Three hosts and a baby

Back in the ’80s, there was a Hollywood movie called Three Men and a Baby. That movie comes to mind when one thinks of Bianca Gonzalez, Mariel Rodriguez and Drew Arellano –all building successful careers for themselves as TV hosts – and Danita Paner, at 17, the "baby" of the group since she is just about to launch her singing career with her debut album under Viva Records and a concert at the Music Museum.

Aside from being the "baby" in the group, Danita is also the "baby" of her Mommy Daisy Romualdez, who is actively supporting her career. And Mommy Daisy is a constant presence in almost all of Danita’s other commitments. In fact, Mommy Daisy shares that this early, tickets to Danita’s solo concert at the Music Museum on Sept. 14, are sold out. Her pride in her daughter’s talent is evident and obvious.

Mommy Daisy doesn’t allow Danita to go out much, and she thinks Danita is still too young for boyfriends and suitors.

"Lagi ko siyang kasama," confirms Danita, who graduated from Reedley International School last year. She is now a freshman college student at De La Salle University (DLSU), taking up Entrepreneurship. "Pero okay lang, kasi nag-uumpisa pa lang naman ako. Siguro kapag nasanay na ako, she’ll let go."

Danita has crushes. She has a weakness for "bad boy" types, even if she knows her mom will ferociously object. "Idadaan ko na lang sa usap. Lahat naman, puwedeng pag-usapan eh," she quips.

Danita is not in a hurry, because right now, her focus is on her career, just like her fellow talent Mariel Rodriguez who is co-hosting Wowowee.

When she was still doing Pinoy Big Brother and PBB Uplate, Mariel enjoyed mixing it up with the crowds outside the PBB house whenever there were eviction nights and during the Big Night. "I loved being with the crowds. Enjoy na enjoy ako kapag humihirit sila."

While she knows she is enjoying Wowowee, giving up PBB and PBB Uplate makes Mariel a bit nostalgic. "It’s nice, because now, I’ve rediscovered the luxury of sleep and my bed, and I’m back to sleeping at normal hours," laughs Mariel, "but I got used to PBB, which I go to everyday. I was part of all three seasons, so when we had the reunion (show), I cried and cried backstage."

Mariel has done a movie, X44, under Star Cinema. The movie stars Vhong Navarro, Pokwang, Cass Ponti, Uma Khouny, and Juliana Palermo, among others. Tony Ferrer, the original Agent X44, also makes a cameo appearance.

Mariel says people on the set used to call her Cinderella, "because when we were shooting, I’d leave at 1 a.m. to do voicing for PBB Uplate," she laughs. "But they were very understanding naman."

The Pinoy Big Brother experience had quite a different effect on Bianca Gonzalez, who had to grapple with issues concerning her private life. "Alam ko namang may mga nasaktan ako," says Bianca. But like all joys and pains people go through, this one will come to pass in Bianca’s life. And she’s come out of it intact and in fighting form, career wise.

She has a new show Blog, short for Barkada Log, a new 30-minute show featuring showbiz news, mostly about foreign celebrities.

It’s the perfect show for Bianca, who loves reading about Hollywood celebrities. The people behind Studio 23 had no doubts at all Bianca was the host they were looking for.

"Bianca is one of the best. She’s smart, witty and beautiful, and at her age, she’s already proven her worth as a TV host," explains Mico del Rosario the show’s executive producer.

And, Bianca adds with a mischievous smile, "chismosa ako at mahilig sa Hollywood stars." Her favorites include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. She wouldn’t mind being flown to Hollywood to interview them one of these days. "Who wouldn’t love the chance to talk to a foreign celebrity?" she asks.

The one person in this group who gets to talk to (and spend time with) a lot of celebrities is Drew Arellano, host of the travel show Balikbayan on QTV 11. He goes around the country to showcase scenic spots, through the eyes of a featured celebrity guest.

"It’s really exciting, because we go around the Philippines, but we feature the personalities, too," says Drew, also a segment host on GMA 7’s morning show, Unang Hirit. "So you get all the detailed kuwento, one on one, and you get to know the person, not just the place."

Drew says he’s perfectly happy with the show and his career. "Right now, I love what I’m doing. I get to meet new people everyday. I’m a happy guy," he points out.

Young as they are, these "three hosts and a baby" are all driven and passionate about their lives and careers and that’s the way it’s going to be.