the hot "Sabel" leading men: AJ Perez and Joseph Marco.

Joseph Marco took part already in the Bench Uncut Fashion Show held last July. AJ Perez, meanwhile, previously endorsed the clothing brand "Molecules" for quite a long time before being part of Bench.

Albie Casiño, John Manalo play leading men to Mara and Clara

Teen cuties Albie Casiño and John Manalo will be the leading men of
Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes in the 2010 remake of "Mara Clara".

17-year-old Albie plays the role of Christian, which was portrayed by Wowee De Guzman in the original version.

Albie was first introduced to us in Gimik 2010 and recently named as
one of the Top 20 Candy Cuties for 2010 (at #7). He's also the ex-boyfriend of Andi Eigenmann.

Former child star John Manalo on one hand is Eris, originally played
by Christopher Roxas.

Now 15, this Best Child Actor awardee actually grew up before our eyes. He's one of the original Goin' Bulilit mainstays and appeared already in atleast 10 Star Cinema films. He played as son to Kris Aquino in "Feng Shui" and son of Sharon Cuneta in "Caregiver".

It's quite exciting because in the original version, Judy Ann Santos
(Mara) - Wowee De Guzman (Christian) and Gladys Reyes (Clara) - Christopher Roxas (Eris) ended in real-life romance.

Will Albie-Kathryn and John-Julia also end up as lovers?

The new Clara, Eris and Mara

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The other cast members of the new Mara Clara soap have also been revealed earlier tonight and they are: (enclosed in parenthesis are the original actors)

Bobby Andrews as Mara's father, Amante Del Valle (Juan Rodrigo)

Dimples Romana as Mara's mother, Almira Del Valle (Beverly Vergel)

Jhong Hilario as Clara's father, Gary Davis [Eruel Tongco (RIP) in the
TV series, William Martinez in the movie version]

Mylene Dizon as Clara's mother, Susan Davis (Susan Africa)

Ping Medina as Tiyo Kardo (Dan Fernandez)

Chokoleit as CG (Eagle Riggs)

and Ms. Giña Pareño