Edward Barber tries hand at hosting

Edward Barber

For Edward Barber, who recently took on the job as host of the new MYX online show “Kwentong Barber,” being compared to the likes of long-time program presenters Luis Manzano and Robi Domingo feels “flattering,” but at the same time, “a heavy burden.”

“Those are big shoes to fill. My hosting style is different from theirs. I’m not the same comedian that they are, but I bring a different flavor to it,” he told reporters during a quick Q&A session shortly after he renewed his talent contract with ABS-CBN.

“I’m excited to figure out who I am. I may have the self-confidence, but I still don’t know how I’d go about achieving that. I just know that I need to grow and I need guidance from people like Kuya Robi in order to get there. I really enjoy hosting, although it’s stressful sometimes. I’m really having fun,” Edward said.

Aside from “Kwentong Barber” (Wednesday, 6 p.m. on Kumu), Edward can also be seen regularly on the Sunday variety show “ASAP Natin ‘To,” alongside his onscreen partner Maymay Entrata.

“We’re grateful to the MayWard (Maymay and Edward, collectively) supporters. I’ve been given the chance to discover who I really am as an artist. In my five years in the industry, I admit that I haven’t fully discovered this yet, but because of their support I’d get to figure that out,” Edward said.

Sensitive

The 20-year-old actor further said: “I’m an emotional guy. I’m very sensitive. I get overwhelmed quickly. And as I put my heart on my sleeve, I realized that this is not just a job. I don’t think I’ve ever treated this as a job but a relationship. There are ups and downs, but I’m still a Kapamilya. I’m hoping to stay as long as I’m needed. I see [the network] as a place to develop myself.”

Edward said he also has the support of Maymay to be grateful for. “I can say that Maymay is my closest friend. People don’t seem to understand the depth of that. The same way I call Kuya Robi, Kyle (Echarri) and Darren (Espanto) my brothers, ours is deeper than that,” he declared. “There are so many things that we feel we don’t need to share with the public. They can see how strong our relationship is, anyway. Whatever happens, ‘di mawawala ‘yon.”

Maymay also hosts a show every Thursday on Kumu, titled “Metrochats.”

As to the question on the kind work that Edward expects to tackle this 2021, he has this reply: “While a lot of people started 2021 with a New Year’s resolution, I started it with only one word, and that’s ‘growth.’ Each year, there have been some things that I had wanted to work on, to fix and grow. Whatever happens, wherever I get called to do, I will gladly jump for it this year.”