Ryan: Latest incarnation of ‘Talentadong Pinoy’ in tune with current realities

Ryan Agoncillo

If there’s anything good that the quarantine period has done, it kept our creative juices flowing. We either learned new stuff or honed our craft. In the time of COVID-19, Pinoys are turning to their skills and talents to bounce back.

Being resilient is in our DNA. And now, there is a program that celebrates the many ways Filipinos are proving this in “Bangon Talentadong Pinoy” (BTP), hosted by Ryan Agoncillo. It will be seen online and on television via Cignal’s new free-to-air channel, OneTV.

Based on the No. 1 hit show ”Talentadong Pinoy,” BTP will again showcase the wide diversity of Filipino talent. And this time, boasting a total cash prize of P2.8 million, a larger number of contestants can win anywhere from P2,000 to P250,000.

To join, just like the BTP Facebook page, then send videos or links of your performance through a private message, be it solo, duo or group. Those who are shortlisted will be contacted for further details.

As we adapt to the “new normal,” all the world’s a cage … este, a stage. So “bangon” and shine on!

Here’s my chat with Ryan:

Wouldn’t pretaped performances of the contestants lessen the excitement of the competition?

It’s now been more than a decade since the inception of the original “Talentadong Pinoy,” and the world has changed so much since. What makes me proud of this incarnation of TP, brought about by the original team, is the fact that it is so timely and in tune with current realities.

What’s most challenging for you in the online format of BTP?

Connectivity is the main concern, of course. The need to evolve has never been more present, though. We just finished shooting a plug over the weekend and it involved multiple gadgets, cameras and recorders on my end, operated by myself, my wife and our eldest daughter, while being guided by a director, a producer and a writer on yet another set of devices. This is how it goes nowadays.

As we plan to shoot our pilot, I’m quite sure the requirements for connectivity will multiply exponentially as we add more elements, like the judges and contestants. The technology is there, we just have to adapt and evolve as we navigate this new set of challenges and realities.

What’s your hidden talent?

Let it remain hidden (laughs).

What are some things that not too many people know about your wife, Juday (Judy Ann Santos)?

She’s never had a green thumb, but she’s always tried to grow her own herbs, and she’s always wanted to grow her own vegetables. She’s been successful at times over the years, but to say that the results have been quite inconsistent is an understatement.

The home quarantine situation changed that though. Now able to focus on her hobby, she harvests from her backyard garden almost daily, and the family gets to enjoy the fruits of her labor literally.

What do you wish you could be good at?

Singing.

What’s the most productive thing you did during quarantine?

Several times a day, I get to wear many hats. Photographer, director, cameraman, audioman, graphic designer, layout artist, vendor, telemarketer, etc.—whatever our work and businesses require.

Any pointers for contestants on how to stand out?

This situation that we find ourselves in is slowly revealing our true strengths and weaknesses. When everything is said and done, it all boils down to what we can offer the world. What is your talent? What will make you essential? You have to find this and work to take it to its true potential. That is the key.

What’s your personal mantra as you face the “new normal”?

Resilience is a talent.