Kuya Germs Celebrates 18 Years Of 'Walang Tulugan Ni Master Showman'

KUYA GERMS MORENO is celebrating the 18th anniversary of his “Walang Tulugan ni Master Showman”. GMA-7 hosted a special presscon for him and his co-hosts: John Nite, Jake Vargas, Aki Torio, Hiro Peralta, Sharmaine, Shirley Fuentes, Arkin del Rosario, Ken Chan and Jake Roberto. “Magde-debut na kami,” he quips. “It only means matunog pa rin kami kaya hindi kami iniiwan ng viewers.”

Last year, he celebrated his 50th year in showbiz. What’s his secret? “I believe in prayers. God gives me strength para magpatuloy kasi alam niyang may mga tinutulungan ako. Apat ang apo ko sa anak kong si Federico, 3 boys and a girl. Yung eldest, 21 na, and they all study in La Salle. Bukod sa kanila, heto pa ang mga marami kong anak-anakan na tinutulungan ko in their careers,” he points to his co-hosts.

He started as a janitor at Clover Theatre. “Pero hindi counted yun sa 50 years ko in showbiz. I start nang papirmahin ako ng kontrata sa Sampaguita Pictures at naging comic tandem kami ni Boy Alano. Sa TV, I started with the late Ike Lozada, then I went solo in 1978 in ‘Germside’, produced by Jojit Paredes. One year later, ayaw na niya. I talked to the wife of Bob Stewart and she said, you have to pay the airtime. But Mr. Medardo Jimenez, na boss din noon sa GMA, told me na five producers ang gustong tumulong sa’kin. He gave me to Gil Balaguer na pinag-produce ako ng bagong show, ‘Germspesyal’. It ran for 5 years. Hanggang sa naging ‘GMA Supershow’ ito at dumami ang shows ko sa GMA. I did the first reality show na live workshop on TV teaching newcomers to sing, dance, host and act, ‘That’s Entertainment’, which ran from 1986 to 1996. It used to air Monday to Friday pero nag-hit kaya nagkaroon pa ng ‘Saturday Entertainment’. And I’m proud of my graduates na iba-iba ang achievements, like Lea Salonga na international star in London and Broadway, Isko Moreno na vice mayor ngayon and Precious Hipolito who became a newscaster.”

There was a turnaround in his career in 1996. “Isa-isang nawala ang shows ko. Una ang ‘Saturday Entertainment’, tapos ang ‘That’s’, ang ‘GMA Supershow’, pati yung ‘Negosiyete’, nasibak. Umiiyak akong mag-isa sa kuwarto. Bakit nagkaganito? Then Atty. Felipe Gozon gave me a chance sa late night. Naisip ko nga ang ‘Master Showman’. Nilagay kami sa 10:30 PM. Sabi sa’kin, walang manonood diyan. Pero hindi, we’re airing live sa Broadway Centrum, ang haba-haba ng pila ng gustong manood. Tapos nilipat kami sa 12 midnight. Doon na nga ito naging ‘Walang Tulugan’ na 18 years na ngayon.”

So how old is he? “Iisa lang ang sagot ko diyan: the same as yesterday,” and he laughs. Happy anniversary, Master Showman!