Tsismis: Latest gossip from the Pinoy world

She's the Philippines' answer to American talk show host Jerry Springer, and Amy Perez is loving it. The host of Face to Face, which is currently topping its slot, says her show has struck a chord with the Filipino masses. It's been more than a year since Face to Face was launched, and it has been a great success since.

Excerpts from the interview.

How do you feel?

I feel great. When we started nobody thought this kind of show would ever resonate with the viewing public because we don't like washing our dirty linen in public. But we Filipinos are also known for caring for others beyond even our extended families, and we love those afternoon chats, so we felt we had a good captive audience. So far, we've had so many explosive and unbelievably weird stories you'd think they never happen in our society, and they do and it's good that we are letting people know there are problems that we didn't know exist so we can help them deal with it.

Stories like?

Sisters living with the same man, mothers falling in love with their daughters' boyfriends — these are realities that others may not know about. And these are complex social and relationship issues that we get to tackle with experts — they're good TV material, but more than that it's also about public service. There are also mundane problems like getting bitten by a street dog.

Some of your guests are seen physically hurting each other on the programme. How do you manage?

I have a background in psychology, the course I took up in college. And I've also had my fair share of struggles and hardships in life, that's where I get my insights from. But of course we get expert help from professionals who are invited to appear in the show.

Face to Face was also kind of a fresh lease on life for your career. What can you say about that?

Yes, it was. I've been idle for years, because of a decision that I made to be a full-time mother, and there wasn't just any offer to do anything. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity and it came at the right time, and it's been great since.

Have you had episodes featuring lives of families of Filipino overseas workers?

Yes, we have. And there are more in the pipeline. It's worth featuring their stories, not only because they're very interesting, but also because we can learn a lot from them. The separation of parents and children, that takes a toll on the kids. How are they coping? How should they cope? These are some of the things we can learn from these and we welcome stories from our kababayans abroad.

Back in the limelight

Dingdong Dantes may have been unusually out of the limelight since his last TV series, I Love You Pare, ended early this year. He's had a few hosting gigs in between, but what has really kept him busy was his shooting schedule for an international film, Dance of the Steel Bars, which stars Hollywood actor Patrick Bergin, and a horror movie with Kris Aquino and Segunda Mano. His fans will be happy to know he will be making an appearance in the talent hunt show, Protege. 

In mum's footsteps

At a recent event in Batangas, a province south of Manila, actor Luis Manzano was introduced as the next mayor of Lipa City, one of the province's major industrial areas. He was introduced by no less than his celebrity mum, award-winning actress Vilma Santos, who is the governor of the province. The actor made no qualms about possibly becoming a mayor someday, although he feels he still has a lot to learn and achieve as an actor. The next elections are in 2013, which is a little too soon for the actor, although he said, "anything can happen." 

New love

Nadine Samonte has just finished her first drama series for TV5, The Sisters, which she said will be memorable as she's found a new friend in co-actor Leandro Munoz, who many are saying is the new object of her affection. Both Samonte and Munoz are currently committed — the former to a boyfriend and the latter to a wife and kids based in the US. But both relationships are said to be on the rocks, leaving the two lead stars of The Sisters free to find new love. 

Go mentor go

Young diva Rachelle Ann Go thinks it's about time for her to give back, which is why she's accepted to become a mentor on Protege, the much- anticipated talent search show on Philippine TV. Go was herself a product of a singing contest, Search for a Star, which she won in 2004. As one of the mentors, Go is tasked with choosing her own protege whom she will train to become the champion. The mentor and protege's fates are intertwined — if the protege gets booted out of the contest, so will the mentor.

Playlist: Victor Aliwalas Actor

Song on repeat mode: Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera: "It's their latest and it's cool."

Song that makes you cry: "Don't have any song in mind."

This one makes me move: "Not much into dancing so I don't really listen to dance tracks."

At karaoke I would sing: I'm Already King by Christian Bautista: "Worth a try."

Track I'd skip right now: Mean by Taylor Swift: "I heard it once, and although I like it it's not worth saving in my playlist. Sorry TS fans."