MANILA, Philippines - Maestro Ryan Cayabyab is current Headmaster of ABS-CBN?s reality talent search ?Pinoy Dream Academy.?

At the time of this e-mail interview, Mr. C and the other Dream Mentors (filmmaker Joey Reyes, voice teacher Kitchie Molina and singer-musician Monet Silvestre) have just finished listening to 32 semi-finalists. Yesterday, only 14 of those were to enter the Big Brother house/academy.

In these answers (accomplished at 4 am!), Mr. C discusses his new role, his old job (main judge on ABC 5?s ?Philippine Idol?), and GMA 7?s perceived snub of ?Philippine Idol? winner Mau Marcelo.

How do you see your role as Headmaster? Will you be stern or supportive, cheerleader or tormentor?

I will be all of the above. But I have to strike a good balance, the way I do in real life (as opposed to real TV). I am proposing a jam session with the scholars?just like on my old show ?Ryan, Ryan Musikahan??for one of the episodes. If there is anything I?ve learned from my last work (in the corporate world) it is management. I?d like to see how I can blend that with being a Headmaster.

What are your hopes for, and expectations of, the students?

Fame is petty. I hope they pound into their heads that not everyone can become a superstar or a diva or a top-draw act. The earlier they accept that there is no shortcut to success, the better they will take their training to heart, and the better performers they will become. In short, I hope their heads are on top of their shoulders and their hearts are in the right place. It?s easy to make it to the top by winning, but to stay there is not a challenge; it is death. How to transcend ?death at the top? is an altogether new journey. It is a reality show. I hope they are real enough to realize that.

How did your experiences on ?Philippine Idol? prepare you for your new job?

Music coaching is second nature to me. I like to teach. Not content with teaching in the university, I put up my own school with Emmy (Mrs. C). I?ve been judging singing contests for a long time. I?ve been discovering and training new talents for decades. All these life experiences dovetailed [nicely] with my work on ?Idol,? and now on PDA. Being a judge on ?Idol? is different from being Headmaster on PDA, though. Whereas I critique performers on ?Idol? and thereby consciously stand a distance away to be objective, PDA affords me access to the scholars, to do hands-on training. Excited na me, to put it mildly, in text speak.

How do you feel about GMA 7?s non-acknowledgment of Mau Marcelo as the first Filipino Idol?

Mau Marcelo is the first Philippine Idol, in 21st-century reality TV parlance, and no one can rewrite history. The winner of GMA 7?s production franchise will be called the first Pinoy Idol. And no one can rewrite that, either. Unless they change the title of that show. Kidding aside, what?s in a name? Or more explicitly, what?s in a title?

Are you ready for the ups and downs of the competition?

To borrow a friend?s fave retort: Nakabihis na nga ako (I?m all dressed up). I?m just so glad that I don?t have to live inside the academy. But one Mentor has to: Teacher Monet. That will be an interesting twist in the academy. Am I ready for the ups and downs? And sideways, too? Sir, yes, sir!

(E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com)