Willie gifts self with P200M private plane

Having survived the recent unfortunate “Jan-Jan incident,” Willie Revillame has mellowed a lot and has become more “restrained” in his revived show on TV5, now called Wil Time Big Time (formerly Willing Willie), which now features more prizes and new games.

That’s one good news.

The other is that Willie has just gifted himself with a private plane which he bought for a staggering P200M from Jorge Consunji. Now he can fly to his rest house in Tagaytay with his friends anytime he wants to. Knowing Willie, I won’t be surprised if he takes up a course in aeronautics so he himself can pilot his plane (too big to land on his yacht).

That’s not only Willie’s latest acquisition. He has also bought the vacant lot beside the Wil Tower he’s building right across from ABS-CBN. The tower will have a mall, cinemas, office and residential units, and a studio.

He has also bought (to the tune of tens of millions) hectares of property also in Tagaytay from the Madrigals and he plans to build a resort on it.

A Funfare VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent) reported that yesterday he saw Willie in Ayala Alabang (where his good friend Aga Muhlach lives with his family) to check Don Enrique Zobel’s house which sprawls over a one-hectare lot with a huge garden and, take note, a helipad (perfect for Willie’s private plane). The asking price? Only $10M!!!

Incidentally, what Willie’s detractors and harsh critics (that sprouted like mushrooms at the height of the “Jan-Jan incident”) conveniently ignored (or perhaps they didn’t know) was Willie’s concern for poor children for whom he’s putting up a P50M foundation, not to mention how he helped 40 OFWs come home, shelling out P500,000 from his own purse for their tickets. That was in 2009 when ABS-CBN boss Charo Santos-Concio and ABS-CBN exec Raffy Lopez brought Willie to entertain TFC (The Filipino Channel) subscribers. The OFWs were abused by their employers and didn’t have money for airfare.

Obviously, Willie has forgotten (and forgiven) his, as I said, detractors and harshest critics. Recently, he accepted an invitation to be the special guest at the family gathering of one of them. Pres. Noynoy Aquino was the first priority but since he couldn’t make it, Willie (the second priority) showed up. (Third priority was Manny Pacquiao).

Willie with Viva big boss Vic del Rosario (in black) and his lawyer Boy Reyno: Will he buy a $10M house in Ayala Alabang with a helipad? Well, he just might.

“During the affair,” reported another VDPA, “Willie was ‘game,’ doing his best to entertain the celebrators. He even said ‘Hi!’ to a clan member who mercilessly wrote unfair comments/remarks against him during the ‘Jan-Jan incident.’ I wonder how that lady writer felt at that moment.”

Oh well, what else is new?

Robin designs gowns for Lea

New York-based Filipino designer Robin Tomas (son of Tessie Tomas) created two gowns for Lea Salonga’s second Café Carlyle Lounge Show. The first piece which Lea wore for opening night last June 7 was a full-length gown of punched silk in black, with a V-neckline and a keyhole detail on the back, accented with a sash beaded with hammered gold. The second piece is a crimson crepe full-length gown with a pin-tucked bodice and sleeves.

The two pieces, according to designer Tomas, are both appropriate for the intimate lounge setting, one in a classic palette, and one in a color hue in tune to the summer season in New York. And true to the designer’s aesthetic, the pieces are classic to the core but with contemporary overtones.

Robin Tomas with Lea Salonga for whom he designed two gowns

Robin recently launched his winning T-shirt in Bloomingdale’s last March, and will be having his women’s collection available at selected boutiques in Manhattan for the fall.

Lea will be performing nightly at the New York institution until June 25.

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