The kind, ever-dependable Mr. Bob

A meeting was set between Gretchen Barretto and me. It was a let’s-see-if-they have-rapport-kind-of-meeting. I had no idea my television career could have started and ended there in that cold, well-appointed conference room of the Makati Shangri-La. I could not remember what we talked about. There were some tiny leaves that adorned the pale slices of Norwegian salmon that behaved properly in the center on my huge plate. I did not violate the sliced salmon. I was afraid I would chew my tongue. The water goblets perspired profusely while La Greta shimmered like red diamond. Show and Tell (SAT) was born. It was to replace RSVP (hosted by Dawn Zulueta and Ariel Ureta), which replaced Penthouse Party that took over the much-celebrated Penthouse Live of Martin and Pops. Instantly, Gretchen and I became friends. Every Saturday evening, I basked in her radiance like a beach bum in the summer sun.

Aside from Bobby Barreiro, it was Gretchen who showered me with kindness – pure, unadulterated kindness for there was nothing I could give them in return.

After a couple of Show and Tell episodes, I dropped by Bobby’s office in Makati. I don’t remember anymore why but it was always refreshing to see Bobby. He was fondly called "Mr. Bob" by everyone in GMA. The big smile; the black, flirtatious strip of hair above his upper lip that would send women and gays berserk; the eyes that tease and laugh; the warmth of his mere presence and were always there for friends and admirers like us. I remember being so defensive about my initial performance – my horrific dancing, my waray waray accent, my combustible energy – explaining to Bobby that I needed more time to be comfortable in front of the camera. He laughed and assured me I was fine, that people remembered my quaint accent; that people enjoyed watching Gretchen and me just having fun. But Bobby knew I was going to work hard to deserve his trust.

Despite the obvious weak points, Bobby was so encouraging that I had no choice but to put my heart and soul into my work. "Nakakahiya," I told a friend. They could have gotten somebody better looking, somebody who knew how to host, someone who didn’t have a funny sounding accent. Someone told me a famous producer actually discouraged Bobby Barreiro from letting me do Show and Tell. The producer declared I was not right for the market and the medium and that there was no rapport between me and Gretch. Bobby, I was told, just smiled and stood his ground.

Show and Tell ran for over a year. A lot of things happened. Gretch had to leave the show and I was given a different co-host every week. It was during this period that I started to understand a bit of what I was doing. "Assign names like Bert or Paul to the cameras in front of you. Talk to them like people," was the practical and brilliant advice of direk Chito Roño.

All this time, Bobby was always there – watching with both fascination and trepidation a friend who was learning how to fly – the hard way. Also during this period, Bobby was steering GMA into competitive waters in both Production and News and Public Affairs. He created the GMA Telesine specials, he revived the Metro Pop Song Festival, and he launched the Metropop Star Search. Under his exceptional leadership, GMA evolved from a network that replayed English programs to one of the most progressive TV stations in the Philippines.

Here are what some friends say about Bobby:

Bobby Barreiro was always gracious. I bumped into him a year ago in Sakura, a Japanese Restaurant in Pasay Road. I was asking for the bill and he’d already offered to take care of it. I was dyahe because there were so many of us; Deo, Gia and Michael were with me. Since we were all from ABS, I approached their table to say many thanks and said next time na lang when we were fewer. He gave the first open door and signed me up a week before I was to give birth to Josh.

– Kris Aquino

Ryan Cayabyab and Mike Enriquez, in their letters to the Screening/Executive Committees of the TOYM Awards, wrote:

It was Bobby’s idea to bring back the Metropop. He conceived it, mustered support for it… and ultimately breathed life into it. I myself witnessed how he imbued the contest with his personal integrity and sense of fair play.

– Ryan Cayabyab

Mr. Barreiro was the first person to see the possibility of bringing a new brand of news anchoring from radio to television. Though never one to take credit, he was and is in fact the primary moving spirit behind the resurgence of GMA News and Public Affairs as one of the most respected television news organizations in the Philippines.

– Mike Enriquez

And what is the secret of Bobby, you may ask? To me, one of them is that he is always in touch with his talents, his team, his public, his God, his advertisers, even his adversaries. And anywhere he goes, Mr. Bob never forgets to bring the heart of Bobby, the fearless dreamer.

(To be concluded)