‘Eat… Bulaga!’ suspends admission of live audience

TEMPORARY “Eat… Bulaga!” opts to suspend admission of live audience in its studio in Cainta, Rizal. —FROM EAT BULAGA’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — So as not to contribute to the possible spread of the new coronavirus, “Eat… Bulaga!” the longest running noontime game show, has opted to suspend admission of live audience in its studio located on Marcos Highway in Cainta, Rizal.

The suspension took effect on March 9, according to Malou Choa-Fagar, one of the show’s producers.

“This was after we heard that there are [COVID-19] patients residing … in Cainta,” said Fagar, who is senior vice president and chief operating officer of TAPE (TV and Productions Exponents) Inc., which runs the 41-year-old program.

“The producers decided to release the circular since most members of the live audience come from Cainta. This is obviously to avoid the spread of the virus,” Fagar told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Monday. “It’s better to be safe than sorry, since it’s really hard to tell who has the virus and who doesn’t.”

At press time, there are already 20 confirmed patients infected with COVID-19, including a 62-year-old man residing in Cainta. He, as well as his 59-year-old wife, has no previous travel history outside of the Philippines.