The veteran TV hosts have reacted to the rumors regarding the production’s financial status.
During the ‘Gimme 5’ segment of TV5 noontime show ‘Eat Bulaga’ on Wednesday, April 17, main hosts Tito Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Allan K reacted to the rumors surrounding the program.
In recent weeks, the financial health of the show had become a hot subject among various social media fora.
According to the most notable of those are the alleged “cost-cutting moves due to weak advertising load,” “pay cuts among hosts,” and even the “program ending before its 45th anniversary,” which is scheduled to happen in July 2024.
In response, Tito Sotto called the rumormongers as “sinungaling” or “liars.”
“May mga sinungaling na nagkakalay na nalulugi daw tayo [Eat Bulaga],” Sotto opened up the topic during the segment’s introduction.
Allan K then responded: “Tayo? Nalulugi?”
The exchange went further, as Sotto detailed the other rumors like “Magsasara na daw tayo… sabi ng mga sinungaling.”
The former Senate President then announced on-air that they will be inviting the press to look upon their income tax return (ITR) as proof of their company’s financial health.
Tito Sotto, along with Joey de Leon and Vic Sotto are now co-producing their noontime show through their own company TVJ Productions.
“Para mapatunayan na tayo ay hindi nagsisinungaling at sila yung mga sinungaling, bukas bibigyan natin ang media ng kopya ng ating file sa BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] ng income tax.”
Joey then responded to the comments, by saying that those who are spreading the gossip are just merely envious.
“Naiinggit lang ang mga ‘yan dahil hindi sila kasama sa top five longest-running TV show in the world.”
De Leon continued his tirade by challenging the people behind the allegations: “Ito muna ang hamon ko: umabot lang kayo ng 15 years, baka luluhod ako sa harap niyo.”
Sotto then took the time to advise their fans to not believe in the rumors.
“Kaya sa mga Dabarkads at sa mga ilan sa mga hindi Dabarkads, yung mga nagsasalita ng ganun, mga sinungaling yun. ‘Wag na kaayong maniniwala doon sa mga ‘yun.”
Allan K then called the rumormongers as “mema,” a popular colloquial term that refers to “may masabi lang.”
To end the line of conversation, de Leon said: “Bastusan na kasi ang labanan eh, bastusan na [at] siraan. Walang kwenta. Mag-enjoy lang tayo.”
The host then berated rumormongers: “Umabot muna kayo ng 45 years [at maging] longest-running, top 5, in the world! Mainggit kayo!”
“Kasama naman dapat kayo doon dapat kasi Pilipinas yung dala namin eh. Bakit kayo ganyan? Ang sasama ng ugali ninyo,” he expressed his disappointment toward those who continue to spread the issue.
Launched in July 1979, ‘Eat Bulaga’ is the Philippines’ longest-running noontime variety show and is currently airing on TV5 and RPTV.