Humor is always a surprising characteristic in a man. For some reason, the only men you really expect to be funny are those who already look funny: those with enhanced caricature features, those with big bodies and even bigger laughs, those who purposely contort their faces to elicit reaction.

Stereotypes are to blame for our ignorance. We don't expect good-looking men to be funny; they're probably too vain. Men who wear glasses are probably too serious; men who dress well are too stuck-up; athletic types, too dense. So when a man, regardless of how he looks, can make us laugh, we go crazy and our eyes and hearts open up just a little bit more.

While we were shooting Ramon Bautista for our '60s-inspired January fashion editorial "Mod About You" at Mr. Jones, a PR practitioner came up to me gushing. She has a huge crush on the TV personality/host/film school professor. I offered to introduce them. She beamed at me. A day later, I received a text message riddled with thank-yous and a dizzying amount of exclamation points.

Ramon proved to be the ultimate heartthrob. He wears his skinny jeans like a Jagger clone and smolders like Ian Somerhalder. He flirted with model Michelle Panemanglor, asking outrageous questions and requesting modeling advice. And then, he turned to flirt with the video cam for his interview with Cosmo.ph (watch for it on CosmoTV on Monday), dishing advice to Cosmo girls ("Stay away from a pangit boyfriend...they pull you down to their level and make you feel like you're pangit also...Stay away from pogi guys 'cause you'll lose more self-esteem...Stay with guys like me. I'll make you feel good and feel good about yourself.") with an eyebrow wiggle that should be accompanied by a cheesy pick-up line. We all fell for it anyway. By the end of his interview, we all wanted a photo with him.

While Ramon, with his exaggerated gestures and comical expressions, is easily pinpointed as a funnyman, Lourd de Veyra, the other leading man in our fashion editorial, is one of those men who use their humor like a stealth weapon. Lourd, vocalist for Radioactive Sago Project, writer, poet, and weatherman for Channel 5 (he gives the weather report in three-piece suits) manifests his funny side in a more subtle way.

His humor is a bit more acerbic, sometimes even self-deprecating. "Is this the ugly people shoot?" he asked shortly after arriving. He pairs a fedora and dark sunglasses with the most deadpan of expressions and calls it "method modeling." His tongue-in-cheek take on everything from Tweeting to fashion shows to Kris Aquino has made him a best-selling author and one of the most popular bloggers on Spot.ph. This quick wit is definitely not lost on the ladies, either; I've heard that one of the most popular fashion stylists in the country has said that she would like to have dinner with him.

Humor is a man's secret weapon. It transforms an average-looking guy into a viable boyfriend option. Handsome men become even more attractive. It helps rack up the pogi points. It piques interest. It's an instant aphrodisiac. Ramon Bautista's main attraction is how he is so obviously comfortable with himself. Lourd de Veyra's sexiness factor becomes more evident when he sardonically muses over things and situations that others would consider banal.

Women love men who can make them laugh. A sense of humor says that he's smart yet not too stuck-up that he takes himself too seriously. It shows that he's quick to think and maybe even quicker to react. It hints that he'll survive and even cheer you up in your most painful PMS moments. That he'll remain positive in the most difficult situation.

So, if you haven't done so, make it a goal this year: Date a man who makes your heart race with funny quips rather than smooth one-liners. You might just be in for a surprise.

Related Articles

• CosmoTV: RAMON BAUTISTA Talks Style, Models For Cosmo's "Mod About You" Fashion Ed
• Funny Guy Ramon Bautista Goes Mod For Cosmo's January 2012 Fashion Ed!
• Lourd De Veyra Channels His Style Icons For Cosmo's January 2012 Fashion Ed
• CosmoTV Behind The Scenes: "The 21 Dresses Of Summer" Fashion Editorial
• Summer 2012 Fashion FOR YOUR GUY

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