Who really owns ‘Eat Bulaga’? Tito Sotto explains

by Deni AfiniDAD-BernArDo Philstar.com

WHO owns “Eat Bulaga” – its producer Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE Inc.) or its pillars Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Tony Tuviera?

When GMA host Nelson Canlas specifically asked Sotto in an exclusive interview premiered on YouTube on Tuesday, April 25, “Who owns ‘Eat Bulaga’,” Tito explained: “If it’s a copyright issue, definitely, it’s owned by Joey de Leon and the three of us (Tito, Vic and Tony). Kami, s’ya ang nagimbento ng pangalan.”

When Canlas clarified if the four of them had “Eat Bulaga” copyrighted, Sotto said: “Uncontestable! Copyrighted or not, may copyright din sila ng merchandising, ‘yung TAPE eh. Meron din kaming mga nakafile eh. Immaterial ‘yun. Ask the lawyers. There’s no such thing na ikaw ang may pagmamayari nito pero itong mga nagimbento, hindi sila? Hindi pwede ‘yun.

As the show’s brains, Tito said they have also committed themselves to keeping the show’s integrity, which is why he also distances himself from the show whenever he’s elected in office.

“You know ‘Eat Bulaga,’ the three of us and Tony, we’ve always tried our best to keep the image of ‘Eat Bulaga’ as ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Gan’un ‘yun eh. Kaya nga iniiwasan namin ‘yung mga controversial na tao, political, ganyan. As a matter of fact every time I’m elected into a major position in government, I leave. Hindi ako nakikialam. At umaattend lang ako kapag inimbita nila ako kung merong anniversary, kapag merong birthday,” enthused Sotto, adding that he never campaigned in the show and even paid for political ads.

“We’ve tried our best to avoid getting ‘Eat Bulaga’ contaminated with political issues or controversial issues. We were very successful eh… With all the controversies that surrounded ‘Eat Bulaga,’ we were able to preserve ‘Eat Bulaga’.”

Sotto clarified that the Jalosjos family and their corporation owns TAPE Inc. As senate president for four and a half years, Sotto said he has gained access to official records that show who’s behind TAPE Inc.’s ownership.

“If you’re talking about ‘Eat Bulaga,’ it’s owned by Tito, Vic and Joey. And now, if you’re asking about TAPE, TAPE is owned by them (Jalosjos family),” he said.

“Seventy-five percent Jalosjos family, 25% si Tony,” Sotto bared. “I don’t know what they plan to do with that 25%. In fact, mali pa nga ‘yung sinabi ng (TAPE) Board member, 20% percent lang daw. Hindi, 25% si Tony. Tig-8% ‘yung iba. We have the records eh, we can check the records.”

According to him, that 8% belongs to “someone not born in 1981” or when TAPE was founded and started producing the show. He does not think that it is accurate that TAPE gave Tony’s alleged 20% of the shares as the show’s producer.

“Kasi itong registration nila ngayon, nasa 25% si Tony at ‘yung family nila ay 75%, bago lang ‘yan eh. Iba noong araw ‘yan eh.”

In fact, according to Sotto, TAPE Inc.’s forerunner, Production Specialists, still owes them money and as payment, they were promised with shares in TAPE.

“

Nu’ng nagdeklara na ‘yung

Production Specialists na wala na at tinayo ‘yung TAPE, malaki pa ang utang sa’min nu’ng Production Specialists, katulad n’ung utang nila sa labas, pero may utang sa aming tatlo,” he claimed.

“

Ang ipinangako sa’min nu’ng itinayo ‘yung TAPE, meron kaming share du’n tatlo. For 43 years, all of a sudden we found out, wala pala… Kaya hindi accurate na pina-produce kay Tony, binigyan ng 20%. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing ‘yung kwento na ‘yun.”

Tito said that the show’s credits, including its portions, are owned by the show’s production team, but TAPE is allegedly “credit-grabbing.”

Yun ang sinasabi ng production sa’kin, they (TAPE) are credit-grabbing all of a sudden after 44 years,” he said.

“Sila (production team) ang may-ari ng portions, sila ang u PAGE 10

by HAnnAH MAllorcA

LIZQUEN fanatics may now heave a sigh of relief.

After years of speculations, Enrique Gil finally opened up about his relationship with longtime girlfriend Liza Soberano as he declared that it is still going strong even if they’re busy with their respective careers.

Gil made the clarification about the status of his sevenyear romance with Soberano on ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol on Tuesday, April 25, after he signed a two-year exclusive contract with the network on Wednesday. The actor said that by now, they are already “used” to break-up rumors hounding their relationship.

“We’re good, we’re good,” he said, when he was asked about his relationship with the actress. “She’s just really busy with her stuff there. I am going to be visiting her maybe when my schedule clears up. I think she’s coming back here. But yeah, we’re good.”

“There” meant Soberano’s fledgling Hollywood career under her new management, Careless, and she had been

Tony Award® winner Justin Townsend (lighting design), M.L. Dogg & Cody Spencer (sound design), and threetime Tony Award® nominee

Peter Nigrini (projection design), with casting by Tara

Rubin CSA, Xavier Rubiano

CSA, Gail Quintos and general management by Foresight

Theatrical. Additional creative team members include ATW Jonathan Larson

Grant recipient J. Oconer

Navarro (music director), Billy Bustamante (assistant director), Renée Albulario spending the most parts of the year in the United States for work.

(assistant choreographer), Bobby Garcia (casting consultant/Philippines), Gregory T. Livoti (production stage manager), and Ryan Gohsman and Sheryl Polancos (assistant stage managers). Giselle “G” Töngi is the show’s Cultural and Community Liaison.

“Here Lies Love” is produced by Hal Luftig, Patrick Catullo, Diana DiMenna and Plate Spinner Productions, Clint Ramos, and Jose Antonio Vargas, with Aaron Lustbader serving as Executive Producer.

Nonetheless, the “ Dolce Amore ” star said that he’s fully supportive of his girlfriend’s career move “no matter what,” because he loves her “to death.”

“Because Hope [Soberano] is in the U.S., she is doing her own thing which I am going to support no matter what. I love her to death,” he said.“I just really support her no matter what. I know it’s hard to go on a new path but I support her nonetheless. And who knows? You might be seeing her coming back in the near future.”

Despite their long-distance relationship, Gil shared that they make it a point to check in on each other no matter what.

“It’s hard [being in a longdistance relationship], we don’t talk like we used to due to different time zones. But we still keep in touch and she’s good there. She has a team with her there which is really good,” he said.

After he showed up during his contract signing with ABSCBN executives with his yearold Bichon Frisé in tow, he said that the pup would be his companion for the moment while Soberano is in the US. “I need dogs, and Hope is in the U.S., so Millie keeps me company. This is my new baby,” he said, while cradling his furbaby during the report.

During the contract signing, Gil said he is going to be focusing on his career as a solo artist for now.

“It is about me coming back to doing my own path as a solo artist. What we’re going for is a multi-level genre, so pwedeng may pagka -romance, action, and a lot of comedy in it as well,” he said.

The “Forevermore” star will reportedly star in an upcoming film and series with the network, although details are yet to be disclosed, as of this writing.

The celebrity couple — also known as LizQuen — have been in a relationship since 2014, although they went public with their romance only in 2019. Aside from “Dolce Amore,” the sweethearts have worked together in several films and teleseryes including “Alone Together,” “Forevermore,” “Bagani,” “My Ex and Whys,” and “Dolce Amore,” among many others.

ConGen Ferrer meets with KYOS founder for launch of ‘Earn-to-Learnto-Earn ‘ Web3 project in PH

SAN FRANCISCO – Consul

General Neil Ferrer, along with the Philippine Consulate team, recently met with Mr. Alan Beebe, co-founder of #KYOS, a pioneering Web3 project focused on "Earn-to-Learnto-Earn" initiatives, and Mr. Ker Gibbs, University of San Francisco Center for Business Studies and Innovation in AsiaPacific Executive in Residence.

Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, Philippine Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug and Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona also joined the meeting at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.

The "Earn-to-Learn-to-Earn" concept introduced by #KYOS is an innovative approach that combines the principles of education and earning through Web3 technologies. The KYOS ecosystem connects learners, educators, and employers in a token-enabled economy.

The meeting discussed opportunities for individuals, especially those within the 1835 age range, to gain new skills and earn income.

Consul General Ferrer noted the growing digital economy in the Philippines and the importance of enhancing workforce skills development, creating sustainable economic opportunities and promoting inclusive growth. (PCGSF Release)

DON Tagala, the award-winning reporter on TFC News, desperately wanted his mother, Vinia, to come to the U.S. because his sister, Almira, became critically ill in 2019. His mother could be there for her children for emotional support and to make crucial life-decisions.

The hospital where Almira was on life support even emailed the U.S. Embassy explaining the circumstance and requesting for a visitor’s visa for Vinia. However, the Embassy instructed the hospital to go through the normal process.

Time was running out, so Don went to leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel to seek his assistance and expert advice. Confident that Vinia would abide by the terms of her visa and return to the Philippines, Atty. Gurfinkel immediately sought an emergency visitor visa and expedited interview, so Mommy Vinia could arrive in the U.S. as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, while all preparations were going on, Don’s sister passed away on June 24. The visitor visa application was updated, asking the Embassy to still expedite the visa to now enable Don’s mother to attend the funeral, instead of the original request to visit Almira at the hospital.

Atty. Gurfinkel was able to secure an emergency interview on June 26 (where the earliest available appointment would have normally been August 13) and an expedited visa was also issued the same day.

HOPE HORIZON GALA HOLDS SUCCESSFUL GALA. Hope Horizon East Palo Alto, which has been operating since 1984 and whose main mission is “to equip east-of-Bayshore youth to grow spiritually, gain life skills and develop as leaders so that they have hope and a future,” held a successful 2023 Gala at The Grand Bay Hotel in Redwood City, CA last March 19. Among the featured activities at the Gala included an exhibition of 50 original artwork spotlighting Hope Horizon East Palo Alto students, and a silent auction that featured fabulous items such as autographed pair of shoes from Jeremy Lin, a week’s accommodation in Princeville, a dinner for 25 guests in a luxury home, and a 3-day/2-night stay at the Capitola Beach House. Organizers thanked attendees for participating in the gala and supporting youth through Hope Horizon East Palo Alto. Left photo shows (from left) Balitang America anchor Henni Espinosa, Hope Horizon Gala co-chair Maria Gregorio, Forever Young Club of California’s Tess Gregorio, and San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa.

SAN FRANCISCO – In commemoration of World

Autism Awareness Day in April, an exhibit featuring the artworks of children and adults on the autism spectrum opened at the main lobby of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on April 11, 2023.

The art exhibit was organized by Autism Hearts Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates for persons on the autism spectrum and their families in the United States and the Philippines.

Consul General Neil Ferrer led the officials and personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco in the opening of the art exhibit.

In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer cited the efforts of the Philippine government to create a nurturing environment for persons on the autism spectrum — including laws such as Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, and Republic Act No. 11650 or the “Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act of 2022.”

The Philippine Consul General also mentioned that the Philippines is a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“I wish to thank the Autism Hearts Foundation for mounting this art exhibit, and for showcasing the unique talent and creativity of children and adults on the autism spectrum,” Consul General Ferrer said.

In her remarks, Autism Hearts Foundation founder and president Erlinda Borromeo thanked the Consulate for its support to autism awareness advocacy over the years.

The art exhibit was featured at the Philippine Center main lobby April 21. (PCGSF Release)

On June 28, 2019, Mommy Vinia arrived in New York, four days after her daughter passed on. She was able to attend the funeral and be there for Don.

While it was a bittersweet reunion for Don and his mother in the U.S., it is important to know what to do and where to seek help if an emergency arises.

Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 30 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)