Jay-R knows how

MANILA, Philippines - Jay-R himself admits it. The irony of all ironies in his life right now can’t be any clearer. Here he is, trying to find the ideal date for male and female contestants in his new show Take Me Out (Mondays to Fridays on GMA 7 starting April 26), when he himself is wallowing in loneliness.

The host of the new game show is pining for girlfriend Krissa Mae Arrieta, who is now on a world tour with Julio Iglesias.

“How I miss her,” Jay-R sighs. That’s why he was so glad the recent Holy Week break allowed him to spend rare, precious moments with Krissa Mae in Malaysia, where she was doing a show with Julio Iglesias. Jay-R flew to Kuala Lumpur with Krissa Mae’s mom to cheer his girlfriend on.

Speaking of Julio, how does Jay-R feel, now that people are linking the international singer with Krissa Mae? Julio was so impressed with Krissa Mae when he saw her doing back-up vocals in his recent show at the Araneta Coliseum. They had a meeting two days after, when Julio invited her to join his three-month world tour. Soon after, she was on the plane, ready to join Julio’s tour.

Is the fact that his girlfriend is touring the world with a reputed ladies man giving Jay-R sleepless nights?

 “It’s kind of hard because it’s not only Julio who’s eyeing her,” replies Jay-R. “Everywhere she goes, people are eyeing Krissa Mae.”

But this is the least of his worries. Jay-R doesn’t feel threatened about all the attention Krissa Mae is getting. He even feels proud she has singled him out as her boyfriend.

“I’m just proud that she’s holding my arm and she’s my girl,” Jay-R states. He knows Krissa Mae is only doing her job, so he has no reason to feel jealous. Besides, he trusts her completely.

He even trusts Krissa Mae’s taste. When she asked him to change the way he looks, Jay-R gladly sported cropped hair in place of his then familiar bald pate.

“It was she who suggested that I grow some hair,” reveals Jay-R. And when he did, doors of opportunity he never thought existed suddenly opened one after another.

Universal Records obviously liked what they saw and featured Jay-R’s new look on the cover of his latest album. GMA 7 agreed, and didn’t ask its new game show host to shave those newly-grown locks for Take Me Out.

“That’s why she’s my lucky charm,” Jay-R describes his current squeeze. He’d like to believe it works both ways. He also brought Krissa Mae blessings galore.

Jay-R serenaded the Bb. Pilipinas candidates the night Krissa won the Bb. Pilipinas-International crown.

Today, they are so busy, Krissa Mae can’t even watch Jay-R’s new show since she’s out of the country. Now, if Mohammed can’t go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammed.

Jay-R is bent on asking a leave from GMA 7, where he also hosts Party Pilipinas, to personally see Krissa Mae compete in the Miss International pageant in China this October.

Before that big day comes, Jay-R would rather bury himself in work every day rather than think of how much he misses Krissa.

He watches Ryan Seacrest and observes his hosting style. Jay-R is also working double time on his Tagalog by reading as many komiks magazines as he can and talking in the native tongue as much as possible. This way, the US born and raised Jay-R can converse more easily with the 30 girls and the two guys looking for a date via his new show.

Hosting is all-new terrain for Jay-R, and he’s not ashamed to admit he was struggling the first time he reported on the set.

“The executive producer of the UK show (Take Me Out is a franchise) was there to make sure we retain the over-all look of the original format,” recalls Jay-R.

While he knows there are rules to follow and a format to adhere to, Jay-R knows the dating styles of Filipinos and Londoners are worlds apart. So he has the responsibility of giving the show the Pinoy touch that will make televiewers tune in, 30 minutes a day for the next few months.

“Britons are much more liberated,” Jay-R observes. “They already hold hands and even kiss on the first date. Filipinos still court each other on the first date.”

The challenge for him lies in projecting this more reserved dating style on the show through his spiels.

For starters, Jay-R makes sure he talks to the contestants before cameras start to grind. This will make him feel more at ease when talking to the guy looking for a date the minute he steps on stage during the show itself. Their repartee will flow more easily; their brief conversation will be more engaging. And the show will never bore the viewer.

“I’m excited and nervous,” Jay-R owns up. “ I never expected this. Hosting a show used to be but a dream.”

We already know much about Jay-R the R&B singer. But we have yet to see Jay-R the game show host. Will he fare just as well in his new role? It’s too early to tell.

That’s why we’ll have to sit back and relax as he plays the dating game, not in real life, but on the small screen, with 30 ladies and two gentlemen as excited about the show as he is.