Student Canteen
Encyclopedia
Student Canteen is the first and original noontime show on Philippine television which ran for 30 years in different decades. The show ran in different networks from 1958 to 1972, 1975 to 1986 and 1989-1990.
) hosted by Eddie Ilarde
, Bobby Ledesma and Leila Benitez. The conception of the noontime show was started in early 1950s at the CBN Canteen that located at the studios of CBN, where most of its customers were students during noon break. To add fun for those who ate, entertainment was provided. Little did they know this television show would be filmed, with the canteen as its studios. The idea of what is now noontime variety show was conceived through CBN Canteen. The show's name was later changed to Student Canteen, because most of the audience came from different schools near the CBN studios.
The noontime show was 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 Leila Benitez 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, Ben Aniceto, Pepe Pimentel and Nelda Navarro as replacements.
, and Stop Look and Listen, a former late night variety show hosted by Eddie Mesa took over Student Canteen's timeslot in 1965. After Eddie left for the US, Twelve O'Clock High, a show hosted by Ariel Ureta and Tina Revilla-Valencia), premiered and aired till 1972 when Martial Law was declared. The show went to RBS (now GMA Network) as Ariel con Tina, a blocktimer by a company headed by Mr. Romy Jalosjos from 1972 to 1974. Lunch Break also gained ground on the same channel before "Student Canteen" was eventually revived.
On January 1975, Student Canteen was revived on air, with Helen Vela and Coney Reyes joining original hosts Pepe Pimentel, Bobby Ledesma and Eddie Ilarde. Ariston "Aris" Bautista was the Floor Director of the show. Bautista later became its 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 constestants and many of former "Canteeners" became successful professional singers including, among others, Marco Sison. 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 show also had a 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, Leoncio Pelayo, David Oriel, Selwyn Alojipan, Pete Dadula, Boni Magtibay, Jason Lindo 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 quizzes, 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 birth of Eat Bulaga on RPN 9 whose main hosts were originally taken out from the former, on July 30, 1979. The competitor was about to be axed when the contest "Macho Man" was launched in 1980. The popularity of the said segment made Eat Bulaga the top-rating show and continued to reign on TV ratings until the present time. Student Canteen's ratings, however, started to slow down after years of popularity. Coney Reyes
, one of the show's main hosts, left this show after they took in Chiqui Hollman from "Eat Bulaga". Other fresh faces were soon seen on Student Canteen, including Jackie Lou Blanco, Chat Silayan
, Dyords Javier
and Francis Magalona
. Former child star 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 successful revival on GMA had to end in 1986 following the EDSA Revolution. It was later replaced by Lunch Date
.
. The show was also retitled Student Canteen (The Third Generation) because it was the pioneer noontime show that started it all. Original hosts Eddie Ilarde and Bobby Ledesma were joined by Malou Maglutac, Jean Garcia, Cherry Pie Picache and Atoy Co as co-hosts. Ramon Lorenzo served as the Quiz Master for the "IQ 7" segment during this short stint of Student Canteen on RPN.
management and the hosts. A revival was supposed to be in the works again for the show the following year, but it had to be shelved after main host Bobby Ledesma died in 1993.
noontime show Alas Dose sa Trese. He was joined by the mother-daughter tandem of Boots Anson-Roa
(a former host of the original Student Canteen) and Chiqui Roa-Puno (newscaster of PTV
and one of the top female sportscasters at that time) and actor-musician Paco Arespacochaga
in the show. Some elements of Student Canteen were seen in the show, along with former contestants from "Student Canteen"'s singing portions who gamely sang and entertained audiences via the segment "Student Canteen Corner". The show ended in 1999.
The ABS-CBN years
It was originally aired as a radio show on DZXL (a predecessor of DZMMDZMM
ABS-CBN DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 is the flagship AM station of ABS–CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., cor. Mo. Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at F. Navarette St., Obando, Bulacan...
) hosted by Eddie Ilarde
Eddie Ilarde
Edgar U. Ilarde , also known as Eddie Ilarde, is a Filipino radio and television host who was elected to one term in the Philippine Senate. He also served one term each as a Congressman and as an Assemblyman of the Interim Batasang Pambansa...
, Bobby Ledesma and Leila Benitez. The conception of the noontime show was started in early 1950s at the CBN Canteen that located at the studios of CBN, where most of its customers were students during noon break. To add fun for those who ate, entertainment was provided. Little did they know this television show would be filmed, with the canteen as its studios. The idea of what is now noontime variety show was conceived through CBN Canteen. The show's name was later changed to Student Canteen, because most of the audience came from different schools near the CBN studios.
The noontime show was 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 Leila Benitez 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, Ben Aniceto, Pepe Pimentel and Nelda Navarro as replacements.
Noontime show successors
In 1967, Magandang Tanghali, a musical variety show hosted by Pancho MagalonaPancho Magalona
Enrique "Pancho" Magalona, Jr. — was a Philippine actor from the 1940s to the 1970s.-Early life:Born Enrique Gayoso Magalona, Jr. on 1921 in the southern Philippine province of Negros Occidental and was the son of Philippine Senator Enrique B. Magalona, Sr.-Personal life:Pancho and his real life...
, and Stop Look and Listen, a former late night variety show hosted by Eddie Mesa took over Student Canteen's timeslot in 1965. After Eddie left for the US, Twelve O'Clock High, a show hosted by Ariel Ureta and Tina Revilla-Valencia), premiered and aired till 1972 when Martial Law was declared. The show went to RBS (now GMA Network) as Ariel con Tina, a blocktimer by a company headed by Mr. Romy Jalosjos from 1972 to 1974. Lunch Break also gained ground on the same channel before "Student Canteen" was eventually revived.
The GMA years
In 1974, the triumvirate of Menardo Jimenez, Felipe Gozon and Gilberto Duavit, Sr. took over 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.On January 1975, Student Canteen was revived on air, with Helen Vela and Coney Reyes joining original hosts Pepe Pimentel, Bobby Ledesma and Eddie Ilarde. Ariston "Aris" Bautista was the Floor Director of the show. Bautista later became its 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 constestants and many of former "Canteeners" became successful professional singers including, among others, Marco Sison. 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 show also had a 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, Leoncio Pelayo, David Oriel, Selwyn Alojipan, Pete Dadula, Boni Magtibay, Jason Lindo 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 quizzes, 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 birth of Eat Bulaga on RPN 9 whose main hosts were originally taken out from the former, on July 30, 1979. The competitor was about to be axed when the contest "Macho Man" was launched in 1980. The popularity of the said segment made Eat Bulaga the top-rating show and continued to reign on TV ratings until the present time. Student Canteen's ratings, however, started to slow down after years of popularity. Coney Reyes
Coney Reyes
Coney Reyes is an award winning Philippine Film/TV actress, television host and producer with Chinese and Spanish descent. She has been one of the co-presenters of Student Canteen and Eat Bulaga . She earned a degree of Bachelor of Arts major in Communication Arts at Maryknoll College...
, one of the show's main hosts, left this show after they took in Chiqui Hollman from "Eat Bulaga". Other fresh faces were soon seen on Student Canteen, including Jackie Lou Blanco, Chat Silayan
Chat Silayan
Maria Rosario Silayan-Bailon better known as Chat Silayan was a Filipina beauty queen and actress. She won the 1980 Binibining Pilipinas Universe crown and became the third runner-up at Miss Universe 1980. A year after her stint in Miss Universe, her acting career began and she became one of the...
, Dyords Javier
Dyords Javier
Dyords Javier is a singer, stand-up comedian, actor and Hip-hop artist in the Philippines. He is the brother of Danny Javier and the originator of Pinoy hip hop in the Philippines....
and Francis Magalona
Francis Magalona
Francis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...
. Former child star Julie Vega
Julie Vega
Julie Pearl Apostol Postigo, better known by her stage name Julie Vega , was a Filipina child actress, singer and commercial model...
was supposed to be included in the show however, the plan was shelved following her illness and subsequent death in 1985.
The show's successful revival on GMA had to end in 1986 following the EDSA Revolution. It was later replaced by Lunch Date
Lunch Date
Lunch Date was a defunct Philippine noontime variety show that aired by GMA Network.-History:Its original hosts were Orly Mercado, Rico J. Puno, Toni Rose Gayda and Chiqui Hollmann. The show originally aired from Studio A of the old GMA building in EDSA...
.
The RPN years (Third Generation)
Student Canteen went back on air in 1989 with a new home, RPN (now ETC)Radio Philippines Network
Radio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...
. The show was also retitled Student Canteen (The Third Generation) because it was the pioneer noontime show that started it all. Original hosts Eddie Ilarde and Bobby Ledesma were joined by Malou Maglutac, Jean Garcia, Cherry Pie Picache and Atoy Co as co-hosts. Ramon Lorenzo served as the Quiz Master for the "IQ 7" segment during this short stint of Student Canteen on RPN.
Ending
It was ended in 1990 due to disagreements between the RPN (now ETC)Radio Philippines Network
Radio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...
management and the hosts. A revival was supposed to be in the works again for the show the following year, but it had to be shelved after main host Bobby Ledesma died in 1993.
Alas Dose sa Trese
In 1998, former Student Canteen main host Eddie Ilarde resurfaced in the noontime scene as host of the IBCIntercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine VHF television network of the Government Communications Group headed by the Press Secretary. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is located at the Coca Cola plant,...
noontime show Alas Dose sa Trese. He was joined by the mother-daughter tandem of Boots Anson-Roa
Boots Anson-Roa
Maria Elisa Cristobal-Anson or Boots Anson-Roa is an award-winning actress, columnist, editor, and lecturer.-Early life:She was born on January 30, 1945...
(a former host of the original Student Canteen) and Chiqui Roa-Puno (newscaster of PTV
National Broadcasting Network
People's Television is the flagship government television network owned by the Philippine Government through People's Television Network, Inc. . Its head office, studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City .-History:The country's government...
and one of the top female sportscasters at that time) and actor-musician Paco Arespacochaga
Paco Arespacochaga
Paco Arespacochaga is a Filipino musician best known as the drummer of the band Introvoys. He is best remembered for his song "Line to Heaven". The song was said to be inspired by the loss of both his parents.-Personal life:...
in the show. Some elements of Student Canteen were seen in the show, along with former contestants from "Student Canteen"'s singing portions who gamely sang and entertained audiences via the segment "Student Canteen Corner". The show ended in 1999.
Main hosts
- Eddie IlardeEddie IlardeEdgar U. Ilarde , also known as Eddie Ilarde, is a Filipino radio and television host who was elected to one term in the Philippine Senate. He also served one term each as a Congressman and as an Assemblyman of the Interim Batasang Pambansa...
(1958–1990) - Pepe Pimentel (1958–1986)
- Bobby Ledesma† (1958–1990)
Co-hosts
- Helen Vela† (1975–1986)
- Leila Benitez (1958–1965)
- Coney ReyesConey ReyesConey Reyes is an award winning Philippine Film/TV actress, television host and producer with Chinese and Spanish descent. She has been one of the co-presenters of Student Canteen and Eat Bulaga . She earned a degree of Bachelor of Arts major in Communication Arts at Maryknoll College...
(1975–1982) - Tito Sotto (pinch-hitter) (1976–1979)
- Vic Sotto (pinch-hitter) (1976–1979)
- Joey de LeonJoey de LeonJosé María Ramos de León, better known as Joey de Leon is a Filipino comedian, actor, and television presenter. He hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He is a member of the comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey that has made several comedy movies and TV shows...
(pinch-hitter) (1976–1979) - Malou Maglutac (1984–1986)
- Atoy CoAtoy CoFortunato Co, Jr., better known as Atoy Co, is a former Philippine Basketball Association basketball player and actor who was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams, in 1976 and 1983. He won the Most Valuable Player award, in 1979 and a 9-time Mythical First...
(1989–1990) - Chiqui Hollman-Yulo (1982–1986)
- Jackie Lou Blanco (1982–1986)
- Dyords JavierDyords JavierDyords Javier is a singer, stand-up comedian, actor and Hip-hop artist in the Philippines. He is the brother of Danny Javier and the originator of Pinoy hip hop in the Philippines....
- APO Hiking SocietyAPO Hiking SocietyThe Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as Apo Hiking Society or, simply, Apo, was a Filipino musical group. The group had its fledgling beginnings in 1969 at the Ateneo de Manila high school, with thirteen members: Lito de Joya, Sonny Santiago, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito...
- Jean GarciaJean GarcíaJessica Maitim is a Filipina television and film actress, better known as Jean Garcia who hails from Angeles City, Pampanga.-Biography:...
(1989–1990) - Francis MagalonaFrancis MagalonaFrancis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...
† (1984–1986) - Rachel Anne Wolfe (1984–1986)
- Chat SilayanChat SilayanMaria Rosario Silayan-Bailon better known as Chat Silayan was a Filipina beauty queen and actress. She won the 1980 Binibining Pilipinas Universe crown and became the third runner-up at Miss Universe 1980. A year after her stint in Miss Universe, her acting career began and she became one of the...
† (1981–1986) - JC Bonnin (1985–1986)
- Marco Sison (1985–1986)
- Benedict Aquino
- Jam Morales (1984–1986)
- Charles Harner
- Lou VelosoLou VelosoLou Veloso is a Filipino actor, comedian, theater actor, director and politician. He is known for his supporting roles in over 30 popular comedy films, which include Mga kwento ni Lola Basyang , Pulis Patola , Ang Cute ng ina mo! , Desperadas 2...
- Cherry Pie PicacheCherry Pie PicacheCherry Pie Castro Picache is a Filipina actress and screenwriter who has starred T.V. and films and has worked as a model for modelling Palmolive, Camay, and Eskinol.Picache attended St. Mary's College in Mo...
(1989–1990)
See also
- ABS-CBN
- GMA NetworkGMA NetworkGMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
- List of shows previously aired by ABS-CBN
- List of shows previously aired by GMA Network