Joey de Leon. Image: screengrab from YouTube/News5Everywhere
Joey de Leon was not able to hold his tears back while recalling those who reached out to them after their announcement of departure from TAPE, admitting he was clueless at the time on what would happen to them and to “Eat Bulaga.”
De Leon said this as he disclosed the conversation he had with one of the noontime show’s sponsors during an interview with Julius Babao and Cheryl Cosim for “Frontline Pilipinas” on Wednesday, June 7.
“Hindi ko alam kung gusto kong i-kwento ito pero umiyak ako nung second day,” he began as his voice started cracking from crying. “Kasi nagtext sa akin si Susan Co [from Puregold]—iyakin talaga ako e. Sabi niya ‘Are you OK?’ Tinawagan ko, mayabang ako [kaya] sabi ko, ‘We’re OK.'”
(I don’t know if I’d want to tell this to the public, but I cried on the second day [after our departure]. Because Susan Co texted me—I’m really a crybaby—and asked if I was OK. I called her and because I’m arrogant, I told her, “We’re OK.”)
“Tapos binanggit ko na, ‘Kayo, OK ba kayo?’, kasi nabalitaan ko na nag-advance na sila [ng] three years, two years ata sa show namin. Biglang ni-cut ako, nagalit, sabi niya, ‘No, hindi importante sa amin ‘yon. Bahala kami sa ginagawa namin. Ang gusto naming malaman kung OK kayo,'” he recalled. “Umiyak na ako no’n. Hindi ko alam ang mangyayari e.”
(I asked her then if they were OK because I heard that they had made an advance payment to our show for three or two years. She got angry and cut me, saying, “No, that’s not important to us. Let us think about ourselves. What we want to know is if you are all OK.” I cried after she said that because I really did not know what was going to happen.)
De Leon expressed gratitude not only for Co but also for the messages of support that he, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and fellow hosts have received from fans and other celebrities.
“Sabi ko nga kina Tito, ‘Ano ba ‘to, kung kailan tayo tumanda do’n tayo pinag-usapan.’ Kaya sabi ko, ‘Ayos din ‘to. Tayo na ang pinakamagandang halimbawa na may pinagkatandaan,'” he quipped, adding that he had been emotional also because he was the one who thought of the “Eat Bulaga” title.
(I even told Tito, “What is happening? We’re already old but now, we are the talk of the town. This might be good. We may be the best example of those who have learned through the years.”)
During the interview, De Leon also joked how their disengagement from TAPE was done “for a change.” De Leon further said that aside from new segments, they will also be bringing their “Eat Bulaga” segments to their TV5 show.
De Leon admitted as well that he was the one who “pushed” for TVJ’s transfer to TV5, saying his reasons for having done so were influenced by his faith.
“Mukha lang akong salbahe pero relihiyoso akong tao,” he stated. “Dalawa lang ‘yang numerong nakaluhod e, ‘yung 2 at 5. Sila lang ‘yung nagdadasal. Yun din ang number of weeks in the year, 52, tapos pag binaliktad mo (25) ‘yun din ang number ni Boss,” apparently referring to the birthday of Jesus.
(I may look like a bad person, but I’m religious. There are only two numbers that are kneeling, 2 and 5. They are the only numbers seemingly praying. That is also the number of weeks in a year, 52, then if you’d reverse it, you’ll get 25—Boss’ birthday.)
When asked if they had expected that they would part ways with TAPE, De Leon answered, “Nagulat nga kami e.” (We were shocked.)
“Well, ang hirap e. Hanggang ngayon naguguluhan nga ako bakit nangyari [‘yon] pero sabi nga nung isang kaibigan namin, ‘Rejection is God’s redirection,'” he told Babao and Cosim. (Well, it’s hard. Until now, it is not clear to me why everything turned out as it did. But as a friend of mine told me, “Rejection is God’s redirection.”)
De Leon teared up once again as he concluded the interview with a message to everyone who never left them despite the show’s recent brouhaha.
“Thank you po sa lahat ng kababayan natin, to people like you sa media at lahat lahat na. Salamat,” he said. “Kayo man mag-44 years, maiiyak din kayo.” (Thank you to our fellow Filipinos, to the media and to everyone. Thank you. If you reach 44 years, I assure you that you would cry as well.)
TVJ announced their departure from TAPE last May 31. The trio then confirmed their transfer to TV5 on June 7 as they signed an agreement with Mediaquest Holdings Inc. /ra