Program manager Karen Lumbo says they chose Ryan as he's a credible host. "He's very open minded and he gives a different kind of perspective. He's not a skeptic and he's not a believer. He's in the middle. And this is important as 'Misteryo' takes reality shows to a higher level in trying to discover the truth about various strange paranormal phenomena in the local scene."
For their first episode, Ryan slept alone in the haunted Diplomat Hotel in Baguio and examined its rooms. Then he tackled the Romblon Triangle, the local version of the notorious Bermuda Triangle in Tablas Island in Romblon that is said to be cursed as about 40 ships have already sanked there, including Dona Paz where 4,000 people died and the most recent one, Princess of the Stars. "We brought some underwater equipment to the shoot and I wanted to dive to investigate underwater but the Coast Goard didn't allow us," he says. "Sayang nga."
He's obviously very brave to host such a show that has some inherent risks in it. "I always pray for the Lord to protect us. When we went to Batangas to shoot some strange incident, I was told a female duwende fell in love with me. When we investigate haunted places, I'm warned baka sumama sa'min yung spirits pag-uwi so nagdarasal na lang ako."
They've also investigated Victoria School in Cubao, said to be haunt of white ladies and kapres. Future episodes will take them to Mt. Makiling where there have been many disappearances, Siquijor Island and its mambabarang, cases of local stigmata, and seances with missing persons like PAGCOR video technician Edgar Bentain, conducted by a psychic who claims he can see dead people. For Easter, since it's ressurrection, they intend to come up with stories of people who have died then came back again to life.
"Misteryo" is part of Q Channel 11's Sunday reality block that starts with "Pinaka", "Reunions" with Jessica Soho, "True Stories" with Vicky Morales, culminating with "Misteryo" at 10 PM.
How's his dad Michael de Mesa who's here for his wedding last Sunday? "He went back na to the U.S. last Thursday." Home come his mom Gina Alajar said she's glad no one among her three sons took after their dad? "I think she means yung wala sa'ming nag-asawa ng maaga like him. He was just 17 and mom was 18 when they had me." It's good no one among them three sons went wayward even if they're parents separated? "Ako kasi, lumaki na ko seeing them na mag-aaway then magbabalikan. So sanay na ko. When they finally separated ng wala ng balikan, malalaki na kami. At sa ako, naisip ko, pelikula na nga buhay namin, magluluko pa ba ko? I have my own life to live and I'm now facing the biggest misteryo in my life, being a father."
