JOHN Prats: Happy with Bianca Manalo and his new show, “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 4 Uber 2012”
“I don’t consider Bianca a liability. We inspire each other to keep improving our craft,” said actor-TV host John Prats regarding online comments that his romantic relationship with former beauty queen Bianca Manalo is not doing him any good.
The couple met and fell in love in 2011 while working on ABS-CBN’s now-defunct noontime game show “Happy Yipee Yehey.”
“We’ve never felt we were pulling each other down. We’re very supportive of each other’s interests,” said John during a press conference for “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 4 Uber 2012” at the Kapamilya network headquarters in Quezon City.
John won first runner-up in “PBB Celebrity Edition 1” in 2006. He now shares hosting chores with Toni Gonzaga, Bianca Gonzalez and Robi Domingo.
You were once a “PBB” housemate. How did that contribute to your development as an actor?
When the “PBB” show was over, I felt more confident. I lost my inhibitions. I could express myself better when I started hosting “Banana Split” and “HYY.”
You are dubbed as Kuya’s sidekick on “PBB.” What does that entail?
I actually have no clue about what Kuya (Big Brother) will make me do this season. I’m flattered with the title. The objective is to keep viewers entertained, to make the show more fun.
You knew the three hosts personally when you joined. Did you still have to adjust?
Direk Lauren Dyogi asked me to join the last week of “PBB Unlimited” to see how I’d fare with the other hosts. On the show’s third commercial break, I got a text message from him: “What are you doing? You sound like a news anchor for ‘TV Patrol.’ You were put there to make the show more fun.” From that moment I understood what I had to do.
As early as now, do you have a bet who among the housemates will win?
No, not really. They all have interesting stories to tell. I’m amazed by the twins Joj and Jai. I’m touched by the story of Roy, the construction worker who quit his studies to support his family. I also like the diminutive Clodet, whose life-long dream is to become a beauty queen. There are a lot of strong personalities in this lineup.
(“Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 4 Uber 2012” airs on week nights after “Dahil sa Pag-ibig” on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida timeslot.)