My favorite interviews

(First of three parts)

Interviewing for print and TV are two different things (ask Ricky Lo because he does both – for this paper and Showbiz Stripped, which recently ranked No. 1 in the late-night slot).

For newspapers and magazines, you can have a boring interviewee and still come up with an interesting article and save your skin by making the subject’s dull personality surface with your colorful description of the situation. But for television, if the person you are interviewing is a monotone, then you’re so dead – especially if it’s a live interview.

In my years on TV, I think I’ve had it all. In line with Startalk’s 11th anniversary (this Saturday, 2:30 p.m. on GMA 7), I’m recalling some of my favorite interviews.

Sharon Cuneta – I’ve done a lot of interviews with the Megastar for this paper and way back in Showbiz Lingo on Channel 2. But there was one interview I did with her for Startalk in 1999 where I felt quite sentimental. It was our first time to see each other since our Boston days and we were both truly excited. We even played on the air recorded phone interviews with the people who took care of us while we were trying to adjust to our then new surroundings – among them, my cousin Lilibeth Aristorenas. Later, during the live interview, Sharon even remembered to say hello to my aunt, Purita Cabochan (Lilibeth’s mom) and soon after that, tears started to flow because obviously she missed her peaceful life in Boston with husband, now Sen. Francis Pangilinan, daughter KC (Frankie and Miel had yet to be born) and Yaya Loring – plus all our friends, including former DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman.

Vilma Santos – Each interview with the Star for All Seasons and Lipa City mayor is memorable. But my favorites were those that were conducted in Lipa because it gave me a chance to go out of town (although it’s mostly work) and be in that city with the wonderful climate. My interviews with Mayor Vi are fun because we laugh a lot. But when it comes to serious issues, she shows a different facet and is able to thresh each one with conviction and authority.

Armida Siguion-Reyna – When I was new in Startalk, Armida was head of the MTRCB and she was into a lot of controversies (no matter what you say, I thought she did a good job) and was in our show a lot. It was either she was in the studio live or I was in her office recording the interview. But it was always my pleasure to interview her because with Armida, you throw one question and the interview just rolls – animatedly and with stinging statements that hit directly at her opponents. She is really the dream interviewee because after you are done with the interview, you feel like you’ve done a good job because she is never afraid to answer your questions and is always direct to the point.

Judy Ann Santos – I knew her as a child star in the hit Mara Clara and she was often a guest in Showbiz Lingo. (It was only a few years ago that she confessed to me how terrified she was each time she would guest in that program that asks the most controversial questions.) For Startalk, she granted us an interview (even if she was from the other network) and we set it at her restaurant, Café Carabana along Timog. I was so surprised that time to see how she had grown into a proper young lady – with a mature mind. I noticed that immediately – her maturity. It showed in the way she answered questions and addressed issues pertaining to her (I think it had something to do with her and Piolo Pascual that time). How time flew – I said to myself. Judy Ann had grown so fast – practically overnight. And now she is even an award-winning actress – one of the most respected talents in the field.

Jomari Yllana – Jom doesn’t really talk much. But when he starts to talk, you listen because it is rare that he does and he speaks with so much honesty. When he and Aiko Melendez decided to separate, he was hounded by news programs and all the showbiz talk shows. Since Startalk couldn’t locate him, we settled for his brother, Anjo Yllana, who was gracious enough to have sat down for an interview with us in one of the executive offices on the seventh floor of the new GMA 7 building. After the Anjo interview (it was a good one because he was very candid with his statements), we decided to call it a night (it was way past 11 p.m.) and hopped into our vehicles. But as I was about to start the car engine, I decided to go to the little boys’ room one last time. (I drink two gallons of water a day, which is why I pass water a lot.) On my way out of the bathroom, who do I see at the GMA 7 gazebo, but Jomari Yllana? I immediately called Startalk boss Rommel Gacho, who was already in EDSA and told him to gather back the crew. Heaven knows how I managed to make Jomari wait (we didn’t even have an appointment with him, remember?) while Rommel drove back to GMA 7 and gathered everyone again for the shoot. It turned out to be a dream interview because Jomari was very frank and direct with his answers. Before heading back for home again, Rommel and I had a short talk and he told me: "I never thought I’d see the day when we’d have use for your incontinence!"

(To be continued)