BILLY CRAWFORD is happy to be back on GMA-7 hosting “The Wall Philippines” this Sunday.
“I have worked with ABS-CBN, TV 5 and Channels 9, 13, and even 4, lahat naikutan ko na, but having GMA welcoming me with open arms, wala na akong masasabi and I can’t ask for anything more as this is where I started in showbiz when I was only 4 years old,” he says.
“I’ve really come full circle. Hindi lang ako Kapuso, Kapamilya o Kapatid kundi ako ang Pambansang Katrabaho ng lahat.”
With Viva now handling his career, he is more of a freelancer as he can work with any station.
“Right now, I’m still with TV5 doing ‘Lunch Out Loud’ everyday, but now I’m also on GMA-7 and it feels like a big blessing as not everyone is given that chance to work simultaneously with two different networks.
"It’s really nice this way, not being exclusively tied down to just one network. Mas marami kang makikilala, matutuhan, matuturuan.”
Does he still have time for his family considering he’s working from Monday to Sunday?
“Oh yes, kasi I’m not doing naman lock in taping. I just do hosting then go back home. Hindi ko matatagalan na mawala sa family ko nang matagal. It’s because of them that nagbago ang priorities ko in life.
"It really changed kasi before, I used to do everything just for myself. But now, it has to be for my wife and my son. Sometimes, I bring them to my work and people enjoy my son so much.
"We’re also leaving for France. I will compete in the French version of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and I will bring them with me. First time namin to travel abroad since the pandemic so it’s exciting.”
Doesn’t he miss acting on TV or the movies?
“As of now, I’m really just more focused on hosting. When it comes to acting, sa wife ko na lang yun. I’m just happy na patuloy akong binibigyan ng trabaho ng Viva at hindi ako titigil sa hosting because this is my passion and ito ang bumubuhay sa pamilya ko.”
Who among the stars of GMA would he like to join "The Wall"?
"I wish all the Kapuso stars would join, from the newcomers to all the pinakasikat na Kapuso stars like Bossing Vic, and sina Dingdong and Marian so we can find out kung sino ang totoong boss sa kanila."
What's the secret of his good marriage to Coleen Garcia?
"We put God above all. Always, una ang Diyos sa amin. Just like other couples sa buong mundo, may struggles pa rin kami. Normal na tao lang kami, but a big blessing is I get to communicate well with my wife.
"We know what is happening in each other’s lives and our son brings us together. There will always be problems that will pop up but we have learned to deal with them. Kaysa mag-away kami, we’ve learned to compromise and trust one another."