Billy not competing with Luis

MANILA, Philippines - Billy Crawford will indubitably become the most visible artist on ABS-CBN every Saturday when he begins his hosting chores on Celebrity Playtime today. If you are wondering why, it is simply because Billy will be hosting three shows on that day beginning with It’s Showtime during lunchtime. Then he returns on-cam right before Home Sweetie Home airs for Celebrity Playtime and by dinnertime, you will still see him do the talking in Your Face Sounds Familiar.

“I am really, really excited and happy to be given again an opportunity to do what I enjoy,” says Billy on being tapped as host of the latest Kapamilya game show. “This (show) is an original concept of ABS-CBN and it is not solely concentrated on the games but you will also get to know more about the celebrity contestants.”

And since he is known as a singer-actor first than a host, curious minds have begun to wonder if he is trying to compete with Luis Manzano who has more than proven his worth with the number of game shows he successfully handled. Billy quips, “Si Luis po kasi magta-tackle na s’ya ng singing and dancing; gusto na nya yun ang path nya so mag-papalit talaga kami, hahaha.”

Kidding aside, Billy considers Luis as his mentor. They co-hosted the previous editions of Pilipinas Got Talent, which is also set to make a comeback soon. Thus, any competition between the two is far from happening. Besides, Billy believes his style is much different from Luis. “Talagang mag-kaiba kami ni Luboy (as he fondly calls Luis). But Luis is really admirable as a host and because we’re really close friends, I am not ashamed to ask help or tips from him. That also proves that there’s really no patalbugan (showdown between us) or comparison whatever. In fact, we were together during the (Kapamilya) trade launch as hosts.”

Speaking of competition, Billy chooses to keep mum on the ongoing rivalry between Eat, Bulaga and It’s Showtime due to their respective “talk of the town” items AlDub and Pastillas Girl. AlDub is the popular team-up of Maine Mendoza a.k.a. Yaya Dub and Alden Ricahards which was accidentally formed in the Juan for All and All for Juan segment. Pastillas Girl, on the other hand, is Angelica Jane Yap whose wish to find a new love became a trending topic and, later on, a segment in It’s Showtime.

“I think this is not the right time for me or the venue to speak what’s happening between the two networks especially kung di ko kasama ang mga kapatid ko sa Showtime. So we’re just here to actually still enjoy what we do and we really enjoy what we do every day because our goal is to simply make people happy.”

No doubt, Billy is deadset on delivering a fun show not just for celebrity contestants of Celebrity Playtime but also to the televiewers. “Our show is different and those who are short-tempered are not fit to join. We have over 40 games so hindi naman ito concentrated lang sa games dito mas makikilala nyo ng maayos ang mga contestants natin every week.”

For the pilot episode, some of the celebrity contestants of Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 1 will compete against the chosen Lucky Stars of Deal or No Deal in various games like spelling and guessing the title of song combinations.

“The most challenging part of hosting for me is ‘yung pagigigng bulol ko. And my style varies according to the type of the show. In Showtime, medyo technical, in Your Face, I’m a bit formal while here (Celebrity) chill lang, mas relaxed.”

On the personal front, Billy reveals that his relationship with Coleen Garcia is smooth-sailing. The latter has just turned 23 yesterday and if plans don’t miscarry, they will be at the Hospicio de San Juan today. “She wants to help and have a party there,” Billy shares.

Asked about his plans of settling down, Billy says he’s ready but he doesn’t want to rush Coleen into marriage. “Honestly, for me I’m ready but Coleen, she’s only 23 marami pa s’yang pangarap na gustong matupad. And I don’t want to put numbers sa panahon kasi we never know but as I said ako handa na ko.”