As one of its original hosts, Joey de Leon, says: “Naging extension na ng mga tahanan natin ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ through the years. We’ve been through seven presidents and counting. We’ve been to three different networks: starting with RPN 9, then ABS-CBN and now GMA-7. Through it all, dapat kasali lagi ang audience. Hindi namin inilalayo ang sarili namin sa kanila. Dapat connected kami sa masses ng viewers. At dapat, laging may reinvention, para hindi magsawa ang tao. Kailangan one of them ka, kailangan maabot ka nila lagi. It’s also a public service show dahil sa dami ng mga taong natutulungan nito sa buong bansa.”
It was in 1979 that Mr. Antonio Tuviera of TAPE (Television and Production Exponents), offered Tito, Vic & Joey to host a new show to be pitted against the then top noontime show, “Student Canteen”. “Eat Bulaga” quickly climbed up the ratings chart and became a habit for local TV viewers. Through the years, it has introduced about 300 amusing segments including “Little Miss Philippines”, “Pinoy Henyo”, “Super Sireyna”, “Mr. Pogi”, “Laban o Bawi”, “Juan for All” and “Kalyeserye”.
Aside from TVJ, other hosts of the show who made their mark through the years are Jimmy Santos, Allan K, Anjo Yllana, Ryan Agoncillo, Ruby Rodriguez, Pia Guanio, Pauleen Luna, and the current young hosts like Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Baeby Baste. “Malaki ang utang na loob namin ni Maine sa ‘Eat Bulaga’ dahil gumanda ang takbo ng aming careers,” says Alden. “Sana maging part kami ng show for many more years. Ang feeling ko kasi rito, parang buong pamilya kami talaga and it’s truly a big blessing.”
To “Eat Bulaga”, our congratulations and we wish you more happy years of being number one on the air.
