The theme song of the Eat Bulaga! has been a constant part of the programme since it was first introduced on the occasion of the programme's launch as one of RPN 9's DOMSAT programmes and Coney Reyes' entry in the Eat Bulaga! family on 18 May 1982.
The lyrics were penned by Joey de Leon, while the melody was composed also by Vic Sotto and musical arrangement by Homer Flores. This famous theme song was revised many times and was used to different opening billboards (OBBs) of Eat Bulaga!.
History[]
TAPE Inc. era (1982 - 2023)[]
Eat... Bulaga! was launched in RPN 9 on 30 July 1979, but the show had no real theme song then. The chorus of Tito, Vic and Joey's Tough Hits song 'It Bulaga' (which simply repeats the two words), was instead used — and was therefore its de facto theme song. Nearly three years after the show's launch, Eat... Bulaga! gradually climbed to the top of Philippine noontime television ratings with its exciting segments. At this point, the production team and management realised that the show needed a theme song that could be easily associated with it. On 2023-2024, the audience shout: “Bulaga!”.
The lyrics of what would become the Eat... Bulaga! theme song took inspiration from the programme's circumstances at the time of its creation. There was the programme's promise and later slogan, "isang libo't isang tuwa". There is also the timing of the programme about to be launched as among RPN 9's DOMSAT (domestic satellite) programmes, which meant that the programme was now able to be broadcast across the Philippines live from Metro Manila. This was a big deal then since only news programmes were regularly transmitted simultaneously to audiences across the country. Finally, there is also the programme's cast as of 1982. EB originally launched with five hosts: Tito, Vic and Joey, together with Richie d'Horsie and Chiqui Hollman. By 1981 however, the latter two had left the programme as they grew disillusioned with its financial difficulties despite EB gaining traction among the Filipino viewing public. Chiqui, in particular, would later transfer to EB rival Student Canteen, which in turn fired one of its main hosts with its re-format. Rumours of the addition of a new co-host to EB came swirling around, and it came to be that the person who would join the programme was to be mentioned in the new theme song. Indeed, as part of the theme song teasers before its formal launch, what would become the the third stanza of the theme song was played before being quickly cut off (i.e., "Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey; kasama pati si —").
Finally on 18 May 1982, during the television special Eat... Bulaga!: The DOMSAT Launch held at The Plaza in Makati, Metro Manila, the theme song was first played in full, which as it ended up mentioning, also led to the heralding of the newest member of the EB family — Coney Reyes-Mumar.
On December 1, 1982, coinciding with the welcoming the Holiday season, the show's theme song has a Christmas version mashed up with Jingle Bells.
In 1987, Little Miss Philippines runner-up Aiza Seguerra joined the main cast. But until that time, the original lyrics still mentioned the main four hosts (Tito, Vic, Joey, and Coney). In 1988, on the show's 9th anniversary, the lyrics on the third stanza mentioning the names of the main hosts were revised to include Aiza; and the third line of the third stanza was also revised, replacing "Apat silang nagbibigay" to "Silang lahat ay nagbibigay".
The revised lyrics was unchanged even after the program's move to ABS-CBN in 1989. However, as hosts like Jimmy Santos, Lani Mercado, Ces Quesada, Plinky Recto, Nova Villa, Ruby Rodriguez, Christine Jacob, Rio Diaz, and Lady Lee were added to the programme, it was clear that the theme was proving to be outdated, especially with the lines mentioning the hosts-- Coney had by now left Eat... Bulaga! in 1991. It was only in 1995, on the same day that EB left ABS-CBN for GMA, that the lyrics on the third stanza of the theme song were revised to reflect that growing number, replacing "Si Aiza at si Coney" to "Barkada'y dumarami".
The last major change to the lyrics were made sometime in 1998, coinciding with the centenary of Philippine independence. It is said to be caused by a letter of complaint from the government of Batanes (the northernmost province) concerning that the people there felt left out by the theme song, which had been broadcast there also. Thus, the first line, "Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo" (which is now an expression in itself referring to the whole Philippines) was changed to "Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo" in response to that, and now keeping with the accuracy of the country's "wholeness". Next, the second line, “Saan ka man na panig ng mundo” to “Saan ka man ay halina kayo”.
.jpg "DOMSAT82 TVJC (coloured).jpg (781 KB)")
TVJ Productions era, TV5 era (2023-present)[]
TVJ continued to host Eat Bulaga! for 43 years until a dispute with TAPE Inc. forced them to sever ties with the production company and leave the program on 31 May 2023. Consequently, TVJ founded their own production company called TVJ Productions Inc. which produces the original program's spiritual successor, E.A.T., on TV5.
A few revisions were made to the lyrics of the theme song. The most notable change is the replacement of the phrase "Eat Bulaga" with "E.A.T.", the new title of the TV5 program. Despite the different title, TVJ would pursue legal efforts to reclaim the original title still being used by TAPE Inc. for its noontime program on GMA Network. TVJ asserts that the TV5 program is the real Eat Bulaga!.
As a result, the theme song has a quirky part to represent the missing "Bulaga" of the new noontime program's title. The new theme song itself mentions the word if you would listen to the song very carefully, the audiences shout "Bulaga!" very silently after the 2nd E.A.T. chant. Furthermore, after singing "E—A—T", the hosts perform a "peek-a-boo" hand gesture while audience members are encouraged to sing the word "Bulaga".
It was until 6 December 2023, after TVJ won the trademark cancellation case against their former production company TAPE Inc., TVJ and the legit dabarkads finally sing the word "Bulaga".
On 5 January 2024, TVJ has announced that they won the copyright case and unfair competition against TAPE Inc. and GMA who are now permanently enjoined from using the trademarks, jingles, songs, and so forth. TVJ and legit dabarkads finally sung the Eat Bulaga! theme song in full original title.
Use[]
Aside from being played over the programme's opening billboards (as well as in closing billboards, whenever airtime permits), a notable use of the theme song was as an intermission to the jokes and skits made in the original format of the Bulagaan segment.
In this manner, the song was divided into its four stanzas, and usually played over with a laugh track (which for the longest time, had been that of an anonymous person's "bungisngis"), serving as an accompaniment to the dancers at time along with the hosts, all clapping or snapping fingers while swaying from one side to the other. However, since Bulagaan's adoption of the roulette/knock-knock joke mechanics, the theme song has been used only as the opening theme song and closing for the segment. Eventually, as the song's rendition became more "modernized", it has fell into disuse.
For a time, the programme also used to open with the singing of the theme song, and as such, simple dance steps for the audience were supplied for this purpose.
Some variations of the theme song also served as a background theme to the programme's on-line segments produced on-line, most notably that of Kuwentong Eat Bulaga!, playing over whoever was being interviewed.
Even with the gradual nonuse of the programme's theme song, certain lines remain popular with the masses and clearly linked with Eat Bulaga!. A fine example is the line "Isang libo't, isang tuwa", which has since become the host's unofficial motto and maxim. Another example is "Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo", usually used as a merism for the entirety of the Philippines (as Batanes is the northernmost province, and Jolo being close to the southernmost before the 1973 foundation of Tawi-Tawi province).
Due to publishing restrictions, TAPE, Inc. cannot use the theme song in their iteration on GMA Network, but a snippet of the song from the show's opening billboard in 2007 has played before/after the commercial break until 9 August 2023. ABS-CBN-owned Star Music Publishing, who currently owns the publishing rights to the song, has secured the copyrights to the theme song, ever since TVJ's decision to entrust the publishing rights of the theme song to Star Music.
Changes in the lyrics are highlighted in bold.
| 1982-1988 | 1988-1995 | 1995-1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo Saan ka man ay halina kayo Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa |
Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo Saan ka man ay halina kayo Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa |
Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo Saan ka man ay halina kayo Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa |
| 1998-2023 | July-Dec 2023 | Dec 2023- present; for daily use | Jan 2024 - present; official lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo Saan ka man ay halina kayo Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa |
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo Saan ka man na panig ng mundo Ang dabarkads ay nagkakaisa Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa |
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo Saan ka man na panig ng mundo Ang dabarkads ay nagkakaisa Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa |
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo Saan ka man na panig ng mundo Ang dabarkads ay nagkakaisa Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa |
Special variations[]
Changes in the lyrics are highlighted in bold.
Changes in the lyrics are highlighted in bold.
SexBomb Girls version[]
In 2003, Eat Bulaga! modified its opening billboard, logo, and theme song to highlight the rising popularity of the SexBomb Girls. The SexBomb Girls performed the remix of the Eat Bulaga! theme song for its new opening billboard.
Yehey! Ang saya-saya!
Pekmo? Pekmo!
Pwede? Pwede!
Get get aww!
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo
Saan ka man ay halina kayo
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
(Oy, oy, oy, oy, aww!)
Eat... Bulaga!
Sina Papa Vic at Joey
Buong tropa ay kasali
Silang lahat ang nagbibigay
Ligaya sa ating buhay
Pwede?
Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
(Oy, oy, get get aww!)
Eat... Bulaga!
Kapuso niyo, kasama niyo
Pilipinas
Laban, laban o bawi, bawi
Get get aww!
Eat... Bulaga!
Aww!
Silver Special version[]
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo
Saan ka man ay halina kayo
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
Isuda Tito, Vic, ken Joey
Barkada'y umad ado dan
Silang tanan ay naghahandog
Kalipayan sa atong buhay
Union el entero pais para
Del alegria te lleva kame
Sarong ribo, sarong ogma
Gabos kita
Eat Bulaga!
Sina Tito, Vic at Joey
Barkada'y dumarami
Silang lahat ay nagbibigay
Ligaya sa ating buhay
Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
2006 version[]
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo
Saan ka man ay halina tayo
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
[RAP]
Bulagaan sa tanghali lalong umiinit
Laging ginagaya dahil puno ng gimik
Sa puso mo'y walang dala kundi saya
Tumutok na kayo buong bansa
Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
Sina Tito, Vic, and Joey
Barkada'y dumarami
Silang lahat ay nagbibigay
Ligaya sa ating buhay
Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
2007 version[]
On New Year's Day in 2007, Eat Bulaga! unveiled a new opening billboard along with a new version of the theme song whose verse are performed in different musical genres. A rap verse performed by Michael V and Francis Magalona was also added to the lyrics.
Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo
Saan ka man ay halina kayo
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey
Barkada'y dumarami
Silang lahat ay nagbibigay
Ligaya sa ating buhay
Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa
Sa tuwa't saya na aming dala
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
[RAP]
Eto na, humanda ang lahat
Sa dami ng pa-buena, 'di magpapaawat
Tatlong bituin at isang araw
Sa Luzon, sa Visayas, at Mindanao
Isa ang sinisigaw
Isang libo't, isang tuwa
Buong bansa
(Buong mundo)
Eat Bulaga!
2018 version[]
Mangrogi Batanes inggana Jolo
Sadinno man ti ayan ket omay tayo
Usa ka libo, ug usa ka lipay
Tibuok nasud
Eat Bulaga!
Dila Tito, Vic kag Joey
Da rugu iya ing Barkada
Kalipay ang dala nila
Sa aton kabuhi
Minkakasakey so entiron bansa
Diad awit min liket tan saya
Usa ka libo, ug usa ka lipay
Buong bansa
Eat Bulaga!
Timeline[]
On December 6, The word "Bulaga" was finally included after TVJ and the legit dabarkads won the trademark cancellation case against TAPE Inc.
| Year of composition/inception | Description of variation | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The original composition, as launched in Eat... Bulaga!: The DOMSAT Launch television special |  |
| 1988 | Change in lyrics, first performed in Eat... Bulaga!'s 9th Anniversary Special | |
| 1989 (February) | Change in arrangement; first performed in Eat... Bulaga!: Moving On! television special, used in the programme's opening billboard in 1989 | |
| 1989 (September) | Change in arrangement; first performed in Eat... Bulaga!'s 10th Anniversary Special, used in the programme's opening billboard from 1989 to 1995 | |
| 1995 (January) | Change in lyrics and arrangement; first performed in Eat... Bulaga!: The Moving! television special | |
| 1995 | Standard arrangement of the theme song (inspired by the 1982 arrangement), usually referred to as the "old version" | |
| 1998 | Lyrics change in the first line of the first verse, from "Mula Appari hanggang Jolo" to "Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo" | |
| 1999 | Change in arrangement in time for the programme's re-branding as "Eat... Bulaga! 2000" | |
| 2003 | Changed arrangement as covered by the SexBomb Girls, used in the programme's opening billboard from 2003 to 2004 | |
| 2004 | Silver Special arrangment with multi-lingual lyrics, used in the programme's opening billboard from 2004 to 2005 | |
| 2005 | Change in arrangement as covered by the band 7 Shots [of Wisdom], added with rap lines by Francis Magalona | |
| 2006 (December) | Slight change in the 2005 arrangement in time for Christmas; used in the programme's videoke style opening billboard | |
| 2007 | Change in arrangement (with varied genres), launched with the programme's New Year opening billboard | |
| 2009 | Change in arrangement (inspired by the Black Eyed Pea's "I Gotta Feeling", first performed in Eat Bulaga!'s 30th Anniversary Special, December 12th, 2009) | |
| 2010 | Slight change in lyrics and arrangement, exclusively used in the show's opening performance for the launch of its renovated studio | |
| 2011 | Change in arrangement, first performed in Eat Bulaga!'s 32nd Anniversary Special, used in the programme's opening billboard from 2011 to 2012 | |
| 2012 (July) | "Standard" instrumental version, modernised version of the standard 1995 arrangement | |
| 2014 | Change in arrangement, excluded some lines, used in the programme's opening billboard from 2014 to 2020 | |
| 2018 | Lyrics are not in Tagalog but in another dialect, exclusively on the opening billboard. | |
| 2020 | Arrangement based on various TikTok songs, exclusively used in the show's 41st anniversary opening performance | |
| Dubstep-like arrangement of the 2014 version, debuted in the show's 41st anniversary, and officially used with the program's New Year opening in 2021, used in the programme's opening billboard from 2021 to 2022 | | |
| 2022 | Change in arrangement similar to 2014 version, excluded and repeated some lines, and used for the show's opening billboard made by videographer Jason Magbanua | |
| 2023 | On July 1, The theme underwent slight revisions in the lyrics and arrangement, Notably the show's title temporarily changed to "E.A.T." | |
| On December 6, The word "Bulaga" has finally been included after TVJ and the legit dabarkads won the trademark cancellation case against TAPE Inc. | | |
| 2024 | TVJ and the legit dabarkads finally sang the theme song in full original title after winning the RTC Marikina copyright case against TAPE Inc. and GMA Network who are now permanently enjoined from using Eat Bulaga! trademarks and theme songs. | |