The 'Extra Challenge' in Paolo's life

Paolo Bediones has streamed into many a viewer's consciousness as the all-around celebrity - host, actor and model. But the most lingering of impressions would have to be him being the charismatic conductor of challenges that separate the daredevils from the divas among guest artistas in the top-rated reality show "Extra Challenge."

Paolo personifies a showbiz standout - educated, pedigreed and opinionated - making him a delight to talk to. Yet, the extra challenge of interviewing Paolo is how to maneuver bits and pieces of his personal life - particularly love life - out into the open.

The 31-year-old Piscean, who'd make a good poster boy for the confirmed bachelors in his line of work, has staked quite a reputation for taking pains to cordon off this side of him from even the most seasoned of inquisitors. You'll probably learn all about it when it's over (think Tisha Silang!).

I had a dosage myself when in a past interview, after asking about it during the time he was rumored to be playing sweet music with a balikbayan-budding singer, I remember him leaning, one hand covering a side of his mouth, and divulging through a whisper: "I learned not to tell."

Apparently, not anymore. In a recent encounter at SM City Cebu, he was his chatty self and more, even surprising some GMA staff around.

What's the extra challenge in your life? "If we're gonna talk mababaw, it would be schedules. It's terrible. But it's a good problem. I'd rather be fully booked, than not at all."

"But seriously, the extra challenge in my life right now? I so wanna get married. I so wanna have kids," he tells The FREEMAN. "I'm 31 and not getting any younger, so, I don't know… I've tried everything, the waiting for the right one to come along or actively finding her as they say do your best, and God will do rest, but nothing...I don't know."

Seeking the one has even become in a way a personal crusade of his co-hosts at his Sunday showbiz talkfest "S Files" and it got the headstart with the "Extra Challenge" episode that put young women with brains, beauty and brawn through a sieve just so to uncover the best-among-the-rest date for him. (I commented on the seemingly near-juvenile age bracket of his questors. "And so? I've dated 19-year-olds and I don't feel like a D.O.M. You'll be surprised now that a lot of the younger ones now are a lot more mature and intelligent.")

"It's interesting and flattering that they want to find someone for me. They just want me to be happy," he says, noting that all the girls ended up as his friends. When queried for his type ("Should she be beauty queen material?" I added as an afterthought), he replies: "I'd like someone who most importantly understands my job. My work, if you're not accepting, would always be a cause of conflict. In my case naman, I won't ask anything from a girl what I'm not willing to give."

"People would say to me, wala naman yata yang babae na hinahanap mo. But I don't think so," he adds with resolve.

The name of Bb. Pilipinas 2005 first runner-up Wendy Valdez crops up, who rumormongers have been pointing at as his latest squeeze. Without a hint of hesitation, he says, "She is someone I am dating right now. I don't want to jump the gun or anything. I just want to take things easy. This is the wrong time for me to think of committing myself to someone."

Because his shows, he reasons, have eaten too much of his time and energy already. Then he turned to face me, fleetingly tapping my knee to stress his point. "So tell me, if you were my girlfriend, would you understand?" And for a moment, this writer was stumped-and stuttering. He repeats himself: "If you were my girlfriend, okay lang ba sayo na...[the noise of the crowd behind him drowns his last words while this writer tried to rein in some emotions.] I guess when someone as tall, dark and ruggedly charming as him fixes a gaze that can convert your knees to a mass of jelly while demanding an answer, you get these crazy ideas that he'd better be the last to know.

And so, shifting gears, I went on to ask why date if he's not willing to commit: "Because I wanna go out, have fun and meet people," says Paolo, who'd like to settle down before he turns 34. "I wanna live life."

Living life he is, indeed.

"I'm pretty much having my cake and eating it too. I'm really enjoying my life as a TV host and life in general. I can't help but be thankful for the blessings I've received." He is not bothered with reports that his show's ratings had gone past its peak and are now heading downhill.

"I think 'Extra Challenge' is a show that has been more than stamped in the hearts of many Filipinos. In 'Extra Challenge,' the true challenge is coming up with more challenges. Yes, maybe we reached our peak, but as in a mountain range, there can be many peaks and the key really is to re-invent yourself or reformat in some way," says Paolo who also directs and produces the show.

Their most strenuous challenge was sky diving at 4,500 feet. "But that's the point, we keep on asking ourselves, how do you top that?" he says. The latest was in Dubai with vavavooms Ara Mina, Aubrey Miles and Rufa Mae Quinto. "Nakakawalang gana di ba?" he muses.

Nevertheless, hosting "Extra Challenge" has not only brought him inimitable excitement but a wave of endorsements this year. With his Indiana Jones-ish McDonald's commercials airing, throw in that much-talked about Carter underwear show and endorsement deal, plus more to come within the year, and you got a re-energized modeling career. "I can't help but feel like wow! What did I do right?"

In case you've been living under the rock for the last 10 years or so, Paolo started his decade-old career as a model. His projects, however, took a dip with the foray of hunky half-breeds; but refusing to be weighed down by this, at the same time getting aware of his potential of getting by not on good looks alone, he took on hosting. Still…"I've been wondering for the longest time like why don't they get me? May angst pa ako noon," he reveals. "But the funny thing was when I decided to let go of everything and lifting it up to God by telling him, 'I guess You think I don't deserve this, or You think I'm better off with something else,' right when I said that in November of last year, may mga negotiations na, then came McDonald's. Imagine you're in the league with Sharon Cuneta, Dolphy...and it's a long-term relationship so, I'm very happy about that."

Still, if there's anything that makes him happier it is the patronage of his show by people even outside Metro Manila. When he came to Cebu for the "Serbisyong Totoo" grand public service fair a couple of months back, the "Extra Challenge" booth was one if not the most visited station, prompting him to enthuse: "The hospitality here is fantastic. I've been here to Cebu 20 times already and everytime I want to stay longer. I am overwhelmed at how familiar they are with our show." He continues, "I can't help but feel proud of our network. We would like to let Cebuanos know, that they are important to us by offering quality programming that they can learn from, be inspired, educated and entertained with."

For the two encounters I've had with him, it is inevitable to compare. Yes, he maybe suddenly opening up. ("In this business, people easily forget what you do or say," he explains why he's throwing caution into the wind in answering slightly privacy encroaching questions.)

But one thing remains: Paolo is churning out quotable quotes clearly culled from a well-spent showbiz experience (from "Intrigues build your character"to "Just because you're in this business, it doesn't mean your baduy. Baduy is a state of mind") and remains like a big boy at awe over his dreams coming true. "I entered this industry hoping to change some aspect of the system, make it more professional and more pleasant. I think I did." To that, he returns to the patiently waiting and wildly cheering crowd; and the subtle meaning of the scene doesn't escape us. He obviously has hurdled one extra challenge of stars-up-there - winning the hearts of ordinary people.