Energetically laughing just a few minutes after his photoshoot, Jhamil EJ B. Gonzales cheerfully sits down with the CLAVEL team. Oftenly addressed as Buknoy, this dynamic host tells us about what he does and how he does it.
Up on stage, all eyes are on Buknoy. He needs to entertain the crowd and capture their attention. Buknoy makes it look easy, but it wasn’t always that way.
Discovering Passion in Impromptu Moments
During his 3rd year in college, Buknoy was asked to host an event—it was an impromptu gig that ignited his passion for hosting. He realized he had a knack for it and wanted to pursue it further.
“Pinag-host nila ako doon during my 3rd year in college, doon pa lang nag-start. Tapos doon ko lang din na-realize na parang I can do hosting pala.”
Fast forward into some quiet years, Buknoy entered the corporate world working as an agent. After a year or so, moved into their company’s events department where Buknoy found a place to pursue his passion for events and hosting. That became his training ground to familiarize himself with his technique and style of hosting.
The Art of Hosting
Just like every other art form, technique and style play a heavy role. With Buknoy, he strays away from the overly scripted manner of hosting and opts for a more relaxed and fun style. He sees this as a way to be more engaging to the audience and organically capture their attention.
With large crowds, it’s normal to feel nervous. To fight off those pre-gig jitters, Buknoy scopes out the room to get a feel for the audience and understand their energy. It’s all about being prepared and in tune with the audience.
Dreaming Big
Buknoy isn’t one to brag, but he does have an impressive resume. He’s hosted Vice Ganda’s mall shows. He has also worked with Ms. Charo Santos in a sit-down interview video for the ABS-CBN YouTube channel. A huge feat for someone who wants to be part of the Philippines’ entertainment industry.
Visualizing your dream is important to keep that fire burning and for Buknoy that’s being a respected and renowned host just like his idol James Corden. He loves that Corden gets to act, sing, dance, and do everything during his show. It’s safe to say that Buknoy dreams of having his own talk show, where he can entertain, be himself, and share that laughter with millions of people.
Buknoy’s journey to achieving his dream seems bright and it makes it extra shiny because of how he defines success.
“Kasi success is subjective, ‘di ba? Parang kahit simpleng paggising mo lang sa umaga, it’s a success, it’s a win.”
The Drag Realm
Aside from the corporate events, talk shows, and mall shows, we asked Buknoy about the world of drag and his face immediately lit up. Sure there’s a difference, but he shares that when it comes to hosting drag shows, it’s a whole new realm.
“Hosting in drag or during drag shows, pwede akong magmura, pwede ako mag-bad words, pwede akong mag-vape, pwede akong uminom!”
The unfiltered and unapologetic world of drag allows him to feel extra comfortable on stage, even sharing it with drag queens. He finds it to be super limitless, and the possibilities of what he can do hosting drag shows are endless.
Busy is a Blessing
Juggling a full-time corporate job and pursuing your passion sometimes takes a toll on us. Be it mentally or physically, there’s that moment that unexpectedly strikes that makes you feel the weight of it all. And like many, Buknoy is no stranger to this.
He clocks into his day job and works on his responsibilities, and once he clocks out, Buknoy swiftly hurries to his hosting event. This cycle goes on for days, and in between those long days, stressful commutes, and sleepless nights, he reflects on where he is today. And even in those heavy moments, Buknoy feels grateful.
“Ultimately, I feel like I am so blessed to be given the opportunity to do that, to have that platform, to speak up and to see people smile, laugh…and ‘yun, feeling ko super laking blessing na, and I’m grateful.”
His gratitude for the opportunity to host helps him stay motivated. It makes him appreciative of every moment, big or small.
On or off the stage, Buknoy brings that infectious energy with him. He screams positivity despite the chaotic world he revolves in—not only is that an admirable trait, but that’s something you’d want to surround yourself with.
Share the lovely lively laughter with Buknoy and follow his hosting adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
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In Partnership with
Production Credits:
Photography by Enzo Santos {@enzosantosx}
Styled by Maxx Macalinao {@michaelamaxx}
Makeup by Jia Achacruz {@jiaachacruz}
Hair by Mharhea Banting {@mharheabanting}
Executive Produced by Isa Lim {@isaaa_dalawatatlo}
