Billed as the Newest Kapatid, it’s actually a homecoming of sorts for Bitoy since, 18 years ago, he was doing “Tropang Trumpo” for TV5 with Ogie Alcasid and Gelli de Belen, who are now also both back to TV5. How did he get to TV5 when he’s already in three GMA-7 shows: “Pepito Manaloto”, “Bubble Gang” and “Eat Bulaga”? We tell him: Paki-explain. Lab u.
“Ninang ko sa kasal si Ma’am Wilma Galvante at fulfilment ito ng promise ko sa kanya na tutulungan ko siya now that she’s with TV5,” he says. “This is an obligation to the industry to entertain the viewers, my way of killing the network wars. She called me and told me to watch ‘Killer Karaoke’. I did and told her it’s a laugh trip. She said, if you’re willing to host the local version, then it’s yours. E, wala naman akong exclusive contract with any network so nagpaalam ako sa GMA at pinayagan naman nila ko. Ang inspiration ko dito, sina Joey de Leon and Vic Sotto, who both have shows sa GMA at dito rin sa TV5. Noon pa ko pinapa-sign ng GMA sa isang exclusive contract pero ayoko. Kasi nga, I want to have the freedom to work anywhere I want to work.”
Entitled “Killer Karaoke, Pinoy Naman”, it’s a co-production with APT of Mr. Tony Tuviera and to be helmed by his son, Director Mike Tuviera. They already built the special set for the show at the studios of Kitchie Benedicto in Marikina.
“Mas pinahirap at mas pinasaya ang challenges for our contestants here,” adds Bitoy. “For the first episode, we’ll have celebrities as contestants. Umoo na si Ogie Alcasid, basta ayaw raw niya ng may ahas na ilalagay sa kanya. Sabi namin, okay, gagamba na lang. I’m hoping ma-invite din sana namin sina Aga Muhlach, Alice Dixson, Gelli de Belen, Rufa Mae Quinto, Wendell Ramos or maybe Bossing Vic and Joey de Leon.”
TV5 Pres. Noel Lorenzana officially welcomed Bitoy. “We’re very happy that he’s now here with us,” he announces. “I’m his fan and even my kids. When I was still with Unilever, he was the host when we had a gathering as I was being sent to Malaysia. He roasted me then, kaya hindi ko siya makakalimutan. So we now welcome him and we want to thank him for accepting our invitation to join us.”
Bitoy left yesterday for Hawaii with his wife and their four kids: Milo, 19 years old; Yani, 15; Migo, 10; and Maypole, 5. As host of “Killer Karaoke”, won’t he be scared of the reptiles or insects they’ll be using to scare off the contestants? “Ay, basta sa mga hayop, hindi ako natatakot diyan. Kaya ko yan. Alam nyo kunsaan ako takot? Sa mga babaeng may big boobs na nang-aakit sa akin. Kasi kapag nagpadala ka sa tukso, isang pagkakamali mo lang, baka mawala ang career mo.”
Just like what happened to Wally Bayola? “Hoy, wala akong binabanggit na name, ha. Ikaw ang nag-mention niyan. Honestly, ipinagdarasal kong makabalik siya kasi marami pa siyang taong mapapaligaya dahil sa talent niya.”
But he has a clean image and has never been linked to any other woman. “E, kasi nga, I have an ideal wife, she does yoga, pole dancing, goes to the gym to make herself always desirable. We’ve been married for 20 years and she manages our three franchises for a food business. Very conscious din ako na ayokong may masasabi sa’kin ang mga anak namin. Kaya nga, twice a year, we travel together as a family. Ilang beses na kaming nagbakasyon sa U.S., also sa Korea, and we’ve joined cruises sa Alaska, Caribbean and Disney cruises. Ngayon nga, habang sem break nila, sa Hawaii naman kami for one week. When I get back, I’ll start taping na for ‘Killer Karaoke, Pinoy Naman’.”
