Gelli faces big challenge
Actress and TV host Gelli de Belen faces a big challenge in her career – filling in the shoes of Amy Perez as host of TV5’s show “Face to Face .”
Gelli will take over while Amy goes on a maternal leave. Amy personally chose the host of “Artista Academy” and “Game and Go” to be “Face to Face’s” temporary host and become TV5’s “Ateng Gelli.”
“There’s that pressure to maintain the ratings of ‘Face to Face.’ But I’m thankful that Tiyang Amy believes in me and it’s really challenging because napakahusay niya sa programa,” Gelli said.
Having hosted a number of TV magazine type programs, “tasting shows” and more, Gelli is expected to add a different flavor to the show with her “vibrant” candid nature and wit.
“What people saw will be the same televiewers will see in me in ‘Face to Face.’ I’ll just be myself. Sabi lang sa akin ni Tiyang Amy, dapat makatayo ako agad and huwag masyadong sasandal sa upuan ko para makailag at huwag masaktan if ever,” related Gelli, smiling.
If she finds “Face to Face” interesting, it is because of people brave enough to bring their problems on television and hopefully get a fix or solution for them.
“Alam ninyo sa showbiz, sabi nila, it’s a good life. Pero not everybody gets exposed to the kind of life that most Filipinos have. This is majority of the population. So yung na-experience namin ni Amy, bilang artista, bilang host especially with ‘Face to Face’ di na-experience ng mga karaniwang tao na nagtratrabaho. Kakaibang trabaho talaga 'to kasi marami kang nakikilala,” she pointed out.
Though it is about letting their guests air their sentiments, complaints and even anger, what ees of their guests. Their guests get to hear different points of views, not only from her, but also from their priest, lawyer and psychologist who give out professional opinions.
“After hearing everyone out and nagkaroon ng realization, then success. It doesn’t mean that there would be an immediate solution, kasi ang mga away ngayon hindi naman agad-agad nabibigyan ng solution di ba? Pero kapag may attempt to reconcile or fix it, ibig sabihin, nakatulong kami. The important thing is just to recognize na there’s a problem,” explained Gelli.
Gelli also admitted that what’s hard in “Face to Face” is when she has to give out an advice towards the end of the show.
“Sinasabi ko nga kay Amy, nahihirapan ako sa pagpapayo in the end. Ako na yun at hindi scripted. Kailangang from the start, ma-absorb mo yung mga pinagdadaanan ng mga guests mo kasi pag-iisipan mo talaga kung ano ang sasabihin mo sa kanila. So how would I really be able to reach them kasi unang-unang maiisip mo hindi mo naman pinagdadaanan ang pinagdadaanan nila?” shared Gelli.
Advising people is not something new for Gelli. In showbiz and in her personal life, she has listened to her friends’ problems and has given them advice and vice versa.
“Just the same me with them, ako naman pinapayuhan din nila ako kasi ganun naman talaga ang magkakaibigan. But at the end of the day, it’s still your life and it’s your decision. Buhay mo yun,” she said.
What are the common problems Gelli’s showbiz friends share with her?
“Sa mga nakasalamuha ko sa industriyang ito, karamihan sa kanilang relasyon may third party. May mga instances lang na ugali-ugali na sinasabi ko na kumalma ka kasi may mga ganyan akong pagpapayo,” she replied.
Dealing with real people’s problems on TV is part of the reason why Gelli is thinking twice about co-hosting “Face to Face” with Amy.
Gelli thinks it’s a big responsibility, and requires a lot of soul-searching.
Gelli’s other TV5 shows are “Artista Academy” and “Game and Go.”
