It was the greatest show on earth — at least, on this side of the world.
Held at the expansive Clark Centennial Expo in Angeles City, Pampanga province on Nov. 18, 2004, the Eat Bulaga! Silver Special was the result of a whole year’s planning and conceptualization, three months of preparation and several weeks of rehearsals involving the biggest cast (by the thousands) ever assembled on Philippine television.
The show’s opening segment alone could rival some of the best production numbers of the annual Academy Awards in Hollywood. It began with 2,000 costumed school children from different public educational institutions singing in unison the Eat Bulaga! theme song — segueing to Tito, Vic & Joey aboard a mock space capsule that brought them on a time travel back to 1979 — the year the show was launched.
Then came a flashback of the various events that coincided with the birth of the program: From global news like Margaret Thatcher’s installation as Britain’s first woman Prime Minister and Saddam Hussein getting elected as Iraqi president, sports triumphs like Bong Coo’s being a bowling world champion, trends in music (John Travolta and Donna Summer’s disco hits) to trivialities — Melanie Marquez getting crowned Miss International.
After that rundown of recent history, the space capsule flew across the audience area, landed on stage and out popped Tito, Vic & Joey who were visibly overwhelmed by the size of the crowd (estimated at more than 60,000) who showed up at the Clark Expo that day to celebrate with them Eat Bulaga!’s 25th year on television.
The succeeding segments proved to be an emotional walk down memory lane as the show paid tribute to the men and women who lent face to this noontime treat through those 25 years: From Tito, Vic & Joey to all the former co-hosts who contributed their time and talent to the program and even those were not necessarily regular emcees then, but helped out pinch-hit for other Eat, Bulaga! family members, among them, Helen Gamboa and Lani Mercado.
Most touching was the in memoriam portion in honor of two ladies who had moved on to a more fun place than the stage of Eat, Bulaga!: Rio Diaz, an official Eat, Bulaga! host for half a decade, and Helen Vela, who was the eternal pinch-hitter for a period almost close to 10 years.
Helen’s stint with Eat, Bulaga! began when she cheered on as part of the audience that day good friend Coney Reyes was launched as the new female co-host in May 1982. Also once part of Student Canteen, where she quit her former show under not very pleasant circumstances, she was later given an Eat, Bulaga! satellite program, the Kilometrico Quiz, that she co-hosted with Tito Sotto. But Helen always made herself available to take over hosting chores from any Eat, Bulaga! member who was ill, abroad or tied up with other showbiz commitments.
With Aiza Seguerra and Pops Fernandez singing The Warrior is a Child, the tribute to Rio and Helen turned out to be more emotional than lachrymal. The concept and execution hit the right formula because the segment, which could have been morbid, blended harmoniously with the rest of the show that overflowed with so much joy and energy comparable to excitement everyone displayed when we welcomed the new millennium.
The other showstoppers were mostly the numbers that traced all the dance hits that became part of the daily contests in Eat, Bulaga! in the past: The Village People’s Macho Man, Lambada, Thriller and other dance crazes that were made popular to the viewing public via this noontime program.
Later in the special, Jopay Paguia and the Sexbomb Dancers whipped up a storm of a performance when they were joined — via VTR — by the now-New York-based Gracia in a terpsichorean showdown that went back to the days when the dance hit was Manila Girl and went all the way to the then still sizzling hot Spaghetti.
An interesting trivia was the Arnold Clavio segment (with puppet Arn-Arn), wherein the award-winning broadcaster revealed that in 1983, he joined along with his gang an Eat, Bulaga! competition where he was a drummer in their Beatles-inspired entry. They lost in that one. Undeterred by their defeat, Arnold returned to audition for the Footloose dance contest, but was booted out as early as the audition round.
The special actually tried to feature everyone who had been part of the program up to that time either via clips or numbers and in the process we were reminded of the celebrities who once graced the show — from major local celebrities like Sharon Cuneta and Maricel Soriano to big foreign artists the likes of John Denver, Brian McKnight, Michael Bublé and the Menudo.
And then there was a throwback to the different periods when Eat, Bulaga! became the launching pad for some of today’s young talents who joined the show’s various contests — from Little Miss Philippines to Mr. Pogi that gave us Jericho Rosales.
Eat Bulaga Silver Special also showed another facet of Tito, Vic & Joey not generally known to the public — as composers and lyricists of Original Pilipino Music (Balat-kayo, Swing, Ipagpatawad Mo, etc.).
The biggest tribute, however, was given to the King of Comedy, Dolphy, who joined Tito, Vic & Joey in a medley of foreign classics that led to the comic geniuses doing on-air banter.
At the finale, the special ended literally with a bang as a series of fireworks enveloped the skies above the venue site. It was one moment that could choke with tears and emotions even those watching at home — as cast, crew and those in the live audience celebrated that important occasion that marked this favorite noontime fare’s turning silver.
https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2010/03/11/556566/coming-soon-eat-bulaga-silver-special-dvd
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Duterte lifts lotto suspension
Let the lotto games resume.
President Duterte has ordered the resumption of the popular lotto, four days after operation of all gaming schemes by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was ordered suspended due to massive corruption.
“The suspension of lotto operations is lifted immediately,” Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said last night in a TV interview.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea relayed the information to Panelo, saying investigators found no anomalies in the conduct of lotto operations.
“The sanctity of lotto remained untainted and all regulatory rules have been followed,” Medialdea said.
Panelo said franchise holders and operators of lotto outlets can now re- sume with their operations.
Howeer, the rest of all gaming with franchises, licenses or permits grant- ed by the PCSO, such as Small-Town Lottery (STL), Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan (PNB), will remain suspended.
These gaming operations are still undergoing investigation, Panelo said.
He added that the Office of the President will be evaluating probe results from the concerned agencies.
New sources
The government earlier said it would look for other sources of funds to continue providing medical assistance to the poor following the closing of all gaming outlets of PCSO.
In an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News last Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the administration’s economic managers must identify funding sources to augment PCSO funds.
“They have to be imaginative on where to get the funds. The PCSO funding is huge and can render anemic the capacity of the Malasakit centers to be able to maximize support to poor patients,” Duque said. “The shortfall must be filled.”
He said revenue collection from sin taxes could be one of the possible fund sources.
According to Duque, revenue from sin taxes may help generate additional funds to realize the objective of the University Health Care (UHC) law.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) could also provide help through its medical assistance programs for the poor.
Without the charity funds from PCSO, Duque said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) may also be required to boost its income generation to be able to help more indigent patients.
Local government units can also extend medical aid to residents in their areas, Duque said.
The health chief noted that nearly half a million people receive financial support annually from the PCSO for their hospitalization and other medical needs.
Duque said the charity agency also provides P1.5 billion yearly for the implementation of the UHC law.
“The closure of lotto outlets and other PCSO games will affect the beneficiaries of the primary care benefit package of the UHC law, and PhilHealth will be stymied to expand the package,” he said.
Under the UHC law, a family of five should receive P800 worth of primary health package from the PCSO funds.
Pagcor will provide P40 billion for the UHC law implementation.
According to Duque, a majority of the UHC funding will go to preventive healthcare programs such as immunization.
He said the government is far from reaching the required P257-billion fund for the first year of implementation of the UHC law.
The UHC law will be initially implemented on a limited scale covering 33 sites.
Duque said if he had been consulted by Malacañang about the suspension of PCSO gaming outlets, he would inform them of its possible impact on healthcare services.
He expressed hope that the closure of small town lottery (STL) draw centers would be temporary.
Beneficiaries of the PCSO who are affected by the suspension of its gaming schemes could still get medical assistance from other government agencies such as Pagcor, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Office of the President, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday.
“They will not lose their life lines for medical subsidies and burial assistance. The government will continue providing medical assistance,” he said.
Panelo said the President wants to stop corruption in the PCSO.
“But it doesn’t mean that the medical assistance to those in need will also end,” added.
In Negros Occidental, the closure of PCSO gaming activities has displaced at least 13,000 STL agents and lotto workers, according to provincial branch acting manager Jose Manuel Villagracia.
Villagracia said the PCSO continues to give financial aid to the needy since they have budget until the end of the year.
He said the agency is extending P504,000 daily to beneficiaries. This is on top of the P245,000 given directly to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City.
PCSO services
The PCSO yesterday said it continues to provide services to the public despite the gaming ban imposed by President Duterte.
The agency said it donated P10 million to the Northern Cagayan District Hospital on Monday for the purchase of a mobile X-ray and Doppler ultrasound.
The PCSO extension office in Quezon City provided services to 426 people who applied for Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP).
Hundreds of medical and dental patients were attended to in PCSO offices in Mandaluyong, Quezon City and Manila.
The agency said a total of 1,300 IMAP clients were able to get financial assistance from PCSO branch offices across the country.
The PCSO also received requests for medicine donation and conduct of medical mission.
A total of 167 lottery winners claimed their prizes at the PCSO head office despite the gaming ban. – With Christina Mendez, Jess Diaz, Janvic Mateo, Gilbert Bayoran
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/31/1939423/duterte-lifts-lotto-suspension
President Duterte has ordered the resumption of the popular lotto, four days after operation of all gaming schemes by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was ordered suspended due to massive corruption.
“The suspension of lotto operations is lifted immediately,” Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said last night in a TV interview.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea relayed the information to Panelo, saying investigators found no anomalies in the conduct of lotto operations.
“The sanctity of lotto remained untainted and all regulatory rules have been followed,” Medialdea said.
Panelo said franchise holders and operators of lotto outlets can now re- sume with their operations.
Howeer, the rest of all gaming with franchises, licenses or permits grant- ed by the PCSO, such as Small-Town Lottery (STL), Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan (PNB), will remain suspended.
These gaming operations are still undergoing investigation, Panelo said.
He added that the Office of the President will be evaluating probe results from the concerned agencies.
New sources
The government earlier said it would look for other sources of funds to continue providing medical assistance to the poor following the closing of all gaming outlets of PCSO.
In an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News last Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the administration’s economic managers must identify funding sources to augment PCSO funds.
“They have to be imaginative on where to get the funds. The PCSO funding is huge and can render anemic the capacity of the Malasakit centers to be able to maximize support to poor patients,” Duque said. “The shortfall must be filled.”
He said revenue collection from sin taxes could be one of the possible fund sources.
According to Duque, revenue from sin taxes may help generate additional funds to realize the objective of the University Health Care (UHC) law.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) could also provide help through its medical assistance programs for the poor.
Without the charity funds from PCSO, Duque said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) may also be required to boost its income generation to be able to help more indigent patients.
Local government units can also extend medical aid to residents in their areas, Duque said.
The health chief noted that nearly half a million people receive financial support annually from the PCSO for their hospitalization and other medical needs.
Duque said the charity agency also provides P1.5 billion yearly for the implementation of the UHC law.
“The closure of lotto outlets and other PCSO games will affect the beneficiaries of the primary care benefit package of the UHC law, and PhilHealth will be stymied to expand the package,” he said.
Under the UHC law, a family of five should receive P800 worth of primary health package from the PCSO funds.
Pagcor will provide P40 billion for the UHC law implementation.
According to Duque, a majority of the UHC funding will go to preventive healthcare programs such as immunization.
He said the government is far from reaching the required P257-billion fund for the first year of implementation of the UHC law.
The UHC law will be initially implemented on a limited scale covering 33 sites.
Duque said if he had been consulted by Malacañang about the suspension of PCSO gaming outlets, he would inform them of its possible impact on healthcare services.
He expressed hope that the closure of small town lottery (STL) draw centers would be temporary.
Beneficiaries of the PCSO who are affected by the suspension of its gaming schemes could still get medical assistance from other government agencies such as Pagcor, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Office of the President, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday.
“They will not lose their life lines for medical subsidies and burial assistance. The government will continue providing medical assistance,” he said.
Panelo said the President wants to stop corruption in the PCSO.
“But it doesn’t mean that the medical assistance to those in need will also end,” added.
In Negros Occidental, the closure of PCSO gaming activities has displaced at least 13,000 STL agents and lotto workers, according to provincial branch acting manager Jose Manuel Villagracia.
Villagracia said the PCSO continues to give financial aid to the needy since they have budget until the end of the year.
He said the agency is extending P504,000 daily to beneficiaries. This is on top of the P245,000 given directly to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City.
PCSO services
The PCSO yesterday said it continues to provide services to the public despite the gaming ban imposed by President Duterte.
The agency said it donated P10 million to the Northern Cagayan District Hospital on Monday for the purchase of a mobile X-ray and Doppler ultrasound.
The PCSO extension office in Quezon City provided services to 426 people who applied for Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP).
Hundreds of medical and dental patients were attended to in PCSO offices in Mandaluyong, Quezon City and Manila.
The agency said a total of 1,300 IMAP clients were able to get financial assistance from PCSO branch offices across the country.
The PCSO also received requests for medicine donation and conduct of medical mission.
A total of 167 lottery winners claimed their prizes at the PCSO head office despite the gaming ban. – With Christina Mendez, Jess Diaz, Janvic Mateo, Gilbert Bayoran
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/31/1939423/duterte-lifts-lotto-suspension
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