The actions of Eat Bulaga! co-host Buboy Villar towards an elderly woman in one of the show’s segments did not escape the watchful eyes of netizens.
The incident, which occurred during the “G sa Gedli” segment of the noontime show on GMA Network last July 29, 2023, drew significant criticism on social media.
During the segment, Isko Moreno and Buboy were giving away cash gifts to lucky winners at LRT-2 as part of the show’s celebration of its 44th anniversary. As they rode the train and distributed gifts to commuters, they encountered an old woman who had also received PHP1,000 while inside the train.
Upon approaching the elderly lady, Buboy asked her about Eat Bulaga!:
Buboy: “Nanay, ano pong masasabi sa Eat Bulaga!?”
Lola: “Ay naku, noon pa talagang Eat Bulaga! ako!”
Isko thanked the elderly woman and hugged her, with Buboy holding the microphone close to her mouth. As the elderly lady was about to express her gratitude and mention “Tito, Vic, and…” (referring to the original hosts of Eat Bulaga!, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon), Buboy quickly moved the microphone away, resulting in only “Joey” being heard before she was cut off.
The brief incident immediately gained attention on social media platforms, particularly on TikTok, as netizens reposted the video clip and expressed their displeasure over Buboy’s actions towards the elderly woman. The majority of the criticisms were directed at what they perceived as rudeness and disrespect shown to the elderly lady by taking away the microphone before she could finish speaking.
Critics flooded Buboy’s Instagram account as well, where they chastised him for his actions, even comparing him to former Eat Bulaga! hosts Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola.
While some of Buboy’s supporters defended him, the number of critical comments far outweighed the supportive ones. Some netizens argued that Buboy’s actions were uncalled for, and others pointed out that he should have allowed the elderly lady to express her thoughts fully.
Despite the criticism, Buboy did not publicly respond to the backlash or address the incident with the elderly woman in any of his replies to comments on his Instagram post.
This incident served as a reminder of the importance of being respectful and sensitive, especially when dealing with elderly individuals on national television. It also sparked discussions on social media about the conduct and responsibilities of TV hosts and how they should handle interactions with guests, particularly those from vulnerable demographics like senior citizens.
As netizens continue to voice their opinions, it remains to be seen how Buboy Villar and the show’s production team will respond to the criticisms and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
