“I have become smarter,” answers Janno Gibbs when asked about the best thing that happened to him after hosting the first season of GMA 7’s Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5? which will premiere its latest season tonight after Pinoy Records.
“It seemed like I took a refresher course on my Grade 5 subjects,” adds Janno who finished his elementary education at Lourdes School of Mandaluyong. “I learned new things and that’s what I like about the show.”
Can he answer those mind-boggling questions like what Michael V, the show’s sole P1-M winner, did?
“No,” replies Janno. “I was the goat in the class. That makes me the ideal or the perfect host for the show.”
Thus, Janno cannot give leading clues to each question and it makes the game extra difficult for the contestants.
“I think the game is the star of the show,” shares Janno. “It challenges everyone, especially the televiewers to test their brain, so to speak, or to know what they learned in Grade 5. Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5? has a component of surprise because you have no idea what questions will be thrown at you. Maybe you know the subject but the one being asked that particular moment is difficult or you can’t just recall the answer.”
With the 10 new, reliable students, there’s no reason for the studio contestant to get fidgety or go nuts. He has to rely on his instinct when to peek, copy or save. He must also know each student’s field of expertise.
David Omilla, Gabrielle Viloria Larin, Michael Brian Alvarez and Jules Cyber Cruz are dependable when it comes to numbers and Science. Ram Louis del Mundo and Louis Luthy can be a great help when we talk of Reading and Language. There’s also the Top 1 Circle of Matthew Kyle Oronce, Pauline Allyson Abalos, Russel Kashmere Garcia and Katherine Anne Pavino who will never pull you down.
All these whiz kids, say show’s executive producer Jocelyn Ariño and AVP Janine Nacar, are the creme dela creme of their schools. The Grade 5 pupils bested about 500 aspirants who received invitations to audition. The chosen few are from Lagro Elementary School, University of the Philippines Integrated School, Claret School of Quezon City, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, Diliman Preparatory School, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Colegio San Agustin.
Like their American counterparts, the kids are smart and funny. Their adorable personality and quirks will make more adults tune in to the show.
Computer Education and Spelling are the latest additions to the Math, English, Science, Music, Arts, Physical Education, Civics, Geography and History subjects.
All the information and materials used on the show are supervised and certified by the DepEd. Representatives from the said office will observe the show.
Jocelyn and Janine share that the studio contestants are all professionals and achievers in their respective industries. They are up for the challenge to see for themselves if their brains are as sharp as when they were in the grades. If they succeed, they will take home the grand prize without saying, “I’m not smarter than a fifth grader.”
Asked who is the smarter host, him or the US’s Jeff Foxworthy, Janno replies, “I studied his style and watched the show’s previous episodes and I couldn’t be relaxed and quiet like him. Comedy or hosting the show is different in the States. I have to be engaging for the televiewers.”