''Student Canteen'' 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 ...

variety show regarded as the first afternoon

variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a comp ...

on Philippine television. Over a 32-year period, it was broadcast through three different networks:

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Philippine commercial broadcast network that serves as the flagship property of ABS-CBN Corporation, a company unde ...

(1958 to 1965),

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 ...

(1975 to 1986) and

Radio Philippines Network Radio Philippines Network, Inc. (RPN) is a Philippine television and radio company based in Quezon City. It is the flagship media property of Nine Media Corporation of the ALC Group of Companies; along with the Office of the Press Secreta ...

(1989 to 1990).

History

DZXL

''Student Canteen'' was originally a radio show on DZXL hosted by Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma, Bobby de Veyra and

Leila Benitez Leila Benitez-McCollum (October 5, 1930 – April 9, 2020) was a Filipino-born American radio and television host, presenter, journalist and broadcaster. Benitez, who was nicknamed as the "first lady of Philippine television", became a household ...

entitled ''CBN Canteen''. The noontime show was aired on the canteen of the old Manila Chronicle Building in Aduana,

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

. It was later renamed ''Student Canteen'' after it became a hit with students.

Chronicle Broadcasting Network (1958–1965)

In July 1958, DZXL Channel 9, then owned by the Chronicle Broadcasting Network (a precursor of ABS-CBN) started broadcast operations. ''Student Canteen'' was brought to television that same year. The noontime show ended in 1965 when Eddie Ilarde went into politics. Prior to that however, the set of hosts for the show were replaced after main hosts Bobby Ledesma and

walked out of the program along with Eddie following a dispute. Pete Roa, then production manager of ABS-CBN, handpicked his wife

Boots Anson-Roa Maria Elisa Cristobal Anson-Rodrigo (née Anson; born January 30, 1945), better known as Boots Anson-Roa, is a Filipina actress, columnist, editor, and lecturer. Early life and education Anson-Roa, a Bicolana, is the eldest daughter of post-w ...

, Ben Aniceto,

Pepe Pimentel José "Pepe" Gonzáles Pimentel, Sr. (April 30, 1929 – January 25, 2013) was a Filipino game show host, television personality, actor and singer. He rose to fame as the first champion of the original ''Tawag ng Tanghalan'' (1955). Pimentel lat ...

and Nelda Navarro as replacements.

Noontime show successors

''Magandang Tanghali'', a musical variety show hosted by

Pancho Magalona Enrique Gayoso Magalona Jr. (January 22, 1922 – April 7, 1998), popularly known as Pancho Magalona, was a Filipino actor from the 1940s to the 1970s. Early life Born Enrique Gayoso Magalona Jr. in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, he was the son of ...

, and ''Stop Look and Listen'', a former noontime variety show hosted by

Eddie Mesa Eduardo de Mesa Eigenmann (; born February 18, 1940), better known by his stage name Eddie Mesa (), is a Filipino retired actor and singer. He was discovered by talent agents when he sang a Sammy Davis song. Afterwards he changed his surname to ...

, took over the ''Student Canteen'' timeslot in 1965. After Mesa left for the United States, ''Twelve O'Clock High'', a show hosted by

Ariel Ureta Ariel Ureta (; born November 5, 1946) is a Filipino comedian, actor and TV host. Biography Early career Ureta's first movie was ''Zoom Zoom Superman'' a fantasy comedy movie with the former child wonder Niño Muhlach in 1973, followed by hi ...

and Tina Revilla, premiered and aired until 1972 when martial law was declared. The show moved to RBS (now GMA Network) as ''Ariel con Tina'', through a blocktimer company headed by Romy Jalosjos from 1972 to 1974. ''Lunch Break'' also gained ground on the same channel before ''Student Canteen'' was eventually revived.

GMA Network (1975–1986)

In 1975, the triumvirate of Menardo Jimenez, Felipe Gozon and Gilberto Duavit Sr. took over Republic Broadcasting System (RBS) and changed its name to GMA Radio-Television Arts. Looking for a show that can serve as a gateway to daytime dominance, the new management conducted negotiations with Eddie Ilarde who readily agreed to revive ''Student Canteen'' under his production company Program Philippines Inc. In January 1975, ''Student Canteen'' was revived, with Helen Vela and

Coney Reyes Constancia Angeline Reyes Nubla (born May 27, 1954), better known by her screen name Coney Reyes, is a Filipina film and television actress, comedian, television host and producer. Coney made her debut on the silver screen in the 1975 film '' ...

joining original hosts

, Bobby Ledesma and Eddie Ilarde. Ramon Ramano was the original director of the show. Ariston "Aris" Bautista was the floor director, and later the show's director. The show had a segment called "Search for the Student Canteener" which was a singing contest. This segment attracted a lot of high quality contestants and many of former "Canteeners", including Marco Sison, became successful professional singers. Many other singing contest segments within the show produced some of the country's top singers. Bert Nievera, for example, was the champion of the segment called, "Search for Johnny Mathis of the Philippines." The program also featured a highly popular segment called "IQ 7" which was actually a quiz contest and which produced the country's top quiz champions like Bong Barrameda, Ramon Lorenzo, Romeo Miat, Victor Saymo, Vic Volfango, Antonio Manaloto, Esmeraldo Tellerva, Gil Manimbo, Eduardo Alvaran, Virgilio Acasio, Nazzir Abbas, Roberto Villareal, Emilio Apostol, Nehemias Miguel, Nilo Francisco, Sonny Pascual, Leoncio Pelayo, David Oriel, Leon Bongulto, Pete Dadula, Boni Magtibay, and many others who have gone on to excel in their respective chosen fields of endeavor. A spin-off of the quiz segment "IQ 7" called "Battle of Campus Brains" produced the first and only female quiz champion in the history of GMA-7 quiz shows, Essem Zisenia Solomon, who defeated the then reigning champion Pete Dadula and several other quiz veterans. ''Student Canteen'' was the only noontime show that existed in the 1970s before the debut of ''

Eat Bulaga! ''Eat Bulaga!'' (), formerly ''Eat... Bulaga!'', is a noontime Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the longest running variety show in the Philippines with over 13,000 episodes. Originally ...

'' on July 30, 1979, hosted by the trio of Tito, Vic &

Joey Joey may refer to: People *Joey (name) Animals * Joey (marsupial), an infant marsupial * Joey, a Blue-fronted Amazon parrot who was one of the Blue Peter pets Film and television * ''Joey'' (1977 film), an American film directed by Horac ...

, formerly from ''Student Canteen''. ''Eat Bulaga!'' was in danger of cancellation until the segment "Mr. Macho" made it the top-rating noontime show in 1980. Afterwards, ''Student Canteens ratings began to decline.

would leave the show after it took in Chiqui Hollman, formerly from ''Eat Bulaga!''. Other fresh faces would later join ''Student Canteen'', including Jackie Lou Blanco, Chat Silayan,

Dyords Javier Filipino hip-hop or Pinoy hip hop (also known as Pinoy rap) is hip hop music performed by musicians of Filipino descent, both in the Philippines and overseas, especially by Filipino-Americans. The Philippines is known to have had the first hi ...

and

Francis Magalona Francis Michael Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known by the moniker Francis M, was a Filipino rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, actor, and television personality. Born in Manila, He became a significant influ ...

. Julie Vega was supposed to be included in the show however, the plan was shelved following her illness and subsequent death in 1985. The show's stint on GMA ended on June 7, 1986 following the

People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of c ...

. It was later replaced by ''

Lunch Date ''Lunch Date'' is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Originally hosted by Orly Mercado, Rico J. Puno, Chiqui Hollman and Toni Rose Gayda, it premiered on June 9, 1986 replacing '' Student Canteen''. The show conclud ...

''.

Radio Philippines Network (1989–1990)

''Student Canteen'' went back on air on February 20, 1989 with a new home, RPN (renamed as New Vision 9) replacing "Eat Bulaga!" which moved to ABS-CBN. The show was also retitled ''Student Canteen (The Third Generation)'' because it was the show's third revival and third decade on Philippine Television. Original hosts Eddie Ilarde and Bobby Ledesma were joined by Malu Maglutac, Jean Garcia, Cherry Pie Picache and Atoy Co as co-hosts. Ramon Lorenzo served as the Quiz Master for the "IQ 7" segment. It was also during the RPN-9 era when the show was beamed for the first time nationwide via satellite, as the network's DOMSAT facilities were still active despite the sequestration. The show ended in 1990 due to disagreements between the RPN management and the hosts. A revival was in the works again the following year, but it was shelved after main host Bobby Ledesma died in 1993.

Cast

* Eddie Ilarde *

* Bobby Ledesma * The Tiongco Brothers * Sharon L. * Helen Vela *

Carmi Martin Carmita Martin also known as Carmi Martin (born 9 August 1963) is a Filipina actress, model, and comedian. Career She first appeared in ''Dolphy's Angels'' with Liz Alindogan, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Yehlen Catral and the late comedy king Dolph ...

Tito Sotto Vicente Castelo Sotto III (; born August 24, 1948), professionally known as Tito Sotto, is a Filipino politician, entertainer and athlete who served as Senate President from 2018 to 2022. Before that, had two stints each as Senate Majority Le ...

Vic Sotto Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto (; born April 28, 1954), professionally known as Vic Sotto, is a Filipino actor, singer and comedian known far and wide for his various television and film projects on the major Philippine television networks GMA ...

Joey de Leon Jose Maria Ramos de Leon Jr. (born October 14, 1946), professionally known as Joey de Leon, 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 ...

* Malu Maglutac *

Atoy Co Fortunato "Atoy" Gan Co Jr. (born October 15, 1951) is a Filipino former basketball player and coach who played 13 seasons in the Philippine Basketball Association, mostly with Crispa Redmanizers. Nicknamed "The Fortune Cookie" (a pun on his n ...

* Chiqui Hollman-Yulo * Jackie Lou Blanco *

* APO Hiking Society *

Jean Garcia Jessica Anne Rodriguez Maitim (born August 22, 1969), better known as Jean Garcia (), is a Filipino television and film actress, who hails from Angeles City. She is best known for her role as Madam Claudia Buenavista in the original version o ...

* Rachel Anne Wolfe * Chat Silayan * JC Bonnin * Marco Sison * Benedict Aquino * Jam Morales * Charles Harner *

Lou Veloso Luciano "Lou" Mariñas Veloso (born January 7, 1948) is a Filipino actor, comedian, director and politician. He is known for his supporting roles in over 30 comedy films, which include ''Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang'' (1985), ''Pulis Patola'' (1993 ...

Cherry Pie Picache Cherry Pie Sison Picache (born May 27, 1970) is a Filipino actress who has starred television and in mainstream and independent films and has worked as a print and TV commercial model for Palmolive, Camay, and Eskinol. Cherry Pie is notable ...

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 439964 1958 Philippine television series debuts 1990 Philippine television series endings 1950s Philippine television series 1960s Philippine television series 1970s Philippine television series 1980s Philippine television series 1990s Philippine television series ABS-CBN original programming Filipino-language television shows GMA Network original programming Philippine variety television shows Radio Philippines Network original programming