Willie Revillame grateful for ‘second chance’ on television as Kapatid

MANILA, Philippines — What can audiences expect from Willie Revillame’s return to television?

After more than a year of hiatus, the veteran host is making his TV comeback through a partnership deal of his production outfit, Goodwill Productions, with Manny V. Pangilinan’s MediaQuest Ventures and TV5 network.

A contract-signing was held on Friday attended by MediaQuest executives led by MediaQuest and Cignal TV president and CEO Jane Basas, along with TV5 president and CEO Guido Zaballero.

“I’m very excited and I’m very, very happy for this partnership with, you know, the one and only Mr. Willie Revillame. This is a full circle for him and for us because he was actually with us 11 years ago,” Basas said during the announcement of Willie’s TV5 return at the Cignal Launchpad in Mandaluyong.

Willie’s former shows — “Willing Willie,” “Wil Time Bigtime” and “Wowowillie” — aired for three years on TV5 from 2010 to 2013.

Recalling how he found his way back to the Kapatid network, Willie shared during the contract signing: “The first meeting between Ms. Sienna (Olaso, Cignal vice president for channels and content) and Ms. Jane was because of Atty. Buko (Dela Cruz, TVJ legal counsel). In that meeting, we had no idea what to do, talagang totally zero. Bigla na lang there’s what you call spark sa isa’t isa eh. And then from there, we decided, ‘Okay, I will do this, this is a partnership.’ In fact, with Ma’am Jane, sa kanya nanggaling na, ‘Ako, all-out ako sa mga ganito.’ Kung all-out ka, sige. That’s why Goodwill Productions and MediaQuest (partnered).”

For weeks now, rumors have circulated about Willie’s return to TV5. However, he stated that they have finally decided to make the announcement to “move on.”

“We’ve been brainstorming, but there was still no signing of the contract. There are so many plans. The studio has been fixed... I said, ‘Ma’am Sienna, maybe so that we can really start smoothly, we finish the contract and then after that, we brainstorm. Let’s think about what to do.’”

Willie said he’s also expecting a lot of questions but in time, he said he will explain the recent developments in his career.

“Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa inyo, again, yung second chance,” he stressed while profusely thanking MVP and other officials.  “Alam ko meron ding mga doubt pa rin but you have to understand. Syempre yung mga pinagdaanan ko, alam niyo naman pinagdaanan ko, kung saan-saang channel but no regrets kung ano mang channel ako mapunta.

(“I know there are still doubts, but you need to understand. Of course, with all that I’ve been through, you know what I’ve been through, on various channels, but I have no regrets whatever channel I end up with.)

He continued, “I’m just like an OFW, you get assigned in Hong Kong, then you go to Saudi, then you go to Japan, wherever there’s a decent job and you’re accepted, that’s where you work hard.

“I just  said, it’s not just ‘Wowowin’ or my new show that I’ll take care of. Even TV5. Whatever help I can give to TV5, whatever creativity, whatever ideas I can contribute, even without pay, I’m willing to do that on TV5.”

Amid this new chapter as a Kapatid, Willie also expressed his gratitude to his previous network GMA, where his show “Wowowin” ran from 2015 to 2022 before moving to the Manny Villar-owned ALLTV.

Mediaquest boss Jane Basas welcomes Willie Revillame’s return to TV5. ‘It’s a full circle for him and for us because he was actually with us 11 years ago.’ Willie’s former shows — ‘Willing Willie,’ ‘Wil Time Bigtime’ and ‘Wowowillie’ — aired for three years on TV5 from 2010 to 2013.

He said, “Gusto ko din magpasalamat sa GMA 7, I hope you understand. Kasi nung umalis ako sa GMA 7, nung napunta ako sa ibang channel, may kontrata pa naman ako sa GMA, hindi naman ako pinaalis doon. Inintay yung desisyon ko. Kaya lang ho syempre may mga desisyon ka sa buhay mo, na may utang na loob, gagawin mo.”

(“I also want to thank GMA 7, I hope you understand. Because when I left GMA 7 and went to another channel, I still had a contract with GMA, they didn’t kick me out. They waited for my decision, but of course, there are decisions in life that you owe to someone, you will do.”)

He added, “Alam ninyo ho, hindi nila (GMA 7) ipinagkait sa akin, hindi nila pinagdamot sa akin yung 24 million subscribers on Facebook and YouTube. Kaya sa puso ko, naging Kapuso naman ako. Maraming salamat sa GMA 7, to Ms. Annette (Gozon-Valdes), you know, magkakasama naman tayo sa industriya, kay Atty. Felipe Gozon.”

(“You know, GMA 7 didn’t deny me the 24 million subscribers on Facebook and YouTube. So in my heart, I became a Kapuso. Thank you very much to GMA 7, to Ms. Annette Gozon-Valdes, you know, we belong to the same industry, and to Atty. Felipe Gozon.”)

Willie said that now that he’s back on TV5, he’s looking forward to increasing these numbers in collaboration with Cignal, TV5 and MediaQuest.

He said, “Again, this is only the beginning. Simula pa lang ito. More than a year, wala ako… Now after more than one year, eto ho nagbabalik ako at no bitterness, no hatred in my heart. Marami nang nasasabi na kung anu-ano, pero sa akin ho, wala, natural naman, kasama sa buhay yan.”

(“This is just the start. For more than a year, I wasn’t seen on TV. After more than one year, I am back, and there’s no bitterness, no hatred in my heart. Many things have been said, but for me, there’s none of that. It’s natural, it’s part of life.”)

“Basta ang pagdating ko dito hindi ho para sakin, para sa mga kababayan nating naghahanap ng saya, ligaya at pag-asa at magiging parte po ako niyan dito po sa TV5. Again, hindi kami ang bida dito kayo ho lalong lalo na nangangailangan ng saya sa buhay. Again, maraming salamat.”

(“My coming here is not for myself, it’s for our fellow countrymen who are looking for joy, happiness, and hope, and I will be a part of that here at TV5. Again, we are not the stars here, you are, especially those who need joy in life. Again, thank you very much.”)

No other details were given during the announcement except that Willie’s new program is coming very soon, said TV5 boss Guido Zaballero.

“Kuya Wil, the Kapatid network is very excited for your return to our humble home, and we are also grateful in advance for your kind words that you will help grow our network and help bring TV5 to even greater heights. It’s happening soon,” he said.

Willie’s program will be a game show, with a different name and a new set of co-hosts.

Meanwhile, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar was asked yesterday during a presscon for comment on Willie’s transfer to TV5. The known longtime friend of the Villar family reportedly terminated his contract with ALLTV in 2023.

“Actually, I don’t think there’s any finality in terms of our working relationship with Willie,” said Villar, who maintained they remain open for work opportunities in the future.

Villar, who used to be one of Willie’s co-hosts when his show aired on TV5 in 2012, described her friendship with Willie as “very good.”

“In the same manner that I have always stayed friends with our co-hosts, and they’re some of the most cherished people in my life, ang pinaka dun is si Willie. We have a very good relationship. He’s very close not just to me but the whole family. Malalim ang pinagsamahan namin,” she said.