Lorna Tolentino: Lovely and Timeless

Article posted July 11, 2006


They're always in on the latest buzz, and most would trade places with them any given day. Now on their 11th year in the show, the Startalk team continues to deliver quality gossip entertainment.

iGMA was able to chat with Lolit Solis, Lorna Tolentino, and Joey De Leon during Startalk's live taping.

What's the best thing about hosting this show?

LOLIT SOLIS: "The best thing is to be close to the staff, na parang mga kapatid mo na sila. Tapos `yung you miss them pagka siguro, isang week mo sila hindi nakikita. Ganoon, the camaraderie."

LORNA TOLENTINO: "I get to know all about the tsismis! Every week!"

JOEY DE LEON: "Ang best thing diyan ay updated ka sa mga tsismis. Masaya, enjoy ako, tsismoso ako, e! Hindi, totoo `yun, tsimoso ako talaga e! Tsaka part ng business `yan e. Kailangan updated ka, just like current events. Ito naman, current events sa show biz. Pero `yung current events ng news, e minsan, thin line na lang `yung what you read in the broadsheets and the tabloids e, so minsan, dun din kami kumukuha ng scripts naming - `yung mga spinu-spoof naming. Siyempre, importante 'yun."

How do you stay updated for the show?

LOLIT SOLIS: "You read newspapers, tapos you attend mga press conferences, you attend mga show biz parties. Tapos you get the tsismis from there."

LORNA TOLENTINO: "Dahil dito! Nung nag-start ako dito, wala pa akong alam na masyadong mga tsismis-tsismis…'yung mga intrigues-intrigues. Then after hosting it, this is I think my….69th episode today, (okay na). `Nung nagstart ako, mas naging aware ako sa newspapers, tabloids, binabasa ko talaga, so may mga issues na alam ko na."

JOEY DE LEON: "Aba, nagbabasa ako lahat, from broadsheets to tabloids. Talagang, ako, pwede akong lumaban ng quiz show about tsismis sa local!"

What makes all of the hosts click?

LOLIT SOLIS: "Because we're close."

LORNA TOLENTINO: "Butch is already a good friend of mine (from a) long way back. And then Joey, he's already a senior professional all rolled into one…everything na. So madali na magkaroon ng rapport with him. And he's really so good in hosting. And si nanay (Lolit), we've been working since, like, Gabby Conception's time, so, ayun."

What's your funniest encounter/blooper?

LOLIT SOLIS: "My funniest encounter was noong `yung M&M (candy) nag-promote sila dito, tapos accidentally, natulak ko yung isa! Ano pala `yun, mahirap pala kumilos (kapag) naka-costume, tapos talagang nag-roll down (siya!) `Yung set pa naman namin parang mga stairs!

LORNA TOLENTINO: "Marami akong bloopers! Yung labi (body), ang sabi ko labi (lips), so mali! Labi is `yung body. Kung baga labi (body) `Nandoon yung labi niya sa ganitong funeral service' (Ang) sabi ko, labi (lips)! Nagpractice (pa naman) ako, pero nung on-cam na, nasabi ko, labi (lips)! Ay, patay! E siyempre, serious `yun, kasi patay `yung pinaguusapan! So ang hirap bawiin!"

JOEY DE LEON: "Wala naman akong maalalang malaking-malaki na blooper…"

What's the best lesson you learned in the industry?

LOLIT SOLIS: "'Yung show biz parang family kayo. Unlike other industries, where they fight and they kill talagang may naririnig kang mamamatay. Dito wala kang maririnig e. They'll say, 'I'll kill you!' Pero it never happens."

LORNA TOLENTINO: "That it's a very rewarding job. Kasi, if you love your work, automatically, makikita ng tao `yun. And at the same time, bumabalik kaagad `yun sayo. So rewarding talaga siya."

JOEY DE LEON: "Walang lesson, pero I would call it a tip for others. Be on time lagi."


Be in on the latest updates on your favorite stars! Tune in to GMA every Saturday, at 2:00PM!


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