MANILA, Philippines – With season 6 of Starstruck starting Monday, September 7, GMA 7 artists Rocco Nacino, Mark Herras and Miguel Tanfelix recalled their own moments when they were part of the show.

At the recent press conference for the show, all 3 expressed excitement as they return as segment hosts of the reality-based search. Mark, who won the male ultimate survivor title in the 1st season, said he was never threatened by newer talent. 

“Ako po kasi, everytime na may dumarating na bagong batch dahil nga ho batch 1 kami, so na experience ko ito matanong sa akin sa batch 2, batch 3 hanggang kina Rocco…yung takot kasi papasok lang iyan sa utak mo kung naiinggit ka or may inggit ka sa katawan. Ako kasi after all nung nangyari sa akin – career, I had a baby, everything na nangyari sa buhay ko, I’m so blessed.

(Every time there is a new batch – because I came from batch 1 – I’ve experienced being asked [about being threatened] about batch 2, batch 3, until Rocco’s group…the fear, it will only be there if you put it in your mind and if you are envious. For me, after all that I’ve been through – my career, a baby, everything that’s happened in my life, I’m so blessed.)

“Nagpapasalamat ako na after 12 years nandito pa rin ako, umaarte pa rin sa harap ng camera …and yung takot imbes na takot mas na excite ako na makita yung Startrsuck na bago na mas bata sa akin,” Mark said.  (I am very thankful that after 12 years, I’m still here, acting in front of the camera, and instead of being afraid, I am very excited to see the new batch of Starstruck hopefuls who are younger than me.)

Rocco, who currently stars in Beautiful Strangers, said that when he was still a finalist, he always looked up to Mark and the first batch because they were all humble and down-to-earth. 

“[We all wanted to] be humble like him, be professional like him (Mark)… Di kami na tre-threaten. (We didn’t feel threatened.) We want to pay it forward to the younger ones kasi tulong-tulong din naman (we’re helping each other). We each have our own paths so we just want to bring out the best in everyone kaysa sa maglaban-laban (instead of being rivals),” Rocco said.

Miguel, who started his career with Starstruck Kids, said he was very ready to welcome new people to the fold. 

“Masaya dahil madadagdagan yung mga kapatid namin sa Starstruck. And sa susitainability, katulad ng sinabi ni Kuya Dingdong (Dantes), tama iyan kasi kung alam mo na unique ka, magsu-survive ka …survival of the fittest. And healthy competition lang po, kasi parehas lang naman po kaming mga Kapuso. And siguro mamo-motivate din yung mas pabutihin pa nila yung trabaho nila,” he said. 

(Very happy because we going to have new brothers and sisters in Starstruck. And as for sustainability, that Kuya Dingdong (Dantes) mentioned, that’s correct because if you know that you are unique, you will survive…survival of the fitttest. And it’s a healthy competition because all us are Kapuso. And I guess this will motivate them to do well in their work.)

Together with Kris Bernal, Miguel, Rocco and Mark will serve as journey hosts, where they will interact with the contestants during their training. Aside from being hosts, Kris and Rocco will serve as social media correspondents.

With Starstruck season 6 being followed by fans closely on social media, Mark and Rocco said they are already preparing the contestants for the criticism that comes along.

“Well ako na-experience ko na ang pang-babash pero hindi sa Starstruck but with my personal life, Mark said.  “Ako actually, handa na ako marinig at mabasa ang mga sasabihin ng mga fans ni ganito, mga away ni ganito, mga haters ni ganito. You can prepare for that. Nandito ako to guide itong mga batang ito na ‘oops! ready na ba kayong masabihan nang ganito?’

(I’ve experienced bashing, not during Starstruck but with my personal life. I’m actually ready to hear and read what the fans of this person will say, the conflicts of this person, the haters of this person. You can prepare for that. I am here to guide these young ones and say ‘oops! are you ready to be told things like this?’)

“Isipin na niyo ang pinakamasakit na word na mararamdaman o masabi sa inyo. Abangan ninyo yan sa mga social media accounts ninyo… advice ko sa kanila na huwag nilang tanggapin na, ‘bilang na walang ako talent, na huwag na lang kaya.’ Accept it in a positive way, parang kung ano mang word na matanggap ninyo, make that para maging malakas kayo...,” Mark said. 

(Think of the most painful thing that could be said against you. Be on the lookout for that in your social media accounts…my advice to them is they should not accept, ‘hey I don’t have talent, that’s it.’ Accept it in a positive way that whatever harsh words you will hear, it will make you stronger…)

Rocco said: “Part of our job as journey hosts, we have to interact with the contestants. I feel very special because we have a special job to do. And part of that is being updated and seeing where the contestants are struggling with and be there for them, but at the sometime be mentors and help them be positive about everything.

“On our part, we prepare by researching and making sure we’re updating because we have to know what’s happening with these kids and know their diffculties.”

Happy for Alden

Meanwhile, both Mark and Rocco expressed their happiness for fellow artist Alden Richards, who is now one of the station’s biggest stars due to the AlDub tandem with Yaya Dub, aka Maine Mendoza. (READ: #AlDub: The fun tandem of Alden Richards and ‘Yaya Dub’)

Mark, who is from Laguna like Alden, said this: “Alam niya yun ever since, wala naman po sa akin yun. Kahit sino pa yung nasa harapan ko, kahit sino pa yung nasa likod ko na umabante or mas sumikat sa akin, I’m happy.

(He knows that ever since, whoever is in front of me, whoever is behind me, and is given a break or more famous than me, I’m happy.)

“Dahil gusto ko lahat, lahat, makuha yung… like yung fame, di ba?” Yung lahat ng ginagawa ni Alden, I’m so happy. (Because I want everyone to achieve fame right? What Alden’s doing, I’m happy.)

“Kasi, every time na mag-check ako sa social media, AlDub, AlDub, Alden, Alden…

“Sabi ko, ‘Grabe dimples ng taong ‘to! Bakit ako wala akong dimples, di ba?’ Pero natutuwa ako and I’m so proud. Kasi si Alden, napaka-down to earth na tao. Napakabait na tao niyang si Alden Richards. 

(I said ‘Wow! his dimples! Why don’t I have dimples? But I am very happy and I’m so proud. Because Alden he’s very down to earth. Alden Richards is a very nice guy.)

“And alam ko yung nangyayari sa kanya, dahil ‘yan sa kanyang ugali na napakabait…Bini-bless lang siya ni Lord,” he said.  (And I know what’s happening with him, is because he’s very nice… the Lord really blessed him.)

Like Mark, Rocco describes Alden as down to earth and still sees the same person he met before.

“Alden is a great guy. Sobrang down to earth siya and sa totoo lang masayang-masaya kami para kay Alden. You’ll never know when it will come yung mga ganitong nag-peak, and so I’m just very happy for him, and it was through this na nag-peak ang career niya. May mga kanya-kanya tasks rin naman kami so the right time will come so watch out, we will be bigger stars,” he joked.

(He’s very down to earth and the truth is, we all very happy for Alden. You’ll never know when it come, when your career will peak, so I’m just happy for him and it was through this his career is booming. We have different tasks so the right time will come, so watch out, we will be bigger stars.)

“He’s all around, he’s being utilized in Sunday Pinasaya dahil ang lakas ng appeal niya sa mga tao (he really has great appeal). When I look at him on stage, grabe dating sa tao. I’m just very happy for him and he’s enjoying what he’s doing,” he added. 

Starstruck season 6 is hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Megan Young, and airs on September 7. – Rappler.com