Kamags Blinky is back

CEBU, Philippines - She is back after a year of staying away from the local biz in the longest running regional magazine show, MAGTV Na!

Blinky De Leon or Kamags Blinky is the only original host of the program who stayed the longest in the show. Aside from it being the longest running magazine show in town, it has the most number of hosts in history – 11 hosts in five years. Kamags Blinky was joined by former VJ and now PR Manager Charlene Go and commercial and print ad model Genesis Nacua when it was launched in 2007.  Inday Tikay and Erwin Lim joined when Charlene and Genesis left. Inday Tikay and Erwin were replaced by Billy Sy and Phoebe Fernandez in 2009 when they decided to join the corporate world. Shortly a year after, Billy had to reunite with his father in New York.

The program decided to have a ‘Search for the Next Kamags’ where Dan Harry Genson and Borgie Cabigas emerged as winners in 2010. Jonathan Cimafranca filled the shoes of Dan Harry when he decided to become a flight attendant. Year after year, the program has featured different kinds of hosts. In 2012, it was Blinky’s moment to leave the program.

“I was still a student when I joined MAGTV Na!. I was juggling my modelling career and my studies and I had MAGTV Na! in my hands. I went to class fully made up for either a pictorial, a fashion show or a taping for a MAGTV Na! segment. My schedule was always hectic. I felt I had no time to breathe, no time for myself , that I felt I had to go somewhere else after graduating,” enthuses Blinky.

True enough, she left the program after graduating and lived in a totally different world for soul searching and, perhaps, a greener pasture. After all, a career in television is fleeting. But even if Blinky was away from the hosting arena of Cebu, the passion was still strong. “I sometimes hosted events in Macau,” Blinky tells The Freeman. “After being away for a while, I realized that hosting is a calling. And as you can see, Cebu is booming in every aspect. Events happen left and right so hosting can be a very lucrative job. It is no secret that I enjoy doing it. Hosting gives me a different kind of fulfillment,” Blinky quips.

For her comeback episode, she joins Kamags Borgie, Kamags Jonathan and Kamags Phoebe in a special Father’s Day Celebration. “I missed taping a segment. We are featuring a very hardworking father with 11 beautiful kids. I saw how happy they were during the taping. It’s very fulfilling to know how MAGTV Na! can make a difference in their lives,” Blinky adds.

Having hosted MAGTV Na! for four years, Blinky has tried almost everything – being a garbage collector, teacher, fish vendor - name it, she has done it all. “Oh, I have tried all but I know there are so many places that we can still feature, a lot of things waiting to be explored,  but if given a chance, I want to have a regular segment that’s really life-changing. I am sure a lot of non- government organizations would support this kind of endeavour,” Blinky says. “MAGTV Na! feels like home. I am so glad I am back!” (FREEMAN)