Ice Seguerra, Ruby Rodriguez and Janno Gibbs. Image from their Instagram
Three former hosts of “Eat Bulaga!” have shared their sentiments after main hosts Tito and Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ, bid farewell to TAPE Inc., the producer of the longest-running noontime show.
Ice Seguerra, who started her showbiz career in Eat Bulaga as the talented child wonder Aiza Seguerra, said she has mixed feelings about the Eat Bulaga hosts’ departure. Seguerra was a contestant at the “Little Miss Philippines” segment of the noontime show in 1987, before becoming a mainstay.
“Hindi ko naiintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. Lungkot ba o saya (I don’t know what I am feeling. Sadness or happiness)?” he said in an Instagram post on May 31, the same day that TVJ were told by TAPE executives to cease from airing their show live. He attached his selfie with Tito, Vic and Joey at the Eat Bulaga set.
Seguerra said that he was feeling sad about the parting of ways between TAPE and the Eat Bulaga hosts, and the number of people whose lives would take another course because of this.
“Malungkot ako sa nangyayari. Sa kawalang respeto. Malungkot ako dahil sa hiwalayang Eat Bulaga at TAPE, mayroong mga taong mag-iiba ang lagay sa buhay. Nalukungkot akong umabot sa ganito,” she further said. (I’m sad with what happened, with the lack of respect. I’m sad about the separation of Eat Bulaga and TAPE. There would be people whose lives will change. It’s sad that it came into this.)
On the other hand, the actor-singer said that he also felt relieved because these people are now free to go elsewhere.
“Pero masaya ako dahil malaya na sila. Bakit ka mananatili sa isang relasyong hindi ka naman masaya. Hindi rin ako natatakot sa kinabukasan ng programa. Ang Eat Bulaga ay Eat Bulaga. Kahit saang network sila mapadpad, walang paltos silang makakalipad,” he said. (I am happy because they’re free now. Why stay in a relationship where you are not happy? I am not worried about the future of the show. “Eat Bulaga” is “Eat Bulaga.” Wherever network they would end up in, they would surely soar.)
READ: Tito and Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon announce Eat Bulaga is leaving TAPE
Meanwhile, Janno Gibbs and former comedienne Ruby Rodriguez also took to Instagram to share their thoughts about the Eat Bulaga brouhaha.
“Maraming Salamat @eatbulaga1979 na minsan ay naging maliit na bahagi ako ng inyong pamilya,” said Gibbs. (Thank you, @eatbulaga1979 of which I was once a small part of your family).
“TVJ. my mentors, idols, and most of all, friends. I love you with all my heart. @helenstito @angpoetnyo Bossing!!!!” she said.
Meanwhile, Kapuso heartthrob Alden Richards, whose stint with Eat Bulaga launched the widely successful Kalyeserye segment with “AlDub” partner Maine Mendoza, alias “Yaya Dub,” also shared two Instagram posts.
“Always and forever… @eatbulaga1979,” he captioned one post where he also showed a picture of himself with the EB logo behind him.
Another post showed him back-to-back with Vic.
Aside from Tito, Vic, and Joey, the present crop of co-hosts of the show have also submitted their resignation from TAPE, namely, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Allan K, Maine Mendoza, Ryzza Mae Dizon, and Ryan Agoncillo, sa revealed in a letter posted on Instagram by Vic’s wife, Pauleen Luna-Sotto, who herself was also a part of Eat Bulaga.
Luna also revealed that aside from the co-hosts, the “writers, sales, production and cameramen followed suit immediately after TVJ’s resignation.” EDV