TV show gambles on mentalism for entertainment

MANILA, Philippines -- New GMA-7 show delves on a curious type of performance art---mentalism.

“Mind Master” will show how reading other people’s minds and seeing through their thoughts are made possible. The show features Nomer Lasala, known as The Mentalist. For four weeks, he and a special celebrity host tackle issue, situations and questions through mentalism.

In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment and other entertainment scribes during the show’s first episode taping held at the Baluarte de San Diego Gardens in Intramuros April 18, Nomer introduced mentalism in an open mic show. He wowed the audience with a number of mentalism acts that he performed with individual and group participants from the audience.

There, Nomer attempted to stop his own pulse, transferred his thoughts to special host, Ogie Alcasid, and predicted the answer to the questions of different participants. Also present as special celebrity guests were Barbie Forteza and Sef Cadayona, who both experienced mentalism’s surprise.

Skill plus talent

Mentalism uses partly psychology and partly psychic. According to Nomer, mentalism is skill and talent combined.

“[Mentalism] is a mixture of skill and talent. Like for example, everybody can sing, kailangan lang madevelop,” he explained. Nomer discovered his talent when he was nine years old via a telekinesis chapter (“Yung lunch box ko lumapit sa akin from a long table. Di na naulit yung feat na yun, though”).

Nomer recalled that as a child, he shied away from the skill. It was in college when he met his mentor, a top rank mentalist in Europe, David Elefant.

During the interview, skeptic members of the press asked “If you can read what’s gonna happen, then why can’t you predict the winning Lotto numbers?”

“For one, walang utak ang machine. Second, but if you will be thinking of a number, pwede kong mahulaan yun.

“That’s the same reason I got banned sa casino when I was younger. Hinuhulaan ko kasi yung mga lumalabas na number. Kasi in some casinos outside the Philippines, they cheat. From there I read the minds of the dealers,” Nomer recalled.

Mentalism vs magic

As said, mentalism can be learned. According to Nomer, there are special programs offered for mentalism abroad, like magicians’ School of Magic.

In the country though, Nomer named him and his mentor as the ones practicing the act. He also differentiated mentalism and magic. “Often, nagkakaparehas [ang mentalism and magic] kasi we borrow the theatrics of magic. Ang advocacy kasi namin ay ma-present yung psychic sa tao in a chewable way,” he stressed.

Eric Mana, Criss Angel, Bearwin Meiley are some notable magicians who performs magic in the country and abroad via shows.

Mentalism as entertainment

Nomer is also known as a psychic entertainer. Asked if people are scared of his talent, Nomer said, “Sa tingin ko, di na masyadong takot ang tao sa mentalism. One form of entertainment ang mentalism. I don’t go out naman to people and scare them ‘I can read your mind.’ Naging open na din ito sa public.”

Talking about the advantages and disadvantages of being a mentalist, Nomer thinks of more advantages. “But there are some disadvantages too. Like di na sila mag-o-open sa’yo, naaabuso minsan sa work… Other than that, I have a normal life."

Nomer confessed reading a girl’s mind before courting her. “I’ll be honest. (Laughs) yeah, I do read their minds first. Tinitingnan ko muna if papasa ako o hindi,” he said.

Positive vibes only

For all his skills, Nomer did not see the show coming.

“I don’t use my talent to see my future. Kandado sarado Katoliko ako. Ang unang nagmentor sa akin is a bishop… I don’t see the show coming. I don’t look at death, catastrophe, gusto ko good vibes palagi.

“I believe in the law of attraction kaya kung positive thinker ka, yung universe, yun din ang ibibigay sa’yo… I live my day one day at a time,” Nomer said, adding he can also channel and control his talent. According to him, there are times he turns off his mind-reading.

“Mind Master” begins airing April 30, taking the slot of “Man vs. Beast,” after “24 Oras Weekend.”