MANILA, Philippines - For he's a jolly good fellow. For he's a jolly good fellow.

This was the song playing on the background as the cast of Mornings@ANC bid TJ Manotoc farewell on Friday morning. Although the whole cast tried to make the mood light and funny, a sadder and more serious undertone could not be concealed.

Actually, it's no good-bye yet for this tech-sports aficionado.

In fact, TJ will just be moving to the evening shift, where he will be joining Ces Drilon on The Rundown to handle the lighter side of the evening news. TJ promised to dish out inspiring stories, exciting trivias and a very interactive social media segment.

From Mornings@ANC, TJ Manotoc moves to The Rundown, also on ANC. Credit: ANC

Yesterday, however, the audience got to know TJ in a more personal way.

There's TJ's apparently famous "gigantic" lunch box mentioned by some of the original cast of Mornings@ANC.

Marieton Pacheco, who is now based abroad, said, "I'm sure dinner na ang magiging laman ng lunch box mo, ng gigantic lunch box mo. Instead of breakfast."

Niña Corpuz seconded the motion. "TJ always brings baon on the set so everytime he takes a break, he eats his breakfast and his breakfast is so complete! Everything is there, so nakakainggit."

Then there's TJ the hearty and quick eater, which was clearly shown in a spoof made of TJ's eating moments on the set. And boy was he fast.

Co-host Ginger Conejero could not hide her emotions while saying good-bye. Ginger admitted in jest that next to her father, her relationship with TJ is the longest relationship she has had with a male.

She said, to her, TJ will always be the kuya she never had.

The Mornings@ANC gang also reminisced about TJ's iPad, TJ's habit of making fun of people on and off air, and TJ's quality of work. These they all agree would surely be missed.

After 7 years of being a "fixture" in the mornings, TJ Manotoc will now be crossing over to the evenings.

Without a doubt, whether at nighttime or daytime, watching TJ Manotoc will be a hard habit to break!

For he's a jolly good fellow.
For he's a jolly good fellow.

And that nobody can deny.