How Martin Javier keeps himself at the top of his game

Yes, Martin Javier knows hosting like the back of his hand. But the GMA Synergy sportscaster for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and “24 Oras” “Game Changer” segment host always keeps himself ready with the demands that come at hand with his chosen craft.

He recently hosted the event dubbed “NCAA Siglo Uno: Inspiring Legacies Opening Ceremony” that signaled the centennial year of the first athletic collegiate league in the country.

“For me, first is preparation,” said Martin, also a Sparkle GMA artist, of some paramount aspects of hosting in a recent virtual interview with The STAR. “Even the good ones (or the veterans in the field), they need to prepare. They have to be familiar with everything. Like what they say, ‘Hindi ka pwedeng pumunta sa giyera nang hindi ka ready at wala kang sandata’ (‘You can’t go into a battle unprepared and unarmed’). The first thing, for me, is preparation, and that has been instilled in me from Day One, preparing (myself for the job and), you know, scanning (and reading) the script.”

He complements that with his personal belief that as a host, he is “not the star of the show… You’re just helping out, let’s say, the production, the organizers to bring highlights to the stars of the show,” added he, regarding the secondary and support positions hosts take. “It’s about the event, it’s about the show. It’s about the people directly involved with (it).”

Also part of his preparation is knowing everything about the event, including the audience profile. Martin also respects “the words of the writer,” who works hard in coming up with spiels and relevant information, and incorporates his own as well.

That makes Martin at the top of his game and sought after. In fact, he is a fixture in Kapuso press conferences.

Considering hosting as a part of his career plan and path never crossed his mind as a mass communication student at the University of the Philippines.

But his interest in it was ignited when friends invited him to audition in a VJ search in their junior year. Martin gave it a try, received a callback, and made it to the show, but didn’t win. That didn’t dampen his spirits, and he became a student DJ.

In his senior year, he also tried his luck at becoming a courtside reporter, but didn’t make the final casting. Martin told himself that maybe it wasn’t meant for him.

Just like his dad, a producer for TV commercials, Martin, a cum laude graduate, had trodden the advertising road and worked as a social media guy for brands after college.

While working, he also squeezed into his schedule doing commercials and presenting events. The latter did further enhance his hosting skills and boost his confidence.

By the time the chance to become a courtside reporter, a sportscaster, and a commentator came, Martin was indeed ready. It led him to be part of GMA, the home of the NCAA.

From there, he was seen hosting “Rise Up Stronger: NCAA Season ’96,” “NCAA Season ’97,” “GAME ON: NCAA Season ’98,” and “New Heroes of the Game: NCAA Season ’99,” according to the Sparkle website.

“This is the centennial season of the NCAA, it’s a big season. It’s a historic season for the league,” said he. “It’s the oldest collegiate league in the country, marami ng nanggaling dito na mga players, marami ng nanggaling dito na mga athletes na talagang nag-thrive sa professional scene (many players and athletes came from it and thrived in the professional scene) and who even represented us on the international stage.”

The NCAA Season 100 Men’s Basketball tournament features the Arellano Chiefs, Benilde Blazers, EAC Generals, JRU Heavy Bombers, Letran Knights, LPU Pirates, Mapua Cardinals, Perpetual Altas, San Beda Red Lions, and SSC-R Golden Stags as the 10 competing teams. Lyceum of the Philippines University is this year’s host school.

Looking back on it, Martin said he never had formal training as a host prior to his participation in the VJ search, and everything he learned was through experience and watching other hosts work.

“Personally, I love watching US stand-up comedy shows because I’m a frustrated joker and funny person. (Covering) sports is serious, but I always inject humor and jokes in between,” shared he. “(Stand-up comedians) are very natural, and they have genuine rapport with the audience. They create it so quickly. They’ve just met the audience that evening and have just established rapport.”

Among his idols and influences is Conan O’Brien, and Martin admires the late-night talk show host’s intelligence and brand of humor.

Aside from solo gigs, he also hosts in tandem, and he has no qualms about it since Martin is a giver. “If I’m working with another person, I also allow the other person to shine,” said he. “In my opinion, if it’s a tandem hosting, it shouldn’t be a competition. It should always be a collaboration. So, that’s what I’m thinking, and that’s what I always have in mind whenever I host (with another person).”

(The NCAA Season 100 games are aired live on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on GTV and HOA.)