Hosting TV5's 'Face The People' An Eye Opener For Edu Manzano

EDU MANZANO says he never saw himself hosting a confrontational reality show like “Face the People”. “Kasi I used to watch it and I’m shocked sa mga guest nila who are willing to air their dirty linen in public,” he says at the special presscon hosted for his inclusion in the show. “I saw na hindi naman sila pinipilit to do it, they even volunteer. When I was offered to help host the show, I saw it as a chance to go out of my comfort zone. I told myself gusto kong masubukan ito. So far, nage-enjoy naman ako. With our guests, nakita ko our problems are nothing compared to theirs, especially those living in abject poverty. Ang mga reaction nila sa problema, totoong-totoo at may karagdagan pang revelations for me during the show itself. I also realized hindi pa ako jaded kasi na-shocked ako sa taping namin with Maegan Aguilar na she had a heated exchange of words with writers Pete Ampoloquio and Peter Ledesma. Mainit talaga ang naging discussion at bigla siyang tumayo at nag-walk out. We didn’t know what to do kasi first time daw nangyari yun. Matagal na pakiusapan bago bumalik si Maegan.”

“Face the People” will be back on its original morning slot starting this Monday. “This is part of our move to strengthen our morning block,” says Entertainment Head Wilma Galvante. “10:15AM ang ‘Face the People’, to be immediately followed by the new ‘Let’s Ask Pilipinas’ hosted by Ogie Alcasid at 11:15AM. Sa primetime weeknights, we offer the basketball games. The PBA is really doing well for the network, ratings-wise at maganda rin ang pasok ng revenue dahil loaded with commercials. This will be leading up to the tune up competition of Gilas Pilipinas against the world starting August 8 and in the FIBA World Cup in Madrid starting August 30.”

Going back to Edu, doesn’t he miss acting? “When I saw the movie ‘On the Job’ with its strong male roles, nanumbalik sa’kin yung feeling na gusto kong umarte uli. I told my manager June Torrejon na kung may offer na magandang role, kahit indie film, gagawin ko, kasi my last film was ‘Tanging Yaman’ pa in 2004. Ten years na akong hindi umaarte. May offer din sa’kin in another channel to do a teleserye next year. Kilala ko lahat ng mga kasama sa series and if given the chance by TV5, I’d like to do it as a free lancer.”