By this time, the Gutierrezes should be back from Singapore where they did a breakneck promo for their It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez (ITGTBAG) family reality-TV show which started shooting months ago and will (finally, finally!) have its pilot telecast on E! Channel (SkyCable Channel 57, Cablelink Channel 33 and Cignal Channel 25) on June 1 (Sunday night) starting at 9 o’clock.
Composed of Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama and their children Ruffa, Richard and Raymond, the entourage kicked off the promo with a panel discussion on social media on the first day, with Annabelle begging off.
“Mahirap nang mapasabak sa matinding Inglisan,†said Annabelle, “kaya nakiusap ako na sa audience na lang kami ni Eddie.†Wish granted.
Second day was devoted to interviews with the international media the whole morning and, after a lunch break, the whole afternoon. That same night, the Gutierrezes appeared with apl.de.ap at a Music Matters event capped by an E! cocktail party.
More interviews were done on the third day. The rest of the family flew back without Raymond who was tasked by E! Channel to do something that couldn’t be revealed just yet.
“Pero siguradong matutuwa ang mga fans kapag napanood nila,†assured Annabelle.
The invitation to the Singapore promo came from NBC Universal which is in-charge of E! Channel Asia. The Gutierrezes being co-producers (with TV101 of Mega Group of Companies) of ITGTBAG, Annabelle promptly scouted around for bargain tickets and budget-hotel accommodations to save money. Imagine how surprised (and relieved!) she was when NBC sent them round-trip Business Class tickets plus accommodation at a five-star hotel!
“Bongga, ‘Day!†said Annabelle.
Up to now, Annabelle is mum about the “big revelation†to be made on the show which the whole of Asia is curious about. Stay tuned!
Willie confronts issues
When Willie Revillame paid Birthday Girl (turning 67 today) Lolit Solis a surprise visit on Startalk last Sunday, he couldn’t help being bombarded with questions that surfaced during his seven-month sabbatical from TV. He bade his TV5 Wiltime Big Time show in October last year and he said that he’s poised to make a comeback “in three months,†without saying on what channel.
Willie was supposed to “grill†Nanay Lolit (about her lovelife, her 50-plus dogs, etc.) but she turned the table on him.
Question: Did Willie really lose P600M at the casino?
Willie (Tongue-in-cheek): Sobra ka naman, P595M lang! (Adding seriously but still light-heartedly) “You know, I’ve been working so hard so I deserve to enjoy myself. I’m betting my own money (read: not stolen money). If I win, I can help more people; if I lose, I still continue to help people,†like when he shelled out P10M from his own pocket for the Yolanda victims in Tacloban City which he entrusted to DSWD.
Question: Is he so poor now that he’s selling his properties? (He was wearing a Rolex, an expensive suit and pair of shoes and looked generally, unmistakably moneyed!)
Willie: “Yes, it’s true! I have acquired so many properties at ibinibenta ko ‘yung hindi ko na napapakinabangan,†like the Wil Events Place which went reportedly for only P200M, “and Wil Tower which I’m selling to (former Sen.) Manny Villar.â€
But Willie has kept his yacht, his private plane, his mansion at Ayala Heights in Quezon City (bought from ABS-CBN head Gabby Lopez), and other properties, including a mountaintop lot in Tagaytay City where he’s having a five-star hotel constructed (nearing completion).
On Sunday (May 25), Willie promised to appear on Startalk again and show film clips of those properties. Don’t change channels now. Stay tuned.
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com.)