Nostalgia filled the studio of Toni Talks when actress and host Toni Gonzaga welcomed the comedy trio JoWaPao—Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros.

The three comedians shared stories about their auditions, first days in the show, and the unexpected paths that eventually led them to become long-time hosts of the noontime program.

Looking back at their younger days, Toni said, “Forty na tayo. Alam mo, tinitingnan ko iyong mga pictures namin ni Paolo. Iyong mga campus natin sa Bulaga. Kapag may campus, tayo ang pinapadala.”

She added, “Kapag nakikita ko kayong tatlo, naalala ko iyong 17, 18. Ngayon 40 na.” 

The conversation started during Toni's early audition days. She reminded, “Si Jose, ang naalala ko, nag-audition ako sa kanya sa Birit Queen.” Wally asked Jose, “Pinasa mo (si Toni)?” Toni replied, “Hindi.”

Paolo reacted, “Ba’t di mo pinasa?” Toni remembered how Jose later teased her.  Jose said, “Hindi ko makakalimutan kasi noong nag-host na siya, ‘ito iyong hindi pumasa sa akin.’ Ito iyong hindi nagpasa sa akin.”

When Jose asked what she sang, she said, “Mga Regine Velasquez (songs). Hindi naman pang-Regine Velasquez iyong boses ko.”

Toni asked JoWaPao how many years they had been on the show. Wally said, “Ako 26. Nagsimula ako 2000. Birthday na birthday ko.” Paolo then answered, “2001.” Toni noted, “Halos sabay pala tayo.”

When asked how he got into the show, Paolo, 43, admitted it was through a connection. “Iyong manager ko. Tapos friend niya si Tita Malou.” Toni clarified, “Jojie Dingcong?” Paolo confirmed, “Oo, Joji Dingcong.”

Jose, 60, also shared his unusual journey—from working behind the scenes to eventually becoming a host. He first appeared in a TV drama. “Sa Valiente ako nag-start.” He quipped, “Mga 5 years old ako noon. Child star pa lang ako noon.” 

He recalled his early roles. “Pagpasok ko pa lang sa mga ganong serye, first time ko pa. Boy, syempre. Anong inaasahan mo? Amo kaagad? Natural, magbo-boy ka muna.”

He added that his character’s name eventually became Jose. “Tapos binigyan na kami ng pangalan. Doon na nag-start iyong Jose. Dahil Jose ang pangalang ko roon.”

When asked if that was his real name, he replied, “No, no. Ariel Manalo. Ariel talaga ako. Binabagay lang sa mukha. Hindi bagay sa'kin.” Toni laughed and said, “Pinoy na Pinoy.”

Jose also shared how he became a host in Eat Bulaga. “Nagstart ako sa Bulaga nang 1994. As a PA, audition master. Ako mag-i-screen. Ako papasa kung babalik, kung kailan babalik. Pinabalik kita eh. Natatandaan ko eh.”

The comedian later became floor director. “Tapos iyon na. Lumalabas-labas na rin ako. Ako iyong legal na on-cam floor director.”

He recalled being called by producer Tony Tuviera to resign from his job.

“‘Magre-resign ka na as a floor director, gagawin ka naming host ng Eat Bulaga. Natulala lang ako. ‘Okay po’ gumanon lang ako.”

Meanwhile, Wally, 53, also shared his early days in the noontime show. Toni said she saw him first as a jester.

Wally explained, “nakasama lang ako kapag may bulagaan lang, tsaka lang ako kasama.” He also remembered performing in costume, “Nasama akong opening minsan naka Spider-Man. Tumawag pa ako sa probinsya, ‘Kasama po ako sa opening!’ 

"Hinahanap nila ako, hindi naman kita, kasi nakatakip (ako ng costume). Umakyat pa ako. Napakataas nung inakyat ko.”

Toni interrupted saying she remembered and said she first guested on Daddy Di Do Du. Jose recalled how the production team was instructed to find the girl from a soda commercial who was shouting energetically. “Namataan ka ni Direk Bert, pinahanap ka para mag-guest doon.”

Toni revealed that she heard from the show’s makeup artist. A few months later, she officially joined the program, although she admitted that the early days were uncertain because she only appeared a few days a week and was often on standby.

“Ang schedule ko lang noon, Tuesday and Thursday. Minsan may araw hindi ako natatawag… parang nanood ako ng Eat Bulaga. Ay, tapos na pala Eat Bulaga, hindi ako nakalabas.”

Paolo confirmed this was common. “Ay, lahat naman tayo eh. ‘Di ba, may mga times na naghahawak lang tayo ng box. Tapos, tapos na.”

Toni, however, observed the cast had teamwork, “Ang napansin ko sa dynamics ng Eat Bulaga, nagtutulungan lahat. Hindi lang isa iyong poste. Kasi, ultimo si Bossing tsaka si Tito Joey, bumabato sa lahat ng hosts, kaya lahat nagkaka-moment to shine.”

The trio later formed JoWaPao, which started in the Sugod Bahay segment.

“Anniversary na namin nito eh, 25 years na kami nitong magkasama,” Jose said. Toni asked about the timeline before the AlDub phenomenon, the popularity created by the former 'loveteam' of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza.

Toni inquired, “Wala pa AlDub noon?” Jose answered, “wala pa.”

The conversation turned to their famous grandmother characters in the Aldub Kalyeserye segment. Jose teased, “kagagawan ng isa dyan,” referring to Paolo. Wally explained, “Ang pinanggalingan nun iyong Dora Dora, na doktora ako. Hanggang nakita.. ‘maglola ka naman.’”

They ended up portraying three grandmothers, Lola Tinidora, Lola Nidora, and Lola Tidora. Wearing full makeup and costumes in every segment, they became one of the central figures in the massive success of the show’s AlDub Kalyeserye.