Horsing around with Wally and Jose

Author: Alwin M. Ignacio, Contributor
Column: Life

The showbiz value of comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola has obviously risen. Proof of this is WOW Hayop!, a 30-minute show of animals caught on tape displaying human-like characteristics, which they host.

WOW Hayop! is made up of videos from the imported show Animals Are People Too. Manalo and Bayola, aside from introducing the videos, inject the show with their brand of humor to enliven the local component of this program.

The show gives viewers a chance to get close to friendly creatures, from the gentle to the mighty, from feathered to furry, even the most peculiar ones that make the animal kingdom truly fascinating and extraordinary.

The obligatory intros and extros in the show get a new twist from the duo of Bayola and Manalo as they play interesting characters — as chatty girl friends, an aged couple, or a street boy and his girl play mate. The two created these characters especially for the show.

“The most difficult character for me to do is a woman,” Jose says. “The physical changes are easy, but it is the emotional shift that gives me a hard time. The easiest to do is a little boy. I am very fond of kids, and it is easy to do a boy’s voice.”

For Wally, it’s a different story, “I have no trouble being a woman, a young girl, a gay guy or even playing grandmother since I have done all of these parts in Eat Bulaga. It’s the (toughie) character that for me is difficult.”

Given sufficient time and resources, is there a particular dream animal they would like to train?

Manalo replies, “Oh, I would love to train a tiger or a lion — any member of the big cat family. That, for me, (would be) very challenging. You see, most of the big cats display so much authority, even power, you know that they are part of a pride. And it is fascinating for me to see them purring like kittens when they see you, just like domesticated cats, yung maglalambing siya sa leg mo...”

Bayola’s comic imagination becomes most apparent with his answer. “Well, I’d really like to train a fish. Not the mammals, not the dolphins and the rest of the whale family. I just want a regular fish, pwedeng bangus or gold fish and I want to ask them to play dead, or roll over,” he guffaws.

If they would compare each other to an animal, what would it be? Manalo answers, “I think Wally is like a bunny, makulit kasi ito. Or he can be a cat — when he’s satiated, he’s quiet and still, but the moment you touch it or kinulit mo, makulit na rin.”

Wally smiles mischievously. “I think Jose is like a horse, because there is a certain regality and power about him, which are some traits that horses possess.”

The Eat Bulaga sidekicks dislodge Ariel and Maverick, comedians known for their avant-garde retro-inspired fashion and asinine sense of humor. People say that these qualities are considered the primary reasons that made Masquerade a ratings winner.

Do they have what it takes to compete with the former duo hosting the Wednesday night block?

“We don’t see anyone as competition and it is not in our nature to be competitive,” says Jose. “I think what is important is this show gives us an opportunity to showcase further our talents as comedians and hosts and, for us, thats enough.”

Wally concurs, “Ariel and Maverick are our idols, and I believe that their partnership is unique, just like my partnership with Jose.”

The show will also feature clips of celebrity pets and how these stars devote their time to grooming and taking care of their animals.

Wow Hayop! featuring Animals Are People Too! airs every Wednesday, right after Fated To Love You on GMA 7.

Source: The Daily Tribune

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