Jose & Wally; Wally & Jose: Take your pick
Call them what you will: Jose and Wally or Wally and Jose. Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola of "Eat Bulaga" fame don't mind.
They've been together as a working team for eight years. And nothing — or so they claim — can tear them apart, not intrigues, not billing, not even money.
When Jose figured in a controversy earlier this year, Wally kept a respectful distance, careful lest he add to Jose's personal problems.
"I respect his privacy," Wally explains.
Jose, on the other hand, adjusts to Wally's mood swings.
"Kung iba ang mood ko, hindi pumapasok si Jose," Wally relates.
He acknowledges Jose's seniority in the business.
"Nag-TV siya pagkatapos niya mag-Boyoyong clown," Wally reveals. "Nag floor director pa siya. Wala akong idea sa TV. Tinuturuan ako ng mga nasa TV tungkol don."
Jose gives Wally the floor on cam and on stage. So does Wally. Both are godparents of each other's children. And even if it's been eight years since they first performed together, they have yet to fight over anything at all.
No rehearsals
Thus, it's easy for them to hold a show without rehearsals, which they think detract from the fun rather than add to it.
"Pag rine-rehearse namin ang isang comedy act, tatawa kami sa rehearsal. Tapos, pag ginawa na namin uli, hindi na kami tatawa," Jose points out.
So they'd rather make things as natural as possible.
Wally can even joke, "Pag may nililigawan si Jose, dapat dumaan muna sa akin. Seloso ako."
But that doesn't mean Jose can't hold a show of his own and vice-versa. They do — in Klownz and Zirkoh comedy bars, for one. Yet, they end up answering questions like "Where is Wally (to Jose)?" and "Where is Jose? (to Wally)."
They even had a hit concert at the Araneta Coliseum. And now, they topbill another movie together: "D'Kilabots Pogi Brothers …. Weh!?", which hits theaters nationwide starting Wednesday, Nov. 28.
What gives?
"Ang 'Eat Bulaga!' (where they have their own segment, 'Juan For All, All for One! Bayanihan for the Pipol!') ang dahilan kung bakit kami nagtatagal," muses Jose. "Tambayan namin yon pagkagaling sa bahay. Doon kami nagbo-bonding. Hindi ka pwedeng magalit. Hindi kayo pwedeng magtampuhan. Kailangan pag-usapan agad."
The openness has made arguments — even fights -- non-existent between them. And it shows on stage.
Wally's reactions to Jose's punchlines are kneejerk. Jose has a ready reply to Wally's one-liners. They can go on and on without skipping a beat. And the audience is in stitches, asking for more.
Feeling the nervous
They're not resting on their laurels though. Jose admits every project still makes them nervous.
"Hindi yon mawawala pag may concert or movie kami," Jose reveals.
Will people come and watch them? Will they like what they see? What will they say of the show?
These questions nag Jose no end, pushing him and Wally to perform as if there's no tomorrow.
And that's why the duo is making sure moviegoers see a different side of them in "D'Kilabots." The upcoming comedy casts Jose and Wally, no longer as partners, but as warring brothers Justine and Bruno Kilabot, respectively. They fight for the love of one woman (played by — go ahead, laugh -- Pokwang).
It doesn't matter who gets her in the end. It's a matter of what the brothers do to protect something very important to them.
"D'Kilabots" also stars Gina Pareno, Paolo Ballesteros, Solenn Heussaff, Jimmy Santos and Tirso Cruz III. Soxie Topacio directs.
