“EAT BULAGA” just renewed their contract with GMA Network and a zoom presscon is hosted by GMA’s Thea Astley for them. It’s now on its 43rd year and is no doubt the longest running noontime show not only locally but worldwide.
Among those who attended are Tito and Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Allan K. Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Ryan Agoncillo, Pauleen Luna, Jimmy Santos, Ryza Mae Dizon and Alden Richards. Conspicuously missing is Maine Mendoza.
What do they think is the reason why “EB” lasted this long ang became an institution?
“I think it’s because, even then, we can already sense what is the pulse of the people,” says Tito Sotto. “Napupulsuhan namin kung ano ang gusto nila at hindi nila gusto, kung anong papatok at hindi.
"At mas na-develop yun through the years and suwerte rin kami with the production people we get kasi malakas din ang pulso in reading what our kababayans like and dislike.”
“Aside from pulso, nandun yung puso rin,” says Joey. “Nasasakyan namin ang gusto ng tao, kung ano ang uso. Di lang kami kapuso, kauso rin.
"O kami ang nagpapauso. Uso noon, mga TV hosts, naka-coat and tie, amerikana, tapos kami mahaba buhok, naka-t-shirt at shorts lang kami, so namemohan kami. Salbahe kami, e. Rebelde.”
“Totoo yung sinabi nila,” Vic agrees. “And now, legit kapuso kami with out partnership with GMA.”
They are successful in their own careers, but how come they all choose to stay with EB? Did they ever feel any burnout?
“EB is my therapy,” says Tito. “Nandun man ako sa show o nanonood lang, iba ang feeling ko. It gives me new strength, natatawa ako nang matindi. Back up ko yan, yan ang pundasyon ko.
"Swerte ako, hindi ako nabe-burn out. Kasi there were times, nagpapahinga ko, like when I was first elected senator and then maging senate president ako, yun muna ang naging priority ko. Natagalan bago ako bumalik sa EB.”
“We don’t know what burn out is, kasi enjoy lang kami sa ginagawa namin.” says Vic. “Yun ang most important. Enjoy ka sa ginagawa mo at sa mga kasama mong dabarkads, nagkukuwentuhan kayo nagmamaritesan.
"EB is a big thing for all of us. We did ‘Discorama’, ‘Iskul Bukol’, movies, but EB ang siyang nagpatibay sa aming samahan ng TVJ & dabarkads. Ito ang pinaka-base namin and we always return to EB. Nasa dugo na namin ang EB, nananalalaytay na sa ugat namin.”
“I agree with what they both said,” says Joey. “We never had burnout as a problem. Kasi nga, nage-enjoy kami, e.”
“Actually, kami nina Vic and Joey, 50 years na kami together kasi ang TVJ started in 72. So this year, golden anniversary namin.”
For the other hosts, how is it being a dabarkads?
“For me, being a dabarkads is an eye opener,” says Pauleen Luna. “I came to the show at a very young age, not knowing much about life. I got to meet a lot of people from different walks of life.
"Dito ko talaga nakita ang buhay, ang mundo, how the world works, and it’s a big thing for me as not everyone is given an opportunity to watch other people and learn from their experiences. And everyone knows dito ako nagka-asawa, dito ako nagkaroon ng pamilya.”
“EB is an anchor for me”, says Ryan Agonicllo. “I was 30 years old when I joined it and it was the time I was about to start a family. Now, I know it’s one of the best decisions I made in my life, kasi I knew I need a place that is stable and EB is one of the most stable platforms any artist can be in.
"Parang home base na ito sa akin. You can branch out to other endeavors, but babalik at babalik ka sa EB as your base."
“Phenomenal and life changing ang EB for me,” says Alden. “Sa ibang ginagawa ko, may burnout pero sa EB, wala. Hindi ko kino-consider na trabaho hosting in EB.
"Seven years na ako with them and sobrang maraming nangyaring maganda sa buhay ko dahil sa EB, kaya malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanila. Nakita ko kung paano nila ko inaalagaan, tinuruan, binigyan ng importansiya. Sobrang thankful ako talaga na naging part ako ng EB.”
