''GoBingo'' is a

Philippine television Television in the Philippines was introduced in October 1953 upon the first commercial broadcast made by Alto Broadcasting System (now ABS-CBN), making the Philippines the first Southeast Asian country and the second in Asia to do so. Even b ...

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or Let's Play, demonstrative and are typically directed b ...

broadcast by

GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...

. Hosted by

Arnell Ignacio Arnaldo Arevalo Ignacio (born March 4, 1964), known professionally as Arnell Ignacio, is a Filipino Television Presenter, game show host, comedian, actor, news anchor, singer-songwriter, and public official. Ignacio has hosted several shows, ...

, it premiered on December 9, 1996 and concluded on January 1, 1999. The show returned on April 14, 2008 and concluded on October 10, 2008 with a total of 130 episodes.

History

''GoBingo'' was initially aired from 1996 to 1999, hosted by

, with

Maricar de Mesa Maricar de Mesa (born November 3, 1979) is a Filipino actress known for her antagonistic roles in many TV series like ''Magkaibang Mundo'', '' Villa Quintana'', '' Once Upon a Kiss'', and others. She started her career in '' Bubble Gang'', as wel ...

as the first ''GobiGirl''. Ignacio won the award for Best Game Show Host at the ''PMPC Star Awards for Television'' in 1997 for his role in ''GoBingo''. After airing for 2 years, the show was replaced by a sportsfest-like gameshow, retitled as ''Golympics''. The show recommenced in its original format on April 14, 2008 for a second run.

Format

1996-1999

Three contestants play with bingo cards (each with 15 numbered boxes) on 3 different screens. Every correct answer from a player randomly lights up one of their numbers. All the numbers that are lit count for home viewers, who play with bingo cards obtained in return for purchases of sponsors' products (obtained from assigned redemption centers). In each round, there is a designated pattern to be created. In the first round, each correct answer highlights a number from the corners of the board. In the second round the pattern is a straight vertical line (center only), while the final round is the 'blackout' round. If a home viewer gets all the 15 numbers for their card they win the home player jackpot (and the remaining unlit numbers in the studio screens change to diamonds). The first studio player who completes their bingo card proceeds to the bonus round, which comprises 16 numbered boxes, each with a question. A correct answer causes the number to changes to a peso sign, an incorrect one to a blank. The object is to create a pattern of peso signs - horizontal, vertical, or diagonal - within the allotted time of 45 seconds.

2008

Ignacio reprised his role as host and the ''GobiGirls'' have so far been played by Joy Velasco (Miss Teen World 2007), Rain Larazabal (sister of Maureen Larazabal), Lyka Feliciano, Ria Christina Fariñas and twins KC and Bebs Hollmann. After three weeks, Krissa Mae Arrieta (Miss USA-Philippines 2007 Expo) became the permanent ''GobiGirl''. The ''GoBingo'' home bingo cards are now replaced by scratch cards, and the number of sponsors for the new season is down to 7 (from 10–12 in the first season). For the home viewer, proofs of purchase from

Mercury Drug The Mercury Drug Corporation, better known as Mercury Drug, is a Filipino pharmacy chain. A subsidiary of the Mercury Group of Companies, it is headquartered in Bagumbayan, Quezon City. The chain was founded in Santa Cruz, Manila in 1945, making ...

stores nationwide are exchanged for ''GoBingo'' scratch cards, according to size of purchase. The bonus round bingo cards now have 25 boxes instead of 16. A new bonus game (to win a new car, after the contestant has won the first bonus round) requires the contestant to uncover nine ''GoBingo'' logos without uncovering three images of sad faces. Contestants who fail still retain previously won prize money, and win an extra 1,000 pesos for every ''GoBingo'' logo uncovered before the third sad face.

The 1,000,000 Pesos GOMillion Edition

A bonus of 1,000,000 pesos (added to the usual jackpot of 150,000 pesos) is won by any player who can complete the blackout round, or complete their 15 numbers, from the first 18 numbers called.

Accolades

References

{{Reflist 1996 Philippine television series debuts 1999 Philippine television series endings 2008 Philippine television series debuts 2008 Philippine television series endings Filipino-language television shows GMA Network original programming Philippine game shows