Alden now at ease with hosting

MANILA, Philippines - “There was nothing to extend in the (story),” says Alden Richards of the run of his bayani-serye Ilustrado, which saw him playing Gat Jose Rizal. “It was only good for 20 episodes. I respect the decision of the management. They know better.”

Alden adds that he is not in the position to tell the management what to do and he is not the type who meddles in the decisions of others. “I know they know what’s best for the network and what’s best for me. I really admire how Ilustrado came out in terms of (visual) effects and the way it was handled by the production (team). I’m thankful to those who watched and followed it.” Perhaps, Ilustrado is on the list of Alden’s book of most cherished assignments. “If I know and feel it is a good project, then I will go for it.”

And Alden must have the same feeling for Bet ng Bayan, which he co-hosts with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

“(As the show runs,) I have gotten more comfortable with it,” says Alden of his hosting stint in the Kapuso talent reality search. “At first, I wasn’t comfortable. It’s different when you’re hosting in school or hosting on national TV. Although we’re taped as live and it’s OK to make mistakes, as much as possible we try to avoid it. We have a meeting the night before the show. I have to memorize the spiels although there’s a teleprompter. It’s different when you know the script by heart. You can play with it and so you won’t appear (and sound like you’re) reading it straight from the teleprompter. I try my best to do that. But I cannot help but buckle and stammer sometimes.”

How does Alden describe his hosting style?

“(It’s) more of Ryan (Seacrest), who is very lively and jolly,” he replies. “When he speaks to the contestants, you can see that there’s something personal between them. He seems to know them personally.”

Although it’s the job of the writers to give him the “head start” on the contestants, Alden does his own research. “(Hosting) is like acting — (you’re) acting by the script. Nagbabasa ka nang linya na di mo kilala yung character mo. (You read your lines without knowing your character). (The difference of hosting with acting is) you introduce (personalities) and you (open and) close certain event (or segments). It is easier acting.”

Asked what projects his fans will see him after Bet ng Bayan, Alden says, “Wala pa so far. But my next project is definitely a soap. I’m just waiting for the material. There are (also) offers from production houses.” This sounds exciting to the fans who wish to see more of Alden’s acting potentials like deglamorizing himself on the big screen.

Since he is friends with Aljur Abrenica and Rita de Guzman, people can’t help but want to get his side on Aljur’s rumored comeback to GMA and Rita’s statement that she and Alden had a  mutual understanding. 

“It’s good for him,” says Alden. “Maybe he was just confused at that time who to believe. I believe GMA would accept him with open arms.”

As for Rita’s statement, Alden says that he takes care of the leading ladies he works with in any project. “Rita and I are good friends. In showbiz, I have a lot of girl friends. I consider her one of my closest. There was no courtship. We were just very close. Ganun talaga lang po ako sa lahat — I treat them special. We share secrets and we share stories about our families.” The GMA Artist Center talent doesn’t mind if Rita feels that way towards him.

Meantime, Alden will be busy presenting the semi-finalists of Bet ng Bayan Mega Manila leg. Veronica Atienza and Apple Delleva will compete in Bet ng Kantahan. Veronica, who studied Marine Biology in Sydney, performs a nice-and-easy number with her ukulele, while Apple shows her experience as a veteran singing contestant.

The Bet ng Sayawan will have Names Going Wild of Tanza, Navotas City and A’s Crew of Muntinlupa City. Techno Jazz and Adrian Adriano will showcase their breathtaking and mind-boggling talents in Bet sa Kakaibang Talento.       

(Bet ng Bayan airs weeknights at 10 and Sundays at 9:40.)