Wally Bayola

Walter James "Wally" Bayola (born May 3, 1972) (Tagalog:[ˈwalibɐˈjolɐ]), 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—in the Juan for All, All for Juan (now Sugod Bahay Mga Kapatid!) segment of the show.

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. 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.

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. He then formed a comedic duo with Jose Manalo.

They first headlined the sketch comedy show H3O: Ha Ha Ha Over from December 2005 to 2007, followed by The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto from 2011 to 2012. 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. He later co-hosted Sunday PinaSaya (2015–2019) with Jose Manalo, Ai-Ai delas Alas, and Marian Rivera. He also portrayed Sikat in the sitcom Hay, Bahay!.

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. Their second concert was held at the same venue in 2013.

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

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". Rivera has not appeared on Eat Bulaga! since, 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. 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.

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.

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

Personal life

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

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

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

External links

• Media related toWally Bayolaat Wikimedia Commons
• atIMDb