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Wally Bayola

Filipino comedian (born 1972) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Walter James "Wally" Bayola (born May 3, 1972) (Tagalog: [ˈwali bɐˈjolɐ]), a Filipino comedian, actor, and television host, best known for portraying Lola Nidora and other characters in the Kalyeserye segment of the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He appears alongside co-hosts Jose Manalo and Paolo Ballesteros—collectively known as JoWaPao[1]—in the Juan for All, All for Juan (now Sugod Bahay Mga Kapatid!) segment of the show.

Born
Walter James Bayola

(1972-05-03) May 3, 1972 (age 54)
Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • television host
Yearsactive2000–present
KnownforKalyeserye
Co-host of Eat Bulaga!
Quick facts Born, Occupations ...
Wally Bayola
Bayola in 2024
Born
Walter James Bayola

(1972-05-03) May 3, 1972 (age 54)
Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • television host
Years active2000–present
Known forKalyeserye
Co-host of Eat Bulaga!
Television
SpouseRiza Bayola
Children7
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Early life and education

Bayola was raised by Francisco Nepomuceno, a priest and his maternal great-uncle, at a convent of a Catholic church in Naga, Camarines Sur. This arrangement came after his father left for the United States to work abroad and his mother was continuing her education.[2] After Nepomuceno's death, he was taken under the care of his grandmother. He pursued his college education at Ateneo de Naga University and later transferred to Naga College Foundation, where he received a scholarship as a member of the theater club.[3]

Career

Bayola previously worked as a warehouse helper, a sing-along bar host, and a band member. He later performed at a comedy bar, where he was discovered by Eat Bulaga!. After a brief stint on the program, he returned to comedy bar performances until Andrew de Real invited him back as a regular host. He officially became a full-time host on May 3, 2000, which coincided with his birthday.[3] He then formed a comedic duo with Jose Manalo.[4]

They first headlined the sketch comedy show H3O: Ha Ha Ha Over from December 2005 to 2007,[5] followed by The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto from 2011 to 2012.[6] He was temporarily absent from the program in 2013 following his involvement in a sex scandal. His role as Lola Nidora regained prominence during the rise of the "AlDub" love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza in July 2015, which brought renewed attention to the character.[7] He later co-hosted Sunday PinaSaya (2015–2019) with Jose Manalo, Ai-Ai delas Alas, and Marian Rivera.[8] He also portrayed Sikat in the sitcom Hay, Bahay!.[9]

On March 2, 2012, Bayola and Manalo had their first concert, Jose and Wally Show: A Party for Juan and All, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.[10][11] Their second concert was held at the same venue in 2013.[12][13][14]

Bayola won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2014 Dabarkads Awards.[15]

Controversies

Sex scandal

On September 2, 2013, a video showing Bayola and EB Babe Yosh Rivera engaging in sexual intercourse, was uploaded on YouTube. The video was immediately removed from the site but already went viral in several social media channels, including Facebook. After the scandal became known, it was reported that Bayola would not be appearing on Eat Bulaga! temporarily, as stated by his manager, Malou Choa Fagar who said the comedian "will lie low from the program".[16] Rivera has not appeared on Eat Bulaga! since,[17] and Bayola did not reappear until five months later on February 8, 2014, when he made an appearance on that day only during the Juan for All, All for Juan segment.[18] Bayola has since returned full-time and is currently a host on Eat Bulaga!.

Bayola admitted on a Startalk interview that he attempted suicide with a gun at the time he realized the sex video had gone viral. A phone call from his colleague Jose Manalo brought him back to his senses and made him stop the attempt, and he was reminded to visit his daughter, who is battling leukemia, in the hospital.[19]

Profanity incident

On August 10, 2023, Bayola and co-host, Jose Manalo were doing a skit on the show's Sugod Bahay, Mga Kapatid! segment, their scene was briefly interrupted when Manalo spoke to studio hosts Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Tito Sotto. Meanwhile, Bayola disappeared from the screen but accidentally uttered the Tagalog expletive "putang ina" off-screen that caught everyone's attention.The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), motu proprio, issued a Notice to Appear and Testify to the production group of E.A.T.[20][21]

A day later, on August 11, 2023, Bayola expressed regret and sincerely apologized for the incident and admitted that he had made a mistake.[22]

Personal life

He has been married to Riza Bayola since the age of 20, and they have five children.[3][23] His first grandchild was christened in 2016.[24]

In March 2026, Bayola sustained injuries from a motorcycle accident.[25]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role
2000–present Eat Bulaga! Himself
2005 H3O: Ha Ha Ha Over
I Laugh Sabado
2009 Cool Center —
SRO Cinemaserye Presents: Reunion —
Wow Hayop Himself
2010 My Darling Aswang Bal
Laugh Or Lose —
Pepito Manaloto Dodong
2011 R U Kidding Me? —
2012 The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto Wally Revilla
2012–2013 Celebrity Bluff Himself / Celebrity Gangnammm
2013 Magpakailanman: Behind The Laughter: The Wally Bayola Story Himself
Vampire ang Daddy Ko Dong
2014 Hakbang ng Pangarap: Eat Bulaga Lenten Special Galo
2015 Pinagpalang Ama: Eat Bulaga Lenten Special Win-Win
Sabado Badoo Herself (cameo)
2015–2019 Sunday PinaSaya Himself
2015 CelebriTV Himself (guest)
Starstruck Coach Cynthia (guest judge)
2016 Kaputol ng Buhay: Eat Bulaga Lenten Special Lola Nidora
God Gave Me You: Eat Bulaga Lenten Special Lance
2016–2017 Hay, Bahay! Sikat / Romualdo Del Mar
2018 Pamana Nanay Nunal
2018–2023 Daddy's Gurl Marikit Otogan / Matilda
2020–2021 Bawal Na Game Show Himself (host)
2021 Fill in the Bank Himself (guest player)
2021–present Balita One Nan Himself (host)
2023–2024 Wow Mali Doble Tama
2024 Selda ng Kahapon: Eat Bulaga! Lenten Special Maximo
2025 Happy Pill: Eat Bulaga! Lenten Special Dr. Vincent Cristobal
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Awards and nominations

More information Year, Award-Giving Body ...
Year Award-Giving Body Category Work Result
2012 43rd Box Office Entertainment Awards[26] Bert Marcelo Lifetime Achievement Award (with Jose Manalo) — Won
Most Popular Male Novelty Singer (with Jose Manalo) Shembot & Jump Brothers songs Won
Certified Comedy Concert Artist Jose & Wally: A Party for Every Juan Won
2013 44th GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards[27] Most Popular Novelty Singers (with Ryzza Mae Dizon & Jose Manalo) Cha-Cha Dabarkads song Won
Male Concert Performers of the Year Jose & Wally Concert: A Party for Juan and All Won
2014 Dabarkads Awards Best Supporting Actor[28] Eat Bulaga! Lenten Special Presents: Hakbang Ng Pangarap Won
2015 1st Catholic Social Media Awards Catholic Social Media Inspirational Award for promoting virtues, values, chivalry, modesty, morality and respect for elders (with Maine Mendoza, Alden Richards, TAPE Inc. & Eat Bulaga!)[29][30] Eat Bulaga!: Kalyeserye Won
28th Aliw Awards Best Stand-Up Comedian[31] Eat Bulaga! Nominated
Illumine Awards Most Innovative TV Comedian[32] Won
OFW Gawad Parangal Favorite Actor and Comedian[33] Won
Eastwood City Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Star Inductee[34] — Inducted
29th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Male TV Host[35] Eat Bulaga! Nominated
2016 USTv Students' Choice Awards Special Recognition for Social Media Phenomenon[36] Eat Bulaga!: Kalye Serye (with Jose Manalo and Paolo Ballesteros as Kalye's Angels) Won
Platinum Stallion Media Awards Trinitian Awardee for Values-Oriented TV Character[37] Won
47th GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards Bert Marcelo Lifetime Achievement Award (with Jose Manalo, and Paolo Ballesteros)[38] — Won
3rd PEP List Awards Editors' Choice: Male Comedy Star of the Year[39] Eat Bulaga! Won
29th Aliw Awards Best Stand-Up Comedian[40] Nominated
30th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Comedy Actor Hay, Bahay! Nominated
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References

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