It is for the very first time that actress-comedienne and “Hot Mama” Eugene Domingo is hosting a game show (called “Wachamakulit,” which will premiere on Friday in GMA-7’s “Bilib Ka Ba Araw-Araw”), and to say that she’s excited is an understatement. She has played many roles in the past, and has been in various shows, but to be with kids na “makukulit?” “Hay naku, bagets naman ang mga kasama ko ngayon, nakakatuwa. Iba-ibang drama nila, may kanya-kanyang moods, at dahil mga bagets careful ako sa mga words ko... it’s a very enriching experience, and that’s to say the least too.”

Eugene said she is proud and honored that she was chosen to host “Wachamakulit” which is an original game show that will test adults’ ability to comprehend what kids mean while experiencing the “spontaneous hilarity and riot in between.”

There will be three adult contestants every time and they compete in three rounds of guessing games. “Speed is king in all of the rounds as contestants must be quick in identifying a mystery word in order to gain the most points,” she said. For the first round entitled “Wach Dat?,” contestants are given the chance to identify a maximum of four concepts or objects. To help them are a bunch of “bibo” kids, ages 5 to 10 years old who will start off by giving vague clues and then proceed to the object’s specifics as the guessing game lengthens.

In the third round called “Kantaranta,” the contestants’ musical knowledge is tested. The contestant who garners the highest score will play in the jackpot round called “Feeling Clues” where three things that fall under the same category must be named in 30 seconds.  “Wachamakulit” by the way is directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal.

Feels lucky and blessed

If anything, Eugene feels so lucky and blessed at the moment, with all the jobs she’s been getting. Aside from “Wachamakulit,” she’s also in two other shows on GMA-7: “First Time” and “Comedy Bar” with Allan K., which will premiere very soon. Uge is also doing two movies: “Working Girls” for GMA Films, Unitel Pictures and Viva Films; and another for Star Cinema.

Starting out as a stage actress, she went on doing “little” and odd jobs (including dubbing and doing bit roles), “to pay the rent.” She recalls receiving just P150 for a day’s work. But her hard work and perseverance paid off eventually and now she is being recognized for her talent and positive working attitude.

It helped her a lot that she was given the Best Supporting Role in the Gloria Romero starrer “Bahay Kubo” because after that, the blessings just poured on her lap.

What she really wants to achieve, Eugene said, is to be another Gloria Romero or Anita Linda. “Kasi inabot na sila ng ganoong edad, at pagkatapos ng deka-dekadang pagsubok, nandyan pa rin sila. Durable and respected, yan ang gusto kong maging…”

At the moment, she just wants to save up “para isang araw, ako din ang tutulong sa mga taong nangangailangan.” She looks forward to the day she could pay back those who’ve helped me out, like Piolo Pascual who produced “Kimmy-Dora” for which Eugene has been reaping rave reviews as an actress.

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Expressing love thru sign language

Scheduled for screening from April 16-22 at selected SM cinemas nationwide, “Paano Ko Sasabihin?” is a light romantic comedy about two strangers who hear the call of love by using their hearts. Mike Macaraeg (Enchong Dee) and Ehryl Libranda (Erich Gonzalez) are deaf-mute lovers!

Is their love-relationship anything less intense than normal people, those who have the power of hearing and speaking?

“We had screen kissing scenes,” both Enchong and Erich confessed.

At the outset, they were hesitant to admit the intensity. But they later gave up and described that their kisses were those of a man and a woman madly in love with each other!

The extraordinary chemistry of Enchong and Erich as a love-team began with two top-rating ABS-CBN soaps, “Katorse” and “Tanging Yaman.” Enchong was nominated as “New Movie Actor of the Year” in the 26th PMPC Star Awards for 2010.

“Paano Ko Sasabihin?” was written and directed by Richard Legaspi, a graduate of the Asian Film Academy of Pusan, South Korea.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on April 16 go to civic leader Mency Zuñiga, Mrs. Nene L. Talampas, Cia Cia Rejano, Cashmere D. Pascual, Joyce de Boda, Ovette Ricalde, Arrozhel Love A. Abergas, TV host/columnist Jobert Sucaldito, Paul Salas of ABS-CBN Star Magic, and JC Tiuseco of GMA Artist Center. Happy wedding anniversary to Bong and Shirley Pizarro.