Lessons Willie learns from contestants

MANILA, Philippines -  Wil Time Bigtime has toppled all competing programs during its timeslot last Aug. 13, according to Nielsen Media Research. The people’s show managed to get a 6.5 percent AMR or 28.8 percent audience share in MegaTam, compared to ABS-CBN’s ratings by daypart of 4.9 percent AMR (21.3 percent share) and GMA’s 5.8 percent AMR (25.3 percent share).

Among all game-variety shows, Wil Time Bigtime was the most watched last Saturday; generating the highest number of viewers in nationwide urban TV. Based on Nielsen’s NuTam data last Saturday, Wil Time Bigtime generated almost 2.7 million viewers as compared to ABS-CBN’s The Price is Right with only 2.1 million viewers. Wil Time Bigtime captured almost 400,000 more viewers versus GMA’s Manny Many Prizes, which only posted an average of 2.3 million viewers nationwide.

But despite the show’s continuous success in the ratings game, Willie Revillame is still in awe that even after years of dealing with a multitude of stories from different individuals via his TV programs, stirring accounts are still waiting to be told. Take for example when they featured differently-abled people in Wil Time Bigtime segment recently, a first for Kuya Wil since he ventured into TV hosting.

All the way from Baguio — with only their five-year-old daughter serving as their eyes throughout their travel, a blind married couple traversed the chilly road of the north at two in the morning and made it to the audition venue in Quezon City just before noon. JR, a blind massage therapist, was selected to join the segment where at least P3.5 million worth of prizes are at stake. But during the interview portion with Kuya Wil, JR and wife Shirley were too modest to accept too much money from Kuya Wil. For the Wil Time Bigtime host, it’s not every day that people refuse money they think is beyond what they needed. Instead of the usual P5,000 he hands to a contestant, he gave JR a total of P37,000. “Kahit hindi na po ako manalo ngayon malaking tulong na po ‘to. Hindi ko na hangad na makuha ang jackpot,” JR said, his voice cracking in emotion. He added that he would use the money to start a small vegetable buy-and-sell enterprise in Baguio.

Willie admitted that the blind masseur’s character gave him a personal awakening. “Alam mo, JR, inspirasyon kayo sa’ming mga normal na tao. Inspirasyon kayo sa’min na minsan marami pang hinahangad sa buhay, marami pang hinihingi. Pero samantalang kayo simple lang,” Willie said. “Napakaswerte namin na naging bisita namin kayong lahat kasi namumulat kami kung gaano kahalaga ang tunay na pagmamahal sa kapwa.” Apart from giving him P37,000, Willie vowed that Wil Time Bigtime would arrange the family’s transportation back to Baguio.