The only Filipino to host Eat Bulaga Indonesia and Showtime Indonesia navigates a career rebirth after business setbacks.
The name Leo Consul may not yet be widely familiar to local show biz audiences, but in Indonesia, he is a recognized superstar. He holds a rare distinction as the only Filipino to co-host the Indonesian versions of “Eat Bulaga!” (2012–2013) and “It’s Showtime” (2019), a milestone that established him as a premier talent in the Indonesian entertainment industry.
Now back in the Philippines, Leo is beginning a new chapter. He recently signed with Arnold Vegafria’s talent management company, ALV Talent Circuit, as he takes on projects as a host, actor, singer, model, and brand endorser.
Reflecting on his international success, Leo shared how meaningful Indonesia remains to him. “Of course, it’s overwhelming because it’s not my country and they’re not my people. But the fact that they embraced me as their talent is a huge deal. Even if I want to focus on the Philippines, I can’t just leave Indonesia. I owe them what I have now. I’m here because of them. I owe my success in life to them,” he said.
Moving past the “gamble”: the Ken Chan business controversy
Beyond show business, Leo also ventured into business, an experience that taught him valuable life lessons. The venture, which was owned by actor Ken Chan, has since closed, with Chan now facing legal charges related to the failure of his Christmas-themed restaurant. Despite the controversy surrounding the business, Leo maintained a composed and respectful stance.
“No hard feelings,” he said, emphasizing that he has already made peace with what happened.
Leo also addressed the state of his relationships with his former business partners. “We’re good. We’re keeping in touch,” he shared, adding, “But I cannot disclose [any more details about it.]”
“My relationship with my business partner was very good. We stayed in touch and were able to settle what needed to be settled before we parted ways. Communication was good, and even after everything ended, there were no issues,” he said.
Financially, the experience took a toll, but it also strengthened his outlook. “Yes, of course there was an impact. That was money I earned in Indonesia, and it was a huge amount. But as I’ve said, business is a gamble. You’re never sure if it will succeed or not. You go into it knowing there’s a chance it will work and a chance it won’t. Before I ventured into it, I was already prepared for whatever might happen. At least I tried,” he added.
Emotionally- and financially-scarred
The emotional impact was undeniable. “I did [cry about it]. Those were sleepless nights because it was my money—hard-earned money—but as I said, I learned from it,” he said.
Recounting how the venture began, Leo explained: “It started through a common friend. The brother of my business partner was my friend, and that’s how we were introduced. I met all the business partners, and they encouraged me to invest. I also had a passion for cooking, and the restaurant seemed very promising. I saw it from scratch and considered it from a business perspective, so I had faith in it,” he said.
Looking ahead, Leo remains open to future business opportunities, this time with wiser planning.
“Since I’m already here in the Philippines, at least I can manage it myself. It’s difficult if you have a business here but you’re abroad. You can’t monitor it properly. That’s what happened with my restaurant in Pampanga; it didn’t work out because I couldn’t oversee it,” Leo said.
From childhood necessity to culinary passion
Leo traced his passion for cooking back to his childhood. “Growing up, it was just my dad and me, so I was the only one left to cook at home. I would experiment with things I saw in the backyard. At the time, I thought, ‘Why me?’ I was just a kid; I should have been playing or doing what kids do. But at some point, cooking became my passion. I explored it further and even released a cookbook in Indonesia. That was when I realized that I could turn my struggles into something meaningful, by publishing a cookbook and doing a cooking show in Indonesia,” he said.
Ultimately, Leo views both his successes and setbacks as preparation for what lies ahead. “If you’re going to do something, you have to mentally prepare yourself for everything that could happen, not just the positive outcomes. You just have to be ready,” he said.
Leo is also eager to collaborate with more Filipino actors as he immerses himself further into the Philippine entertainment scene.
That was money I earned in Indonesia, and it was a huge amount. But as I’ve said, business is a gamble. You’re never sure if it will succeed or not.
Leo Consul
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