Gelli, Christine gives Claudine and Raymart advice

MANILA, Philippines- Gelli de Belen and Christine Bersola-Babao are happy that their show “Face the People” is slowly gaining more viewers.

The first thing that they see as a big contributing factor to this is the balance between them when it comes to hosting.

“‘Yong isa kasi praktikal, ‘yong isa ‘yong sa emotions,” Christine explained in an interview Thursday afternoon, February 13. “So nababalanse namin. Hindi kami lagi magkasundo ng opinion pero do’n nababalanse.”

Another factor they say is their commitment to help the participants.

“May follow up,” Gelli said. “Hindi natatapos do’n ‘yong part namin. Halimbawa may isang single mom noon na nagpunta sa amin. Tulad no’ng may pumunta sa aming single mother, 'di niya mapakain nang maayos ang anak niya, binigyan ng scholarship sa TESDA. Doon kasi pumapasok ‘yong, don’t give them fish, teach them how to fish.”

Celebrity guests

They also observed that their show’s ratings do better whenever they have a celebrity guest.

“Kasi nakikita ng tao na may pinagdadaanan din pala ‘tong mga taong ‘to,” Gelli concluded.

One of the best celebrity episodes they did was with Freddie Aguilar and his then girlfriend, Jovy.

Ka Freddie has been a hot topic when the news about his 18-year-old girlfriend came out. He’s been criticized left and right, which made him the perfect guest for the show.

When the two hosts were asked who else they would like to invite to their show, one of the celebrities that they thought about is Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto.

But since this seems impossible with the ongoing case and gag order issued to both parties, the press just then asked them on what they’ll advice to the couple.

Gelli went first giving advice to Raymart. She kept it simple and said, “Stick to the truth. Bago ka mag-decide kung anong gagawin mo, isipin mo kung anong magiging resulta no’n para sa mga anak ‘nyo. So stick to the truth, whatever you do, whatever you say, think of the consequence hindi sa ‘yo kundi sa anak mo.”

Christine didn’t actually give an advice to Claudine, but instead shared something that the public doesn’t know about the actress. Christine sees Claudine frequently since their kids go to the same school.

She then recalls, “Pareho sila na kina-career ang pagiging parents nila. So as parents wala akong masasabi sa kanila. They are very, very tutok and hands on.  Ngayon na hiwalay na sila, I would see Claudine still present sa lahat ng activities.

“She’s having a simple [life], normal mom to Sabina. Pag nakita niya ako magbabatian kami. Tsaka kahit alam niya na lahat ng tao nakatingin sa kanya, di ba dapat mag-breakdown siya or whatever? Siya hindi, she’s a mother, a mother to Sabina.

“She never missed her duties as a mother to Sabina and Santino,” she concluded.