Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga! | |
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File:Image1231-0151(GMA 7).jpg | |
Created by | Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. |
Starring | Tito Sotto Vic Sotto Joey de Leon and others |
Country of origin | Philippines |
Original languages | Tagalog and English |
No. of episodes | unknown |
Production | |
Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
Running time | Approx. 1.5 hours (Monday - Friday) 2.5 hours (Saturdays) |
Original release | |
Network | Radio Philippines Network |
Release | July 30, 1979 – present |
Eat Bulaga! (Bulaga means "surprise" in Tagalog, although it should not be taken as the literal translation of the word surprise--it's closest English equivalent is Peek-a-boo!) is a local noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by the Television And Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) of Malou Fagar and Tony Tuviera. The program is the longest-running variety show on Philippine television. It also holds the Philippine record of all-time number of live TV episodes.
It is aired six days a week on early afternoons. The studio is located in Broadway Centrum, New Manila, Quezon City (near San Juan, Metro Manila).
History
Eat Bulaga premiered in July 30, 1979 on Radio Philippines Network at Broadcast City, Diliman, Quezon City.
RPN outsourced the idea to TAPE. At that time, comic troika Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon were the most popular movie comedians. They were hired together with Chiqui Hollman and Richie Reyes (aka Richie d' Horsie) as co-hosts.
The TV program innovated numerous concepts on Philippine television which were copied by rival TV programs. It moved from one station to another without losing its TV audience. Moreover, it is consistently recognized with awards from the local and foreign press and other organizations.
In 1989 due to the sequestration of RPN, the show moved to ABS-CBN along with other TAPE-produced shows (Aguila, Coney Reyes on Camera and Okay ka Fairy Ko) and helped strengthen the network's programming. The premiere telecast of Eat Bulaga on their new home was on February 18, 1989 and for this momentous event, the show was staged at the Araneta Coliseum.
The show once again moved to another network, this time on GMA Network due to the fact that ABS-CBN wanted to buy the airing rights of "Eat Bulaga" from TAPE, Inc. When the group led by Tony Tuviera and Malou Choa-Fagar reneged on the proposed deal, the Kapamilya Network kicked "Bulaga" and its sister show, "Valiente" from its roster of shows and decided to produce its own noontime show ('Sang Linggo nAPO Sila). "Eat Bulaga" premiered on GMA on January 21, 1995. Incidentally it was also held at the Araneta Coliseum.
Eat Bulaga! celebrated its 25th year on television on October 2004 in the Expo Amphitheater in Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga, making it the longest-running television show in the Philippines. The television special was attended by an estimated 60,000 spectators and enjoyed the highest daytime TV rating in the Philippines. The special was cited as winner in the Asian Television Awards in Singapore on December 1, 2005. The said event was also hailed as the most successful television event on Philippine TV and was narrowly matched only by the 1st. Starstruck Final Judgement.
On December 2004, the contract to air the show on GMA Network was extended until December 29, 2009.
Over the years, there has been talk that "Eat Bulaga" will transfer back to ABS-CBN or move to Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC) every time their blocktime contract with GMA Network expired (2002 and 2004) but in the previous interviews, GMA executives led by Atty. Felipe Gozon and Jimmy Duavit have expressed their desire to keep the show for as long as they can. Main host Joey de Leon on the other hand, is also considered as an important factor to "Bulaga"'s stay in GMA since he has been fiercely loyal to the station and his efforts have been rewarded. He is considered as a key asset to the Kapuso Network.
Eat Bulaga is considered by many as an institution because they have made many big stars out of many newcomers, also because it has been identified as a Filipino way of life as described by Tony Tuviera when they defeated MTV's Tsunami aid special on the Asian Television awards.
In 2006, the SexBomb Girls was out from the show due of some misunderstanding.
In January 2007, Gladys Guevarra resigned from the show, the reason for her departure is that she must undergo therapy. Though Eat Bulaga has been outrated many times by their competitors they still regains their lead in the ratings race a very strong proof of their might as an institution.
In 2007, Eat Bulaga was fully beaten in Mega Manila ratings by the rival show Wowowee.
Popular Segments
Eat Bulaga! Theme
The current theme is as follows:
- Mula Batanes Hanggang Jolo
- Saan ka man ay halina kayo
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga!
- Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey
- Barkada'y dumarami
- Ooooh silang lahat ay nagbibigay
- Ligaya sa ating buhay
- Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
- Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa...
- Eat Bulaga!
- Ito na humanda ang lahat
- Sa dami ng papalag hindi mapapahamak
- Tatlong bituin at isang araw
- Sa Luzon, sa Visayas, sa Mindanao
- Isa lang ang isinisigaw
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa (buong mundo!)... Eat Bulaga!!!
English Translation
Rap Verse:
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The original theme was launched in 1982 and was co-written by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon and arranged by Homer Flores, after Coney Reyes defected to Eat Bulaga from Student Canteen, which was preceded by the defection of Chiqui Hollman to Student Canteen. It goes:
- Mula Aparri Hanggang Jolo
- Saan ka man ay halina tayo
- Isang libo't Isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga
- Sina Tito, Vic at Joey
- Kasama pati si Coney
- Silang apat ay nagbibigay
- Ligaya sa ating buhay
- Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
- Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga!
When Aiza Seguerra joined the show in 1988, the second and third lines of the second stanza now goes "Si Aiza at si Coney/Silang lahat ay nagbibigay" (Aiza and Coney/They all give). The second and third lines of the stanza were still in effect even when Coney left the show in 1991 and some artists like Jimmy Santos, Christine Jacob, Ruby Rodriguez, Lady Lee and the late Rio Diaz have been added to the "Bulaga" cast.
When "Eat Bulaga" transferred to GMA Network, it changed the second line of the second stanza and omitted the names of Aiza and Coney from the lyrics, in response to the growing cast of "Eat Bulaga". Thus the familiar line now goes like this: "Barkada'y dumarami" (The gang is growing). However in 2003, that line was omitted when the SexBomb Girls did their own version of the "Eat Bulaga" theme. The line became "Buong tropa ay kasali" (The whole troop is included). But when the show revised the theme in time for its 25th anniversary in 2004 (rearranged by Louie Ocampo), where the whole "Eat Bulaga" cast sang, the line "Barkada'y dumarami" was included back in the lyrics.
Hosts
- Tito Sotto (semi-regular) (Will not appear on the show until the 2007 Philippine election period is over, due to COMELEC regulations.)
- Vic Sotto
- Joey de Leon
Current Co-hosts
- Jimmy Santos (1980-present)
- Ruby Rodriguez (1990-present)
- Allan K. (1995-present)
- Toni Rose Gayda(1996-present)
- Jose Manalo (1996-present)
- Francis Magalona (1997-present)
- Anjo Yllana (1998-present)
- Wally Bayola (2000-present)
- Paolo Ballesteros (2002-present)
- Janno Gibbs (2002 present)
- Teri Onor (2002-present)
- Pia Guanio (2004-present)
- Sugar Mercado (2006-present)
- Michael V.
- Kempee De Leon (2004-present)
- BJ "Tolits" Forbes (2004-present)
- Julia Clarete (2005-present)
- Ciara Sotto (2005-present)
- Pauleen Luna (2005-present)
- Edgar Allan Guzman (2006-present)
- Mark Ariel Fresco (2006-present)
- Ryan Julio (2006-present)
- Cindy Kurleto (2006-present)
- EB Babes (2006-present)
- Twinkie "Virtua-Host" (2006-present)
- Mitoy (2006-present) (semi-regular)
- EB Babes (2006-present)
- Cindy Kurleto (2006-present)
Previous Co-hosts
- Chiqui Hollman (1979-1988)
- Coney Reyes (1982-1991)
- Helen Vela
- Helen Gamboa
- Charo Santos
- Tessie Tomas
- Ces Quesada
- Christine Jacob
- Rio Diaz
- Grasya aka Samantha Lopez
- Vanna Vanna
- Joyce Jimenez
- John Prats
- Pops Fernandez
- Sharon Cuneta
- Kris Aquino
- Ogie Alcasid
- Plinky Recto
- Nova Villa
- Donita Rose
- Angela Luz
- Sunshine Cruz
- Jao Mapa
- Onemig Bondoc
- Robin da Roza
- Illac Diaz
- Ruffa Gutierrez
- Kristine Florendo
occasional appearances
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SexBomb Girls
The SexBomb Girls were an all-girl group that performed dance skits. Last March 2006, they were dropped from the show following a dispute between their manager and the show's producers.
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SexBomb's Controversial Dispute with Eat Bulaga
The SexBomb Girls (both dancers and singers) rebelled and stayed away from working on Eat Bulaga when one of the show's producers hired Sugar Mercado and promoted her heavily after her contract with Joy Cancio, the girl group's manager, had expired. Cancio claimed she decided to take the famous group off the show in protest of the said decision. There are even speculations that the producers manipulated a plan to remove the group from Eat Bulaga, most likely due to salary issues.
As a result, media sources reported that the SexBomb Girls are being hired by rival network ABS-CBN to star in their recently-revived Wowowee noontime show, but Cancio denied the report and stressed that the band still has a long term contract with GMA Network, especially in regards to the hit afternoon drama show Daisy Siete.
The producer of Eat Bulaga accepted a texted apology from Cancio, but also said the time was right to move on. A return to Eat Bulaga by the SexBomb Girls was then thought to be unlikely, and they have since been replaced by the EB Babes.
The Return of the SexBomb Girls
On December 16, 2006, the SexBomb Girls appeared at Eat Bulaga for the first time after nine months during the "Give Love on Christmas Day" portion with a song and dance number. Former SexBomb Girl Sugar Mercado joined the girls in the said number and some Eat Bulaga hosts were happy to see them again. And in March 12, the SexBomb Girls returns as regulars once again but they'll appear only twice a week (every Mondays and Wednesdays).
EB Babes (Eat Bulaga Babes)
The dispute between SexBomb Girls' manager and the show's producers have paved way for the birth of another new all-female group, the EB Babes. They are set to fill the slot of the fired SexBomb Girls. An intensive reality-based search for deserving young and talented girls was set in the show, and the winners were given a contract and they are now part of the daily noontime show. The EB Babes are:
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SexBomb vs. EB Babes
The two groups are finally met each other in a showdown last February 3, as requested by the public, especially the fans of both groups, and Eat Bulaga has gained a rating, as much as high of 31.2% on that day. Even though there are some issues that they are fighting during that encounter, but both groups says that it's a part of that showdown, so there's no such fighting between them. Rumors that there is such a rematch between the two groups, but according to Sexbomb Girls in an recent TV interview, there will be no rematch with them for a while, even that they returned in Eat Bulaga on a twice-a-week basis since March 12, to prevent such commotions between them, for example, the SexBombs are seen on Mondays and Wednesdays, while the EB Babes are also seen on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Rival Programs
TV Show | TV Network | Years Covered | TV Hosts | Status |
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Student Canteen | ABS-CBN GMA Network |
1979-1984 (Student Canteen started in 1975) | Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma et al. | defunct |
Kuntodo Pakulo! | MBS | 1982-1983 | Jackie Lou Blanco et al. | defunct |
Student Canteen (reformat) | GMA Network | 1984-1986 (Student Canteen started in 1975) | Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma, Chiqui Hollman, Jackie Lou Blanco et al. | defunct |
PST | BBC | 1983-1986 | JC Bonnin et al. | defunct |
This is it! | IBC | 1983-1984 | Jet Montilibano et. al | defunct |
Lunch Date | GMA Network | 1986-1988 | Chiqui Hollman, Rico Puno, Toni Rose Gayda, Orly Mercado et al. | defunct |
KalatOg Pinggan | ABS-CBN | 1986-1989 | Herbert Bautista, Joey Marquez et al. | defunct |
Lunch Date (reformat) | GMA Network | 1988-1990 | Chiqui Hollman, Randy Santiago, Toni Rose Gayda, Keno et al. | defunct |
Kalatog pa rin | IBC | 1989 | Alma Moreno et al. | defunct |
Student Canteen | RPN | 1989-1994 | Atoy Co, Bobby Ledesma, Eddie Ilarde, Jean Garcia et al. | defunct |
Lunch Date (reformat) | GMA Network | 1991-1993 | Pilita Corales, Randy Santiago, Toni Rose Gayda, Lito Pimentel et al. | defunct |
SST Salo Salo Together |
GMA Network | 1993-1995 | Randy Santiago, Dennis Padilla, Anjanette Abayari, Liezel Martinez, et al. | defunct |
Chibugan Na | RPN | 1994-1996 | Hajji Alejandro, Rico J. Puno, Arnell Ignacio et al. | defunct |
'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila | ABS-CBN | 1995-1998 | APO Hiking Society et al. | defunct |
MTB Magandang Tanghali Bayan |
ABS-CBN | 1998-1999 1999-2002 |
Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Willie Revillame, Roderick Paulate, Amy Perez et al. | defunct |
Esep-esep¹ | ABS-CBN | 1999 | Roderick Paulate, Amy Perez et al. | defunct |
MTB Masayang Tanghali Bayan |
ABS-CBN | 2002-2004 | Willie Revillame, Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Aubrey Miles, et al. | defunct |
MTB: Ang Saya-saya | ABS-CBN | 2004-2005 | Arnel Ignacio, Edu Manzano, Aiai delas Alas, et al. | defunct |
Chowtime Na! | IBC | 2004-2006 | Angelica Jones, Bobby Yan, Onemig Bondoc et al. | defunct |
Pilipinas, Game KNB? | ABS-CBN | 2004-Present | Kris Aquino | Active |
Wowowee | ABS-CBN | 2005-Present | Willie Revillame, Janelle Jamer, Mariel Rodriguez, Bentong, ASF Girls | Active |
Star Circle Summer Kid Quest | ABS-CBN | February 2006 to June 2006 | Luis Manzano and Anne Curtis | defunct |
¹-Temporarily replaced Magandang Tanghali Bayan for one week due to the suspension imposed by the MTRCB on MTB hosts Randy Santiago, John Estrada, and Willie Revillame for using foul language during the show's airings.
See Also
External Links
- Eat Bulaga! at iGMA.tv
- Eat Bulaga! at Telebisyon.net
- Eat Bulaga! at IMDb
- Eat Bulaga! Official Website
- EB Babes Official Page
- EB Babes Photo Gallery