MANILA, Philippines - ?Pinoy Idol? host Raymond Gutierrez is not trying to be a clone of his ?American Idol? counterpart.

That?s not to say he has found nothing to emulate in Ryan Seacrest.

?If there?s one thing I appreciate about him, it?s that, on AI, it?s as if he isn?t there,? Raymond told Inquirer Entertainment during ?Pinoy Idol?s? auditions in Cebu recently. ?He just pops in and out at the right moments. Contestants and viewers are very comfortable with him.?

He would like to do it that way, too, Raymond said. Looks like he?s succeeding in this department. Already, he?s been photographed and filmed with aspirants and program crew alike, fully enjoying himself.

?I try to understand how the contestants fee?I see it immediately if they?re sad, or just nervous,? the eager host said.

Actually, he added, it was he that first opened up to the crowd. ?They reciprocated. They became relaxed, and started to express their real feelings.?

These are hectic days and nights for Richard Gutierrez?s affable twin. Half of the week he?s archipelago-hopping for the ?Idol? auditions; the other half, he?s hosting GMA 7?s ?SOP? and ?Showbiz Central? and QTV?s ?Living it Up.?

He wasn?t complaining, he said. But he admitted that there were ?lots of fears and pressure? at the start. ?Now, I?ve decided to simply enjoy the experience.?

He couldn?t tell where he was getting the energy. ?When I have a break, I either drink coffee or sleep. I?ve been working
every day lately.?

The touring is a journey of discovery for Raymond.

?I was just telling Jolens (Magdangal, one of three judges) that every day I learn something new about Pinoys. For instance, how supportive the families are. You could say I?ve always known this, but now I?ve actually experienced it.?

He has also realized some very marked difference between Americans and Filipinos.

Raymond explained: ?On ?American Idol,? there are a lot of crazy contestants. Some even quarrel with the judges. This is much less true about Pinoys.?

But he?s had a few close encounters of the loony kind. ?In Iloilo, someone questioned the judges? decision,? he recalled. ?He had a lot of angst while I was interviewing him. [Another one] in Cebu just left in a huff. I couldn?t talk to him. The staff said he was cursing all the way out of the venue.?

(E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com)