Tropang Trumpo | ABC - 90s Philippine Television Comedy (Gag) Show

Tropang Trumpo was a popular Filipino television comedy gag show that aired on the Associated Broadcast Company or ABC 5 (Now TV5) every Saturday nights and ran from 1994-1999. Tropang Trumpo was the definitive gag show of the mid-90s which made Ogie Alcasid, Gelli de Belen, Carmina Villaroel, Earl Ignacio, and Michael V. became household names. Let's go down memory lane and reminisce the iconic 90s gag show, Tropang Trumpo.

Tropang Trumpo - The Show
About Tropang Trumpo

Tropang Trumpo's original cast included Ogie Alcasid, Michael V., Gelli de Belen, and theatre/voice actors Noni Buencamino, Earl Ignacio and Sheilou Bharwani under the direction of Jose Javier Reyes. However, when Reyes became busy with films, former Goin' Bananas cast members Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz, Al Tantay and former Goin' Bananas headwriter Dan Salamante came in and assumed the respective posts of director and writers. Mortiz, Tantay and Salamante introduced new segments for the show, the most famous was "Battle of the Brainless", a satirical quiz show (taken from the 90s famous game show "Battle of the Brains" aired over RPN) where simple quiz questions are never answered. Besides Battle of the Brainless, the ABC-5 gag show also became known for its in-between jokes short humorous dance number using a nail product tv ad jingle "Caronia" by the main cast usually ending with another word that the show made trend of during the 90s, "chicken"; and a parody of the popular Filipino soap Valiente with "Bahaw: Ang Kaning Lamig".

The show eventually went on even when two of its main cast, Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid, left in 1995 to do another gag show for GMA entitled "Bubble Gang". The new cast included Gelli de Belen, Carmina Villaroel, Smokey Manaloto, Earl Ignacio, Maoi Roca, Caloy Alde, Mickey Ferriols, Ariel "Hyubs" Azarcon, Diego "Binoy" Salvador.

"Tropang Trumpo" started to decline when several new shows started copying its format. In 1998, the show had to reformat after Edgar Mortiz, Al Tantay and Dan Salamante left due to conflict with ABC executives. At the same time, cast members Smokey Manaloto and Earl Ignacio also left to side with their beleaguered director. In mid-1998, original "Tropa" cast members Gelli de Belen and later addition, Carmina Villaroel left, and the show struggled to survive with its relatively new cast and staff. It finally closed at the end of the 1999 and was replaced with "Ispup".

On 2003, Bubble Gang paid tribute to some of the most popular gag shows in the Philippines, one of which is Tropang Trumpo. Old footage for Tropang Trumpo is rare these days, so if you want a somewhat accurate idea of what the show like back in the days, then check out the Bubble Gang's tribute here:

Bubble Gang Pays Tribute to Tropang Trumpo



It was really a big fan service to see Carmina, Gelli, Ogie and Michael V. doing the Caronia "Chicken" Dance on Bubble Gang.

As a child growing up on the 90s, Tropang Trumpo was the authority when it comes to comedy back then. Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid's departure from Tropang Trumpo gave the biggest crippling blow to the iconic 90s gag show. It was never the same after the two comedians left for Bubble Gang. Although I have to give credit for Tropa for staying more than three years after the maid comedic celebrities left the series. I still remember how the Battle of the Brainless segment would always cracked me up as a kid. There there was the Caronia/Chicken Dance that Tropa popularize. I still remember I some of my elementary classmates who were also into Tropang Trumpo usually do some of the steps and use the term "chicken" as much as we could back then. This is probably where I got my humor or "corniness" from. I think if I re-watch it now (if there would still be some old footage or copies out there), I might get a few chuckles every now and then but my sense of humor has also grown up through the years, so I guess I'll be scratching my head now. I might not have the same reaction like before when Carmina usually force her pustiso jokes on their "Ano ang tawag" segment. Tropang Trumpo will always be a big part of my life, and maybe every kid who just wanted one day of the week to just laugh out loud.

What about you guys? What's your fondest memory, favorite segment, favorite cast and general thoughts on the iconic 90s gag show from ABC-5. Share your thoughts on Tropang Trumpo on the comments section below:

Ober Da Bakod | A GMA 90s Sitcom Retrospective

Ober Da Bakod was a popular GMA Network sitcom produced by Viva Television and co-produced and broadcast by GMA Network from 1992–1997. The weekly situational comedy features the misadventures of two brothers Mokong and Bubuli as they successfully overcome every devious plans created by the sinister and filthy rich father of the two girls that they are courting. Let's go down memory lane and reminisce this hilarious Philippine retro sitcom.

Ober Da Bakod - The Story
Ober Da Bakod Synopsis

The brothers Mokong (Janno Gibbs) and Bubuli (Anjo Yllana), sons of Lucring Dayukdok (Malou de Guzman) have feelings for the rich sisters Honey Grace (Gelli de Belen) and Barbie Doll (Donita Rose), daughters of the infamous Don Robert Dinero (Leo Martinez); Mokong for Honey Grace and Bubuli for Barbie Doll. Don Robert doesn’t like the brothers because they are poor. In order to freely court Honey Grace and Barbie Doll, Mokong and Bubuli climbs over the fence and thus the title Ober Da Bakod (Over the Fence).

Don Robert, usually with the aid of his blundering fool of a right hand man, Brownie (Danny Pansalin) always makes plans to prevent Mokong and Bubuli to get close to his daughters. Nonetheless, he fails due to the intervention of his mortal enemy and former girlfriend, Aling Lucring who happens to be Mokong and Bubuli's overprotective mother. As a result, total mayhem ensues between the two families. A running gag of the series is that in the end of every episode, two policemen, Officers Tedera and Officer Ginto, arrest Don Robert fbased on whatever schemes he had concocted. As Don Robert tries to explain his way out of this arrest, the police officers always tell him, "Sa presinto ka na lang magpaliwanag." ("Explain everything at the precinct.") Those words have now become a semi-common Filipino catchphrase.

Ober Da Bakod has a hip and catchy opening theme also entitled "Ober Da Bakod" was written and performed by 90s popular comedic actor and Filipino rapper Andrew E. I can not find the exact opening theme for the popular Philippine sitcom, only this movie theme song of Ober Da Bakod:

Ober Da Bakod 90s Sitcom Television Theme
Ober Da Bakod written and performed by Andrew E

The sitcom spun two movies under its 90s run mainly Ober Da Bakod: The Movie (1994) and Ober Da Bakod 2 (1996). I personally consider this as one of the most hilarious 90s sitcom. The chemistry amongst the comedy show's cast flowed naturally which made the humor much more natural, if not effortless. Aling Lucring was the perfect representation of a probinsyana Filipino tiger mom usually to her elder son Mokong whom she usually smacks her mischievious son at the back of his head (accompanied by a hitting a frying pan sound effects) everytime Mokong commits a mistake, teasing his younger brother Bubuli, or just to complete her day. I can somehow relate to Mokong although my mom didn't hit me in the head to discipline me back then, she sure is a probinsyana tiger mom. Just like Aling Lucring's signature frying pan hit, every episode would not be complete without Don Robert getting arrested. If there was something that the show thought us (children in the 90s) it was that crime or doing harm against people will always get you in trouble with the law, specifically the police. Even in the two Ober Da Bakod movies, Don Robert was still man-handled by the two arresting police officers before the film cut to its ending credits.

Here is an idea of what Ober Da Bakod was like back in the days, a Youtube clip of best of Ober Da Bakod the Movie. Although the TV sitcom was way much better than its movie counterparts.

What about you guys? What are your fondest and most memorable momments of the GMA Network sitcom Ober Da Bakod? share your thoughts in the comments section below: