MANILA, Philippines - There’s never a dull moment or even a dead air when Rovilson Fernandez starts to speak up. He’s so spontaneous he could probably talk for hours on end without boring his listeners. His funny antics could also give stand-up comedians a run for their money.
And Q-11 just made the right move: Take Rovilson in as the new host of Ang Pinaka after Pia Guanio bid the show goodbye years back.
“That was bittersweet. I like the show and on top of that Pia and I are friends. We worked together in Lakbay TV,” Rovilson shares. “I know she likes the show as well but I guess they’re moving in a new direction,” adds Rovilson who became a household name when he competed in The Amazing Race Asia with Marc Nelson.
But did you know Rovilson never thought he would be hosting a TV show? He was content in his publishing job as executive editor of Maxim. But the chance to do something bigger and more exciting knocked on his door after his stint in the reality show.
“All that I’ve been doing now is a dream come true. I never would have thought I’d be a TV host. All my life, I’ve been practising to be behind the camera and to be in production. Right now I’m having fun with this. It’s a new learning experience.”
Speaking more in Tagalog is one of the things that keeps Rovilson on his toes. It may take some time for the American twang to vanish every time he talks in the vernacular. But the effort to speak like Juan dela Cruz shows. And it proves how much the US-born host with Filipino parents, both from Dagupan, wants to get closer to his kababayan.
“This (Ang Pinaka) is completely different from the show I’ve done before. I had a niche, you know. I was more cable, international but now with Ang Pinaka, the direction we’re going is to be more Tagalog,” he says.
Rovilson adds that interacting with more people will also help broaden the show’s viewership as he goes out on the streets to learn about their own “ang pinaka.” He starts by asking, “P’wede patanong?”
Ang Pinaka delves on various topics where the contents are presented countdown style. Issues about the most shocking scenes caught on tape, the biggest showbiz comebacks, the famous and infamous newsmakers or the best films were featured on the show.
Asked if he shares his ideas on the show, Rovilson quips, “Mine are too bastos daw so it will never be aired.”
Besides, Rovilson shares, the show already featured a lot of interesting topics where the panelistas tackled the issues with expertise and wit. He, too, appreciates how the production team works hard to make each episode interesting and fun.
The effort has paid off. The show won the Anak TV Seal award for four consecutive years and made it as finalist at the New York Film and Video Festival.
What does Rovilson like best about the show?
“I’m really enjoying the hosting aspect. You see, I’m not a host by trade so I’m enjoying this ride and trying to go as long as I can with it, stretching my 15 minutes of fame, so to speak.
“I like going out talking to people, to shake hands, hug and be more involved. It’s also fun to go out, taste the best food and go to the best island. Syempre I wanna take part in that.”
Let’s see how Rovilson will fare in the coming episodes of Ang Pinaka, which airs Sunday nights at 6.