Willie Revillame Hits Wall Street Journal

Willie Revillame proves that he is not only for the local entertainment scene but for international media as well. Willie has been featured in no less than the Wall Street Journal in a full page spread titled "Willing Willie Jolts Philippine TV".

The author of the article is James Hookway who talks about the Philippine TV scene since Willie transferred from ABS-CBN to TV5. He noted that TV5 grabbed 29% of the weekend prime-time audience share in Mega Manila overtaking ABS-CBN in the fourth quarter of 2010. Willie Revillame currently hosts the show with Shalani Soledad.

For more details on the Wall Street Journal report, click here.

Willie Revillame Kisses Shalani Soledad (Finally)

Willie Revillame and Shalani Soledad had their fans in excitement during the birthday celebration of the former when Shalani attempted to kiss Willie, with Willlie's request of course. I said attempted only because when Shalani finally agreed to kiss Willie, Willie teased Shalani and moved his face away. In short, the kiss was not made in TV.

But for the die hard fans of Willie and Shalani Soledad, here is a picture of the two where they finally kissed during the birthday celebration of Willie off the camera.

The picture shown above is a picture taken by Philippine Entertainment Portal during the birthday party of Willie at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La.

Shalani Soledad Joins Willing Willie

It is now confirmed that the lady co-host mentioned by Willie Revillame is Shalani Soledad. This was the news leaked by PEP today after Willie said in his show it will be revealed this coming Monday who is his lady co-host in Willing Willie.

Here is the news item from  PEP:


Si Shalani Soledad ang magiging co-host ni Willie Revillame sa Willing Willie simula sa Lunes, November 8.

Ang magandang 30-year-old politician ang tinutukoy sa blind item sa PEP ALERTS na lumabas ngayong araw, November 6, tungkol sa "isang big-time at kontrobersiyal na female personality na ipapakilala sa Willing Willie sa Lunes, Nov. 8."

Ayon sa impormasyong nakalap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kagabi, November 5, nagkasarahan na ang negosasyon sa pagpasok ni Shalani sa programa ni Willie. Pero hindi pa malinaw kung nakakontrata na siya o nasa trial period pa lamang.

Isang malaking hakbang para kay Shalani, na naninilbihan bilang konsehal sa Valenzuela City, ang pagiging co-host ng isang malaganap na variety program gaya ng Willing Willie.

Ibig sabihin kasi nito ay tuluyan nang pinalawak ni Shalani ang kanyang mundo.

Mula sa pulitika ay tatawirin na rin niya ang mundo ng showbiz, kung saan mas magiging target siya ng intriga at kontrobersiya—ngunit mas magkakaroon din siya ng pangalan, mas makikilala sa buong bansa, at mas makaa-attract ng malalaking offers.

Baka nga di maglaon ay endorser na rin siya gaya ni Kris Aquino, ang artistang sinasabi ni Shalani ay paborito niya noong mga panahong wala pa siyang kilala sa showbiz.

Bago pa man kasi nagdesisyon si Shalani na pasukin ang mundo ng telebisyon ay naging laman na siya ng balita sa diyaryo, radio, telebisyon, at news websites.

Bukod sa pagiging political figure, ang pinakadahilan ng interes ng media kay Shalani ay dahil sa naging girlfriend ito ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino.

Bagamat wala pang direktang kumpirmasyon mula kina Shalani at PNoy, malakas ang usap-usapan na break na ang dalawa pagkatapos ng dalawang taon ng pagiging magkasintahan.

Tinukoy na ng YES! sa November isyu nito ang relasyon ng dalawa. Sinabi ng monthly entertainment magazine na kumpirmadong hiwalay na sila. Binigay pa ng YES!, na affiliate ng PEP, ang mga sumusunod na datos—

Petsa ng kanilang paghihiwalay: September 28; oras: gabi, dinner; lugar: Alfredo's, isang restaurant sa Tomas Morato, Quezon City, kung saan sila unang nagkakilala. Walang third party at walang away. Natabangan na lang si PNOY kay Shalani.

Bago maluklok sa puwesto si PNoy bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas ay mainit na pinag-usapan ang kanilang relasyon. At nang umupo na sa Malacañang si PNoy ay marami ang nag-abang kung si Shalani na nga ba ang magiging First Lady ng bansa.

Pero malabo nang mangyari ito dahil sa break na nga sila. Bukod dito, naiuugnay na rin ang pangalan nina Shalani at PNoy sa iba.

Samantala, matagal-tagal na rin naman ang bulung-bulungang nasa plano ni Shalani ang pagtakbo for higher office. Hindi na raw ito pang-barangay level lamang. Ito raw ay malamang tumakbo bilang kongresista o senadora sa malapit na hinaharap.

Pag nagkataon, malaking tulong sa kanya ang paglabas sa telebisyon.

Kung sa bagay, hindi na maituturing na baguhan sa harap ng telebisyon si Shalani. Bago kasi niya pinasok ang mundo ng pulitika ay naging field reporter siya para sa UNTelevision.

Gayunpaman, walang karanasan si Shalani sa pag-host o co-host ng programa na gaya ng Willing Willie, na kombinasyon ng games, prizes, contests, song and dance, at nakatutok sa isang masang audience.

Malaki ang stakes sa show na ganito. Pati pag-angat ng TV5 sa industriya ay mukhang nakataya rito.

Si Willie ang inaasahang magbibigay ng bigat sa Kapatid network upang seryosohin ito ng advertisers at ng audience. Kasunod nito, inaasahang mababanggit na ang pangalan ng TV5, kasa-kasama ang ABS-CBN at GMA-7, kapag pinag-uusapan ang major networks ng bansa.

At sa ganitong show, ang sinumang mag-host ay kinakailangang may mabilis na reaction time sa kung anuman ang bumulaga rito. Kailangan rin itong maagap sa mga sitwasyon at marunong sumalo sa kung anuman ang ibato ng audience at lalo pa sa ibabato ng main host na si Willie Revillame.

Sa ngayon, hindi nababakas sa personalidad ni Shalani—or at least sa public image nito—na siya ay magiging mala-Valerie Concepcion o Mariel Rodriguez o Pokwang, ang mga lady co-hosts ni Willie sa dating show na Wowowee sa ABS-CBN.

Ang tatlo ay matatas, lista, at mahusay kumonekta sa guests, liban pa sa sanay na sanay makilaro sa audience habang hindi inaagawan ng papel ang main host. Ito ang mga hahanapin kay Shalani.

Pero ngayon pa man, masasabi nang sa pagpasok ni Shalani sa Willing Willie, tiyak na lalong mabibigyan ng kulay ang lumalakas na bagong programa ni Willie.

Source: http://www.pep.ph/news/27299/-FIRST-READ-ON-PEP:--Shalani-Soledad-will-be-Willie-Revillame's-co-host-in--Willing-Willie--

Court defers action on Willie's new show

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday morning deferred action on the petition filed by ABS-CBN Corporation seeking to prevent its former host Willie Revillame from hosting an upcoming show on TV5.

According to ABS-CBN's lawyer Maxim Uy, no temporary restraining order (TRO) was decided during Friday's hearing.

Uy said that the motion was submitted for the judge to study, and it will be decided after October 15.

The lawyer said that if Revillame decides to go on with his new show anytime before October 15, then they can't do anything.

Revillame said he's thankful to ABS-CBN Chairman Gabby Lopez Jr. and President Charo Santos-Concio for giving him the break as a host, but he now wants to work for a network that wants him.

"Tuloy po ang programa ng bawat Pilipino. Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay Sir Gabby, kay Ma'am Charo pero doon na ko sa gusto sa akin," Revillame said.

On Tuesday, the Kapamilya network asked the Quezon City RTC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a writ of preliminary injunction to stop Revillame “from committing further violations to his contract with the network” by launching “Willing Willie.”

The new show will reportedly air on October 23 at prime time.

On Friday's hearing, Revillame arrived at the Quezon City RTC at around 9 a.m. and was greeted by some of his fans. He was with his lawyers and entertainment writer-host Lolit Solis.

The judge in the hearing was Luisito Cortez, who inhibited himself from trying the murder case filed against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. regarding the Maguindanao massacre last year.

 'All about honoring contract'

In response to the court's decision, ABS-CBN said its "application for TRO has been submitted for resolution of the Judge, who ordered both parties to file all pleadings by Oct 15, after which he shall decide on the application."

"ABS-CBN reiterates that the issue on Willie Revillame is all about honoring a contract. To the Kapamilya network, it is the ethical and right thing to do.  It is a noble act of a person who values honesty and integrity," the network said.

"So when Willie chose to ignore his contract with ABS-CBN, we were left with no choice but to ask the court to intervene. We have not been negligent in reminding Willie about his contract obligations and when he asked for the rescission of his contract, ABS-CBN chose to apply for a TRO and fight for what is right and honorable," ABS-CBN said.

via: abs-cbnnews.com

Willie Revillame's Downfall in Jobert Sucaldito's Eyes

With the finality of the demise of Wowowee, many think this could also the start of the downfall of host Willie Revillame. It can be noted that Wowowee was born with the collaboration of the people behind the show and Willie Revillame himself. They started against the longest running noontime show "Eat Bulaga" of the Kapuso network.

It was an uphill battle but nevertheless, with the wits of the people behind Wowowee and the hosting antics of Willie, Wowowee has overtaken "Eat Bulaga" in viewership here in the Philippines and abroad. Willie became so popular and rich and became controversial. Almost every act of Willie has been watched by watchful eyes and criticized him whenever they can.

Jobert Sucaldito has been one of the critics of Willie. He has been very critical on Willie and the show and has been making "negative" comments in his columns and radio programs. Willie is short tempered and Jobert have seen this and took advantage of it. He kept on criticizing Willie until Willie broke up and the rest is history.

Now that Wowowee is soon to be replaced by "Pilipinas: Win Na Win", Jobert Sucaldito came out in the open and airs his side. Here is what he is to say on the new show and the demise of Wowowee:

"Honestly, I'm very excited with the new show. But of course, I'm not the type of person who will rejoice over someone's downfall. That's against the law of God. I have to admit that up to this day I'm still hurting. I just want to move on in life. Whatever decisions ABS-CBN did for Willie is theirs and I fully respect that. I'm in no position to comment further. Life goes on for me, come what may."

Some say Jobert succeeded in toppling Willie and Wowowee and this is what he say:

"Everyting was co-incidental. I was the last straw. Naging instrumento lang siguro ako. Siguro, it was meant to happen lang na ako lang ang naging instrumento. Pero sabi ko nga ang downfall ng ‘Wowowee’ is not me. It's not the network. It's Willie. It self-destructed. Wala namang pwedeng sisihin dito kung hindi ang may katawan,"

When asked if he is open for a reconcilliation with Willie Revillame:

"I don't know when. Siguro in God’s time. Pero if it happens, handa ako kasi kung ikaw malinis ang konsensiya mo handa ka. If he feels sorry for what he has done, wala pa kasi akong maramdamang remorse, 'yong sa aming dalawa.”, Jobert ended.

Pilipinas: Win na Win to Replace Wowowee

So it's final. ABS-CBN is pulling off the plug of their popular noontime show "Wowowee" and replace it with "Pilipinas: Win Na Win". This was announced by the network just recently and it said the new show is going to start this coming Saturday, July 31.

This ends the speculations about the return of Willie Revillame to Wowowee. In some unconfirmed reports, Willie will really return to the show this coming Saturday but an ABS-CBN insider threatened to resign if Willie will make a comeback. Another rumors, that said to have prompted the management to replace Wowowee, is the survey conducted to TFC subscribers which yielded the result that they prefer a new show thatn Wowowee without Willie.

"Pilipinas: Win Na Win" is to be hosted by Kris Aquino, Robin Padilla, Pokwang, Mariel Rodriguez and Valerie Concepsion. It is said to be a variety and game show but with similar concept with Wowowee. Mixed reactions has been aired by fans about the decision of the network on the fate of Wowowee which ran for 5 long years.

Willie Revillame meanwhile, has yet to issue an official statement about this development. He can't be reached with his cellphone and is very hard to find nowadays. There are those who are saying that all he wants now is to be out from his contract with the network. But this couldn't be true because according to some insiders, Willie is in fact remain as Kapamilya and is going to return anytime soon.

It is said that "Pilipinas: Win Na Win" is good only for one season, or 13 episodes. This only indicates that Willie is really making a comeback after the end of the new noontime show. All are just speculations right now. Some are even wondering if Willie is going to go "ober da bakod" to the Kapuso network which, according to some reports, are sending emissaries to Willie for an undisclosed  offers.

Just a note: The original name for the new show was "Pilipinas: For The Win" with the initials "FTW". If you are going to reverse it, it is some kind of obscenity so they change it to "Pilipinas: Win Na Win".

Willie Revillame Returns to Wowowee Today

After almost two months of absence, Willie Revillame returns to Wowowee today. Willie has been "on vacation" status after his remarks during the late president Cory Aquino's funeral cortege that was inserted in his "Willie of Fortune" segment.

That irked many viewers that resulted into Willie's "two months vacation".

"Tuloy na ho ang pag-asa. Tuloy na ang saya," Willie said in his interview with SNN where he confirmed his return to the noontime show.

Despite of Willie's long absence, Wowowee is still number 1 in the TV ratings nationwide in its time slot.

ABS-CBN Supports Wowowee Host Willie Revillame

ABS-CBN shows it's support for Wowowee host Willie Revillame in its letter to the KBP in response to the MTRCB and AFIMA's complaint against the host.

Below is the letter as published by PEP:

Dear Ms. Gozum:

We write in reply to your letter dated 10 August 2009, requesting ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation to comment on the complaint of Movie and Television Review & Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairperson Ma. Consoliza P. Laguardia dated 10 August 2009, and an undated statement of Jerry Yap, President of the Alyansa ng Filipino Mamamahayag (AFIMA).

The said complaint and statement both refer to the 03 August 2009 episode of the television program Wowowee, wherein the funeral cortege of the late President Corazon C. Aquino was exhibited as an inset in portions of the said program. The MTRCB letter alleges that Mr. Revillame "appeared to arrogantly demand the removal of the inset screen showing the funeral cortege." The Honorable MTRCB Chairperson then opined that the said act was "desecrating the dead" and, thus, "seems to be in violation of Article 20, Section 2, of the Broadcast Code of the Philippines." On the other hand, the AFIMA statement states that "[f]or him to demand the removal of the little window screen showing the funeral march of the woman who got ABS-CBN back from Marcos is a blasphemy of democracy, an act despicable x x x." It appears, therefore, that the complaint and statement are both based on the alleged disrespect by Mr. Revillame to the late former President Aquino.

It is ABS-CBN's position that there was no disrespect of the dead by Mr. Revillame. When the funeral cortege of former President Aquino was shown as an inset during Wowowee, Mr. Revillame expressed his opinion of the inappropriateness of the simultaneous exhibition of both the funeral cortege and Wowowee, and his preference that only one or the other be shown.

In expressing his opinion and preference, though, Mr. Revillame did not show disrespect for former President Aquino. In fact, the contrary is true. In making his statements, Mr. Revillame wanted to give due respect to former President Aquino and her funeral cortege.

Indeed, in Filipino culture, customs, and tradition, ceremonies involving the dead are solemn and sober. Thus, the laughter, jokes, and happiness usually seen in a program like Wowowee would appear to be inappropriate when viewed together with the funeral cortege. On the one hand, the Filipino people are mourning the death of a loved and respected former President, and on the other hand, Wowowee is trying to entertain its audience.

It appears, therefore, that Mr. Revillame's issue was with the inappropriateness of Wowowee and the funeral cortege being shown together, and not with the funeral cortege itself. While it may be argued that Mr. Revillame could have expressed his thoughts in a better way and that it would have been better to raise them privately, instead of the public manner in which he did, such was not disrespectful of the dead and does not constitute an offense under the KBP Broadcast Code of the Philippines.

We trust the foregoing comment satisfactorily establishes that there was no violation of the KBP Broadcast Code of the Philippines.

MA. SOCORRO V. VIDANES
Head, Channel 2

Willie Revillame, Edu Manzano & Korina Sanchez For Senator

Willie Revillame and Edu Manzano can both land a seat in the senate if elections were held today. That's what was revealed in the latest opinion poll conducted by Pulse Asia recently.

Although Willie and Edu have not indicated their intention to run for a public position come 2010 elections, they have a very strong chance landing to the senate. This is due to the popularity of their respective TV programs which depicts the two hosts as pro-masses.

Willie is the host of the popular noontime show "Wowowee" and Edu is the host of "Game Ka Na Ba", both in ABS-CBN network.

Another ABS-CBN personality who is likely to become senator is broadcaster Korina Sanchez. Korina however, just like the two mentioned above, didn't show any interest in joining any political race. Joked some friends; "Maybe she's just contented to be the First Lady of the Phillippines if Mar Roxas wins the presidency".

Incumbent senators, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., who are both actors, are also assured of re-election. Jinggoy can even land to the no.1 spot while Bong would land to the 5th to 11th slot.

Vicente "Tito" Sotto, another actor and currently Dangerous Drugs Board chairman and himself a former two-term senator, also has a high chance of winning.

Respondents were presented 65 names and the question:

"Kung ang nasabing halalan sa 2010 ay isasagawa ngayon, sinu-sino sa mga sumusunod na personalidad ang inyong iboboto kung sakaling sila ay kakandidato sa pagka-senador? Puwede kayong pumili ng hanggang 12 pangalan."

Showbiz invasion in the senate? Willie can bring Luningning and Milagring in the senate halls and it be real fan.