Kapamilya comedy actress Pokwang is currently creating a buzz online after appearing on Eat Bulaga as a guest player on its segment Bawal Judgemental for its Father’s Day tribute this Saturday, June 20.
‘Bawal Judgemental’ is a game where players are tasked to make the right judgments by identifying the correct choices among the group of people with distinct characteristics, history, and mind-blowing revelations while protecting their money.
The episode was a roller coaster ride. While JoWaPao trio’s instant click with Pokwang was really hilarious that you can’t help but laugh out loud while watching, the episode was also tear-jerker and heartwarming as single fathers were the guests in the segment. Here, they shared their journey to fatherhood and their experiences in raising their child(ren) on their own.
Apparently, her name and the segment were two of the top trending topics on Twitter Philippines today.
https://twitter.com/eatbulaga073079/status/1274197658035294208
https://twitter.com/ilovejuliusivan/status/1274222057924866049
Several netizens have undoubtedly enjoyed watching Pokwang’s first EB guesting. Some even lauded the show itself for welcoming celebrities from the rival network as a guest.
If you are wondering why it was so natural for Pokwang to talk and kid around other EB hosts like Paolo Ballesteros and Maine Mendoza, it is because they are friends even if they’re from rival stations.
Some would have already known it but based on her previous interviews, Paolo and Pokey are neighbors that is why they are close. She also admitted that she met Maine through a common friend.
Meanwhile, Maine and Pokwang recently worked together in the 2019 metro manila Film Festival (MMFF) film, “Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity,” along with Vic Sotto whom the latter has finally worked again after 8 years.
Meanwhile, the 49-year-old comedienne’s guesting created speculations that she will be transferring stations as she is known to be a contract artist of GMA-7’s rival network, ABS-CBN.
Her last TV project with the media giant was ‘Make It With You‘ starring Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil which was officially called off due to the ‘new normal.’
To recall, The TV host-singer was one of those celebrities who passionately condemned the National Telecommunications Commission’s decision to force the media giant to shut down on May 5 following the expiration of its operational franchise on May 4.
Lauded for her bravery and passion to support her home station, Pokwang was also among the Kapamilya artists who hit back against critics who wished the network to be closed permanently.
One example is her long rant on Facebook about her former neighbor who was happy over the shutdown of the media giant.
Also a critic of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill, Pokwang was even tagged as a communist for supporting ABS-CBN and the #JunkTerrorBill.
Despite the hate and criticisms, Pokwang is one of the celebrities who were actively helping out the frontliners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to this, some netizens recalled her exclusive 2-year contract with her home network which was inked last June of 2019 disproving the allegations as her contract is valid until the year 2021.
https://twitter.com/azelantonio/status/1274194426806415360
Here are some of the reactions of the netizens about Pokwang’s guesting on the said noontime variety show:
https://twitter.com/theladyyoga/status/1274201493424537602
Pokwang on the house! Lab u Pokwang! Hope to see you more often sa GMA! pic.twitter.com/f06lJ2HN6R
— It's Me, Maria. (@amurao_maria) June 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/mainedee21/status/1274191070713151489
https://twitter.com/emartemporal/status/1274198301076713472
However, there are also who were not happy with her appearance and even asked the comedienne to be sensitive for her home network that is still struggling and fighting for a fresh 25-year franchise.
“Sad naman mamang how true that you are transferring to GMA”
“Mamang bakit ka naman lalabas sa Eb!??? My ghad! Be sensitive naman.”
For the record, Pokwang is the first Kapamilya star to appear on GMA-7 after the controversial shutdown of ABS-CBN.
Meanwhile, it’s not the first time that a contract artist of ABS-CBN made an appearance to GMA Network’s shows.
To recall, the R&B all-male trio BuDaKhel composed of Bugoy Drilon, Daryl Ong, and Michael Pangilinan made a shocking appearance on the same segment of Eat Bulaga last March 11 which according to Ong was supposed to promote their March 20 concert, however, it did not push through due to the March 15 lockdown imposed by the government caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their appearance made a huge buzz online, too, as speculations that the trio has switched networks surfaced. Their appearance was also alleged as one of the reasons why Ong and Drilon were banned from all projects of the Kapamilya Network.