Robi comes into his own

It has been a joy to follow the hosting career of Robi Domingo. The Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition alumnus has really come into his own as a host. Being in this line of work, I’m often asked what it takes to make it, and one of the things I always say is “stay a student for the rest of your life.”

That’s what’s so admirable about Robi. With each hosting job, he seems to grow more confident. On a recent episode of The Voice of the Philippines where he had to sub for main host Toni Gonzaga (who had a prior commitment she couldn’t get out of because it was booked a year in advance), Robi had to take over, and while he was nervous in the beginning, eventually he learned to relax and feel more comfortable on the main stage. As one of the show’s two V-reporters — the other is Toni’s younger sister Alex Gonzaga — Robi is usually confined to the backstage where he interviews contestants and their families before and after their performances.

At first, he says, he was surprised he was being entrusted with main host duties for that night. It was not his first time to host, but it felt like it was because all eyes were on him. Although some people (including rumored girlfriend Gretchen Ho) were tweeting messages of support and encouragement throughout the evening, Robi couldn’t help but feel the pressure. And yet surprised as he was, he did his best to step up to the challenge put before him. “Nakakagulat lang kasi di mo akalain na mabibigay sa iyo ang puwesto na yon na ganun karaming tao, pero ang sarap pala ng feeling kasi hawak mo ang buong show at may authority ka.”

And yes, he did have his share of blunders. “Opening lines pa lang, kinabahan ako,” he laughs. “Ang sasabihin ko dapat, was something like, ‘Ang gaganda ng mga kapamilya.’ Instead, ang nasabi ko, ‘Magandang kapamilya!’ Sobra talaga ang kaba ko.”

As expected, there were people who had negative things to say, but Robi was just too happy to have been given the opportunity to put himself out there in such a big show (an internationally-franchised show at that) that he blocked out the not-so-favorable comments. Robi was aware of what being main host of The Voice of the Philippines could mean for his career, so he gave it his full attention and concentration. “For the management to give you The Voice of the Philippines, at main host pa, hindi na V-Reporter, at live show pa, that’s a big deal,” he says. “Pero na-realize ko from that one night na kaya ko pala, huwag lang akong pangunahan ng kaba.”

At the same time, Robi has accepted the fact that one episode as the main host of a show is not the end; in fact, it is only the beginning of a long road he still has to travel as a host. In a rare moment of self-assessment, he describes that night on The Voice of the Philippines as a very “humbling” experience that showed him the areas in which he needs to improve: “Honestly, in my own opinion as a host, marami pa akong kakaining bigas. But I’m on the right path. Maraming bagay pa akong dapat matutunan. People think that being a host is just talking to people, but it’s not. It’s being witty, it’s being able to connect with others, being able to empathize and being able to command a sea of people. It’s much more than just talking. I guess I need to have a lot of experiences pa, a lot of experiences kasi yun ang humuhubog sa isang batikang host, or artista. But I’m willing to level up. I’m not ready per se right now, but what I’ll say is, I’ll always aim to be better.”