Eat at Thirty

(Part 2)

Here is the continuation of “Thirty Things You May Not Know About Eat, Bulaga!”

ELEVEN: The agreement for Tito, Vic and Joey to host Eat, Bulaga! was finally cooked and served; signed and sealed at the parking area of the InterCon Hotel in Makati at around 5:30 p.m. It was capped with a toast from a bottle of Asti Spumante.

Actually, there were three outfits offering us to host a noontime show. Two of which were very close to us — Tony Tuviera and Iskul Bukol producer, Boy Gatus, who just recently passed away. We didn’t know who to accept between the two, so we asked them both to come to the parking area at 5 p.m. — ang usapan naming tatlo, kung sino ang maunang dumating kina Tony at Boy, yun ang tatanggapin namin. That simple. Tony arrived about 30 minutes ahead of Boy. The late Boy Gatus was late.

Ang masakit nito, parang kay Boy pa yata yung bote ng Asti na pinang-celebrate namin!

Well, Pareng Boy, wherever you are, thanks for everything!

TWELVE: During our first few years as hosts of EB, there was a time when TVJ’s pay was delayed for nearly a year! Totoo, kasi medyo tag-hirap noon, pero kahiyaan na yan sa kalaban at saka doon na-testing ang samahan namin at ng grupo at ni Tony Tuviera. Kahit walang sweldo, titirahin namin yun. And that was the time too that we were already enjoying hosting a TV show. Basta pakainin mo lang kami, okey na.

THIRTEEN: Worse, when we were about to be paid, the payroll was left and lost in a taxi cab! Susmaryosep! Ano ba yan!

FOURTEEN: In our early years, and when brownouts were common, we used to change the lyrics of our theme song from, “Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo...” to “Mula Makati hanggang Tondo...”

FIFTEEN: In our first few years with Channel 9, this writer usually leaves his rented apartment in Teacher’s Village, Quezon City at a quarter before noon to report for work. He was never late. At saka pa-swerte niya yun — He was born on a Monday at 11:45 in the morning!

And speaking of punctuality, this writer was even presented with a “100% Attendance Award” during the 2nd Anniversary Presentation and Awards Night of Iskul Bukol (Oct. 7, 1980). The award reads:

“TO JOEY ‘ESCALERA’ DE LEON — For being present in all Iskul Bukol episodes for two straight years (1978-80) without absence.”

Actually, he was never absent in any episode in Iskul Bukol’s 10-year run.

Likewise, I think I am the only writer-director in television history who was given a memo and “interrogated” by the management on why I always spend only less than two hours to finish taping a sitcom (Buhok Pinoy on IBC-13). Eh kasi naman, wala akong script! Adlib lang lahat ang mga talents ko. Eh di tapos agad!

SIXTEEN: Eat, Bulaga!’s studio in ABS-CBN was the same studio where this writer auditioned in the late ‘60s to be an announcer for ABS-CBN’s radio programming.

SEVENTEEN: Aiza Seguerra was born on Sept. 17, 1983, a day after my daughter Jocas Eightria was born. Today, both have no boyfriends… but one has a girlfriend!

EIGHTEEN: Eat, Bulaga! is the first and only daily variety show which had a mascot, Bikoy the Baboy. His appearance was cut short when Eat, Bulaga! hired Ruby Rodriguez.

NINETEEN: When I did a movie called Tangga & Chos: Beauty Secret Agents in 1990, this writer did a “first” in Philippine noontime television competition; an untraditional and unconventional move — I promoted and plugged the movie in our noontime competition, Lunch Date... live! Kasi naman, I got the other show’s host, Jon Santos, as a partner in that movie... title role pa! And to return the favor, he also promoted live on Eat, Bulaga! I have always believed that “All is fair in... plug!”

TWENTY: Eat, Bulaga! was the first local daily show to use animation in its opening credits.

(To be continued)

And relative to animation and because “double insertion” is in the news, and because we are currently shooting Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After, today, I have a “double insertion” of my very own “animalization” titled, Zoo Cool Bukol!

Para ano pang Starzan ako, kung walang kahayupan?!

* * *

“Face Ko Sa Pasko”

Itaktak mo alkansya mo’t ayan na Pasko,

Oktubre na’t mga two months and three weeks to go,

Kayo ba’y handa na at meron nang naka-plano

Kung ano’ng regalo ninyo sa sarili n’yo?

Ahahay, sigurado, marami sa inyo

Ang ibibigay sa sarili ay telepono,

At marami ring bebot ang “magpapa-ano”

Ng ilong, ng dibdib at ng kung anu-ano.

Kung retoke ng mukha sa inyo’y gagawin,

Last week ng October na ninyo ‘to planuhin,

Para pag namaga at medyo horrifying,

Eksaktong-eksakto... tatapat sa Halloween!

Nang pagdating ng Pasko humupa na ito,

in a maga at kadiri — beautiful na you,

Para pag tapos na dos-sero-sero-ocho,

Bagong taon at bagong mukha na rin kayo!

Kung gustong makatipid sa gagawing ito,

At kung meron pang tiempo at artista kayo,

Maghanap-okasyon — binyag, tuli o ano,

At kunin n’yong sponsor si Calayan o Belo!

* * *

NEXT WEEK: STARS AS CARTOONISTS.