(From left) Alden Richards, Vic Sotto, Tito Sotto, Joey de Leon. Images: Instagram/@aldenrichards02, Instagram/@tvj
Alden Richards revealed that he was offered by GMA to make an appearance in the revamped “Eat Bulaga” (EB) and in ABS-CBN’s “It’s Showtime,” but he told a top GMA executive that his loyalty is with Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Dabarkads.
Richards made the revelation during a press conference for “Battle of the Judges,” where he was asked if he received an offer to promote the upcoming show in the noontime shows currently airing under GMA’s roof, according to a report from Inquirer Bandera.
“Sabi ko, ‘Ms. Annette, ngayon pa lang po, sasabihin ko na po na everything that has happened in the noontime world natin ngayon sa Pilipinas… Kumbaga, alam niyo naman po kung saan ako galing.’ Alam niyo po ‘yung, of course, in terms of yung relationship na meron ako, siyempre po, nandito po yun sa TVJ and sa ‘Eat Bulaga,’” he said, referring to GMA Network’s Senior Vice President Annette Gozon-Valdes.
(I said, “Ms. Annette, right now, I would like to say that with everything happening in the noontime world in the Philippines, you know where I came from.” She knows, of course, about the relationship that I have with TVJ and “Eat Bulaga.”)
The actor then noted that while he’s open to promoting “Battle of the Judges” in the GMA-based noontime shows, he’s not open to becoming the shows’ host since he’s loyal to TVJ.
“With those words, hindi ko na kailangang magpaliwanag. But let me clarify lang po, ‘not necessarily’ means hindi po ako magiging regular or guest with these noontime shows,” he said. “So if it’s about promo, okay po. Pero as a guest or regular host, baka hindi po muna. Kasi of course, yung puso ko po is with the Dabarkads.”
(With those words, I don’t need to explain myself. But let me clarify, “not necessarily” means that I’m not going to be a regular or guest in these noontime shows… So, if it’s about promo, it’s okay. But as a guest and regular host, not anytime soon. Because Dabarkads are the ones in my heart.)
The “Start-Up PH” star also shared that he remained “quiet” over TVJ’s ongoing battle with TAPE Inc.’s executives, as he doesn’t want to sever ties between both camps as well as GMA.
“Tahimik lang po ako all throughout the issue. Hindi po ako nakisawsaw. Pero by the time po kasi na natanong ako about yung loyalty ko sa… not naman loyalty but my relationship with TVJ, siyempre sinabi ko po yung piece ko. Hindi naman po ako plastik. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin na wala kaming pinagsamahan ng Dabarkads before,” he said.
“Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin na dahil wala na sila sa GMA is hindi na ako… kumbaga, I [can’t] let go of the things that we have shared all throughout those seven years,” he continued.
(I was quiet all throughout the issue. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire. But if you would ask about my loyalty, well not necessarily loyalty, but my relationship with TVJ, of course I’ve said my piece. I’m not plastic. I can’t say that I didn’t have a good relationship with the Dabarkads before. I can’t say that just because their show is not in GMA, I wouldn’t be there. What I meant is that I can’t let go of the things that we have shared all throughout those seven years.)
Richards then stressed that he wants to defend the relationship he shared with the former “Eat Bulaga” hosts, as he considers them as “family.”
“Hypocrite naman po ako siguro kung ganun ako, diba? So, sinabi ko lang po yung totoo… And siguro, I think that’s basic human rights mo. Karapatan ko po yun eh, to really defend yung relationship at yung respetong ibinibigay ko sa mga taong nakakasama ko po dito sa showbiz. I think that’s what really matters to me more than anything is the relationship, and you know yung pagiging tao ko sa harap nila,” he said.
(I would be a a hypocrite if I’m like that, right? So I told the truth. I think that’s a basic human right, to defend the relationship and respect that I had for the people that I encountered in showbiz. I think that’s what really matters to me more than anything, the relationship, and being myself in front of other people.)
When asked about TVJ’s departure from TAPE Inc., Richards confessed that he’s “very sad” about the turn of events, saying he loves the former EB hosts “dearly.”
“Malungkot po ako na parang hindi na ako makakabalik sa pamilya na almost half of my career, nandoon ako… And I’ve been in talks, of course, with yung mga ka-close ko po doon sa Team Dabarkads, Dabarkads hosts or members of the staff and crew,” he said. “I love these people dearly. Ang tagal ko po silang kasama. It’s a good six, seven years of my entire career. I’m 11, turning 12 years in the industry. So most likely, kalahati ng buhay ko nasa ‘Eat Bulaga’ po ako… but we still remain friends, even off-cam.”
(I’m sad that I wouldn’t be able to return to my EB family who was there for almost half of my career. And I’ve been in talks, of course, with my close friends among the Dabarkads members, staff, and crew. I love these people dearly. I’ve been with them for so long. It’s a good six, seven years of my entire career. I’m turning 12 years in the industry. So most likely, most of my life was spent in “Eat Bulaga.” but we still remain friends, even off-cam.)
Back in June, the actor asserted his loyalty to TVJ during a Chris Hemsworth red carpet event in the Philippines, where he stressed that he has the “right” to defend the “EAT” hosts. EDV