Eat Bulaga Indonesia Host is a Pinoy!

From Leo Consul's Twitter Account

Who would have thought that there would be a Filipino Host in Eat Bulaga Indonesia?

Well, Pangasinense Leo Consul is now one of the hosts of the first ever franchise of the Philippines' longest-runnning noontime show.

Short Profile and Backgrounder from Manila Bulletin:

Pangasinense and University of the Philippines-Baguio alumnus Leo Consul had chased after stardom in his country without luck – only to find it years later and hundreds of miles away in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In a taped interview over Skype aired on “Showbiz Central” last Sunday, Consul revealed that he had previously auditioned for GMA-7’s “reality-based artista search,” “StarStruck” Batch 4. In a post on his Twitter account, he also intimated that he used to be a TV show host for the ABS-CBN Regional Group in Baguio City.

Unable to find his niche in the local entertainment industry, Consul decided to work in Indonesia as an English teacher. But shortly after, he received a break as member of the Indonesian pop (I-pop) group, RIS3.

Eventually, Consul was invited to audition as TV presenter for what will be known as “Eat Bulaga Indonesia.” But he apparently dilly-dallied in trying out for the show.

“Sabi ko hindi ko rin linya ‘yun masyado kasi Bahasa, medyo hindi pa masyadong fluent ‘yung Bahasa ko. Pero sabi nila subukan lang daw. Baka they’re looking for a character like me rin. So pumunta po ako sa SCTV (Surya Citra Televisi), nag-audition po.

“Wala po akong idea na meron na po palang ‘Eat Bulaga Indonesia.’ Pagkarating ko lang po sa audition, binigay nila ‘yung script, saka ko lang po nalaman na ‘Eat Bulaga Indonesia.’ So sobrang nagulat po talaga ko, tapos hindi po ako makapaniwala kasi ang alam ko po first time na may nag-franchise na show natin sa Pilipinas,” he related.

The first-ever franchise of the Philippines’ longest-running noontime show has been making waves for a little over a week now, and Consul is overwhelmed that a Filipino program is being warmly received abroad.

“Sobrang nakakatuwa na na-appreciate po nila ‘yung, kumbaga, produktong Pinoy, gawang-Pinoy, parang gano’n. Maganda po ‘yung reception ng mga tao. Madali silang maka-relate sa ‘Eat Bulaga Indonesia.’

“Bago po kasi sa kanila ‘to eh, wala pa po kasing variety show dito sa Indonesia. First-ever variety show po. So okay na okay po ‘yung pagtanggap nila,” said he.

With that, Consul thanked the supporters of both shows.

“Malaking bagay po para sa ‘min na makatanggap ng overwhelming support from you guys. Ito po ‘yung nagpu-push sa ‘min para mas pag-igihin pa ‘yung trabaho namin, para mas maging proud ang mga Pilipino,” he said.

Consul hopes to visit the set of "Eat Bulaga" when he returns to the country early next year. Reports have it that he has been in Indonesia since last year.