Article posted May 13, 2009
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Sa May 16, 2009 magiging witness tayo sa isang bonggang reality show, ang 'Are You The Next Big Star?' At no less than Asia's Songbird, Ms. Regine Velasquez will host this all-original superstar search, together with versatile actor Keempee de Leon, as co-host. Text by Erick Mataverde. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio and courtesy of GMA Network.
Isang maulan na hapon ang sumalubong sa production staff, press people at sa dalawang host ng pinaka-latest na talent search show, ang Are You The Next Big Star? na si Ms. Regine Velasquez at Keempee de Leon during the show's press con last May 9, 2009. Pero, hindi ito naka-dampen ng spirits sa lahat ng um-attend ng press conference, at, to the contrary, ito pa ay naka-liven ng mood ng lahat as the hosts gamely answered the questions the press threw at them.
Likewise present ay si Ms. Darling De Jesus, AVP for Musical, Variety & Specials at ang show's Program Manager na si Ms. Hazel Abonita. Celebrity judges chosen for the show are singers Randy Santiago and Pops Fernandez, 'The Company's' Anne Quintos, musical director Mon Faustino, and composer Danny Tan.
Host's honor
Regine started off by expressing her gratitude towards her selection as host: "It's an honor for me to be, once again, chosen as the host of GMA's newest talent search. Ito na po ata ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking talent search na gagawin ng GMA at alam naman ninyo po na malapit talaga sa akin ang ganitong klaseng show because, as you all know – I started [na] sumasali sa mga singing contests.
"As a matter of fact, ang pinakahuli kong singing contest is [the] Asia Pacific Singing Contest. So I would be very happy and honored to, I would like to say thank you to GMA for choosing me once again to be the host of this show, Are You The Next Big Star?"
A novel tandem
Pero ang isa sa mga pangunahing tanong that afternoon when it was learned that Keempee de Leon would host alongside Regine and not her boyfriend Ogie Alcasid was: 'Why Keempee?'. And Regine offered a simple explanation: "Kasi hindi naman talaga kami [ni Ogie], he was not even considered talaga kasi we're doing Duets pa rin this year eh, meron pang next season ng Celebrity Duets, so dapat ganun talaga 'yung role niya, and plus sobrang busy namin, hindi na nga po kami nagkikita eh! (laughs) Hindi na ho siya makahinga!"
Regine further clarified, "Actually kasi, it's better for us, [Ogie and I], I mean, ako natutuwa ako na magkasama kami sa isang show pero minsan, parang it's also good na we each do our thing kasi that way, we have something to talk about plus, minsan kasi meron yung dumadating sa punto na 'pag nasa sa isang show kayo -- kasi, we already do SOP eh, tapos meron pa kaming Celebrity Duets which we are also doing this year, so nawawala na yung excitement for the viewers na rin 'di ba?"
At with Keempee as her co-host, Regine can only be more excited for this new team-up. She declared, "Natuwa talaga ako nung nalaman ko na si Keempee yung magiging co-host ko kasi I've never worked with him, although I always see him around, in SOP. He will give a different flavor in this show, you know, an exciting flavor for this show and he will be more in-touch with the contenders and their life stories, 'yun ang nakakatuwa dito sa partisipasyon ni Keempee sa show na ito."
Pero, tanong ng press kay Regine kung may may basis of comparison na siya between Keempee and Ogie. "Ang hirap naman ng tanong na yun eh! Siyempre, pareho silang magaling na host pero hindi natin pwedeng i-compare 'cause they have their own, they each have their own style. Although they are both funny and you know, height. Height-wise, they are kind of similar, pero syempre magkaiba sila ng style as far as hosting is concerned," Regine joked.
Contending with the contenders
Si Keempee when asked naman kung anong kakaibang hosting style ang maipapakita niya as compared to Ogie. He, likewise, quipped, "Eh kasi mag-dyowa sila! (laughs). Kasi hindi naman kung ano meron kay Ogie. Like I said, 'yun na 'yung kakaiba siguro na gagawin ko. First time kong ginawa 'to." He further described his role, "Like what I said earlier, before umakyat ng stage yung mga contenders, I have to talk to them, and then after sila kumanta I have to run to the backstage to talk to them again, kumbaga, every contender, before and after ng performance nila, I have to talk to them. Kumbaga, 'yun 'yung kakaiba don and kikilalanin ko talaga 'yung bawat contender."
"Everyone is wondering why Keempee was chosen? The answer would be, 'Why not?', 'di ba? There has always been the aim to look for something new, something novel. Who would have thought Yaya and Angelina would be hosting a show 'di ba?" added Ms. Hazel Abonita. "Try something new, try Keempee to co-host with Regine. As he progresses in the competition, he will get to know them (the contestants) better in a more in-depth manner. So it's going to be his role on the show."
At pabiro namang remark ni Regine: "Sa madaling salita, stalker po si Keempee dito sa show na ito!"
Kaya abangan ninyo ang exciting premiere ng pinakabagong singing competition to invade Philippine television, Are You The Next Big Star? on May 16, 2009 after Pinoy Records.
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