With the launch of ABS-CBN’s newest game show Wowowee, Willie Revillame is blessed to have three of the freshest faces on noontime TV today as co-hosts– Iya Villania, Kat Alano and Janelle Jamer.
Of the three, Iya can be considered the most seasoned. Aside from Wowowee, she hosts ASAP Fanatic and is one of the VJs of ABS-CBN’s music channel MYX.
"I would like to believe my previous hosting stints prepared me very well for Wowowee," she says. The Fil-Australian beauty also expresses how happy she is to be a part of a show that "truly helps our kababayan."
Iya, who has already appeared in a number of teen drama series, says her focus is proving her mettle as TV host in the meantime. "I love the excitement of doing a live show where I can sing, dance and talk things I really love to do."
Aside from proving her worth as a TV host, Iya, a Psychology student at De La Salle University, is taking up tutorial classes at Asian College of Science and Technology, of which she is the image model. "My ultimate goal as a TV personality is to make my audience see how much I truly love my job."
Asked about her thoughts on working with "naughty" Willie Revillame, she says, "He (Willie) is fun to be with. Hindi siya nagpapanggap. What you see is what you get. As a host, I admire his gift of gab and sense of humor." She also considers Donita Rose her favorite female local TV host. "Viewers can see that Donita is beautiful inside and out."
Kat Alano, on the other hand, admires Sarah Meier, another MTV Asia VJ, as a host because of her unique hosting style. "Aside from being undeniably beautiful and classy, it is evident that Sarah is comfortable with her hosting style," she adds.
Born to a Filipino father and British mother, Kat is one of local TV’s freshest faces. She first caught public attention when she nabbed the top plum in Studio 23’s VJ contest.
After being one of the Studio 23 VJs, Kat was also featured in a string of successful commercials. Most notable are those she did for a ladies clothing line and a toothpaste brand. "I must admit my toothpaste commercial gave me the biggest exposure," she says.
Kat, whose ability to speak Filipino, German, Mandarin, plus English with an American and British accent was hyped during the show’s promo, studied at the German Swiss International School where "I was trained to be accustomed to different people with different cultures and origins."
She was 16 when her family moved to England. It was at this time when she attended drama schools and was featured in a number of productions. But she’s quick to point out that "for now, hosting is my priority."
She believes that her pleasant outlook, positive attitude towards work and tough spirit made her a part of Wowowee.
Janelle Jamer, on the other hand, thinks her versatility is her greatest asset as host. "Pwede kasi akong maging bakya, pwede rin naman ako sa sosyalan," she confidently but jokingly declares.
Aside from doing hosting chores in the studio, Janelle is featured in the show’s Huli Kaw segment where she goes in the streets to give prizes to those who can answer her trivia questions. "Talagang lahat ng klase ng tao makakasalamuha mo. It’s nice to know that the show reaches out to all Filipinos because, after all, it is really made for them."
Janelle adds that it’s inspiring to see how the show’s main host works. "Willie really loves his job." Aside from Willie, Janelle idolizes Toni Gonzaga because of her unique comedic hosting style. "I could not help but be amazed at her (Toni) wit as host and her passion to perform well in everything she does," Janelle adds.
Before entering mainstream show business, Janelle has been doing hosting chores and song numbers for comedy bar Punchline. After that, she appeared as Regine Velasquez’s friend in GMA’s drama series Forever In My Heart. "Dun naman, my character is around 30 years old. Natakot naman ako ma-typecast dahil 19 pa lang naman ako." This is the reason why she is thankful that the Wowowee project came her way. "At least, I can maximize all my talents here– from dancing, singing to hosting. Dito lahat ng galaw ko natural!"
At a very early stage in her career, Janelle, rumored to be the apple of Willie and Mark Herras’ eyes, admits she was not ready for the tsismis aspect of the local entertainment industry. She hopes that "I will eventually get used to it."
About a month after the show’s launch, the three lady hosts are thankful for the warm reception their program is getting from televiewers. "We owe it to Filipinos that the show becomes successful," the three girls say. "After all, the show was really made to make our viewers happy."
The ladies promise to continue working hard to be better hosts. "We will never fail our public because they are the reasons why we exist," Iya talks in behalf of her lady co-hosts.
With such determination, Iya, Janelle and Kat can easily figure prominently on the televiewers’ list of "afternoon delights."