Partners in life & work

MANILA, Philippines - Talentadong Pinoy, the reality talent show on TV5, returned last August with new hosts Robin Padilla and wife Mariel Rodriguez, who brought a new touch and fresh feel to the program.

The weekly primetime top-rater recently entered its fourth season, with more new talents who display their best efforts in pleasing the audience and delighting the judges.

Tuesday Vargas acts as co-host who interviews the family members of the contestants. She also provides humor and wit talking to the talents and giving them pointers before their performance.

Talentadong Pinoy might be Robin’s first foray in hosting a reality talent show. Admittedly, he is a newbie in the genre, but with Mariel around him, he is properly guided. As host, he has the power to save one contestant every week if he is strongly awed by the performance.

Robin recently marked his 45th birthday on the show, with surprises cooked up by his loved ones and people close to him. Thanks to Mariel, who helped bring the people close to Robin to perform in the birthday special that preceded the actual competition.

Robin’s brother, Rommel, played the guitar in a song number with Robin’s close friend and favorite movie sidekick, Dennis Padilla. Although not related to Robin, Dennis, whose real last name is Baldivia (he is the son of the late comedian Dencio Padilla), worked with the action star in a number of movies like Maging Sino Ka Man (with megastar Sharon Cuneta), Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum (with Vina Morales) and Bilib Ako Sa ‘Yo (with Joyce Jimenez), among others.

Meanwhile, BB Gandanghari did a sexy dance number, which he called buwis-buhay. The guy, formerly known as Rustom Padilla, acknowledged himself as a true Padilla now.

It will be remembered that Robin did not talk to BB for a long time after the latter came out in the open to admit his real sexuality. However, when BB was hospitalized early this year, the brothers decided to bury the hatchet and restored peace in their family, much to the delight of their mother, Eva Cariño Padilla. BB earlier guested in Talentadong Pinoy as one of the judges.

Claudine Barretto, who was paired with Robin in the 2000 film, Ooops, Teka Lang, Diskarte Ko ‘To, was also one of the judges in the birthday night of Robin in Talentadong Pinoy.

Robin was also delighted with the presence of director Joyce Bernal, who worked at the helm of many of his movies. Most notable and most recent was the award-winning 10,000 Hours, shown in the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Direk Joyce also directed Robin in Pagdating ng Panahon (with Sharon Cuneta), Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw (with Regine Velasquez), Buhay Kamao (with Rica Peralejo) and Tunay Na Tunay, Gets Mo, Gets Ko (with Jolina Magdangal).

Talentadong Pinoy features not just the usual singing or dancing talents, but unique and sometimes never-before-seen acts — magicians, fire-breathing acrobats, contortionists, musicians and even artists who do poetry.

Robin is also finishing the Andres Bonifacio story, where he reunites with Vina as his leading lady. The historical biopic is his entry to the Metro Filmfest in December.