Paolo Contis feeling stressed as ‘EB’ host, but ‘unbothered’ by bashers

Paolo Contis

Actor Paolo Contis, one of the main hosts of the revamped noontime variety show “Eat Bulaga,” admitted that he wasn’t prepared to take charge of the show and has been feeling great pressure on his shoulders ever since. The original hosts of “Eat Bulaga (EB),” led by brothers Tito and Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ), resigned on May 31. This forced producer TAPE Inc. to promptly put together a new cast in order for them to resume airing live on June 5.

Paolo is joined by Betong Sumaya, Buboy Villar, Alexa Miro, and twins Mavy and Cassy Legaspi. Former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno joined the group on June 10.

“We can’t say we were prepared because the incident happened on a Wednesday, and then they started calling us on Thursday. We began rehearsing on Friday, then immediately aired live on Monday. Sinabak agad kami. These days, we’re now enjoying the work. We believe that more people are starting to appreciate the effort we put in. We’re hoping that, eventually, even people will take notice. This will ensure that our show will last longer,” Paolo told reporters in a recent media gathering.

He also claimed that the effort was all worth it. “It’s my first time to host a daily show. To see that we’re able to help people gives me a different kind of high. I also feel inspired when I see coactors who are as dedicated as I am. To be honest, everyone in the studio is happy—the staff, crew and cast. Since we were all pressured to make things work, we bonded in such a short time. We had no one to lean on except each other. We became a family instantly,” the actor pointed out.

With their new noontime show on TV5 underway and the right to use the “Eat Bulaga” title being contested, TVJ has started branding themselves as the “legit” hosts. Paolo, however, said he does not consider any of them as rivals.

Contis (left) with Joross Gamboa in “Ang Pangarap Kong Oskars”

‘Work is work’

“Again, ‘di po sila kalaban. To me, this is just a job, and I’m doing the best that I can to make it work. I did not step on anyone’s toes. Prior to agreeing to the job, I reached out to people I know who were involved in the show. Work is work. I believe we’re all professionals, so they understand us,” Paolo stressed.

Paolo also said hosting EB required major adjustments from him physically. “During my first few days on the job, I would go home at 3 or 4 p.m. and then take a nap. But instead, I would wake up at midnight and couldn’t go back to sleep anymore. My body had to adjust to my new schedule. I didn’t think it would be that difficult, but I guess it’s also partly because this work has given us so much stress. There was even a time when I caught the flu and was unable to go to work,” he recalled.

These days, Paolo said he has learned to enjoy the routine. “I sleep at 9 or 10 p.m. and wake up at 5 a.m. By 7 a.m., I’m already at the studio [in Antipolo City]. I leave the house early, partly because I want to be there before everyone else arrives. This calms me,” he added.

There’s also the problem of his other commitments, like his planned trip to Australia later this year to shoot a film for Mavx Productions. “Management (TAPE) is easy to deal with. The trip had already been scheduled prior to joining the show. We’re just going to have to make some adjustments. You can still see me in some episodes even when I’m away,” he explained.

Paolo is currently promoting Jules Catanyag’s comedy film “Ang Pangarap Kong Oskars.” The project, which also features Joross Gamboa, began screening in cinemas nationwide on June 28.

During the Q&A portion held after the media screening of the movie, Paolo was asked about how he was reacting to negative comments he has been getting on social media about controversies related to his personal life.

“I honestly don’t get bothered by bashers. Yes, I’ve made mistakes, but what’s more important is that my circle of friends and loved ones know the truth about what really happened to me, and that the people I work with don’t hate me but actually like working with me. For me, these things are far more important. Everything else is background noise,” he declared.

Paolo also said he isn’t the type who would post everything that’s happening to him on social media. “Should I do this so people will take pity on me? So that the bashers will finally shut up? I don’t post in order to defend myself,” Paolo said, adding that he sometimes reads comments.

“To be honest, I find them hilarious. It’s amazing how people try to put two and two together. I guess it’s a social media thing. The more high-tech our gadgets become, the more barbaric we get. It’s also interesting that a lot of these bashers are faceless and have zero connection. Why would I feel bothered by fake people?” he asked.

What worries Paolo, though, is how these bashers affect the mental health conditions of people he cares about. Only recently, he had to ask his mom, who had just recovered from a stroke, to refrain from using her cell phone. “It’s for her health. I don’t want her to feel stressed. My older brother and I enjoy reading comments. He is the one who would really reply to people via PM (personal messaging). They all felt bothered in the beginning. But that was the only time I sat down with them to explain,” said Paolo.