Aga Muhlach finds new niche as charismatic game show host on ‘Let’s Ask Pilipinas’

Aga Muhlach.

Aga Muhlach admits that when TV5 offered him to host “Let’s Ask Pilipinas” after Ryan Agoncillo had turned it down, he had mixed feelings about it.

“When this game show was offered to me, gustong-gusto ko talagang gawin ito pero takot akong mag-live so parang nahihiya pa ako,” Aga confessed to InterAksyon and other entertainment reporters during a recent visit to the set of his daily game show.

Despite being well-loved by the masses who helped ease his transition from being a former matinee idol to a sought-after and award-winning dramatic actor, Aga admits that he’s actually shy by nature. He said two things in recent years have helped him overcome that shyness.

One is “Pinoy Explorer”, his popular travel show on TV5 that’s now enjoying its second season.

“I accepted ‘Pinoy Explorer’ because it was something different. It allowed me to go around the country and the rest of the world. It also served as training ground that exposed me to people,” he admitted. “Before that, medyo aloof ako sa tao so that changed when I agreed to do the show”.

The other one was his first foray in politics when he sought a congressional seat in the 4th district of Camarines Sur, in a fiercely-fought campaign that was controversial from the get-go until the final count that ended in his opponent’s favor.

But even as his election protest has shown signs of prospering, Aga said regardless of whether its outcome is favorable or not, he is already thankful that the experience further brought him even closer to people.

“I campaigned for almost a year so mas lalo akong naging close sa tao, lumabas yung natural ko and I think it ultimately prepared me for this show,” he added.

Not that this is the first time he was offered to do a game show or even a live show, for that matter. Back when he was still with ABS-CBN, Aga was repeatedly offered to host a noontime show and had he accepted, he would have been the first ever host of “The Singing Bee”, a gig that eventually went to his good friend Cesar Montano.

“At that time, my sitcoms were doing fine. I guess hindi pa talaga ako ready then,” he admitted.

Aga Muhlach on the set of 'Let's Ask Pilipinas'. (Connie Tungul/InterAksyon)

Aga looks more than ready now as he exudes a lot of confidence in taking on the hosting chores of “Let’s Ask Pilipinas” with uncanny ease. The charismatic actor was a fun and disarming presence all throughout the taping of the episode that media witnessed.

Aga said much of the enjoyment he derives from the show, which is actually a franchise version of “Let’s Ask America”, can be attributed to its rules that allow him to interact with his contestants in the comfort of their homes.

“And because they’re in their own homes, they’re very comfortable and very relaxed and they’re surrounded by their family so they can also play around with me during the show. Compare them to studio contestants who are usually nervous and insecure, ninenerbiyos sila, at home, they’re more at ease. Mas maganda ang interaction,” he pointed out.

For his part, it also helps that Aga treats the “Let’s Ask Pilipinas” set like his very own studio and is not afraid to poke fun at his own personal circumstances.

“Gusto ko masaya lagi sa set, what you see here is what I really am. The other day, may mga guest kami na kamukha ni Janice (De Belen), sabi ko ikaw ba yung before o ikaw yung after. Not that I intentionally make fun of Janice or anybody in particular. I don’t have issues with anybody. It’s all in good clean fun,” he enthused.

Even his wife Charlene Gonzalez is not exempt from the spiels. As Aga playfully “flirts” with one pretty contestant on screen, a technical staff yells that Charlene is calling him on the phone.

“Sabihin n’yo, mamaya na. Nagta-trabaho pa ako,” he deadpanned.

Antics like this are reminiscent of the late Pepe Pimentel’s humorous references to his mother-in-law during his “Kuwarto O Kahon” days. Although Aga is not aware of the comparison, his in-joke spiels further liven up what is already an exciting and tension-filled game show that culminates in a final round where the last contestant remaining can wager all his money or just a percentage of it in guessing the final answer.

“The thing about the show is that there is no right or wrong answer. But you have to guess which one is preferred by people in our survey. Ako mismo nagugulat sa mga sagot with the highest survey percentage. Ah, yun pala yung gusto ng tao,” he said.

“Let’s Ask Pilipinas” airs on TV5 every Mondays thru Fridays at 7PM.

Aga Muhlach finds new niche as charismatic game show host on ‘Let’s Ask Pilipinas’

Source: InterAksyon.com (November 26, 2013 at 10:33AM)

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