Yong Chavez at the 2025vGolden Globes red carpet. Sthanlee Mirador

When I was in elementary school in Bauan, Batangas, I went to the perya with my Ate and won a drinking glass in the roleta ng kapalaran. It was the best thing that happened to me back then.

We grew up without money, but that weekend when the annual carnival went through town, I carried the 50 centavos that I had saved for months in anticipation of this night. I earned it from my part-time job of helping make women’s bags, which my mother was sub-contracting for at the time. My small hands were perfect for pushing and pulling the threads that held them together.

Isn’t it strange that sometimes we couldn’t remember something that just happened, but we all have childhood memories we could recall like it just happened yesterday?

In the hour it took us to walk from our house to the perya site, I frequently palmed the coins in my shorts pockets to make sure they’re still there. My sister let me roam freely but I knew she was never far. Do I buy popcorn or ice cream, or bet on the various games? As the carnival’s twinkling lights and exciting sounds beckoned, I decided that I will bet on the wheel of fortune.

“Taya pa, taya pa, taya pa,” the male carnival barker was announcing to make the customers make their final bets before he starts this round. He was playfully yelling into his old mic held together by yellow tape, the sound intermittently fractured by static’s popping, crackling, and hissing.

In my right hand, I held the coin against my heart and covered it with the left. I was protecting it because I have always been prone to dropping things. My mom once joked that she would make a necklace out of things I’ve dropped and broken to remind me to be more careful. I had recently dropped a drinking glass, it was very old and chipped, but we didn’t have many so I was hoping to win one to replace it. Perched on top of the prizes display, the tall, green glass looked fancy.

The wheel of fortune booth was rectangular with wraparound tables painted with numbers corresponding to the ones on the wheel. I forgot how many numbers there were — it seemed like there were many and that the wraparound tables were tall — but as a kid, everything looks bigger than they actually are.

I loved watching people win. Someone inevitably does, their happy squeals livening up the carnival sounds. I took my time and watched several rounds before deciding to place half of my life’s treasure on a number. I had a childhood phase when I was into the number 14 so that must be what I bet on but I couldn’t recall for sure.

I liked the prize wheel most of all because it made me feel hopeful. Like my life could change in just one cycle. The prizes weren’t substantial -- the small household items were the top prizes -- but I was drawn to it because there was always a win to look forward to. Earlier that year we lost electricity again due to non-payment, and my single mother was selling off a possession almost every week to keep us fed and keep creditors at bay. Then the subcontracting gig came along and we were afloat for the next couple of months at least.

When the bets were finalized, the barker gave the prize wheel a strong yank and then he started singing and making people laugh. But my attention was fully on the rapid clickclickclick sound of the flapper against the nails. Here it comes. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

As the wheel started slowing down, I held my breath. As the barker started going around, his head was pivoting between the wheel and the numbers on the table. I didn’t even realize he was in front of me because my eyes were glued to the wheel. I had won. “PANALO!” The barker then handed the prize that wasn’t the one on display. He pulled mine wrapped in old newspaper, from the cabinet below.

I was grinning ear to ear when I reunited with my Ate later on. She was so happy for me. We were separated for not even 15 minutes but it felt like a long time because I had now divided my life before and after the win. I had taken a chance, and now I’m a prize winner. When your understanding of life’s imbalances and misfortunes was developing like mine was at 10, it felt momentous.

I thought fondly about this childhood memory as I began gathering my thoughts for this debut column where I’ll share inside stories about my almost two decades of working as the first of my kind: a Filipino broadcast journalist here in Hollywood regularly covering for a Philippine TV network. It made me think how oftentimes it takes fearlessly taking a chance and dreaming big to make impossible dreams come true.

Covering the Emmys in 2024 

It is a surreal job. There is fun and excitement, but it also comes with a lot of invisible hard work, and so many stories behind the scenes. It took many years -- and blood, sweat, and tears -- before I got to where I am now, having planted ABS-CBN’s space beside American outlets.

I speak with celebrities, but I’m also a one-person team who does the research, producing, editing, and social media reporting. In my red carpet gowns, there are photos where I am sprawled on the ground in my un-glam glory with a laptop, downloading and uploading materials and writing my reports. 

With the other entertainment media

On most big award shows like the Emmys or SAG Awards or the Golden Globes, you are on your feet for almost five hours. You are required to be in position three hours before the carpet opens. You hustle to get the stars. The motto I’ve learned to survive? You get what you get -- and you don’t get upset. As a journalist, we can still make an engaging story no matter what.

*****

HOLLYWOOD ENCOUNTERS: On the plus side, Disney approves fewer outlets than most studios so their press lines are shorter, and though never guaranteed, you have a better chance of getting the lead stars.
Interviewing Harrison Ford

But at the "Captain America: Brave New World" premiere, I was sure that I will not get Harrison Ford. He had a reputation for being a little prickly in interviews in the past, but in recent years, more and more clips of his fun interviews have come out. It helps also that he has perfected the elderly lovable curmudgeon character, like Paul in his critically acclaimed Apple TV+ show "Shrinking."

Everyone wanted the 82-year-old Hollywood legend, and the major outlets in front had already taken his very limited time to speak with the press. I’ve seen how desperate yelling at stars to come over was rarely effective unless you know the talent or their reps. 

But this time, among other journalists trying to get him, I waved at Harrison and mouthed “Please?” while holding out my mic. To my surprise, he walked towards me. Earlier I had asked Anthony Mackie and the film’s other stars what makes the movie timely in this chaotic world. Mackie expounded on the power of everyday people with heroic intentions.

Han Solo, meanwhile, after asking me to repeat the question, had a more succint and funny response: "It’s timely because it’s coming out right now!" Everyone laughed. He is Paul.

*****

Q&A: At the "Lilo and Stitch" premiere, meanwhile, I had another unexpected encounter. This time with a pair of young Fil-Am singer-songwriters with a famous uncle.

With Zyah Rhythm and Nyjah Music and their mom Tahiti Hernandez Kemper 

Zyah Rhythm and Nyjah Music sang a version of Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love” and reproduced by their uncle Bruno Mars. Their mom, Tahiti Hernandez Kemper, told me she gave them their unique names because she always knew they’d end up as musicians like the rest of their family. 

At the end of our red carpet interview when I asked Zyah and Nyjah if they’d like to greet Filipino viewers, Tahiti whispered to Nyjah who promptly said to the camera, “Mahal kita!”

Tell me a little bit about your Filipino roots.

Nyjah: We’ve just been surrounded by it since we're little. We’ve been growing up doing Filipino stuff.

Zyah: Yeah, like me and our grandma. Grandma used to take us walking on the beach, and we would pick these shells that we can boil and then we would eat them after. But they're so good.

What got you into music?

Nyjah: Our family’s just been surrounded by music since we were little, and we picked up to it, and here we are today.

There’s a huge expectation for your family, everyone is so good at music. How does that make you feel?

Zyah: It was pretty crazy. I mean, our whole family is rooting for us and supporting us. So yeah, it's super fun.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career?

Nyjah: To have fun with it, you know, don't go down a wrong path. Just have fun with my brother.

Zyah: Same thing, just having fun with our ohana.

Being part of "Lilo and Stitch," this massive film, when you found out that you are going to be part of it, tell me your reaction?

Nyjah: It's crazy to be in my childhood movie. You know, I watched it like over and over again, nonstop, and now I'm the music. So yeah, to do it with my brother is amazing. 

Zyah: We just got so excited when we heard when my mom told us that we were gonna be on this. We went to Cali and then recorded this song with our uncle, to just bring back to family and our ohana.

"Here in Hollywood" comes out every Friday. Have a question about Hollywood celebrities? Contact Yong on Instagram: @yongchavez