A Happy Yipee Yehey! day in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines  – It was a grab-your-camera-now! moment for Pangasinenses last April 30 when ABS-CBN’s noontime show Happy Yipee Yehey! (HYY) joined in the province’s annual celebration of Pistay Dayat.

Thousands trooped to Lingayen Beachfront to see up close Kapamilya stars and win prizes in the show’s game segments.

Hours before the show started, game master Eric entertained the crowd with a mini-contest where he selected five people from the audience. He asked them to sing part of the show’s theme complete with its signature “action. “ He, too, gave away shirts to the cheering crowd.

But what turned out to be more exciting was when the Sex Bomb Girls ascended on stage with a dance number that signaled the start of the show.  

Hosts Randy Santiago, Mariel Rodriguez, John Estrada, Toni Gonzaga, Matteo Guidicelli, Bianca Manalo and Bentong expressed their appreciation for the warm welcome Pangasinenses accorded to them. They also admired how the province’s local government heads, led by Gov. Amado Espino Jr., supported their first provincial tour. The governor even joined the crowd in watching the two-hour show in the open air venue “umbrella-less.” Everyone seemed unmindful of the scorching sun that threatened to reduce anyone to daing na bangus (like that delectable sizzling boneless daing na bangus we had for lunch).

The Sex Bomb Girls in front of Pera O Bayong’s jackpot prize

Days before the live airing of HYY, hopes were high that the jackpot prize — a passenger jeepney — in Pera O Bayong will be taken home. According to one HYY staff, 150 Pangasinenses, whose main source of livelihood is connected to milkfish (to which the province is known for), auditioned for Pera O Bayong.

John Prats, on the other hand, went out on the streets of Dagupan City to pick three lucky contestants for a chance to each win the P50,000 cash prize in Ikaw ang Bida.

Randy also announced in the beginning of the show that one Pangasinense could be P50,000-richer in One Time, Big Time.

While the jackpot prize was never won because the chosen Bayong was empty, the contestant remained euphoric. Reason: He opted for Pera and walked away with P120,000.

The fun never stopped as Gab Valenciano, CJ Navato, Paul Salas, Makisig Morales showed some footwork. Giving the audience more reasons to be ecstatic were Andrew E., Tutti Caringal, Kean Cipriano, Nel Gomez, Miles Ocampo and Kiray.

If plans push through, HYY will be in Palawan in June as it aims to give more fun, entertainment and prizes to Kapamilya nationwide. Yesterday, Pokwang was warmly welcomed by HYY family to be one of the show’s regular hosts. 

(HYY airs Mondays to Saturdays after Showtime. )

From left: Tutti Caringal, Kean Cipriano and Gab Valenciano