Eat Bulaga, the longest-running noontime variety show in the Philippines, announced Wednesday it was parting ways with its long-time producer, Television and Production Exponent (TAPE) Inc. 

In the show's final closing spiel under TAPE, showrunners Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ, recalled the journey Eat Bulaga took in the past 44 years. 

"We started Eat Bulaga on July 20th, 1979," de Leon said. "The show will turn 44 years old this year." 

The comedian, who was not immune to controversy for some of his remarks over the years, also expressed gratitude to the three broadcast networks that distributed the show: RPN 9, now the Philippine subsidiary of CNN; ABS-CBN, which lost its broadcast franchise in 2020; and GMA Network, its current and longest-running home. 

"We also thank you, dear viewers, our Dabarkads, for loving this show that has already become a part of your lunchtime," added Tito Sotto, a former Philippine senator whose term ended in 2022. 

"Dabarkads" is a term of endearment coined by the show to its viewers and fans since the late 2000s based on "barkada," a Tagalog word meaning "friends"

GMA: Block Time With TAPE Runs Until End of 2024

Additionally, the showrunners thanked former TAPE Inc. president and CEO Tony Tuviera for his "friendship." 

Tuviera retired from his post in April but would still remain part of the firm as a consultant. According to Dapitan mayor Bullet Jalosjos, who serves as TAPE's CFO, Tuviera was replaced by his brother Jon-Jon as president, while their father, Romeo Jalosjos, whose family owns 70% of the company's shares, remains its chairman.

At the same time as the transition, Tito alleged TAPE owed his co-presenters at least PHP 30 million (over $532,000) each for 2022 alone. Meanwhile, Vic said he and de Leon did not think of getting their pay postponed for the love of the show.

The TVJ trio said they came to the studio to work on May 31st but were not allowed by TAPE, which was under new management, to air the show live on GMA. 

The showrunners admitted pulling the plug on TAPE was "the hardest decision" they have made since Eat Bulaga started, expressing their desire "to work peacefully, without interfering with anyone, and with respect for each other."

Meanwhile, GMA Network made a statement expressing their concern regarding the "unexpected turn of events" regarding the noontime show, saying its block time agreement with TAPE runs "until the end of 2024". 

"Together with all the Filipino fans, we pray for a smooth and swift resolution of their issues," the statement wrote. 

TVJ: The Show Must Go On

The showrunners ended their spiel by echoing lines from the show's opening theme song: "It has been an honor for us to bring happiness and joy from Batanes to Jolo and to be part of your lives... Wherever fate brings us, a thousand and one joys will go on."

In line with this promise, de Leon shared a clip of their announcement through his Instagram account, assuring the public the show would return on air in the future. 

"We're not signing off...We are just taking a day off!" he wrote.

A reliable source confirmed to the Philippine Star that Eat Bulaga's production team was in negotiation with Brightlight Productions founder and owner Albee Benitez for the show's possible transfer to TV5. Benitez is also the current mayor of the city of Bacolod in the Philippine Visayas region. 

Brightlight produces several programs that are aired on TV5 and ABS-CBN's affiliate platforms. It also recently ended production for Eat Bulaga's TV5 competitor "Tropang LOL."