‘Eat Bulaga’ picks Cebu for first-ever regional game show

 The country’s longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga offers a special lunch treat to Cebuano televiewers via the 30-minute radio and television program dubbed as “Eat Na Ta.”

According to Malou Choa-Fagar, SVP and COO of Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE, Inc.), the producer of Eat Bulaga, “Eat Na Ta” is exclusive in the Visayas region with major media concentration in Cebu. This latest offering is part of efforts to strengthen the mother program and its home network’s presence in Cebu. “We want to step up on our performance in the ratings. We have to admit that we are lagging behind the competition here in Cebu,” revealed Choa-Fagar in a presscon at Golden Cowrie in Salinas Drive last Monday.

The radio component of “Eat Na Ta,” which premiered last November 12, airs 11:30 am from Monday to Friday, while the pilot episode of its TV component has yet to see live broadcast this Saturday, November 24, still from 11:30 am to 12 noon over GMA 7 Cebu.  

It was revealed that they have long wanted to expand “Eat Bulaga” in Cebu, initially conceptualizing a one-time show, but the idea has now evolved into a long-term project. Even if the program may come across to viewers like a spin-off of Eat Bulaga, the program is still very Cebuano, Choa-Fagar stressed, from its hosts to the EB jingle now in Cebuano.

“Eat Na Ta” will be “loaded with prizes and surprises” including a shot at Eat Bulaga’s widely popular game segments.

Game segments include Itaktak Gyud, wherein in the radio game Cebuanos can join via telephone by answering Taktak Mo o Tatakbo-styled questions. Winners will automatically win P300, and will have the chance to play for Itaktak Yud on Eat Nat Ta-TV, which will be staged in various barangays of Cebu. In the TV game, the contestants can win up to P20,000 cash or get the chance to play in Eat Bulaga for that chance to spin the Taktak Mo or Tatakbo roleta for the P1M jackpot.

Ang Akong Pangandoy takes after Eat Bulaga’s “Send In Your Dreams.” Cebuanos may send letters sharing their “dreams” via this segment, which will be narrated through a “radionovela.” The “fulfillment” of the dreams will be then be aired on the TV program. 

“Kwarta Na Ni” will give away cash prizes through texting. There will be an early morning texting edition from 6am to 10 am and the texting promo will continue from 11:30 to 12nn. Four winners of P300 will be announced daily.

“Eat Na Ta sa Radyo” is hosted by GMA Cebu talents “Talk to Papa” deejay-host Papa Joe, entertainment news host and drama talent Choopetah plus Undoy Z (otherwise known as Cerj Michael in the stand up comedy circuit). Undoy Z will spot both listeners and viewers of Eat Na Ta all over Cebu. For the radio, winners will be given P300 and a chance to greet on air, while for TV, Undoy Z will conduct an instant card game called “Itaas…lubos! Imong Bulsa Mabdos!” for viewers who will be spotted watching Eat Na Ta every Saturday. 

“Eat Na Ta sa TV” will still feature Papa Joe, Undoy Z plus Cutie del Mar, one of Cebu’s loveliest faces who has made a name for herself in the hosting arena of the media industry as news anchor and TV host. –NMT