Despite his retirement as president and CEO of Television and Production Exponents Philippines (TAPE Inc.), Tony Tuviera will remain part of the company as a consultant.
This was made clear by TAPE Inc. Chief Finance Officer, Dapitan City Mayor Bullet Jalosjos, in an interview on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda."
Bullet maintained there is no animosity among everyone involved, insisting Tony is "more than family."
"Napaka bait na tao po talaga si Tito Tony. He is more than family," he reiterated. "Kung may mangyari sa amin he's always there to call."
"I guess it's just a natural order of things. Tumatanda talaga tayo and kami mismo nahihiya na kay Tito Tony kasi he doesn't spend time with his family anymore. Nakatutok lang siya sa 'Eat Bulaga!' and we'd like to take that away from him and give him some time to rest and take a vacation," he added.
Bullet assured: "Tuloy-tuloy pa rin naman yung pag ko-consult niya. So he still remains as consultant sa amin. So lahat ng mga pagbabago dinadaan namin sa kanya - that is gonna be approved by dad in the future."
The son of Romeo Jalosjos said their family owns 70% of the company that produces the longest-running noontime variety show "Eat Bulaga!," while Tony owns 20 %.
Asked why their family has not been visible all this years, he said, "Well, my dad has always been quiet in regards to 'Eat Bulaga!' or TAPE. But there are some signs and the industry knows that the company was owned by my father - who owns 100% at one point. And when his friend - a good, good friend - of course, Tony Tuviera came in, he offered to help manage, and help produced TAPE or 'Eat Bulaga!' and that's the reason why binigyan po siya ng 20% sa kumpanya."
Currently, his brother Jon-Jon Jalosjos sits as President while his father is still its chairman.
Bullet cleared speculations about his and his siblings decision to get involved in the company.
"Ang totoo niyan, wala naman pong take over. It's just that people have been retiring. Si Tito Tony Tuviera, nag-retire na po starting March. Tita Malou Fagar, also. So it's just right na pumasok na rin po at maging active yung Board of Directors sa kumpanya," he said.
He reiterated that Tony sent notice of his decision to retire even before the pandemic.
"It's only my dad, who asked him, begged him to stay. If he can stay a little bit longer. It just so happens na na-timing-an na after pandemic, he really wanted to step down, to which my dad agreed."
Bullet maintained that he and his siblings have been board members three or four years ago but they haven't been actively participating in the goings on regarding the show.
"Siguro we don't want to shake anything. You know, nothing was wrong with it. There's no need for us to come in," he said.
"Like I said, since retirement, since Tito Tony has to retire, we had to step in and to ensure... even my dad, still actively participating. He's an active chair, which means he's actively involved with the production, with the designs, with the musicals, with some of the segments that we're gonna have."
"Now, more so than ever. Has always been. Siya po yung last say talaga. So every time there's a new segment, every time there's a new show, pinapa-approve talaga yun kay dad - ever since."
As for the speculations concerning "Eat Bulaga!," Bullet shared what's gonna happen.
"People are talking about rebranding. But ang joke nga ni Joey (de Leon) mismo, it's not a rebranding, it's actually rebonding," he stressed.
"Rebonding ng kumpanya, rebonding ng mga kapamilya - I mean ng pamilya sa 'Eat Bulaga!' Rebonding ng executives, rebonding din ng GMA," he related. "So what we are doing right now is trying to get involved, immerse ourselves sa show and I think it's about time na may ipasok na rin ang pamilya sa 'Eat Bulaga!'"
More than anything, he assured fans that the show's "pillar," original hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, will "stay."
Same with their co-hosts.
If ever the improvement will be content-related.
He also teased about the show welcoming new faces.
Bullet admitted they had a difficult time at first introducing the possible changes in the show to everyone involved.
"Considering pagbabago kasi siya e. I think any change after 44 years would create some sort of questions," he said.
"Iba po yung nakasanayan... di kami po talaga kilala sa industriya so we have a lot to prove to the company, to the talents."
So currently, they're in the process of building that relationship.
And they couldn't be more grateful to Tony, Tito, Vic, and Joey.
"They have always been a guide and they've been helping us and continuing to assist us and to guide us during our journey as the board of the company."
Bullet also maintained that they're not completely new in the business.
"I grew up in a family of entertainers. My mom, my sister, and 'Eat Bulaga!' I guess, what we can say is yes maybe we were not directly involved in producing but we have a lot at stake considering that this is also a business that we have to take care of. We have to ensure the longevity, na ma-sustain namin yung business and maging masaya pa rin ang taong bayan sa 'Eat Bulaga!' and what we can produce. So I think it's about time and we're happy to now be actively involved in the company."
Bullet is Romeo's son with singer Lourna Pal.
His sister is the former Mayor of Baliangao, Misamis Occidental Lana Jalosjos, who's a singer and TV host.