Isko Moreno and Buboy Villar on 'Eat Bulaga' (Facebook)

Former Manila mayor Isko Moreno now one of the hosts of GMA Network's "Eat Bulaga" has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the viewers for the overwhelming support that has made the longest-running noontime show the number one choice.

Based on AGB Nielsen ratings for July 19, “Eat Bulaga” on GMA garnered a rating of 4.12 percent in the Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) compared to TVJ’s “E.A.T.,” which received 3.79 percent on TV5 while “It’s Showtime” got 2.76 percent on A2Z and GTV. 

Isko's full statement:

"Una maraming salamat sa Diyos! Maraming salamat sa ating mga viewers sa pagtitiwala nila samin mga baguhan host ng eat bulaga, maraming salamat sa production staff and creatives ng Tape Inc.

"And maraming salamat sa GMA-7 Kapuso sa patuloy na pagsuporta nila sa show. Sa maliit naming kaparaanan, pagbubutihan pa po namin na araw araw na makapagdulot ng #TulongAtSaya sa mga kapuso natin sa buong bansa at buong mundo.

"Muli walang hangang pasasalamat sa lahat."

In a statement sent through its lawyer, Maggie Abraham-Garduque,  the Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE), the producer of the “Eat Bulaga,” expressed excitement over the ratings. 

“We are beyond words. Thank you is not enough for our Kapuso. We promise to do better na makapagbigay ng ‘tulong at saya’ para masuklian ang pagmamahal na binibigay ng ating mga viewers to ‘Eat Bulaga,’” it said. 

Formerly hosted by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, "Eat Bulaga" is the longest-running noontime show in the country at 43 years. It will celebrate its 44th year on July 29.