Thai heartthrob Mario Maurer has agreed to walk the runway for the finale of the local apparel brand Penshoppe during its Philippine Fashion Week show, which will be held October 29 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

This latest development was confirmed by its Brand Director Alex Mendoza. 

"Our theme for Fashion Week, aptly called "Invasion," represents the thrilling changes happening to the brand on its 25th year and we are very excited to see a massive Asian star like Mario Maurer walk the runway for us," he said.

Mario Maurer is set to arrive in Manila in October as the latest endorser of the clothing brand. Following its highly successful series of trendy international campaigns, Maurer's selection marks the arrival of the local apparel group as a force to be reckoned with both here and abroad.

"[Gossip Girl actor] Ed Westwick for Penshoppe opened a lot of doors for us. Now Mario will not only make Penshoppe a bigger fashion name in the Philippines—he will also help the market grow in Southeast Asia, as he has a wide following among regional fans," Mendoza added.

"While Ed represents the international jet set, Mario will represent a wider audience composed of the younger set."

Meanwhile, the Philippines' leading broadcast network ABS-CBN has been awarded exclusive rights to air the highly anticipated Philippine visit of the Thai heartthrob.

Among the films that brought Maurer's name to public consciousness were: The Love of Siam released in 2007. He also starred in the sleeper, Crazy Little Thing Called Love that surprisingly gave ABS-CBN high ratings during its premiere on local television.