Paolo Contis (Images from Facebook/Shelley Conde)

Although he has been on GMA Network's "Eat Bulaga" for almost a month now, actor Paolo Contis admits that he is still getting used to his demanding TV hosting role. Nevertheless, he is enjoying every bit of it.

During an interview for the advanced screening of the movie "Ang Pangarap Kong Oskars" held at SM North EDSA The Block in Quezon City last June 23, Contis said that he wakes up early in the morning to prepare for the daily grind of a noontime show.

"Nanibago ako ng konti kasi pag-uwi ko ng alas tres or alas kwatro ng hapon, nakakatulog ako agad. Lagi ko sinasabi idlip muna ako tapos nakakatulog na ako at nagigising na ako ng 12 midnight tapos hindi na ako makatulog.

(I've changed a little because when I get home at three or four in the afternoon, I fall asleep right away. I always say I take a nap first and then I fall asleep, and I wake up at 12 midnight, and then I can't sleep anymore.)

"Malaking adjustment siya. Hindi ko akalain na ganun kahirap. Siguro kasama na roon ang stress. Alam nyo naman pinagdaraanan namin. So may stress yun, pressure. Nag-eenjoy naman ako sa hosting pero yung kalakip na stress and pressure niya mas nakakapagod siya.

With the cast and director Jules Katanyag

(I'm making a big adjustment. I didn't think it was that difficult. Maybe stress is part of it. You know what we're going through. So there's stress, pressure. I enjoy hosting, but the accompanying stress and pressure make it more tiring.)

"So pag-uuwi ka, talagang drain ka. Right now, I'm trying na mabuo ko yung tulog ko kasi 7 am., nandoon na ako sa studio. Five in the morning ako naka-alarm at gigising ako ng 6 a.m.

(So when I go home, I'm really drained. Right now, I'm trying to get my sleep because at 7 am., I'm already at the studio. I set my alarm for 5 a.m. and I leave at 6 a.m.)

"Inaagahan ko kasi unang una, ayokong ma-traffic at ikalawa, medyo OA, pero dinarama ko muna yung lugar, para by that time na dumati ang lahat, kalmado na ako at alam ko ang gagawin ko. Medyo nakakapanibago. May isang araw talagang nilagnat ako. Nagbasent ako ng isang beses sa the next day, okay na," Contis said.

(I go early because first, I don't want to be in traffic and secondly, it's a bit OA, I want to feel the place first so that by the time everyone arrives, I'm calm, and I know what I'm going to do. It's a bit refreshing. Once I had a fever and I was absent. The next day, I'm okay.)

Kokoy De Santos, Buboy Villar, Cassy Legaspi, Alexa Miro, Kimpoy Feliciano, and Mavy Legaspi

In spite of the challenges, Contis said that he enjoys his stint on "Eat Bulaga" because the cast is supportive, and they do a lot of good for others.

"Kapag nakikita mo yung mga kasama mo na as dedicated as you are, then you have no reason as dedicated as them. Masaya kami sa loob, masaya ang staff, masaya ang crew, masaya yung cast.

(When you see your teammates who are as dedicated as you are, then you have no reason to be as dedicated as them. We are happy, the staff is happy, the crew members are happy, and the cast is happy.)

"Tinanong nga ako noong isang araw bakit parang ang close namin. I think yung pressure to make it work wala naman kayong sasandalan kundi yung isa't isa. Sa isa't isa na lang namin kinukuha yung positive things, ika nga. Pagmamahalan ng samahan. Noong nangyari yun, stress din yun. Biglaan yun. Hindi naman namin puwedeng sabihin na sobrang prepared kami. Wednesday nangyari yun, Thursday tinawagan kami, Friday nagrehearse at Saturday nag-live. Talagang sinabak kami agad. Stressful talaga yun.

(I was asked the other day why we seem so close. I think the pressure to make it work is that you have no one to lean on but each other. We only take the positive things from one another. When that happened, it was also stressful. It was sudden. We can't say that we were very prepared. Wednesday it happened, Thursday we got a call, Friday we rehearsed and Saturday we went live. We went on with the show. It was really stressful.)

Royce Cabrera, Cassy Legaspi, Mavy Legaspi, Alexa Miro, AZ Martinez, Buboy Villar, and Kokoy De Santos

"Right now we're enjoying it. Naniniwala ako na marami ang nakaka-appreciate at least doon sa work na ginagawa namin, sa effort na ginagawa namin, and we're hoping na eventually, mas mapansin siya at tumagal. Ako nag-enjoy ako sa mga taong natutulungan namin. First time ko mag-host ng daily show at iba talaga yung high na nararamdaman mo pagnakikita mong masaya yung mga tao,"  Contis added.

(Right now we're enjoying it. I believe that there are many people who appreciate at least the work we do, and the effort we make, and we're hoping that eventually, he will be noticed more and it will last. I enjoy helping people. It's my first time hosting a daily show, and the high you feel when you see people happy is really different.)

By the looks of it, three noontime programs, including the revamped "Eat Bulaga" on the Kapuso Network, are expected to clash on air beginning July 1. But Contis stressed that he does not see the two other noontime shows as rivals.

"Hindi po sila ang kalaban namin. Wala kaming kalaban whatsoever. Kanya-kanya po ng perspective yan and we were called to work. That's my job, and I'm doing the best that I can. Wala akong inapakang tao. Naniniwala akong wala akong inapakang tao. Nagpasintabi ako sa mga taong kinauukulan na kakilala ko and I think that's enough. I believe everyone sa side nila that work is work also. I think they're professional enough to understand that," the 39-year-old actor also said.

Paolo Contis (left) and Joross Gamboa

Contis said he is pleased that the other cast members of "EB" and some of his showbiz friends also attended the screening. "Natuwa talaga ako na lahat sila ay pumunta. I guess it just goes to show, na okay naman akong tao. Hindi po ako kasing sama tulad ng tingin ninyo sa akin. As I've said, hindi naman tayo perpekto. May mali, may tama."

(I was really happy that they all came. I guess it just goes to show that I'm a good person. I'm not as bad as you think I am. As I've said, I'm not perfect. I may be wrong or right.)

Among those who cheered for Contis were Patrick Garcia, Adrian Allandy, Rocco Nacino, Jason Abalos, Kokoy de Santos, Royce Cabrera, Rodafil Macasero, and "EB" co-hosts Cassy and Mavy Legaspi, Alexa Miro, Buboy Villar, and Kimpoy Feliciano.

Contis reiterated his stand on bashing, saying it doesn't bother him anymore.

"I don't need to please everyone. I made mistakes pero ang importante yung circle ko kilala nila ako. People that I worked with don't hate me, they like working with me. Importante sa akin yun. Everything else, it's background noise.

"Wala sa akin ang bashing. Hindi ba kayo naniniwala na wala akong pakialam sa nagba-bash sa akin? Wala talaga. Kasi alam ko naman yung mali ko eh. Lahat ng mga bagay na kailagan kong pakinggan, kung sino yung mga dapat kong pakinggan.

(Bashing is nothing to me. Don't you believe that I don't care about those who bash me? I really don't. Because I know what I'm doing wrong. All the things I need to listen to, who should I listen to.)

"Halimbawa ikaw, kung mag-uusap tayo pakikinggan kita, Kasi kilala kita eh. So yung iba na hindi ko naman kilala bakit ko pakikinggan? So nakausap ko yung mga kilala ko at pamilya ko who more or less pareho ang mga sinabi pero hindi naman ako sinumpa.

"For example, if we talk I will listen to you because I know you. So why should I listen to others that I don't know? So I talked to people I know and my family who more or less said the same things but I was not cursed.)

"These are the people I listen to. Other than that, I strive to be better without posting, kasi hindi ko sya style. Hindi ako magpo-post ng mga magagandang bagay na ginagawa ko para lang i-win ang mga taong wala akong pakialam. Para lang mabawasan ang bashing tutulong ako? Para maawa sa akin iiyak ako? Hindi ko responsibilidad na magpost to defend myself," Contis added.

(I'm not going to post things I do just to win over people I don't really care about. It's not my responsibility to post just to defend myself.)

Produced by MAVX Productions, the comedy-horror movie is directed by Jules Katanyag. The film also stars Joross Gamboa, Kate Aejandrino, Jon Santos, Long Mejia, Faye Lorenzo, Gian Magdangal, and more. It is showing in cinemas beginning June 28, 2023.