“May karibal na si Atom Araullo sa GMA Public Affairs programs sa kaguwapuhan!”
That’s the talk in some circles since Thursday, 11 May, when it was announced that showbiz idol Matteo Guidecelli has officially joined GMA Public Affairs, the division where Araullo, Jessica Soho, Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, Cara David and Ivan Mayrina belong.
It’s a division totally different from the network’s entertainment TV, which puts up shows like the new Voltes V: The Legacy and Maria Clara at Ibarra.
Guidecelli received a grand welcome during the contract-signing and media conference at Vertis Seda Hotel attended by top network executives. GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon welcomed Guidicelli through a video message.
The network’s Public Affairs produces the newsy morning show Unang Hirit which immediately absorbed Guidicelli as one of its hosts beginning last Monday, 15 May.
The same division also produces the well-followed drama anthology Magpakailanman, hosted by Tiango. The division is all set to produce an action-drama primetime series dubbed Black Rider with Guidicelli, a champion car racer for some years before he entered showbiz, joining GMA 7-managed star Ruru Madrid as lead actor.
Will the husband of superstar Sarah Geronimo have a chance to do documentaries like the ones Araullo has become famous and highly-esteemed for?
Declared GMA Public Affairs’ recent statement about their new asset (shared with Viva Artist Agency which still manages Guidicelli): “… And with GMA Public Affairs being the home of world-class and award-winning Filipino documentaries, Matteo will be part of a documentary special about nature.”
Added the GMA statement: “Viewers should also watch out for Matteo’s upcoming shows in GMA, including exciting projects with GMA Regional TV and Synergy.”
First day
Guidicelli is also slated to play with a team in Family Feud, the quiz show vibrantly hosted by Dingdong Dantes. It’s not known yet who Guidicelli will recruit to his team. Would Viva Artists Agency allow Geronimo to join him in Family Feud? Geronimo is still a top Kapamilya star.
On his first day in Unang Hirit, Guidicelli turned up in a casual get-up of light blue long-sleeves, white pants and white rubber shoes. His co-hosts welcomed him with what they called “start-up gift packs” ranging from an alarm clock and coffee flask to a motorcycle from Arnold Clavio (the brand must be one of the show’s sponsors).
The actor greeted the show’s viewers in Filipino and in Cebuano, since he grew up in Cebu. He also greeted the love of his life who he said was watching the show even as they stayed up late Sunday night watching Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
The new man on the house is also a well-known chef, and cooking breakfast for his co-hosts became his first task on the show. He jauntily revealed that at home he really does a lot of cooking “para lang sa asawa,” whom he unfailingly greeted with “Hello, Love”.
It’s great and refreshing to watch a married, handsome and youthful man greeting his wife in the morning five days a week. Guidicelli is now 33, and Geronimo will be 35 in July this year.
Let’s wait and see how Guidicelli would turn up in the realm of documentaries. Will he just be a glamorous narrator-host or will he go out and get the stories himself? Would he be as daring and fearless as Araullo in his documentaries? Guidicelli has had military training with the Philippine Army. And he was a daring car racer, remember?
New public-service program
Meanwhile, GMA Public Affairs now has a multi-platform public service program on Sundays, its first to be aired both on TV and on radio, plus other Kapuso platforms. Resibo: Walang Lusot Ang May Atraso is hosted by journo Emil Sumangi, who is a co-host of Kim Atienza and Patricia Tumulak on the daily news magazine show at 5:30 pm.
Resibo is Sumangil’s first solo TV program after several years of being a field reporter on GMA 7. It was launched on 7 May.
The public is invited to reach out to Resibo for complaints and grievances via the hotline number 0917-7RESIBO, e-mail [email protected] and its Facebook page. They can also visit GMA Action Center, Kapuso Center Building, GMA Network Drive, Diliman in Quezon City.
Resibo: Walang Lusot ang May Atraso airs 5 p.m. on GMA, GTV, DZBB Super Radyo and GMA Public Affairs’ Facebook, YouTube and Tiktok livestream.