Joey de Leon. Instagram / @angpoetnyo
Joey de Leon stressed that senior citizens should be allowed to work if they want to keep going on with their jobs, an apparent response to bashers who accuse him, Tito Sotto, and Vic Sotto of allegedly not giving way to younger stars.
De Leon, together with the Sotto brothers, are collectively known as TVJ, the comedic trio behind the original “Eat Bulaga” which they left almost a month ago amid an ongoing squabble with its erstwhile production company, TAPE Inc., over the show’s brand.
Speaking to his followers at a Facebook live on TVJ’s official page over the weekend, de Leon clapped back at those who claimed that TVJ is already “too old” to still be hosting the longest running noontime show.
“Ang permanente lang ay ‘yung kagustuhan nating magpasaya ng pamilya, tao, at magtrabaho para sa ating kamag-anak at ating pamilya. Walang masama d’un. Kaya ‘yung mga nagsasalita ng mga bwisit, de-derechuhin ko na. Iilan lang ‘yan (What is permanent is those who want to make families and other people happy, as well as those who want to work for their families and loved ones. So, for those annoying people, I’m going to be upfront with you. They’re only a few anyway),” he began.
“‘Hoy, ang tatanda niyo na. Pagbigyan niyo na ‘yung mga bata.’ Well, para sayo ‘to. Ikaw, pwede ka nang ilibing kung gan’un. Ito may galit na ako eh. Kasi inggitero or pakielamero kayo. Ang tao, hangga’t gustong gumalaw, pabayaan mong gumalaw. Kung gustong magtrabaho, pabayaan mong magtrabaho,” he said.
(“Hey, you’re old already. Give a chance to younger talents.” Well, this is for you. You can be buried if that’s the case. I’m mad already. Because you’re jealous and nosy. When someone still wants to keep moving, let them move. If they still want to work, let them work.)
In a seeming “lecture” to bashers, the veteran host then stressed that senior citizens have the right to keep going at their jobs if they choose to do so.
“Malalaman niyo ‘yan pagtanda niyo kung umabot pa kayo du’n. Kaya ka nagtatrabaho ‘pagtanda mo, hindi na para sa sarili mo ‘yun — lecture na ‘to — para na ‘yan sa ibang tao. Para na ‘yan sa pamilya mo, para sa kamag-anak mo. Kaya kayong mga bashers, pagbigyan niyo ‘yung iba, ul*l,” he said.
(You would understand what I’m talking about if you reach that stage. When you’re older, you keep working not for yourself — this is a lecture already — but for others. It is for your family and your relatives. So, to the bashers, let them be. Crazy.)
De Leon also spoke about wanting to enjoy his job as a TV host, saying he would request the Lord for “another life” if he’s allowed to do so.
“‘Yan ang sasabihin ko — ul*l. Kapag naranasan niyo ‘yung 44 years na nag-enjoy kami, talagang kung pwede ngang i-request ang [another] life para i-extend ‘yung enjoyment mo sa trabaho na ‘yun,” he said. “Iba ang trabaho namin eh. Iba ang trabaho ng iba, [pero] wag mong pakialaman kung gusto [pang] magtrabaho. Hindi ko masisisi ang mga pumalit sa’min, trabaho ‘yan eh… manahimik ka na, kung sino ka man.”
(This is what I want to say in response — you’re crazy. If you experienced 44 years of enjoyment like we did, you would want to request for another life so you can extend that enjoyment in your job. Our jobs are different. People’s jobs are different, but don’t meddle with those who still want to work. You can’t blame those who replaced us, it’s work. Keep quiet, whoever you are.)
De Leon, as well as his fellow former “Eat Bulaga” mainstays, are set to launch a noontime show in TV5 beginning July 1, although they kept mum on the show’s title.
Earlier this month, Tito revealed in an interview with DWIZ, that they are determined for the long-running noontime show to reach its 50th anniversary on 2029.
“Ang target po namin, umabot ng 50. Six years to go ‘yun, kaya ipaglalaban namin ‘yan. Itutuloy namin ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ in whatever form. In whatever form. Lalo na nakikita po namin ‘yung suporta, ‘yung pagtangkilik ng kababayan natin,” he said.
(Our target is to reach 50 years. We still have six years to go, so we’ll keep fighting for it. We’ll keep going with “Eat Bulaga” in whatever form. In whatever form. Especially when we see the support from our supporters and countrymen.) EDV