Their concert is entitled “Jose & Wally, A Party for Every Juan” on March 2, 7 PM, directed by Philip Lazaro and with Jimmy Antiporda as musical director. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa tiwalang binigay ni Mr. Tuviera pero talagang kinakabahan kami at ni hindi pa namin ma-memorize ang songs na kakantahin namin,” says Jose.
“Hindi pa rin kami makapaniwala na sa Araneta na kami magso-show na puro bigatin pang aming guests like Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Ai Ai de las Alas, Regine Velasquez, Dennis Trillo, Aiza Seguerra, Gary Valenciano, Solenn Heussaff, Ciara Sotto, Aljur Abrenica ,” adds Wally. “Ibang-iba ang gagawin namin dito kaysa sa shows namin sa Zirkoh.”
Jose is Ariel Manalo in real life. He grew up in Tondo and sold cigarettes and rosaries in Quiapo as a boy. He started as a bit actor in the original “Valiente”, playing a houseboy, then he became a production assistant and floor director in “Eat Bulaga”. Soon he’s also performing as a comedian on cam.
Wally, who’s a hit playing gay roles and appearing in drag, is Walter James Bayola. He grew up with a priest in Bicol, who’s a relative. His mom was working abroad while he never saw his dad. He studied as a radiology technician and quickly got married. Later on, he’d get to meet his biological father, a doctor in the U.S.
He first became a sing-along master in Naga and later joined a band, Mixed Nuts. It was Mamu Andrew de Real who gave him a break after seeing him perform with Allan K in Bicol. He became a stand up comic in Mamu’s Library. Malou Fagar saw him and got him as one of “Eat Bulaga’s” Dabarkads where he became popular as a comedian. His wife was interviewed in “Showbiz Central” and proclaimed him as a superhero in her eyes and that of her kids. Tickets to Jose & Wally’s concert range from only P320 to P3,180. Call 911-5555 as the tickets are selling so fast it’s almost soldout.
