From 'Wil Time Bigtime' to 'Wowowillie'
Remember John John, the six-year-old boy whose macho dancing in Willie Revillame’s show “Willing Willie” two years ago got the comedian-host in deep trouble?
Read related story: 'Wowowillie' : Of The People, By The People, For The People
The boy’s willingness to help his family by joining a contest on national TV, even if it means gyrating in what many people believe was a scandalous manner, prompted Willie to take pity on him.
“Si John-John binigyan ko ng bahay at sasakyan Pinatayuan ko pa siya ng beauty parlor,” Willie relates in an interview after the presscon TV5 hosted for his show “Wowowillie,” which premieres Saturday, Jan. 26 at 11:30 a.m.
The financial support, he adds, will go on until the boy finishes his studies.
People are expecting Willie to be just as generous, even more so, now that he’s back on television, with a studio refurbished to the tune of P36-M (almost P35-M from Willie; P1-M from TV5) at Delta Theater, West Avenue, Quezon City to boot.
As expected, Willie’s line-up of games are filled with cash prizes.
“Sa isang game, lalabas ang pera sa ATM pag maayos mo ng tama ang mga numbers. Yung isa naman, may cash na nasa tube at hinahalo ang pera,” Willie relates.
A changed man
But while the soon-to-be-52 comedian-host’s (his birthday is on Sunday, Jan. 27) reputation for generosity remains, Willie admits he’s a changed man.
“Nag-mellow na ako,” he admits. “Kasi pag struggling artist ka, kailangang magpakitang gilas ka. If you notice, mga bagong artists na nagpapatawa, antipatiko sila. Naiintindihan ko sila. Pero pag nag-mature ka na, iba na.”
Now that he and Joey de Leon have patched things up, Willie doesn’t want to rock the boat anymore even if the former’s GMA- 7 noontime show “Eat Bulaga” is colliding headlong with “Wowowillie.”
“There’s no competition, walang patutsada,” says Willie. “Maganda ang ginagawa ng ‘Eat Bulaga’. Ito ang inspiration ko.” He was even humble enough to say that his show is but a segment or a portion of “Bulaga.”
More: It’s green and go on TV5
Instead of figuring in feuds, Willie would rather do positive things. He revealed plans of sharing his blessings with his staff and the orphans.
Willie wants to approach his friend, Sen. Manny Villar to ask if he can provide houses to each member of his staff.
“Kapag okay na ang staff ko, pag stable na sila, pwede na akong magpahinga. Sila ang inspiration ko,” he explains.
Willie also wants to save a lot of money so he can put up an orphanage which will be his legacy “pag wala na ako sa mundong ito.”
“Mahirap yung marami kang pera pero pinandidirihan ka. Masarap yung minamahal ka,” he adds.
Willie is currently building a high-end hotel in Tagaytay City. The budding businessman also shared that he got an offer to buy the Delta Theater building for P600-M.
But Willie would rather concentrate on the Tagaytay hotel for now.
Not the marrying type
The guy has everything – except a wife he can bring to his palatial home. But Willie is not looking for one right now, or even sometime in the future.
“I’m not the marrying type,” he admits. “I’m married to the people.”
Besides, Willie says he’s not lonely at all.
Willie’s fans – including the elderly who travel for miles to watch his show live – will only be too glad to keep him company.
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