Willie treats staff, friends to Macau holiday

First, the intriguing question everybody is asking now that his Wil Time Bigtime co-host Shalani Soledad is engaged to be married (in Feb. 2012) to Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo: Is Willie Revillame “broken-hearted,” is he “hurt,” is he sulking?

The answer to all three questions is a big no. Which means that, contrary to suspicion, he and Shalani have never been an item despite Willie’s open flirtation with her on the show (just “for show,” actually).

“No,” Willie confessed to Funfare, “I never even courted her.” Asked if he’s happy for Shalani, Willie said, “Yes, of course. Kung masaya siya, masaya na rin ako for her.”

Will he be among the principal sponsors or maybe a Groom’s Man or member of the secondary sponsors?

“I will attend the wedding as a guest,” said Willie.

Even after Shalani’s wedding, Willie assured that she could stay on the show.

“It’s her decision,” said Willie. “Whatever her decision, we will respect it.”

And now, something about the recent Macau holiday Willie has treated his staff and friends to, using his 50-seater private plane Wil Fly (guess how much he bought it for) for the first time. The entourage numbered more than 50, so the others took a commercial flight.

Among those in the entourage were Viva Boss Vic del Rosario Jr., Willie’s lawyer Boy Reyno, lawyer Fedie Domingo, Jayke Joson, Vehnee Saturno and wife Ladine Roxas, musical director Sammy Cabailo, Lolit Solis, Jojo Gabinete, Gorgy Rula and Willie’s trusted man Jay Montelibano.

As Lolit revealed on Startalk last Saturday, Willie gave Joey de Leon a Louis Vuitton sling bag as pasalubong, for which Joey thanked Willie on air.

Still on a generous streak, Willie said that he’s offering the use of Wil Fly to Joey and any of the Eat, Bulaga! hosts (Sen. Tito Sotto and Vic Sotto, among them) and other friends at their convenience.

Willie’s next destination is Singapore and that will be after the first anniversary celebration of Wil Time Bigtime at the Smart Araneta Coliseum (not Quirino Grandstand as originally planned) on Oct. 22. He’s also busy attending to the construction of his Wil Tower (right across from the ABS-CBN Studios) and his resort-hotel in Tagaytay (on the lot he bought from the Madrigals).

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How April Boy regained his virility

The last time I saw April Boy Regino last year, he looked alarmingly thin but he didn’t tell me that he was recovering from prostate cancer, diagnosed when he and his family (wife Madel and their children John Christian and Sharmaine) were in the US where, according to April Boy, “my American Dream turned into a nightmare.”

I learned about April Boy’s condition only when Cristy Fermin wrote about it in her Bulgar column and did a follow-up story on her TV5 show Paparazzi.

Upon the invitation of Cristy, I saw April Boy and Madel again last week and I was pleasantly surprised to see him healthy, with his cheeks pinkish and his aura positive.

April Boy Regino and son JC (John Christian) and (inset) the Santé Pure Barley which April Boy said helped restore his health after his bout with prostate cancer

Very candidly, April Boy admitted that the blind items about him were all true: That he and his family suffered untold woes in the US (his vehicle was carnapped, he lost the house he was paying by installment, etc.). They first stayed in L.A. then in Las Vegas.

Then the bombshell that shattered his family: He was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the time when his finances were close to zero, thus forcing him to line up for free medicine in government-run hospitals.

“What saved me was Santé Pure Barley,” said April Boy. I think it’s the same powdered health supplement from New Zealand that Maritoni Fernandez was taking (she’s now in remission). “I started feeling better after taking it for only a few months,” added April Boy. I have my brother-in-law to thank for introducing me to Santé Pure Barley.” (“No approved therapeutic claims,” according to the label.)

Loss of virility was one of the effects of his prostate cancer but April Boy happily told Cristy and me that “it” is back.

“Kaya masaya na uli si Madel,” joked April Boy who, together with Madel, are now among Barley’s distributors (call 0917-8577928 or 0922-8141152 for inquiries).

Back in tip-top form, April Boy is mounting a nationwide thanksgiving concert tour called IdolStar Ang Pasasalamat starting on Nov. 26 at the Marikina Sports Complex, with Manny Pacquiao as special guest. The rest of the shows will have as guest performer April Boy’s son John Christian who has released his debut album, IdolStar (released by Viva Records), from which father and son will do two songs, Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Aking Buhay and Ang Buhay Ko’y Para Sa ‘Yo, among other numbers.

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