It’s not a goodbye, it’s a till we meet again.
That, in a nutshell, was the message “Eat Bulaga” triumvirate Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon – TVJ for short – left viewers on Wednesday.
TVJ took turns as they delivered an emotional farewell to “Eat Bulaga’s” live audiences yesterday at the APT Studios along Marcos Highway in Cainta, where the long-running noontime show is taped.
“Pumasok po kami ngayong araw para magtrabaho pero hindi po kami pinayagang umere ng management. Hindi kaming pinayagang mag live ng management,” said former Senate President Tito Sotto, without mentioning the reason why they were not allowed to do so. It was an old “Eat Bulaga” episode that was airing while TVJ was saying their farewell.
Joey followed with a mention of the number of years the longest-running show has been airing – 44 – and a message of thanks to all the networks they have called home.
“Kung matatandaan nyo po, July 30, 1979 nang sinimulan namin ang ‘Eat Bulaga’,” stated de Leon, “Forty-four years na po ngayong taon na ito. Apatnapu’t apat na taon kaya lubos po ang aming pasasalamat sa mga naging tahanan namin, unang una ang RPN-9 for nine years…, ABS-CBN for 6 years…at ang GMA for twenty-eight years.”
Vic acknowledged the advertisers, before Tito trained the spotlight back to the show’s fans – called “Dabarkads” and also gave a special shoutout to their friend Antonio “Tony” Tuviera, executive of Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE), which produces “Eat Bulaga.”
“Ganun din sa Inyo. Higit sa lahat sa inyong mga Dabarkads, mga manunuod, sa inyong pagmamahal sa programang naging bahagi ng inyong tanghalian,” said Tito, “Lubos din ang aming pasasalahat kay Tony Tuviera sa pagkakaibigan at pagigign bahagi ng aming pamilya, at higit sa lahat, sa Panginoong Dios na kahit kailan, hindi Nya kami pinabayaan.”
Vic’s next statements confirmed the infighting behind the production.
“Hindi na po namin iisa-isahin ang laman ng aming puso at damdamin. Hangad lang po namin ay makapagtrabaho nang mapayapa, walang maagrabyado at may respeto sa bawat isa,” Vic said.
“Simula ngayong araw, May 31, 2023, kami po ay magpapaalam na sa TAPE, Inc.
Karangalan po namin na kami’y nakapaghatid ng tuwa’t saya, mula Batanes hanggang Jolo, at kami’y naging bahagi ng buhay ninyo. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.”
Still, Vic ended with a hopeful note. “Hanggang sa muli, saan man kami dalin ng tadhana, tuloy ang Isang libo’t Isang tuwa.”
Following the audience’s shocked reaction, the other hosts of the show – Paolo Ballesteros, Maine Mendoza, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Ryan Agoncillo, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo and Allan K – went up to the stage to hug TVJ.
It was in January of this year when rumors about a conflict within the production began to spread. A shakeup was allegedly happening with the entry of new people. There were also rumors that some hosts as well as people behind the production will be let go. Soon, there was news that TAPE big boss Tuviera was being given the boot.
Meanwhile, GMA said it was one with “Eat Bulaga’s” fans following the surprise announcement of Tito, Vic and Joey.
Their statement read: “We are saddened by today’s unexpected turn of events with regard to Eat Bulaga. GMA has been the home of Eat Bulaga for many years and we still have a block time agreement with TAPE until the end of 2024 for the noontime slot.
“Together with all the Filipino fans, we pray for a smooth and swift resolution of their issues.”
As of this writing, TAPE,Inc. has not released a statement on “Eat Bulaga.” (GFCT)
