Eat Bulaga

Oh my God! "Eat Bulaga" started in 1979. This 2015, the show is celebrating its 36th anniversary. This age makes the show the longest running one in the Philippines of all time. Rival networks try to compete against but nothing succeeds. Its producer TAPE, Inc. and its distributor GMA Network, Inc. should nourish and protect this gem of Philippine entertainment.

The show has a hell lot to show in the first place. They never seem to run out of ideas. Notable segments are "Little Miss Philippines", "Laban o Bawi", "Kontrapelo", "Itaktak Mo", "Mr. Pogi", and "Juan for All, All for Juan". They also popularized novelty songs, such as "Laban o Bawi", "Itaktak Mo", "Shembot", and "Jump, Jump, Jump, Brother", to name some of these. The show also engages in charity, as they give monobloc chairs made from plastic bottles and scholarship grants to intelligent students. "Eat Bulaga" takes brave steps in starting out "Super Sireyna Worldwide", a transwoman beauty pageant that involves contestants from all over the globe. They also introduce foreigners into the Filipino culture in "You're My Foreignoy" and "You're My Foreignay".

In celebrating their 36th birthday, they present the "kalyeserye", a telenovela which infuses melodrama, comedy, and impromptu and takes place in the streets during "Juan for All, All for Juan" segment. The "kalyserye" stars Alden Richards and Yaya Dub (Maine Mendoza) as the star-crossed lovers. Jose Manalo plays Frankie Arinoli and Wally Bayola plays Donya Nidora respectively. Manalo and Bayola also play other characters which push their comedian skills to greater heights.

If "Eat Bulaga" celebrates its golden anniversary, I won't be surprised. They deserve it very well.

EAT BULAGA is a multi-hour variety show with talk, music, dance, comedy and games. It is seen six days each week in the Philippines during the hottest part of their broiling, baking daytimes. Please see the previous review of EAT BULAGA to learn about the other aspects of the show. This review deals with the LABAN O BAWI game show segment which ends every edition of EAT BULAGA.

Where to begin describing planet Earth's ultimate game show? First, the game of the game show. The LABAN O BAWI game pits a contestant against their own good or bad luck, and it is winner-take-all (or almost nothing)! Any contestant who is likely to appear on the show is less-than-rich. Winning is a life changing event and means a great deal to the contestant. A contestant can attempt to win one million Philippine Pesos. If they guess wrong, they may receive only one Peso which is worth nearly exactly two American cents. Should the contestant attempt to take the chance for one million, or leave the chance and take a middle offer which is a sure thing? But LABAN O BAWI is not as simple as that. As the poor humble contestant is thinking about what they should do, the hosts of the show offer just a little more and more "sure thing" walk-away money.

There is one other element not yet mentioned. Enter the Sex Bomb Dancers! As a contestant is trying to decide if they should try for one million, or risk losing the 60,000 to 100,000 offer in walk-away money and maybe win only one single peso, the stage is spilling over with sexy black clad Filipina dancers who thrash and shake to a disco beat -- oh yeah, they sing, chant and flirt with the male contestants too. Things heat up to a fever pitch! Contestants faint, cry and/or hyperventilate. The contestant's family members in the audience cry, hyperventilate, and sometimes pass-out as well.

The Sex Bomb Dancers are beyond famous in the Philippines. Every young girl wants to be them. Every young man wants to be with them. The Republic of the Philippines is on a first name basis with the dancers. At first there were only cell phone text message polls and games to help connect viewers to their favorite dancers. But then the Sex Bomb Dancers branched out to release music CDs and perform in concert halls and other public venues. The Sex Bomb Dancers are lead by Rochelle Pangilinan. Look up the term "vivacious dancer" in the dictionary and there you will see her blurred figure twisting and turning in every direction.

Fly to the Philippines now before it is too late to see this great show!

'Eat Bulaga', hands down, is the best-ever variety-cum-game show ever conceptualized for Philippine TV. Many have attempted to beat this monster-of-a-show but none have ever fully defeated it out of the airwaves.

EB began with the comedy trio of Tito, Vic and Joey with Chiqui Hallman, and a few more hosts joined along the way. The show evolved from the simple song, dance, game concept to the more deep and complex drama contests, IQ contests, weird talent contests, and the like.

Many people have their own reasons why Eat Bulaga is still on the air after 25 years, and no one can ever disagree that any one of these reasons are incorrect. EB has hit the bulls-eye on the hearts of audiences through their humble humor and fantastic game show prizes.

After 25 years, EB is still the best daily noontime show ever. Let me reiterate that many will attempt to kill the beast that is Eat Bulaga, but none will ever triumph.

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