Eat Bulaga!
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Eat Bulaga! (Bulaga means "surprise" in Tagalog, although it should not be taken literally) is a local noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by the Television And Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) of Malou Fagar and Tony Tuviera. The program is the longest-running variety show on Philippine television. It also holds the Philippine record of all-time number of live TV episodes.
It is aired six days a week on early afternoons. The studio is located in Broadway Centrum, New Manila, Quezon City (near San Juan, Metro Manila).
- 1 History
- 2 Popular Segments
- 2.1 Holy Week specials
- 2.2 Dance Contests
- 2.3 Lutuan with Super Kalan
- 2.4 Clash of the Titans
- 2.5 Philippine Bulaga Association (PBA)
- 2.6 Bulagaan
- 2.7 Laban o Bawi
- 2.8 EB Babes
- 2.9 Meron o Wala
- 2.10 Little Miss Philippines
- 2.11 That’s My Boy
- 2.12 TeeVee Babe
- 2.13 Mr. Pogi
- 2.14 Super Sireyna
- 2.15 Tunog Tao
- 2.16 Other segments
- 2.17 ''Eat Bulaga!'' Theme
- 3 Hosts
- 4 Co-hosts
History
Eat Bulaga premiered in July 30, 1979 on RPN 9 at Broadcast City, Diliman, Quezon City. Network executives were hoping to produce another noon-time program similar in format to Student Canteen of GMA 7.RPN outsourced the idea to TAPE. At that time, comic troika Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon were the most popular movie comedians. They were hired together with Chiqui Hollman and Richie Reyes (aka Richie d' Horsie) as co-hosts.
The TV program innovated numerous concepts on Philippine television which were copied by rival TV programs. It moved from one station to another without losing its TV audience. Moreover, it is consistently recognized with awards from the local and foreign press and other organizations.
Eat Bulaga! celebrated its 25th year on television on October 2004 in the Expo Amphitheater in Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga. The television special was attended by an estimated 60,000 spectators and enjoyed the highest daytime TV rating in the Philippines. The special was cited as winner in the Asian Television Awards in Singapore on December 1, 2005.
Timeline
- July 30, 1979 - premiered in RPN Channel 9
- - To rival Student Canteen
Popular Segments
Holy Week specials
Due to the Filipinos' observance of Holy Week, the show produces up to three TV-movies, a deviation from their usual variety show format.In the early years, Eat Bulaga ran its rendition of Jesus Christ Superstar with Vic Sotto as Jesus and Joey De Leon as Pilate.
Dance Contests
The younger viewers may no longer remember the dance contests held in Eat Bulaga as they were discontinued in the mid-1990s. From the beginning of the show, record companies would promote their new songs through various dance contests in Eat Bulaga. The more memorable dance contests are "Queen of Xanadu" (to promote Olivia Newton-John's song and movie Xanadu) and "Macho Man" (to promote the Village People's songs and movie You Can't Stop the Music)Lutuan with Super Kalan
Sometime in the mid-1980s, Pilipinas Shell came up with a new product, a small-container LPG tank, presumably to cater to lower income groups, with a "super kalan." The product was promoted in Eat Bulaga through a cooking show featuring Vic Sotto (as Chef Engelland, derived from the naturalized Filipino basketball superstar, named Chip Engelland, who was very famous at that time) and Joey De Leon (as Kuratitay, a gay character with wig and dressed in a tube).The portion was later revived when Lunch Date was able to briefly overtake Eat Bulaga in the ratings war. The sponsorship of Pilipinas Shell, however, was not obtained and the portion was renamed "Lutuan sa Eat Bulaga"
Clash of the Titans
When the 1981 movie Clash of the Titans was shown, Eat Bulaga ran a very intellectually stimulating quiz portion about Greek mythology, where the movie is based. The contestants in this portion were very intelligent.Philippine Bulaga Association (PBA)
In the early 80's, Eat Bulaga honored the Filipino passion for basketball with a basketball competition among teams consisting of two players. It lampooned the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with a portion called the Philippine Bulaga Association (PBA).The portion was revived in the late 1990s when ABS-CBN aggressively sponsored another professional basketball league called the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). The Philippine Bulaga Association (PBA) of the late 90s was characterized with more lampooning with community based teams adopting NBA names (i.e. Divisoria 76ers, Malinta Jazz). The Eat Bulaga hosts also lampooned the venerable PBA commentators assuming names like Ed Pigsa (after Ed Picson), Chino May Edad (after Chino Trinidad), Anthony Bantay (after Anthony Suntay) and Andy Haw Haw de Carabao (after Andy Jao).
Bulagaan
Includes comic skits and song numbers on a classroom-type stage set.Now famous for its "Knock knock? Who's there?" jokes. The answer to the question would be woven into the song, in comedic effect.
It starts with a number of hosts coming up to the microphones (usually 2 or 3). They then answer the question that the teacher (usually either Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto or Tito Sotto) asks (all the hosts are told the answers beforehand to prepare for their song). The answer fits the category of what the hosts will learn. Then they do the "Knock Knock joke" and the answer is woven, with comedic effect into the song they sung. Vic Sotto and Jose Manalo, aside from singing the song from their knock knock joke, sings the Sesame Street staple Sing. Finally they spin the wheel of ten numbers from 00 to 100 (60 is absent) and they get their score. The team with the lowest score (there can be multiple teams) stays in the jail cell in the classroom and they get "showered." All the others throw pies at each other's faces.
A new wheel was introduced in the La Carlota City special on April 24, 2006. It was slightly smaller than the older wheel, but it now includes 60 as a score, rather than the older wheel, which doesn't have the 60. The next two episodes following the special used the old wheel, but the next day and so on, they are currently using the newer wheel.
When Tito Sotto was elected Vice Mayor in Quezon City in 1988, management of T.A.P.E. asked him to tone down his comic demeanor in deference to his public office. In the Bulagaan portion, Tito Sotto's participation was strictly confined to the "Teacher." It is also unclear why Anjo Yllana, who was elected Vice Mayor of Paranaque City in 2004 was allowed to perform irrepressively in the Bulagaan.
Laban o Bawi
Viewers mail in their entries to get a chance to win one million pesos.The mechanics includes the hosts asking simple questions to the contestants (in groups of three, sometimes two). A single elimination-type of tournament ensues until one contestant is left.
The winning contestants then chooses a box from a group of six. Inside the box is either a "1" or a "0". The contestant must be sure that the box contains the number "1" for him to win the one million peso jackpot. The boxes are then arranged so that the box that was chosen would be in the leftmost panel, hence the panel would read "1000000," with another "0" automatically placed on the hundred-thousand digit. If the leftmost box is zero, the location of "1" would be revealed, the contestant would have to take care that "1" should not land on the right most side, for he/she would win only one peso.
In order to have a third choice, the host offers money that would make the contestant think if she'll go through with it (Laban, or fight in English), risking a minimum prize of one peso, or she would withdraw (Bawi) and win the prize the host offered.
In a new version of the rules, the elimination round is changed, instead of asking simple questions, the hosts would show a hidden word with two exposed letters, in which the contestants must answer correctly. Three correct answers will propel the contestant to the Jackpot round, where the mechanics were retained.
The boxes have also changed since the new version of the rules occurred. The numbers on each box have changed from plain numbers to computer-like numbers. The tops of those new numbers are the same, but below, it is different, causing suspense to whether the box contains a one or a zero. The new boxes are being used today.
In Eat Bulaga! specials, instead of a cart to hold the boxes, the hosts use smaller boxes. One is given to each host, and they are obliged to keep still while each box is revealed. The numbers on those smaller boxes are similar to the bigger ones used in non-specials today.
EB Babes
When the SexBomb Girls left the show, a new dancing and singing segment was initiated in order to find replacements.Meron o Wala
Similar to Laban o Bawi, the process of elimination is basically the same, the only difference is that the contestants would guess if the object is in (Meron) or is not present (Wala) in the box.On the jackpot round, the winning contestant receives an automatic 50,000 pesos.
In the earlier version, the winning contestant must choose a box among a group of three. The labels inside the box maybe either "Bopol", wherein the contestant wins nothing, "Dobol", where the P50,000 cash prize is doubled to P100,000, and "Tripol," where the cash prize is tripled. An innovation is the introduction of "quadropol," where the cash prize is quadrupled. To add to the excitement, the host pulls the three rightmost letters of the label "-pol" (later the four right most letters "-opol", when quadropol was introduced). The bidding process is the same in Laban o Bawi.
In the later version, the winning contestant must choose a box among a group of three. The labels are "50,000", "100,000" or "000,000". The contestant must choose "100,000" in order to win the maximum prize. An innovation was when the prize wasn't won, an additional 50,000 pesos would be added to the following day's cash pot.
Little Miss Philippines
This is the junior version of the Binibining Pilipinas pagaent. There is a talent and a question and answer portion to determine the daily winner. The daily winners qualify for the weekly finals, and so on up to the Grand Coronation Day.The ultimate winner is awarded a college scholarship, 100,000 pesos and other prizes.
The segment's alumni include Camille Prats and Aiza Seguerra.
The first winner was Glaiza Herradura who was featured in the afternoon soap Heredero which was produced also by T.A.P.E. and aired after Eat Bulaga.
That’s My Boy
This is the male version of Little Miss Philippines. Originally known as "Little Mr. Pogi", the portion won the hearts of the noontime audience primarily because it became another venue to discover male child stars in the mold of Nino Muhlach, who became popular in the 1970s, at the time "Eat Bulaga" was not yet born. "That's my Boy" also became controversial in 2003 when host Joey de Leon asked a child contestant if he was playing with his bird during the portion's question and answer. As a result, Joey was suspended from the show by the MTRCB for a month.Atong Redillas holds the distinction for being named the first "Little Mr. Pogi" and moved on to have a fruitful career in Philippine showbusiness as a child star, and later on as a teen star in the now-defunct youth-oriented variety show "That's Entertainment". Other child actors who were discovered via "That's my Boy" were Steven Claude Goyong, who went on to star alongside Janno Gibbs and Anjo Yllana in the now-defunct GMA 7 sitcom "Beh Bote Nga" (as the bumbling genie in the bottle), and BJ "Tolits" Forbes, whose claim to fame was when he starred in a detergent commercial blurting out the famous line "Ako, ako lagi na lang ako." (Me, me, it's always me). Currently he is part of the "Bulaga" cast and has appeared in several GMA 7 shows.
TeeVee Babe
This is the adult version of Little Miss Philippines where contestants paraded in swimsuits and in evening gowns.Previous names:
- Search for Caribbean Queen
- Beautiful Girl
Mr. Pogi
This is the adult version of That's My Boy. Pogi is handsome in Tagalog.Jericho Rosales is one of Mr. Pogi winners that became famous.
Feeling Pogi
This is the sarcistic version of Mr. Pogi, where not-so-handsome contestants perform their gimmicks to impress the audience.Super Sireyna
This is the transvestite version of TeeVee Babe.Tunog Tao
Translated into "man's music", the contestants (usually a band), use their body parts in order to produce music. The ultimate winners were then able to perform the show's jingle.This is also the segment where terms such as boombuga, armpitik and asthmatik were coined.
Other segments
- Heart to Get - a dating segment every Valentine season
- Music Maestro
- Sige…Kaya Mo? Sakmo! - a derivation of Fear Factor Challenges
- Pwede, Eto…Kaya Mo? Pekmo! - the extreme version of Sige... Kaya Mo? Sakmo!
- Sige…Kaya Mo? Math ang Labanan Dito: SakMATH! - aside from obstacle courses, contestants would have to contend with Math problems
- BEBOT (Beauty in Eat Bulaga! on Television) - the male hosts would be cross-dressed, with each male co-host bening managed by a female co-host
- Macho Macho Man
- Kaserola Ng Bayan
- Maid In The Philippines
- Give Love On Christmas Day
- Pinoy Henyo - a general information quiz segment
- T.K.O - a music quiz segment
- Kaya Mo To
- Ikaw at Echo
- Lottong Bahay
- Singing Soldiers - members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines show off their singing abilities
- Banda Rito, Banda Roon
- Del Monte Kitchenomics - a cooking segment, where recipes that are economical are shown
Eat Bulaga! Theme
The current theme is as follows:| width="" align="" valign="" style="padding-left:;"|
- Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo
- Saan ka man ay halina tayo
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga!
- Bulagaan sa tanghali lalong umiinit
- Laging ginagaya dahil puno ng gimik
- Sa puso mo'y walang dala kundi saya
- Tumutok na kayo buong bansa
- Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
- Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga!
- Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
- Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga!
- From Batanes down to Jolo
- Wherever you are come join us
- One thousand and one laughs
- The whole nation, Eat Bulaga!
- Bulagaan every noontime gets hotter
- Always imitated because it's full of gimmicks
- In your heart brings nothing but happiness
- The whole nation, come watch us
- The whole nation is united
- In the happiness that we bring
- One thousand and one laughs
- The whole nation, Eat Bulaga!
- Tito, Vic and Joey
- The gang is growing
- All of them bring
- Happiness in our lives
- The whole nation is united
- In the laughter and happiness that we bring
- One thousand and one laughs
- The whole nation, Eat Bulaga!
The original theme was launched in 1982 and was co-written by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon and arranged by Homer Flores, after Coney Reyes defected to Eat Bulaga from Student Canteen, which was preceded by the defection of Chiqui Hollman to Student Canteen. It goes:
- Mula Aparri Hanggang Jolo
- Saan ka man ay halina tayo
- Isang libo't Isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga
- Sina Tito, Vic at Joey
- Kasama pati si Coney
- Silang apat ay nagbibigay
- Ligaya sa ating buhay
- Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
- Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
- Isang libo't isang tuwa
- Buong bansa... Eat Bulaga!
Where’s Tawi-Tawi in the song?THIS is an appeal for the inclusion of Tawi-Tawi in the theme song of GMA Network’s daily program “Eat Bulaga.” In the theme song, the Philippines is made to appear as extending from Aparri to Jolo only. This is a deliberate error that reduces the Philippine islands by 305 islands and islets, one province and 10 municipalities. And it is committed almost every day.
The error also reduces the total land area, territorial waters and population of the country, making the data in the National Statistics Office inadequate or wrong. Uncorrected, the error renders our researchers, geographers and authors of Philippine geography books, journals, charts and maps unreliable.
Worst of all is the bad feeling that all Tawi-Tawians feel everytime they hear the song, which excludes the southernmost province of Tawi-Tawi. It makes us Tawi-Tawians feel disowned by and alienated from our very own countrymen. If Tawi-Tawi is not part of the Philippines, to which country do we belong?
We hope the management of GMA Network will immediately address this error which is repeated daily in the theme song of “Eat Bulaga.”
ABDULAJID A. ABDULGANI, Mindanao State University, Tawi-Tawi
When Aiza Seguerra joined the show in 1988, the second and third lines of the second stanza now goes "Si Aiza at si Coney/Silang lahat ay nagbibigay" (Aiza and Coney/All them gives). The second and third lines of the stanza were still in effect even when Coney left the show in 1991 and some artists like Jimmy Santos, Christine Jacob, Ruby Rodriguez, Lady Lee and the late Rio Diaz have been added to the "Bulaga" cast.
When "Eat Bulaga" transferred to GMA Network, it changed the second line of the second stanza, in response to the growing cast of "Eat Bulaga". Thus the familiar line now goes like this: "Barkada'y dumarami" (The gang is growing). However in 2003, that line was omitted when the Sex Bomb Girls did their own version of the "Eat Bulaga" theme. The line became "Buong tropa ay kasali" (The whole troop is included). But when the show revised the theme in time for its 25th anniversary in 2004, where the whole "Eat Bulaga" cast sang, the line "Barkada'y dumarami" was included back in the lyrics.
Hosts
- Tito Sotto (former Senator Vicente Sotto III)
- Vic Sotto (Marvic Sotto)
- Joey de Leon (Jose Ma. de Leon)
Co-hosts
Current co-hosts
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- Paolo Ballesteros
- Ciara Sotto
- Francis Magalona
- Pia Guanio
- Kempee De Leon
- Cindy Kurleto
- Julia Clarete
- Janno Gibbs
- Pauleen Luna
- Michael V.
- Anjo Yllana
- Gladys Guevarra
- Jimmy Santos
- Ruby Rodriguez
- Toni Rose Gayda
- Wally Bayola
- Jose Manalo
- Teri Onor
- Sugar Mercado
- Allan K.
- BJ Forbes
- Mr. Pogi 2006 winners: Edgar, Ryan & Mark
Previous co-hosts
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- Chiqui Hollman
- Helen Vela (deceased)
- Helen Gamboa
- Coney Reyes
- Tetchie Agbayani
- Abe Javier
- Debraliz Valasote
- Lani Mercado
- Lalaine Edson
- Plinky Recto
- Ces Quesada
- Millet Advincula
- Nova Villa (moved to ABS-CBN)
- Mikee Cojuangco
- Alicia Mayer
- Lady Lee
- Christine Jacob
- Rio Diaz (deceased)
- Aiza Seguerra
- Gracia Lopez
- Vanna Vanna
- Fire/ Ana and Zoraya
- Joyce Jimenez
- Richie D'Horsie (convicted for drugs)
- Bikoy
- Pops Fernandez
- Sharon Cuneta (moved to ABS-CBN)
- Kris Aquino (moved to ABS-CBN)
- Ogie Alcasid
- Leila Kuzma
- Mickey Ferriols (moved to ABS-CBN)
- Donita Rose
- Sunshine Cruz
- Jao Mapa
- Onemig Bondoc
- Robin da Roza
- Illac Diaz
- Ruffa Gutierrez
- Kristine Florendo
- Toni Gonzaga (moved to ABS-CBN)
- Bitoy Baboy (mascot)
- Jaya
- Michelle van Eimeren
- Fire (Ana Garcia and Soraya Sinsuat)
- Camille Ocampo
- The Sexbomb Girls (except Sugar Mercado)
SexBomb Girls
The SexBomb Girls were an all-girl group that performed dance skits. By March 2006, they were dropped from the show following a dispute between their manager and the show's producers.
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- Rochelle Pangilinan
- Jopay Paguia
- Izzy Trazona
- Evette Pabalan
- Weng Ibarra
- Cheche Tolentino
- Aira Bermudez
- Grace Nera
- Mhyca Bautista
- Louise Bolton
- Jovel Palomo
- Danielle Ramirez
- Mia Pangyarihan
- Jacky Rivas
- Cherry Ann Rufo
- Aifha Medina
- Sunshine Garcia
- Johlan Veluz
- Cynthia Yapchiongco
Rival programs
| TV Show | TV Network | Channel | Years Covered | TV Hosts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Canteen | GMA | 7 | 1979-1984 (Student Canteen started in 1975) | Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma et al. | defunct |
| Kuntodo Pakulo! | MBS | 4 | 1982-1983 | Jackie Lou Blanco et al. | defunct |
| Student Canteen (reformat) | GMA | 7 | 1984-1986 (Student Canteen started in 1975) | Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma, Chiqui Hollman, Jackie Lou Blanco et al. | defunct |
| PST | City | 2 | 1983-1985 | JC Bonnin et al. | defunct |
| This is it! | IBC | 13 | 1983-1984 | Jet Montilibano et. al | defunct |
| Lunch Date | GMA | 7 | 1986-1988 | Chiqui Hollman, Rico Puno, Toni Rose Gayda, Orly Mercado et al. | defunct |
| KalatOg Pinggan | ABS-CBN | 2 | 1987-1989 | Herbert Bautista, Joey Marquez et al. | defunct |
| Lunch Date (reformat) | GMA | 7 | 1988-1990 | Chiqui Hollman, Randy Santiago, Toni Rose Gayda, Keno et al. | defunct |
| Kalatog pa rin | IBC | 13 | 1989 | Alma Moreno et al. | defunct |
| Student Canteen | RPN | 9 | 1989 | Bobby Ledesma, Eddie Ilarde, Jean Garcia et al. | defunct |
| Lunch Date (reformat) | GMA | 7 | 1991-1993 | Pilita Corales, Randy Santiago, Toni Rose Gayda, Lito Pimentel et al. | defunct |
| SST Salo Salo Together | GMA | 7 | 1993-1995 | Randy Santiago, Dennis Padilla, Anjanette Abayari, Liezel Martinez, et al. | defunct |
| Chibugan Na | RPN | 9 | 1994-1996 | Rico J. Puno, Arnell Ignacio et al. | defunct |
| 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila | ABS-CBN | 2 | 1995-1998 | APO Hiking Society et al. | defunct |
| MTB Magandang Tanghali Bayan | ABS-CBN | 2 | 1998-2000 2000-2002 | Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Willie Revillame, Roderick Paulate, Amy Perez et al. | defunct |
| Esep-esep | ABS-CBN | 2 | 2000 (one week) | Roderick Paulate, Amy Perez et al. | defunct |
| MTB Masayang Tanghali Bayan | ABS-CBN | 2 | 2002-2003 | Willie Revillame, Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Aubrey Miles, et al. | defunct |
| MTB: Ang Saya-saya | ABS-CBN | 2 | 2003-2004 | Arnel Ignacio, Edu Manzano, Aiai delas Alas, et al. | defunct |
| Chowtime Na! | IBC | 13 | 2004-Present | Angelica Jones, Bobby Yan, Onemig Bondoc et al. | defunct |
| Pilipinas, Game KNB? | ABS-CBN | 2 | 2004-Present | Kris Aquino | Active |
| Wowowee | ABS-CBN | 2 | 2005-Present | Willie Revillame et al. | Active |
| Star Circle Summer Kid Quest | ABS-CBN | 2 | February 2006 to June 2006 | Luis Manzano and Anne Curtis | defunct |
See also
External links
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