Willie Revillame takes leave from 'Willing Willie'

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Following the recent backlash he received from various quarters because of the “Jan-Jan controversy,” TV host Willie Revillame will temporarily leave his TV show “Willing Willie.”

"Nakipag-usap ako sa presidente ng TV5, si Atty. Ray Espinosa. Nag-usap po kami na hanggang ngayon na lang po ako dito sa ‘Willing Willie.' Magpapahinga lang po muna ako," said the often-criticized TV host in his nearly 30-minute litany on the show on April 8.

He quickly clarified that the sabbatical does not mean goodbye, despite the fact that he will also use his break to contemplate about his move.

"Starting Monday po [April 11] hanggang next week, hanggang Holy Week, pag-iisipan ko po muna nang mabuti kung ako po ay magbabalik pa sa industriyang ito.

"Bigyan n'yo na lang po muna ako ng pagkakataon at sa sarili ko, pag-iisipan ko po ito. Masyado po akong binintangan. Maraming nagbintang sa akin nang wala po akong ginagawang masama,” he explained.

Revillame also said that their Friday episode will be their last live show, as the episodes for the next two weeks are pre-taped.

“Bukas po naka-tape na kami. Lalabas po iyon, mapapanood n'yo po iyon,” he said.

The TV host stressed that the move was not borne out of an alleged or impending suspension meted out by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), which is currently investigating the March 12 incident involving the “Willing Willie” episode where six-year-old Jan-Jan Suan performed a “macho dance” number.

“Hindi ho kami sinuspinde. Wala pong suspension ang MTRCB,” Revillame cleared.

He did reveal, however, that “Willing Willie” almost got suspended. The supposed suspension, which Revillame said he learned from a member of MTRCB, would’ve begun last April 7 and would've run for 20 to 30 days.

“Pero ano ang nangyari? Naputol. [Kasi,] pinakita ho namin ang mga batang babaeng nagsasayaw sa ‘Goin' Bulilit’ na naka-bra lang. Pinakita rin namin ang mga batang lalaki na nakalampin sa ‘Showtime,’ na sumasayaw din ng katulad kay Jan-Jan,” Revillame related, referring to the two programs on his former home network, ABS-CBN.

Revillame then dared: "Kung suspendihin n'yo kami, suspendihin ninyo lahat 'yan. Hindi po ba tama 'yon? Iba ho 'yong tinitingnan ninyo sa tinititigan ninyo. Maging fair kayo.”

With all the recent ruckus associated to Revillame, his show and TV5, the TV host apologized to the network’s chairman, Manny V. Pangilinan, and president, Atty. Ray Espinosa.

“Hihingi lang din ako ng paumanhin, boss, Mr. MVP, nadamay po kayo dito… Atty. Ray Espinosa at sa mga ano… pasensya na ho kayo, wala ho munang ‘Willing Willie,'” said he.

Although he apologized to parties who may have gotten offended by the "Jan-jan" episode, Revillame maintained, "Pero hindi po kami hihingi ng tawad, kasi ho wala po akong ginawang masama sa batang iyon. Hindi ko minolestiya ang batang iyon."

Aside from the criticisms that he and his show suffered from the controversy, large firms have one by one pulled out their sponsorship on “Willing Willie,” including Jollibee Foods Corporation (for Mang Inasal), Procter and Gamble, Cebuana Lhuillier and CDO-Foodsphere Inc.

While Revillame admitted that he’s hurt over these retractions, he is grateful for Unilever for applying their withdrawal of sponsorship not only to “Willing Willie” but to all live game shows.

“Sila po ay nagpaalam sa akin kagabi nang maganda. Ang sabi, naglabas sila ng statement, 'Willie, aalis kami sa programa mo, pero aalis kami sa lahat ng channel…’” he related.

He likewise thanked his supporters and promised that if the show returns, “may panibago hong pag-asa ulit.”

Furthermore, Revillame declared, “Kahit wala po kaming commercials, pagbalik ko, kahit hindi kami suportahan ng kahit na sino...

"Nakausap ko po ang presidente ng TV5, kahit po isakripisyo ko na ang suweldo ko. 'Yon po ang bibigay kong papremyo at kasama ko ang TV5, itutuloy po namin,” said he.

He added: "Ang amin pong purpose ay magbigay ng saya at pag-asa. Hihingi ako ng tulong sa aming presidente. Hihingi ako ng tulong kay Mr. Manny Pangilinan. Kahit ho daw malugi kami basta maituloy lang namin ang saya para sa inyo."

The TV host also assured, “Bibigyan namin ng proteksyon ang mga bata at mga pamilyang katulad [ng kay] Jan-Jan, kami na po ang gagawa niyan."

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is the newest sector to condemn the alleged exploitation that the six-year-old kid is said to have suffered on “Willing Willie,” following the earlier contentions issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

In its statement posted by abs-cbnNEWS.com on April 8, CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) expressed its “disappointment and dismay” over the controversy, saying that the “management and the host of the show brought shame not only to Jan-Jan and his parents but to media practitioners, in general.”

The group also “commends and supports the calls for further investigation of the abovementioned television episode and for appropriate intervention and assistance extended to Jan-Jan and his family.”

CBCP also urged all media practitioners to “uphold the human dignity at all times to avoid the betrayal of trust that was placed in their shoulders by the innocent young people and their parents,” and also reminded them of the media’s “ultimate commitment to corporate social responsibility.”

The group also called on the Filipino parents “to remain steadfast in their commitment to securing a safe environment, building a loving home, providing the best possible care and protecting the rights of children.”

source: mb.com.ph