ONE among the very first talents TV5 pirated from GMA was Paolo Bediones. The former Survivor Philippines host is very excited about his newest role in the said network. He’s not just as an ordinary talent -- but a network executive.

That's right -- Paolo is now the programming executive of the Manny Pangilinan-owned TV station. For starters, Paolo will be doing USI (Under Special Investigation) while Erwin Tulfo, the hard-hitting public service show host, is slated to have his own program called "Tutok Tulfo". 

What is Paolo’s role in this fast-rising TV network?

"Well, as a programming executive, there would be specific programs assigned to me by the programming committee. I will be overseeing the development of the production and the talents as well.

"As a network executive naman, it involves not only sa public affairs but in entertainment as well -- training, yung pagpili ng mga talents, and giving them tips or whatever, kung anong puwedeng gawin. Whatever expertise I have acquired in the 12 years that I have been in the industry, in terms of the various formats -- reality, game show, talk show, news magazine show, beauty pageants and whatnot - these are the things that I will be putting into that one big basket, and they can just pick from it, basically.

"So now, it's a good position. Makakatulong tayo sa mga kasamahan natin sa industriya, who have talent, who deserve a shot, whether it's a new shot, or a second shot, a third shot, it doesn't matter."

But Paolo made it clear that not all people seeking for his help can enjoy his present position...

"Ang dami nating kasama sa industriya  on cam and off cam na lumalapit sa akin. Tutulungan naman natin - yung iba. At the end of the day naman, syemre, if I'm gonna vouch for someone, I have to know their work ethics, e. So, hindi lahat ng lumalapit, matutulungan natin. Hindi naman tayo tipong public service, e. At the end of the day, it's still a business. At ayoko namang mapahiya na ang taong sinu-support ko, o I'm vouching for, cannot deliver. Kasi it will reflect on my judgment.

"You don't wanna get someone too polished. You wanna get someone who's basically a 'diamond in the rough' that you can train, that you can instill the right values. Kung makikita po ninyo the way that we've been moving sa TV5, is that we either get pillars or we will develop our own talents. The ones in between, minsan medyo mahirap ng ayusin, yung tamang pag-iisip. So, we'd rather start from someone we could train from the very beginning or someone na haligi na talaga na puwede naming sandalan bilang poste, sa iba't ibang mga programa namin." 

At TV5, Paolo is also the newest primetime news anchor host He even said that this will be his priority, once the TV5 News and Public Affairs grid has been launched. Two of his other co-hosts will be announced in the coming days.

"If I could list my priorities now, number one for TV5 would be head anchor of the daily newscast, pangalawa na lang ang pagiging network executive. Malabo kasing mangyari sa akin yun sa GMA. Ang daming nakapila. Wala, wala talagang posibilidad na mangyari yun. With TV5 the potential for growth is greater here," he stressed.