AN  IMPROVED  FAMILY  FEUD & THE BETTER  BUTCH  FRANCISCO

[PHOTO AT LEFT - Richard Gomez: Extremely comfortable as a host and My namesake Butch Francisco is president and COO of Pagcor]

MANILA, NOVEMBER 8, 2009 (STAR) STAR BYTES By Butch Francisco - This is strange, but my life seems more complete now that Family Feud is back on Philippine television (Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. on GMA 7).

I had always been a huge fan of Family Feud — the American TV version and even in computer games. I became completely addicted to it, however, when the local version invited me as one of the players (representing Startalk) around this time last year and we won! (Joey de Leon and this writer volunteered to try our luck in the jackpot round, which we got, while Lolit Solis watched and computed our winnings as a team.) From then on, watching the show became part of my lifestyle.

This past week I stayed glued to two episodes. One featured non-celebrities, while the other one pitted Wilma Doesnt’s family against the Aquitanias, led by brother actors Antonio and Jay.

To be honest about it, I rooted for the Doesnts because Wilma is so lovable and pleasant every time we bump into each other. Antonio Aquitania, of course, is also very friendly, but I can’t say the same thing for younger brother Jay. I have to say, however, that Jay is a good actor and he excelled in all the indie films he has appeared in (especially in Concerto). But he has yet to learn social skills (the kid has to be taught).

And so when I had to choose between the Aquitanias and the Doesnts, I became a one-man cheering squad for Wilma’s family — and they won, including the jackpot. I was really so happy for them.

Just watching two episodes of Family Feud this week actually made me come up with the following observations:

1) Richard Gomez is now a master game show host. Unlike when Family Feud was just starting last year on GMA 7, he is now extremely comfortable with the job and knows how to handle the contestants. When one question required the participants to enumerate body parts we like to scratch, he was able to utter these anatomical areas in the vernacular in the most decent fashion — without his executive producer having a heart attack and worrying about their attention getting called by the MTRCB office of chairman Consoliza Laguardia.

2) The questions are more difficult now — and definitely more challenging — and I don’t think I’d like to join again if invited once more because I doubt if I’ll survive this time around.

3) To win, you really have to give answers based on how the masses would respond in surveys. When Wilma, for instance, was asked what people do to relax, she said that they’d go to the spa and only three said that out of a hundred individuals surveyed. Spa treatments are costly and you don’t expect daily wage earners (or even those earning a little bit more) to go to the spa. The top answer: Watching television, which understandably is cheap.

I believe that survey was accurate. Watching TV can be most relaxing, especially when you’re watching Family Feud. It works for me.

* * *

One message I received a couple of months ago through an emissary said that Butch Francisco wanted to meet up with me. Oh, there’s another one? As I would later find out, he is the better Butch Francisco — studious, hardworking, bright and has a good heart (qualities I so sorely lack). In fact, he is a post-graduate in Human Resource Development from the Ateneo de Manila University — with a Baccalaureate from De La Salle University.

The better Butch Francisco is the president and COO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor). He is actually Rafael Butch Francisco, but had been Butch Francisco for the longest time, except that he has chosen to go low profile and does his work quietly (well, quiet waters run deep).

When I met with him, of course, the first thing we did was trace our roots. He is also from Bulacan, but from another town. But Butch was born, grew up and spent all his life in his beloved Pasay (way before it became a city). A devoted family man, he is married to the former Mary Elizabeth Aseniero. They have one son, the teenage Rafa.

Going up to his office for an interview with Startalk (shown last Saturday), our staff noticed that it is a working office — with folders all over his desk. Startalk interviewed him because he and Pagcor chairman and CEO Efraim Genuino have started laying the groundwork for the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City Manila.

You do remember the old Nayong Pilipino, don’t you? This one they are building is going to be much, much bigger (theme parks galore) and will finally turn our country into a top tourists’ destination. I will tell you all about this new entertainment complex in my Tuesday column.