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Nearing his first anniversary with the team of "Startalk," Ricky Lo tells iGMA what he likes about the show and what he thinks of his co-hosts.
Ricky Lo is about to finish his first year with the 'Startalk' team, and the latest host of the show couldn't be happier sa mga nangyayari. Text and Photos by Jason John S. Lim. Interview by Jose Enrique P. Mataverde. Aminado si Ricky Lo na hindi niya alam ang karamihan sa balita ng Startalk until he's already on stage reporting about it. "Nagugulat ako," he tells us nang minsang bumisita ang iGMA sa show. "Dahil kung minsan, nalalaman ko na lang kapag nasa studio na, may mga surpresang balita." And for Ricky, "yun ang maganda—'yung element of surprise." Para sa ibang hosts, Ricky Lo adds credibility sa long-running show. Pero nang sabihin namin ito kay Ricky mismo, the host humbly disagrees. "Hindi naman. Credible naman sila." "Siguro, ang sabihin ko lang, nakadagdag." Ricky says without credibility, it would've been impossible na tumagal ng 14 years ang Startalk. "Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, of all the showbiz-oriented talk shows, 'yung Startalk ang pinakamataas na rating. "At mataas na ang rating bago [pa] ako pumasok!" Though, he adds, "I'm glad naman na ganoon 'yung nakita nila sa akin." Ricky says he likes to think that he does add something to the show. Pero kung siya ang tatanungin, what really makes the show work is the chemistry between all the hosts. He says, "nagbe-blend kami: si Lolit [Solis], nakita mo naman, para siyang unguided missile, daldal ng daldal; si Joey [de Leon] naman, medyo humorous; si Butch [Francisco], iba rin, malakas ang dating. Ako naman, medyo subdued." Dagdag pa niya, "nakita mo naman ako pag nag-host, 'di ba? Parang kalmado, hindi overexcited—tama lang." "Maganda siguro ang blending namin, 'di ba?" Balik-tanong sa amin ni Ricky. Still, Ricky maintains that the show itself should be credited for its longevity and success. "'Yung show kasi, pag ganyan, pag long-running, parang may momentum na, 'di ba?" Kinuwento niya that the show has gone through its share of hosts, Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino, Rosanna Roces, Dawn Zulueta, Lorna Tolentino, and now him—"kumbaga sa makina, naka primera, segunda, tercera, naka-quarta na. Malapit na sa quinta, 'di ba? Parang automatic na." Tuloy niya, "importante ang hosts, kasi [sila] ang nagmamaneho ng show." Pero Ricky also admits that without quality features, wala ring quality show. "Pinaka-importante 'yung content ng show. Kasi maski magaling 'yung host, kung wala namang kuwento 'yung mga kinukuwento, parang wala rin." "Maraming factors 'yan," he adds. "Dapat substantial—at 'yung mga hosts, marunong mag-deliver nung dapat i-deliver." Startalk airs every Saturday, sa Sabado Star Power ng GMA-7, pagkatapos ng Eat Bulaga. And Ricky Lo celebrates his first anniversary with Startalk this coming December. Gusto mo bang maging updated lagi sa latest chismis? Just text TXTCLUSIVES(space)ON to 4627 para sa lahat ng telcos. Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for Globe, Smart, and Talk N Text, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. (This service is exclusive for the Philippines only.)