Joey de Leon surprised the name 'Eat Bulaga' is contested, debated
From left: Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (Images courtesy of Facebook)
Comedian and television host Joey de Leon expressed his surprise upon discovering that the name "Eat Bulaga" is still being contested and debated after 44 years since its inception. On June 11, De Leon took to Instagram to share his latest musings about the long-standing noontime show.
Joey de Leon
"Noong maisip, binuo at imungkahi ko ang pangalang “EAT BULAGA!” para sa aming palabas nung 1979, naramdaman kong kahit ito ang napili at tinanggap ng marami sa namumuno, matagal-tagal ding ninamnam ito hanggang sa tumining; wari bang isang aampunin na may kaibang tunog at kaiba sa paningin. Tila ba kailangan mong masanay lunukin. "Aakalain ba nyong makalipas ang 44 na taon o halos LIMANG DEKADA, ang pangalang ito ay pag-aawayan, pag-aagawan at marami ang nais na umangkin?!" De Leon said.
Tito Sotto, an original host of "Eat Bulaga," declared on June 5 that the name of the longest-running noontime variety show and its segments is not owned by TAPE Inc., the program's producer.
“For us, we follow, *ika nga* (as they say), the international rule. Even in the Supreme Court jurisprudence here in the Philippines and abroad, the creators are the owners. So, we will fight for it, we will continue with Eat Bulaga,” Sotto told CNN Philippines’ *The Source*.
“When you create something, at the moment of creation, you are the owner,” Sotto said. “The name ‘Eat Bulaga’ was created by Joey in 1979 before July 30 and we started using it that time and everybody acknowledges that for a fact."
On June 7, Tito, Vic Sotto, Joey, and other dabarkads of "Eat Bulaga" announced that they have finally found a new home in TV5 after they signed an agreement with MediaQuest Group.
The stars of the show bid goodbye to their legions of fans on GMA Network on May 31 following issues with the new management of TAPE Inc.