Richard Gutierrez, the new host of GMA’s “Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown,” received stern advice from his manager-mother, Annabelle Rama, prior to doing the show: “Sabi ko sa kanya bago siya umalis, ‘Chard, ‘wag kang pumayag sa papagawa sa ‘yo kung ano-ano ha? Basta mag-host ka lang dun.’”

In an interview on “Startalk,” done after the screening of the pilot episode watched by the cast along with Gutierrez, Rama commented, “Hindi ako nakakibo sa sobrang kaba ko, grabe. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ginawa ni Richard ‘yun. Nakita ko, parang mamamatay na siya, nakita ko, grabe. Maganda ang kinalabasan, pero ang nerbiyos ko hanggang langit, sobra.”

But danger to his person was probably the last thing in Gutierrez’ mind during the filming of the reality show if recent showbiz speculations would be considered. Reports have it that Gutierrez—who had recently admitted on “Showbiz Central” that he and girlfriend Jewel Mische had split up—seemed to have found a new love while shooting the series.

In the same “Showbiz Central” report, Gutierrez was said to have disclosed taking the time to think things through while on the island. And then he started to get linked to a contestant this season, the half-Filipina, half-French beauty Solenn Heussaff, a painter, model and make-up artist who began her TV career this year on “Party Pilipinas.” But both Gutierrez and Heussaff denied any romance brewing at all.

Gutierrez had this to say about his split with his girlfriend: “We’re both happy right now. It was very hard. Of course, we all go through heartaches and pains. But we also have to move forward and grow as a person.” On “Startalk,” he also added, “For now I want to concentrate on my work and on… myself. And learn more about myself… who I am as a person.”

As for Heussaff, the dashing reality show host said, “Kami ni Solenn, we’re really good friends pero nothing more than that. I think I’m gonna stay single for a while.”

Heussaff, meanwhile, also shared her thoughts. “I think people are just analyzing it too much. Kaibigan lang kami, tapos si Mon ‘yung best friend ko. Parang maybe he doesn’t want me to get off the island because he wants me to hang out with him. I mean, he’s super gwapo, sobrang mabait siya… pero kaibigan lang siya. Tapos si Georgina, ‘yung ex (ni Richard)… friend ko. Parang it’s off limits for friends to date exes, for me.”

For now, though, Gutierrez is more excited about “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown,” which premiered last Aug. 30. “Medyo kinikilabutan nga ako ngayon dahil lahat ng pinaghirapan namin, napapanood na namin,” he told “Startalk” after they all saw the pilot episode. “And I want to congratulate all the castaways na kasama ko rin sa isla. They’re all very excited and we’re just very happy right now.”