E KNOW Joey de Leon as a TV host, comedian, and scriptwriter. He's a multi-talented person in the entertainment industry. A veteran of more than 50 shows spread on almost all channels, as well as famed radio personality who has programs in more than 12 stations in his long career. But there's no stopping Joey in continuing to provide viewers with his brand of comedy, hosting and entertainment that has been his trademark. But there's another side of Joey that is unknown to the public and that is his life as a father. What is Joey like as a father to his kids who are all grown-ups now? Through this article we'd like to take a peek on the other side of Joey's personality as a father. We sought him out one afternoon at the Eat Bulaga studio in Broadway Centrum and between sips of coffee, we talked to Joey on his being a father, his Eat Bulaga family, and his career as TV personality.

AS A FATHER

“MABAIT akong father. Dumating na ako sa point na kaya ako nagtatrabaho ay dahil sa family ko, for my children and not for my personal needs,” Joey opens up our conversation. “I'm working not much for myself but for the needs of my family. Sino ba naman ang hindi nangangailangan ng pera? I do work pero I don't say that it's because I want to save more for myself or it's because I want to save more for myself or it's because there are some things that I'd want to buy. I've done many things in my life and I would say I've enjoyed the fruits of my labor. Ano naman ang gagawin mo sa pera? Sa alahas, sa mga damit o kaya sa pagta-travel abroad. You can eat your favorite food anytime you want. Kuntento na ako.”

Joey says he has many memorable moments as a father that it would be hard to single out or pick out the most memorable of them.

“I'd probably say the trips abroad are among the most memorable moments kasi I don't leave alone. I always make it a point to bring a family member with me. Take note, a family member, not just a friend,” he says.

“I don't enjoy going on trips abroad na ako lang mag-isa,” he continues. “Dapat may kasamang pamilya o kaya mga taga- Eat Bulaga na part na rin ng family ko. Gone were the days that the reason I go abroad is because I want to have a good time o para gumawa ng kalokohan. Graduate na ako diyan. Hindi ko na gusto ang feeling na nag-iisa. Mas enjoy ako traveling with a family member.”

PROUD DADDY

CERTAINLY a proud moment for Joey was when his daughter Jocas de Leon graduated Cum Laude at the Fordham University . Any father would certainly be proud of such accomplishment and who wouldn't want to be on her side when she accepts the honor. Joey flew to the United States to attend the graduation of Jocas even if it was quite taxing on his part since he hasn't been taking too many long trips lately.

“Nakakapagod din magbiyahe lalo na sa Amerika which takes quite a lot of time,” says the TV host. “But I really have to be there with my daughter because it's her graduation. Kaya kahit na masakit sa katawan, pumunta pa rin ako. I even took another trip kasi ‘un din ang hininging regalo.”

How did he feel when he learned Jocas was graduating with honors?

“Puwera yabang but I was already prepared for it because I knew she's a good student,” he says proudly. “First year pa lang siya, Dean's Lister na siya and she was consistent with that. She missed being a Magna Cum Laude by just a few points so it really didn't come to me as a surprise because I know she was studying diligently. Nang tinawag na ang name niya, parang manhid na ako kasi I know she's good.”

Joey describes himself as a workaholic but he has all the time in the world to be with his children.

“I don't have any extra-curricular activities,” he says. “I don't play golf, badminton or tennis. I don't indulge in sports. I'm not a member of the Jaycees or whatever. Tipong bahay-studio-bahay lang ang routine ko. So I really have time for my children. I haven't been doing movies which is time-consuming. Kung mag- Eat Bulaga man ako, I'd be home after three hours. Pagkatapos ko ng taping ng Nuts Entertainment, uwi na rin ako sa bahay. Balik na ako sa piling nila.

“My children can't say and won't say that I don't spend enough time with them since we are always together. I may be in another room in the house but still I am in the house and they can always see me if they need to talk to me. I am close to my kids. When Jocas was still here, she even slept with me and her mom ( Eileen Macapagal ). Si Keempee naman, even if he has his own place, he also stays with me. And it's good because we have more bonding time, plus we are together in Eat Bulaga .”

Speaking of Keempee, Joey is happy that his son's career is doing very well. “What's amusing is that he's also playing gay roles (most prominently in the GMA sitcom Bahay Mo Ba ‘to ) which I still do up to now in Nuts Entertainment kaya ‘pag naging matandang-matandang bading na ako, may papalit na sa akin. Itinuloy niya ang role na nagpakain at nagpalaki sa kanila,” he says proudly.

Does Keempee ask for his advice whenever he has to portray a gay role?

“Hindi kasi marunong siyang dumiskarte. Actually, I was surprised with what he's doing. I'm really amazed because he has his own style. Ang pagiging bading ko, balahura, siya sosyal. Ako palengkera ang dating, siya may finesse. I'm really happy that his career is doing great. I'm not saying he was lazy before but I guess he has seen the importance of him giving his career focus. Alam mo naman ditto sa business na ito, ‘pag wala kang talent, tapos ka,” he says.

EAT BULAGA

HIS noontime show Eat Bulaga marked its 25 th anniversary last year, making it the longest running TV show on Philippine television. And yet there seems to be no let up when it come to giving the kind of entertainment that the public has loved and known since Eat Bulaga started. The show has remained a favorite, no matter how many programs it has been pitted with. All programs that were put up against Eat Bulaga fell by the wayside, and Eat Bulaga has lorded it over and continues to enjoy the popularity. What's the secret of Eat Bulaga ?

“Alam mo, ang Eat Bulaga lalong tumibay at sumaya. Wala kaming sikreto kundi ‘yung pagiging natural naming. Natural kami. We are just being ourselves and we enjoy what we are doing. Natatawa kami sa isa't isa, ‘yung tawang hindi pilit, huh! Barkada kasi kami ang we have this rapport. Kung may iba ka mang kabarkada outside the show, iba ‘yon. Basta ‘pag nasa Eat Bulaga , you are one of the boys. Hindi ka iba,” Joey relates.

Do he and Vic ( Sotto ) get star treatment since they are the most senior member of the cast?

“Kami ni Vic, hindi iba ang ranggo namin,” he replies. “Mataas lang ang ranggo namin'pag may gusto kaming ipaabot na advice, lalo na sa bagong hosts, kung ano ba ang kanilang dapat malaman. But other than that, we treat each other as equal. Hindi rin kami nakikialam kung may gusto silang ipasok na bagong host. Sina Malou ( Choa-Fagar ) and Mr. T. ( Tony Tuviera ) ang may say diyan. Tinatanong naman nila kami pero sila ang may final say. Basta kung sino man ang gusto nilang ilagay sa show, susuportahan naming.”

In his opinion, what makes Eat Bulaga click and a favorite among viewers in all of its 25 years on the air?

“Aside from the fact that we love what we are doing, what's important is that we never treated ourselves as celebrities. Hindi naming tinitingnan ang mga sarili namin as sikat. Hanggang ngayon, itinuturing naming ang aming sarili, and I can speak even for Vic and Tito Sotto (although semi-regular na lang siya sa show), na ang mga nagtatrabaho lang. Trabaho lang ito. Laborer din kami. Hindi naming iniisip na star kami. Nagkataon lang siguro na kilala kami or we earn a little more than usual sa mga tinatanggap ng ibang nagtatrabaho,” explains Joey.

“Do you know that when Eat Bulaga started, we don't put on makeup kasi nga hindi celebrity ang tingin naming sa aming mga sarili? Hindi kami artista kaya magaan lang ang tingin naming sa trabaho. We don't pressure ourselves that we have to look good always or that we should look beautiful, na mga magaganda kami at guwapo. Noong araw, dumarating ako sa show na naka-short lang at T-shirt. Napagalitan nga lang ako kaya inihinto ko na. Ang tingin kasi namin sa aming mga sarili, mga simpleng empleyado. Hindi kami celebrity. Hindi naming ‘yan naging panuntunan sa buhay.

“We love our work and this has sustained us through the years. We don't search and research for thing that would entertain our audience, kung ano ang makakaaliw sa kanila. Kaya ang battery naming lago, ‘Hoy, magtrabaho tayo dahil ‘di tayo sikat. Hindi kami nagme-makeup unless lumalabas kaming babe sa show na kailangan may nunal o kaya may lipstick or blush on. Nagtatanggal lang kami ng oil sa mukha. Kung nao ang hitsura namin, bahala na.”

Joey's friendship with Tito and Vic started many years back. Tito then was in recording while Joey as a disc jockey. A producer-friend of Joey asked him to join the show of Apo Hiking Society titled Okay Lang while Vic and Tito were recruited by the director.

“Nagkakilala kami sa show and we became good friends. Naging magka-vibes. ‘Yang si Vic, nakita ko talaga ‘yung development niya sa kalokohan, mula sa pagiging tahimik na lalaki na nakasalamin na mukhang studious hanggang maging sira na rin ang ulo. We have varied interests, pero mayroon din naman kaming mga pinagkakasunduan pero pagdating sa television, iisa ang layunin naming. At iyon ay hindi host na ang feeling dapat sila ang angat. Sa amin, kung mas nakakatawa ang kasama naming, mag okay sa amin,” shares Joey. (Articles lifted from S Magazine) - -