The Master never sleeps

MANILA, Philippines - Showbiz, amid the glitz and glamour that come with it, can sometimes be a dreary place. There are bickerings over careers, sex scandals that are deemed more interesting than corruption, streams of tears from jilted lovers, on-set fistfights, and Instagram bashing. Tonight, however, most of that takes a grinding halt to celebrate a man and his 50 years of service in the crazy world he loves most.

Wearing a sleek black suit and tie adorned with Swarovskis that would put Justin Timberlake’s sartorial choice to shame, German Moreno paces around his suite as the Supreme team assembles the shoot. “Relax, Dad,” his son tells Kuya Germs. In about an hour, Kuya Germs would step inside the Newport Performing Arts Theater, all 1,500 seats occupied with not only the biggest names in showbiz, but also the people who came along his 50-year journey.

“Well, I don’t know anything about this show,” he says softly as we sit on the edge of his bed.  “When we were planning this, I was suggesting ‘like this, like that.’ All of a sudden, they changed it and they explained it to me. It will be a big surprise for me.”

From his early days of working as a janitor to a bona fide starmaker in the ’70s, Kuya Germs has been working constantly, maneuvering through the ins and outs of showbiz to bring forth the next superstar. Perhaps to be surprised and have his family pampered for one night is exactly what the Master Showman needs.

In bed with the “Master Showman” Kuya Germs, Supreme talks about his longevity in showbiz, finding the right “vibration,” and learning how to smile even in the toughest of times.

PHILIPPINE STAR: Showbiz has not been the same as it was 10 years ago. Over the 50 years in showbiz, what was the biggest difference that you’ve noticed?

KUYA GERMS: There is a big, big difference in comparing then and now  sobrang malayo. The biggest difference? Attitudes. Being one of the stars of Sampaguita Pictures, I learned so many things especially about being professional.

Doc Perez was crucial to your becoming a starmaker. What was the most important thing that you learned from Doc Perez?

The vibrations. Kung anong tingin mo sa tao. If you see a personality or young kids. During the time of That’s Entertainment, isang tingin pa lang alam ko na, “May future itong batang ‘to.” Or may challenge ka naman na pwede mong gawing showbiz ito.

Fifty years is a long time to be in showbiz, what’s your secret to keeping adrift in this business?

The relationships. Your PR. Understanding the people around you and being sincere. Huwag kang plastic. Ang dami na ngang plastic na gamit, pati tao may plastic na rin.

How do you deal with detractors or those who are plastic?

Kung anong sayaw ay siyang tugtog. Pero hindi ako plastic na tao. Kaya nga lang, kailangan maintindihan mo talaga. Hindi yung pwedeng paloloko ka rin.

You’ve made stars out of obscurity and reeled hundreds of kids into showbiz, how do you manage to keep a safe balance with your stars?

You have to balance everything and walang favoritism. Although sometimes, kung sino talaga yung masipag sa trabaho, dun ka magfo-focus. Nakikita mo kasing hindi siya tamad at sumusunod kung ano yung gusto mong ipagawa para sa kanyang kabutihan na rin.

You say no favoritism but there has to be “the one” that you really cared for the most?

Wala talaga. From the first 16 kids of That’s Entertainment, the first meeting I had with them was to explain it na ganito ang gagawin natin. Kapag kayo talaga ay nagkaron ng pagkakataon na sumikat, sa inyo yan. Hindi ako manghihingi ng komisyon or anything. Walang ganon.

Do you miss the That’s Entertainment days?

Of course, I miss it. Even The GMA Supershow. Yung creation ng shows na tinanggap ng tao, yung discovering talents na nakita ng lahat kung gaano dumami ang artista sa industriya. I felt so bad nung time na kinancel without any explanation yung That’s Entertainment.

However, Master Showman: Walang Tulugan! has been on the air for 17 years. It feels like an extension of That’s Entertainment.

Well, I had that problem because in a year’s time, all my five shows were cancelled. So, I asked the management, “Do you still need me?” “No, dito ka pa rin!” they told me and asked me what I had in mind. I’m still a showbiz personality, I need at least one show. Hanggang sa tinanong nila sakin kung ano ang idea ko, so naisip ko yung Master Showman.

  Master Showman is a success considering that it’s at a late timeslot on a Saturday night.

I didn’t know at first na ang timeslot na ibibigay sa akin ay 10:30 p.m. Everybody told me that nobody is going to watch you anymore kasi at that time tulog na yung mga tao. The experience is a challenge for me, na yung oras na patay ay bubuhayin mo. Nangyari na yon during That’s Entertainment, hapong tapat, siesta time, sinasabi na tulog ang mga tao pero nagising ko! Yung mga estudyante umuuwi ng maaga para abutan ang That’s, ganon!

Part of what makes you force people to stay up are your outfits. How did these outfits start?

Noong dinala ako ni Doctor Perez sa Las Vegas, daytime na daytime nakikita ko yung mga feathers pati yung mga kumikinang! Hindi naman lahat ng kababayan natin may kayang makapunta sa Las Vegas, so pinattern ko yung damit ko sa Las Vegas vibes. Nung una, tinatawanan nila ako. Sabi nila, “Para kang salagubang! Tanghaling tapat nangingintab ka!” Sabi ko, “Okay lang.”  Glitter is part of showbiz. Ang glitter ang nakakapagbigay saya sa mga manunuod mo. Tignan mo ngayon, marami namang gumaya!

Aside from your fascination with glitter, we heard you also have a huge collection of smiling clowns, what is it about smiling clowns?

When I did Payaso, I asked some of my friends na mag-cameo sa film na walang bayad. Wala na nga silang bayad, sila pa yung nag-regalo! Hindi ko na alam kung gano karami yung collection ko, pero sometimes I buy also pag may nagustuhan ako. Entertaining people is to make them laugh. Showbiz always has two faces: smiling and crying. You cannot avoid that.

Are you smiling or crying most of the time?

  You can’t avoid also na kailangan mapaiyak mo rin sila para maging makatotohanan ang pinoportray mo. In my case, I don’t know kung balanse or what. Minsan nga nung nawala yung shows ko, I was alone in my room crying, bakit nangyayari yung ganito? Hindi mo naman maiiwasan yon. By means of prayer naman lumalakas yung loob ko. Hindi naman ito ang katapusan, may darating pang araw.

You’ve directed before and have acted in a couple of independent films, what roles would you like to portray in the future?

My first movie was the number 1 in the box office! The second year, I directed My Blue Hawaii  another box-office hit! After that, sabi ko ‘Teka muna, some of the directors ay nawawalan na ng assignment,’ so sabi ko kay Doc Perez, mag-aartista na lang ako. Pero sa television, they never asked me to direct ever. I have some stories, pero gusto ko pa rin na somebody else would direct it. I want to play more drama. Because I won the Best Supporting Actor for Paupahan, I’m looking forward na sana sa television makapag-drama ako. Kung yung iba nagagawa yon, magagawa ko din!

What is the one legacy that you would like to leave in showbiz?

Yung contribution ko. That people would remember me kung ano ang ginawa mo. Na naipakita kong tumulong ako at nakarating naman sila dun sa kanilang kinalalagyan ngayon. Kuya Germs is Kuya Germs.

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