Joey de Leon waxes sentimental about his days in ABS-CBN


Joey de Leon is open to become a Kapamilya anew
Joey de Leon is open to become a Kapamilya anew
MANILA, Philippines – TV host-comedian Joey de Leon fondly reminisced his good ol’ days in ABS-CBN in a rare guest interview on “Kris TV.”
The industry veteran, who’s been entertaining audiences for more than three decades now, told the show’s host Kris Aquino on Nov. 25, “Dito sa ABS-CBN, proud ako sabihin I worked here [in] 1968. Ang sweldo namin noon, sila Jake Lopez pa ang boss ko—inabot ko pa ‘yung lolo ni Gabby [Lopez III]—ang sweldo ay P200 a month… noong ginawa kaming permanent matindi, naging P210.”
“Totoo ‘yan nasa akin pa ‘yung papel, naitago,” he added.
Starting out as a DJ in the ‘60s before scoring stints on “Iskul Bukol” (1978) and “Eat Bulaga!” (1979), Joey said, “Ako lang ang nakaupo sa pitong himpilan sa Bohol. Pwede ako sa lahat eh... sa Tagalog, sa Ingles, puwede ako sa news, kamontik na nga dun sa Spanish station nila eh.”

Joey recounted that his last appearance on ABS-CBN was on Kris’ then-show with Korina Sanchez, “Morning Girls with Kris & Korina” on December 2003.
“Talagang mayabang ako pagdating sa ABS-CBN, kaya noong pumapasok ako ang ngiti ko hanggang tenga eh, bukod sa makikita kita (Kris), natutuwa ako eh [kasi] parang homecoming,” said he.
While it’s been 17 years since “Eat Bulaga!” transferred from ABS-CBN to GMA-7, Joey hasn't closed his doors on becoming a Kapamilya once again.
He even noted the recently concluded Advertising Congress, where big bosses of ABS-CBN, GMA-7, and TV5 had actually shared the stage, saying, “Mas dapat ganun eh, ‘wag mong kulyaran ‘yung artista, pabayaan mo, tapos tingnan mo kung saang project, kung saan siya mas bagay, mas ayos.”
Joey, who’s also a writer and painter, currently juggles shows on GMA-7 (including “Startalk TX,” “Eat Bulaga!” and “Protégé”) and TV5 (“Pinoy Samurai” and “Wow Mali”).
Surprise, surprise
Kris, a self-confessed fan of Joey’s, presented the latter a surprise VTR message from the former’s brother, President Noynoy Aquino. PNoy thanked Joey for his support since the former’s election campaign and expressed his admiration for the comedian’s success and indubitable legacy in the industry.
PNoy also specifically mentioned Joey’s contribution in the classroom-building project, “Agap Silid Pangarap," of the Aklat Gabay Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation spearheaded by Kris' sister, Pinky Aquino-Abellada. A beneficiary of the said project was the Paaralang Elementarya ng Grace Park in Caloocan City.
“Patunay ito na sa patuloy nating pagbabayanihan, mas matagumpay tayong makakapagdulot ng isang-libo’t isang tuwa sa sambayanan. ‘Di lamang sa pamamagitan ng telebisyon ngunit maging sa ibang aspeto at larangan sa ating lipunan,” said PNoy.
At the end of the VTR, Kris told Joey, “First time po nag-VTR ni PNoy dito, never nga niya akong ginreet eh. Nag-anniversary ako ng 15 years,  wala... Sinabi ko sa kanya na… we never got the chance to thank you for the campaign.”
Prior, Joey gave Kris a copy of the "Eat Bulaga!" coffee table book, "Ang Unang Tatlong Dekada."
Revelations
Halfway through Friday’s episode, young actor Gerald Anderson, who is Joey’s co-star in the Star Cinema film, “Won’t Last A Day Without You,” joined him for the interview.
Pertaining to Gerald and his leading lady in the film, Sarah Geronimo, Kris then queried Joey, “Tutal chismoso ka, tsismosa ako, nakita mo parang puwede?”
“Oo, oo,” was Joey's quick response.
“Hindi dahil to promote the movie ah, alam mo cute si Sarah! Tsaka wife-material… Hindi malantung. Cute,” he added.
Joey also revealed at one point, “Si Cristine [Reyes] parang anak ko din ‘yan eh, o eto tsismisan na ‘to ah. Parang ex ni Keempee [de Leon, his son] ata eh…”

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