Iya Villania: What you see is who I am

Iya Villania refuses to be deterred by negative reviews of her performance as host of the reality show “I Dare You,” which she cohosts with Jericho Rosales and Melai Cantiveros.

“What you see on the show is who I really am,” she told Inquirer. “I’m giving it my best.”

“I Dare You,” which airs weekdays at 5:15 p.m. on ABS-CBN, features celebrity guests who are challenged to do extraordinary tasks to win prizes for viewers.

What are some of the toughest episodes so far?

That one where Ethel Booba, Miriam Quiambao, Phoemela Baranda and I worked in a garage to help a mechanic. Another was when Echo (Jericho) had to do the challenge and the hosting was left to Melai and me. It was in a public market. There were so many people, and they were hard to control.

How do you cope?

It really is physically draining. I just focus on getting myself through the day. I just think that whatever I’m doing is actually helping someone. And then I have to be up at 3 a.m. daily for “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

Did you welcome working with Echo and Melai?

I was super-happy. We help each other. Echo is the leader, the person of authority. I’m more like the kabarkada.

Do you get advice from Drew (Arellano, her boyfriend) who is also a reality show host?

We always share experiences. He teaches and motivates me, pushes me to do better.

What do  you like about being a TV host? What would you advise aspirants to the job?

What I love is that you get paid to be yourself. You learn about, and from, the people you meet.

There are different types of TV hosts. Always connect with the person you’re interviewing. Make him feel comfortable enough to answer all your questions. Don’t be scared to experiment.—Marinel R. Cruz