On July 9, ‘Battle of the Judges’ cast members highlighted how Jose Manalo masks his strategy in the TV reality competition with comedy.
At the media event for ‘Battle of the Judges,’ Asia’s Multimedia Star Alden Richards remarked that Manalo uses his comedic talents to mask his strategy from the other judges.
“Si Kuya Jose naman po, I think one of his strengths is really, ‘yung the charm, ‘yung humor that he gives, na gaya nga–gets na gets ko Tito Boy kapag sinasabi ninyong ang hirap basahin ni Kuya Jose, kasi mina-mask niya po ‘yung strategy niya with comedy.”
Kapuso host Boy Abunda recounted a comment Manalo made about one of their contestants, which left an impression on him.
“Ito seryoso, kasi tinanong kami ni Alden in one of our episodes, kung sino ‘yung mga kinatatakutan namin, ako talaga sinabi ko si Jose. Dahil iba eh, iba siya mag-mentor, iba siya mag-coach. ‘Yung halimbawa, I don’t know if I can go into some specifics, mayroon akong halimbawa talent na napanood na pala ni Jose, that’s tough ha. Noong halimbawa nag-comment si Jose, ‘hindi napanood ko kayo eh,’ halimbawa lang–one month ago.
“‘Eh pareho pa rin ‘yung ginagawa ninyo eh.’ Nakakatakot ‘yun. So ngayon kapag may performer ako, ang tinatanong ko, napanood na ba kayo ni Jose? Hindi totoo ‘yun. Kasi kung ‘yun at ‘yun ang gagawin ninyo pag-usapan natin. Ibahin natin, baguhin natin.”
He then described Manalo as a ‘dangerous’ judge.
“He is a very dangerous judge. Matindi, totoo ‘yan. Hindi mo pwedeng hindi siya paghandaan.
“Ang ginagawa ni Jose eh, dinadaan niya sa one-liners, and he cracks jokes everytime that we get to something serious, and that’s deadly, kasi kapag napatawa ka na, vulnerable ka. Di ba? When we laugh and then akala namin nasa aming panig na, at the end, nasa kaniya. So it’s a style.”
GMA7 Senior Vice President Annette Gozon-Valdes attributed Manalo’s experience as a performer and in production to his sharpness as a Kapuso judge.
“And I think, among the four of us, siya ‘yung pinakamaraming experience kasi he’s been both in production, behind the camera, in front of the camera, ang dami niyang ginawang talents. Kinukwento niya nag-Boyoyong clown siya. ‘Yung ang dami na niyang nagawa, sumali na siya sa contest. Singer siya, dancer siya, nag-audition master siya.
“Parang lahat nadaanan niya, kaya lahat ng aspects talaga, he’s very sharp, kaya very dangerous judge siya in terms of kung sasabihin kung sino talaga ‘yung nakakatakot na competitor na judge, siya kasi ang dami niyang alam na talagang very wide.”
Alonzo noted Manalo’s confidently competitive nature as one of his abilities as a judge.
“And he’s confidently competitive, ‘yung hindi niya pinaparamdam sayo na competitive siya, pero behind the scenes, grabe na pala ‘yung ginagawa niya. And one thing about him, ang tagal na niyang host talaga, huling-huli niya ‘yung kiliti ng masa. Kahit kami kung paano kami ipapaboto doon sa contestant niya, he really knows how to speak to people.”
The new Kapuso reality talent competition ‘Battle of the Judges’ features Bea Alonzo, Boy Abunda, Jose Manalo, and GMA7 Senior Vice President Annette Gozon-Valdes as judges and mentors to the 24 contestants vying for their place as the ultimate winner.
Alden Richards takes the rein in as the program’s host.
‘Battle of the Judges’ premieres on GMA Network on July 15, every Saturday.
