Joey de Leon

Joey de León (born José María Ramos de León Jr.; October 14, 1946) is a Filipino comedian, actor, television presenter and songwriter. He hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He is a member of the comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey that has made several comedy movies and TV shows.

Joey de Leon
De Leon on June 11, 2010
Born	José María Ramos de León Jr. October 14, 1946 Binondo, Manila, Philippines
Occupation	Comedian, actor, television presenter
Years active	1969–present
Spouse(s)	Daria Ramírez (first wife) Eileen Macapagal ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	5 (including Keempee)

Early life

De León was the second child of José Seoane de León (1918–2008) of Spanish Filipino descent, and Emma Manahan Ramos (1925–2019). His paternal grandfather was the first mayor of Malolos, Bulacan.[1] At the age of three, his parents divorced. His father then moved to Madrid, Spain and eventually remarried. De León is known for his sarcastic style of humor.

Career

Prior to being an entertainer, de León earned his architecture degree from the National University in Manila. He was also a disc jockey for 12 radio stations when he was starting out. De León started his showbiz career in the 1960s as a radio disc jockey and announcer. He worked for 12 radio stations, including all seven radio stations owned by ABS-CBN Corporation as well as other broadcasters like KBS. His first big break on TV was IBC 13's gag show OK Lang.

Tito, Vic and Joey

In 1975, de León became a co-host of GMA Network's late afternoon variety show Discorama hosted by Bobby Ledesma. He invited his former co-stars at OK Lang, the Sotto brothers Tito, Vic and Val, to join him at Discorama. Only Tito and Vic accepted de León's invitation. The newly-formed trio began to do comedy newscast segments interspersed with Top 40 hit-song parodies. Originally, the trio's appearance was supposed to be a one-off invitation as Discorama was set to be axed but after getting good feedback from the viewers and ratings were high, the show was given a new lease on life by GMA management. The trio was later invited to become part of the noontime show Student Canteen as they released 12 albums based on their Discorama Tough Hits segment.

The sitcom Iskul Bukol that gave them nationwide fame as comedians. Soon after, other TV and movie offers came knocking on the trio's door.

In 1979, Tito, Vic and Joey began hosting the noontime show Eat Bulaga! which was pitted against the more established Student Canteen. Not long after, Eat Bulaga! toppled Student Canteen from the ratings. The trio is still active on both Holy Week Dramas every Lenten Season and also on comedy variety show on Eat Bulaga.

Solo artist

Although de León continued to do movies alongside his showbiz teammates Tito and Vic, he started doing solo performances for other TV shows. He top billed Joey and Son in 1982, a sitcom on RPN where he played father to a young boy named "Jeffrey Laperal" played back then by Ian Veneracion. He was also one of the gag performers on TODAS where his co-stars included Jimmy Santos and Val Sotto. Other TV shows included Apple Pie, Patis, Atbp., the Sharon Cuneta Show, and Let's Go Crazy. He was launched by Viva Films as a solo comedian in She-Man: Mistress of the Universe. He also tried his hand at directing films like Romeo Loves Juliet and Small, Medium, Large.

De León's films include Starzan. He Leon did several TV shows for GMA Network and ABC. In 1995, he made a film comeback via the comedy Bangers for Viva Films as well as Pipti-pipti, Ang Tipo kong Lalake and Takot Ako sa Darling Ko. He hosts Eat Bulaga! which is now the longest-running TV program in the Philippines, and appears in other shows like Mel and Joey, Startalk, Nuts Entertainment and started a new show for ABC, the now-defunct Teka Mona, which replaced Wow Mali, his long-running TV show on the same network. He started hosting Takeshi's Castle with Ryan Yllana. He is also the resident judge of the annual reality-based star search StarStruck and writes the entertainment column "De Leon's Den" once a week in the Philippine broadsheet Manila Bulletin.

In December 2006, de León returned to recording with a novelty song he wrote titled "Itaktak Mo" ("Shake It Off"). Seen by critics as his answer to the other wildly popular hit "Boom Tarat Tarat" (written by Lito Camo and sung by de Leon's rival host Willie Revillame), "Itaktak Mo" was softly launched on Eat Bulaga! shortly before the Christmas season. In January 2007, the song was launched on de Leon's album, Joey to the World 2 and gained airplay in most FM stations. "Itaktak Mo" has also become part of Eat Bulaga!'s segment "Taktak Mo o Tatakbo" that replaced "Laban o Bawi", and is also one of the official dances of the 4th batch of the reality talent search StarStruck.

After "Itaktak Mo" became one of the most requested dance tunes of 2007, de León followed it up with "Kagat Labi Song", which was launched on Eat Bulaga! on September 22, 2007. The "Kagat Labi" dance craze was already sweeping the whole country by storm before de Leon wrote it. On February 24, 2008, de Leon released a song titled "Walang Daya" ("No Cheating") with lyrics comparing his love to his rival host Willie Revillame's misfortunes (Wilyonaryo, Ferrari and Ultra stampede). He first sang it on his own program Mel and Joey.

On July 31, 2008, de Leon tendered his irrevocable resignation as columnist ("De Leon's Den") for Manila Bulletin, and he is currently with The Philippine Star, and has a column, "Me, Starzan".

In late 2009, he wrote another hit Eat Bulaga! song titled "Ba Ba Boom". Then in early 2010, he wrote another song, "Aalog-Alog". He also wrote the theme song for Diz Iz It!.

In 2011, he played as Pablo Apostol, the rock-star father of George Apostol/DJ Heidee played by Sarah Geronimo in the romantic-comedy film Won't Last a Day Without You.

As a songwriter

De León wrote most of the lyrics of VST & Co. songs and some Cinderella songs. He also co-wrote "Ilagay Mo Kid" with Mike Hanopol which was performed by Hagibis.[2] He also wrote "Ang Labo Mo" for Sharon Cuneta[3]

Personal life

De León has five children. Two with first wife, actress Daria Ramírez: Joseph Joachim ("Keempee") and Jacinda Myrtle ("Cheenee"), and three with his second and current wife Eileen Macapagal: Jocas Eightria, Jako Raphaelle and Jio Sebastiean. De León also has four grandchildren from his eldest daughter Cheenee and one from Keempee.

Pepsi Paloma rape case

In 1982, the 15-year-old actress Pepsi Paloma accused De Leon and fellow comedians Vic Sotto and Richie D'Horsie of gang raping and taking photos of her on June 21 that year in a room at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.[4] On July 31, Paloma's manager Rey dela Cruz lodged a formal complaint with Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. On August 18, Paloma filed charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness against the three television personalities before the Quezon City fiscal's office.[5] The crime of rape at the time, carried the death penalty in the Philippines, and to prevent his brother and his cohorts from being sent to the electric chair, Tito Sotto quickly went to see Paloma while she was still securing the services of Atty. Rene Cayetano. According to Paloma, Tito Sotto coerced her into signing an "Affidavit of Desistance" to drop the rape charges against his brother and cohorts[6]—Tito Sotto had allegedly placed a pistol on the table in front of Paloma when he went to talk to her.[7]

In exchange for the dismissal of the charges of rape, Vic Sotto, de Leon and D'Horsie issued a public apology towards Paloma stating:

"We hope that you will not allow the error we have committed against you to stand as a stumbling block to that future which we all look forward to. We therefore ask you to find it in your heart to pardon us for the wrong which we have done against you."[8]

Three years later, Paloma was found dead in an apparent suicide.[9] Dela Cruz was murdered years later.[10]

Depression comments

On October 5, 2017, de Leon elicited controversy from Filipino netizens and high-profile figures advocating for mental health awareness, following a remark he made about depression during the Eat Bulaga! segment "Juan for All, All for Juan", saying in part that the mental disorder is "just something made up by people" and that "they do it to themselves". He apologized the following day.[11][12]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Production Film
2017	Barbi: D' Wonder Beki	Barbie	OctoArts Films, APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions
2016	Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers	Pandoy	OctoArts Films, APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions, GMA Films
2015	My Bebe Love: KiligPaMore	Dom	GMA Films, APT Entertainment, OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, MEDA Productions
2013	My Little Bossings	SPO2 Bryant	OctoArts Films, APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions, K Productions
2011	Won't Last a Day Without You	Pablo Apostol	Star Cinema & Viva Films
2011	Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!	Doctor	Star Cinema
2009	Ang Darling Kong Aswang	Mang Kepweng	OctoArts Films
2008	Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After	Joey Escalera	OctoArts Films
2007	Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka Fairy Ko...The Beginning of the Legend	Karimarimar	M-Zet Productions
2006	Enteng Kabisote 3: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko: The Legend Goes On and On and On	Shintaro Gokoyami	M-Zet Productions
2005	Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka Fairy Ko... The Legend Continues!	Panggay	M-Zet Productions
2004	Enteng Kabisote: OK Ka Fairy Ko... The Legend	Mulawit	M-Zet Productions
2003	Fantastic Man	Doc	OctoArts Films
2003	Pakners	Pickpocketer	Regal Films
2003	Lastikman	Elmer	OctoArts Films
2001	Super Idol	Pandoy	Neo Films
1997	Wow! Multo	Kuya Joe Baruc	MAQ Productions
1997	Takot Ako sa Darling Ko	Marky	Neo Films
1997	Pipti-pipti: One for You, Two for Me	Jack	Neo Films
1996	Ang Misis kong Hoodlum	Andy	Neo Films
1996	Ang Tipo kong Lalake (Maginoo Pero Medyo Bastos)	Boy	Neo Films
1996	Detective: Michael & Jackson	Ricky Lashley	Movie Arts Productions
1995	Run Barbi Run	Bartolome	GMA Films
1995	Bangers	Hip	Viva Films
1993	Pandoy, ang Alalay ng Panday	Pandoy	Movie Arts Productions
1993	Alyas Batman en Robin	Batman/Bruce	Regal Films
1992	Sam and Miguel	Miguel	Regal Films
1992	The Wild Cowboys	Juan Gomez	Movie Arts Productions
1992	The Return of the Long Ranger & Tonton: How the West Was Wrong	Davie Bowie a.k.a. Long Ranger	Regal Films
1991	Goosebuster	Patrick Sisi	Regal Films
1991	Onyong Majikero	Ervin	OctoArts Films
1991	Barbi 2: For President	Bartolome/Barbi	Movie Arts Productions
1991	Ali in Wonderland	Fernando/Ali	OctoArts Films
1990	My Funny Valentine	Mang Pandoy	Regal Films
1990	Tiny Terrestrial: The Three Professors	Prof. Edwin Presto	Regal Films
1990	Little Boy Blue: Tiny Terrestrial	Prof. Edwin Presto	Regal Films
1990	Starzan III: The Jungle Triangle	Starzan	Regal Films
1990	Tangga and Chos: Beauty Secret Agents	Ray Tangga	Movie Arts Productions
1990	I Have 3 Eggs	Ariong	Regal Films
1990	Little & Big Weapon	Mel Bigson	Regal Films
1990	Kabayo Kids	Pando/Yellow Banana	Regal Films
1990	Ganda Babae, Gandang Lalake	Joseph	Regal Films
1990	Elvis and James 2	Elvis Presto	Viva Films
1990	My Funny Valentine	Mang Pandoy	Regal Films
1990	Small, Medium en Large	Prince/Director	Starzan Films
1990	Hotdog	Pedro	Seiko Films
1989	Romeo Loves Juliet... But Their Families Hate Each Other!	Romeo Sr.	Starzan Films
1989	SuperMouse and the Robo-Rats	Mickey	Regal Films
1989	Elvis and James, the Living Legends!	Elvis Presto	Viva Films
1989	Starzan II: The Coming of the Star Son	Stazan	Regal Films
1989	Long Ranger & Tonton: Shooting Stars of the West	Davie Bowie aka Long Ranger	Regal Films
1989	Si Malakas at si Maganda	Police Officer	Regal Films
1989	Barbi: Maid in the Philippines	Bartolome/Barbi	Movie Arts Productions
1989	Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle	Starzan	Regal Films
1988	Smith & Wesson	James Smith	Viva Films
1988	I Love You 3x a Day	Fairy godmother	Viva Films
1988	Good Morning, Titser	Priest	Seiko Films
1988	Sheman: Mistress of the Universe	Pando/She-Man	Viva Films
1988	Wake Up Little Susie	Alexander	Regal Films
1987	Ready Aim Fire	Hagler	Regal Films
1987	Shoot That Ball	Tinggoy	Regal Films
1987	Forward March	Dodong	Regal Films
1987	The Best of Iskul Bukol: The Movie	Joey Escalera	Regal Films
1986	Horsey, Horsey Tigidig Tigidig	Gringo	Regal Films
1986	Send in the Clowns	Jojo	Regal Films
1986	Super wan, tu, tri	Baltazar	Regal Films
1986	Fly Me to the Moon	Jacko	Regal Films
1985	Working Boys	Ernie	Viva Films
1985	Ma'am May We Go Out	Jeff Soriano	Viva Films
1985	Mama Said, Papa Said, I Love You	Boy	Regal Films
1985	Doctor, Doctor We Are Sick	Robin	Viva Films
1985	Ride on Baby	John	Seiko Films
1985	I Have Three Hands	Caloy	Regal Films
1984	Naku Ha!	Billy Jean	Seiko Films
1984	Pepe en Pilar	Pepper	Regal Films
1984	Give Me Five	Jackson	Regal Films
1984	Goodah!	Owen	Seiko Films
1983	My Darling Princess	Joakim	Regal Films
1983	M.I.B.: Men in Brief	Eugene Williams	Lea Productions
1982	Ang Tapang Para sa Lahat!	Raphael	Lea Productions
1982	Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko	Bronzon	'D Wonder Films
1982	Si Ako at... Tres Muskiteros!	Ariong Muskitero	GP Films
1981	Mr. One-Two-Three Part 2	Ricky	GP Films
1981	Magtoning Muna Tayo	Rene Soriano	GP Films
1981	Tartan	Danny	GP Films
1981	D'Gradweyts	Jomari	GP Films
1981	Bilibid Gays	Daria	Regal Films
1981	Palpak Connections	Katch	Regal Films
1981	Age Doesn't Matter	Johnny	Regal Films
1980	Mr. One-Two-Three	Ricky	Regal Films
1980	Iskul Bukol (Freshmen)	Joey Escalera	GP Films
1979	Rock, Baby! Rock!	himself	Lea Productions
1979	Swing It... Baby!	Joey	Lea Productions
1979	Mang Kepweng	Tres Dwendes	GP Films

Television

Television
Year	Show	Role	Network
2017	Kaibigan: Eat Bulaga Lenten Special	Jeff	GMA Network
2016	Dalangin ng Ama: Eat Bulaga Lenten Special	Omar	GMA Network
2015–2016	CelebriTV	Host	GMA Network
2015	Pinagpalang Ama: Eat Bulaga Lenten Drama Special 2015	Papsy	GMA Network
2015	Wow Mali: Lakas ng Tama	Host	TV5
2014	One of the Boys	DJ	TV5
2014	Hakbang Sa Pangarap: Eat Bulaga Lenten Drama Special 2014	Abe	GMA Network
2013–2015	Wow Mali Pa Rin!	Host	TV5
2013–2014	Sunday All Stars	Judge	GMA Network
2013	Hayop sa Galing	Host	TV5
2012	Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break	Judge	GMA Network
2012–2013	Game 'N Go	Host	TV5
2012	The Biggest Game Show in the World - Asia	Host
2011–2012	Celebrity Samurai	Host
2011	Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break	Judge	GMA Network
2011	Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Win Mo, Kapuso!	Host
2011	Big Shot Jackpot	Host	TV5
2011	Mind Master	Host	GMA Network
2010	Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Press It! Win It!	Host
2010–2011	House or Not	Host (as Don Joey)	TV5
2010–2011	Wow! Meganon?!	Host
2009	Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Spin It! Win It!	Host	GMA Network
2009	Joey's Quirky World	Host
2008	Jungle TV	Host
2007	Slingo	Host	ABC
2006; 2006–2009	Takeshi's Castle	Host	Q (now GMA News TV) GMA Network
2006–2007	Teka Mona!	Host	ABC
2006	Wow Maling Mali!	Host
2004–2011	Mel and Joey	Host	GMA Network
2003–2006; 2015	StarStruck	Judge
2003–2004	SOP Rules	Guest co-host
2003–2008	Nuts Entertainment	Host
2002–2003	Sana ay Ikaw na Nga	Dr. Ricardo Peron
2002	Kiss Muna	Host
2001	Korek na Korek Ka Diyan	Host
1999–2000	Back to Iskul Bukol	Josemari "Joey" Escalera	IBC
1999	Beh Bote Nga	Tio Pot	GMA Network
1996–2006; 2009–2010	Wow Mali	Host	ABC/TV5
1994–1997	Mixed Nuts: Numero Unong Terrific Show	Host	GMA Network
1992	Rock n' Roll 2000	Teodoro Enriquez	ABC
1992	TVJ on 5	Various	ABC
1990	TVJ	Various	IBC
1988–1997	The Sharon Cuneta Show	Co-host	ABS-CBN
1982	Joey and Son	Joey	RPN
1979–present	Eat Bulaga!	Host	RPN ABS-CBN GMA Network
1981–1988	T.O.D.A.S.: Television's Outrageously Delightful All-Star Show	Host	IBC
1978–1988	Iskul Bukol	Joey Escalera	IBC
1976	Student Canteen	Co-host	GMA Network

Albums/songs discography

• TVJ Tough Hits series (12 albums) (Vicor Music Corp.)
• 1990: Joey de Leon Tough Hits 1990 (OctoArts International, now PolyEast Records)
• 1993: JoeyRassic (MCA Music)
• 1999: Mga Pakyuuuut ni Joey de Leon (OctoArts-EMI Music, now PolyEast Records)
• 2003: "Spageti Song" (duet with Sexbomb Girls from the album Round 2) (Sony BMG)
• 2004: "Halukay Ube" (duet with Sexbomb Girls from the album Bomb Thr3at) (Sony BMG)
• 2004: Joey to the World (Sony BMG Music)
• 2007: Joey to the World 2 (Sony BMG Music) (featuring "Itaktak Mo")
• 2008: Kagat Labi (EMI Philippines, now PolyEast Records)

Awards

Year	Award-Giving Body	Category	Work/Nominee	Result
2000	14th PMPC Star Awards for Television	Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award[13]	Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon	Won
2008	38th GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	Most Popular Novelty Singer[14]	Itaktak Mo!	Won
	21st Awit Awards	Best Novelty Recording		Won
2009	23rd PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Comedy Actor	Nuts Entertainment	Nominated
		Best Magazine Show Host (with Mel Tiangco)	Mel and Joey	Nominated
		Best Male Showbiz Oriented Talk Show Host	Startalk	Nominated
2010	24th PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Male TV Host	Eat Bulaga!	Won
	Eastwood City Walk of Fame	Walk of Fame Star Inductee[15]	Himself	Inducted
2011	Golden Screen TV Awards	Outstanding Male Host in a Musical or Variety Program[16]	Eat Bulaga!	Nominated
2014	PEP List Awards	Pepsi' Choice: Male Showbiz Treasure of the Year[17]	Himself	Won
2015	63rd FAMAS Awards	FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award[18]	Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon	Won

See also

• Maria Teresa Carlson

References

1. Gay Ace, Domingo (26 March 2007). "Our pal, Joey de Leon". GMA News. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
2. "Filipinas Heritage Library | The Himig Collection". Filipinaslibrary.org.ph.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2018-07-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "Pepsi Paloma Rape: What Really Happened?". Theepochtimes.com. March 5, 2014.
5. del Carmen, Cristina P. (September 29, 1982). "It Hurts Only When They Laugh". Who.
6. Rodis, Rodel (March 5, 2014). "The rape of Pepsi Paloma". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018.
7. Jimenez-David, Rina (November 3, 2012). "Jimmy Savile and our own 'lovable louts'". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
8. "_". People's Journal. October 13, 1982.
9. Rodis, Rodel (March 15, 2014). "Was Pepsi Paloma murdered?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018.
10. Smith, Chuck D. (July 20, 2017). "I am the son of a dead '80s bold star". Esquire.
11. "Joey de Leon draws flak on social media for depression statement". Rappler. October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
12. Bacungan, VJ (October 6, 2017). "Comedian Joey de Leon apologizes for depression remark". CNN Philippines. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
13. "Happy, triumphant faces at the 14th PMPC Star Awards for TV". The Philippine Star. October 9, 2000. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
14. "The 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards (Part 2)". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
15. Cuartero, Nestor (October 12, 2014). "Walk with the stars". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
16. Calderon, Ricky (October 29, 2011). "Golden Screen TV Awards nominees bared". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
17. Calderon, Ricky (23 May 2014). "Winners at the PEP List awards". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
18. "FULL LIST: Winners, FAMAS Awards 2015". Rappler. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2016.

External links

• Joey de Leon at IMDb