'Teevee-Lution'

Last Wednesday, Sept. 29, my wife Eileen showed me my son Jako’s latest blog about our previous conversation on television history and Eat, Bulaga!:

Not much of a spoiler, I guess, but I have been working on the Eat, Bulaga! book for some time now. This morning, before leaving for work, my dad and I talked about the book and the legacy Eat, Bulaga! leaves behind. Without blinking, he likened noontime shows to gladiators battling it out in an arena. They slug it out, they fight, they get cut and bruised, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to who is left standing. When the battle is over, the details blur and become somewhat insignificant; the cuts just turn to scars, the bruises heal, the spectators leave, and the victor lives to fight another day, knowing that the one thing he can treasure other than his life, is the memory of the moment in all its glory. Before my dad walked out the door, he gave me a one-liner that somewhat put a smile on my face, “Tandaan mo,” he said, “existence is the evidence.” He grinned back sabay walkout. Brilliant. I’m proud to say, it’s moments like these that remind me how much of a genius my dad is.  

— Jako de Leon (http://jakow.tumblr.com)

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Ah telebisyon, ikaw nga ang aking buhay;

Siya ang aking mantekilya at tinapay,

Mapalabas man o nasa loob ng bahay,

Kaibigan ko s’ya at laging kaagapay.

Life o buhay daw ang teatro o tanghalan,

Pinilakang tabing ay isang sining naman

At tingin sa T.V. may konting kalupitan —

Ang sabi ng iba ito la’y kasangkapan!

O napakasakit kung muebles nga lamang

Na turing ng ibang nagbubulag-bulagan,

Sa tatlo ngang nabanggit na mga larangan,

Ikaw pa nga sa ngayon ang naghaharian.

Ah basta! Kahit ano pa sabihin nila,

Pagtingin ko sa’yo ay ‘di na mag-iiba,

Kapuso, Kapatid o kahit Kapamilya,

Kahit saan pa, mahalaga ay kikita!

Maghapon at magdamag ka pa ngang kasama,

Balita o tsismis nagbibigay ligaya,

Lalo pa at maraming magandang programa,

Mas enjoy kung malinaw ang mga pirata!

Hindi po mawari kung walang telebisyon,

Siguro’y grabe na ang ating populasyon,

Sabagay depende rin sa imahinasyon

At kung puro Rated X naman ang atraksyon!

Ano pa ba T.V. matatawag natin d’yan?

Sa haba’t dami ng ating pinagsamahan,

Pag-uwi pa’y para kang isang kasintahan —

Kaharap pa rin kita hanggang sa higaan.

Sa loob nang halos na apatnapung taon,

Higit sa limampung palabas nagkaroon,

Oras sa harap ng kamera pag binilang,

Palagay ko sa mundo ay ako ang kampeon!

At sa tuwing sa akin ay may magtatanong

Kung bakit pelikula wala nang panahon

At lahat ng pansin ay nasa telebisyon,

Well, masarap magtrabaho nang naka-aircon!

O sige na nga’t T.V. ay isang furniture,

Pero pang-aliw naman for both the rich and poor,

At ‘di naman siya tulad ng money at hair ‘tol,

Lalo s’yang numinipis, lalo s’yang beautiful!

Kaya naging joke ang “furniture” kasi naman

Mga folks noong araw ang may kasalanan,

Biro mo bang ang T.V. ay dinedespleyan —

Picture frame, flower vase at ganchillo patungan!

Ngek!

* * *

The television set has evolved from being bulky and thick to being sleek and thin, but one thing stays the same — it still needs to be plugged!

And to pay tribute and salute the “plug”, I will plug —

Speaking of furniture and other things, a great shopping experience awaits the residents of Tanza in Cavite as Puregold opens its 52nd store on Oct. 7.

Also, don’t forget to watch House or Not at 12 noon today and every Sunday on TV5. Of course, Mel & Joey tonight on GMA 7 featuring my Sieteng-Siete ni Joey.

On Mondays through Fridays from 9 to 9:30, it’s Wow, Meganon?! on TV5. And to thank my son Jako for that beautiful blog, I’m blogging, este plugging his show The Front Act Show, which is on it’s fourth season on SOLARtv Channel 9, Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.

And finally, I’m just thinking if I should still plug and promote the longest-running noontime show in the history of Philippine television, Eat, Bulaga!, Monday to Saturday at 12 noon. What do you think?