The *Eat Bulaga!* fan community is once again in turmoil after news broke that Jose Manalo, Paolo Ballesteros and Wally Bayola have officially refused to stay with TAPE Inc. despite all attempts at persuasion!
According to inside sources, TAPE management tried every way to keep the three veteran artists with many attractive terms, but in the end they still firmly left. This is considered a big shock to the show, because Jose, Paolo and Wally have not only been important factors but also the soul of *Eat Bulaga!* for many years.
This refusal continues to raise questions about the future of the show as well as the tense relationship between the artists and TAPE. Is there an irreparable rift? And what awaits ahead when the pillars of the show leave one by one?
Fans are extremely shocked and regretful – is this the end of a glorious era? Let’s wait and see what happens next in this stormy breakup!
JoWaPao on TVJ Move: Loyalty vs. Respect
Wally: “Our loyalty to TVJ cannot be matched by any amount.” JoWaPao, which consists of Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros, is said to have been offered by Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. to remain on Eat Bulaga!. There is also news that only Jose and Wally were offered to be mainstays, along with Allan K.
This has been the talk since the general assembly of all Eat Bulaga! staff and hosts was made public on February 28, 2023.
If that were the case, it wouldn’t be far off that they would have become the “banner” hosts of the revamped noontime show on GMA-7 if they had agreed.
But all of the original Dabarkads joined TVJ — the triumvirate of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon — in leaving TAPE.
They will also be together in a new noontime show that will be aired on TVJ and eere on TV5 starting July 1.
Aside from loyalty to their organization, what is their driving force for joining TVJ despite the offer made to them by the Jalosjos, the owners of TAPE?
This was the question asked by PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the mediacon of TVJ with Legit Dabarkads on TV5 on June 20.
Jose was the first to confirm the talk about the TAPE offer.
“First of all, the first to be left behind, JoWaMao—Jose, Wally, Mamao,” Jose joked, referring to Mamao as Allan K.
Jose also took it back and said JoWaWow as in “Wow, beautiful!” Allan K said.
At the same time, Jose continued seriously, “No, like I said, it seems like you can’t replace or buy with any money, no matter how much it costs, the gratitude or respect we call it.”
“Some people say, can you live by your principles? Yes, eh… That’s what we want.
“When you have principles, meaning, when you look at gratitude, it’s straight forward. The blessing that comes to you is better.
“Rather than putting money first, wait, it’s gone. But the principle, you carry it with you even when you’re sleeping.”
That’s why Jose chose TVJ over TAPE.
“And what TVJ and Eat Bulaga! showed us, made us no matter where we came from, they taught us to hold a spoon and fork. Those are the things we learned, how to eat, how to chew.”
He joked, “It’s just the face that’s not really neat, it’s difficult.
“But gratitude is really, we can’t turn our backs on things like that.”
Wally’s message was the same.
He said that nothing can match the loyalty he has for TVJ.
“Just like Jose said, our loyalty to TVJ cannot be matched by any amount,” Wally said.
“And as we said, we are not rich, but we need to make a decision no matter what.
“As long as I, in my heart, will follow TVJ. And my loyalty, is to TVJ.”
Paolo also agreed on the loyalty issue.
“Loyalty, yes,” said Paolo, who has been a Dabarkads member for over two decades.
Paolo continued, “Well for me, ha, I joined Eat Bulaga!, then they accepted me with bated breath. They didn’t know me. They didn’t know what I was capable of.
“But now, I’ve been on Eat Bulaga! for almost 22 years. So, there’s no question about it. I mean, we just followed them, like it’s a basic human instinct.
“Wherever TVJ is, we’re there.”
WHAT THE JALOSJOS BROTHERS SAID ABOUT THE ISSUE
TAPE Inc, the producer of Eat Bulaga!, is owned by Romy Jalosjos, who has a 75 percent share, and Tony Tuviera, who has a 25 percent share.
Romy’s children Jon, Bullet, and Soraya Jalosjos are board members of TAPE. At the general assembly of Eat Bulaga! on February 28, it was announced that they would be active as the new management.
According to an exclusive interview with PEP.ph on April 26, during that meeting, Romy announced the changes he wants to see happen to the noontime show, including the addition of new hosts and segments.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph with the brothers Jon and Bullet on June 3, Jon admitted that it was true that they originally planned to remove some hosts from the show.
It was also true that the management planned to give Jose and Wally a chance to shine more on the show.
But the plan did not include removing TVJ, but only reducing the number of days they would be on the show.
Jon also clarified that TAPE’s plan did not come true either because TAPE had ongoing negotiations with TVJ.
The status quo before TVJ’s departure was that no one would be removed.
TAPE management was supposed to have a meeting with Tony Tuviera on June 10, but before this happened, TVJ had already left on May 31