PHILIPPINES, APRIL 10, 2011 – On April 8, after Unilever joined other advertisers who announced that they will stop placing ads during the TV game show Willing Willie because of the uproar over the Jan-Jan incident, the program’s host Willie Revillame said that he will be going on a two-week hiatus starting April 11 to think about his future in showbusiness.
Revillame’s extended speech, delivered before a supportive studio audience, covered the Wowowee stampede that resulted in 71 deaths, the Wilyonaryo cheating allegations, the Cory Aquino coffin issue, the Jobert Sucaldito controversy that resulted in Revillame’s leave from ABS-CBN and eventual move to TV5, and his support for 2010 presidential candidate Manny Villar.
The TV host praised Wowowee director Johnny Manahan for sticking by him during the Cory Aquino issue and thanked Unilever for meeting him and for being fair by leaving all other game shows but said that he was hurt by the statement released by P&G. On April 6, retired ad industry leader and CCP president Emily Abrera lauded Jollibee for pulling out Mang Inasal ads from Willing Willie and encouraged other advertisers to do the same.
Revillame maintains that he did not do anything wrong and will not ask for an apology, adding that Willing Willie avoided MTRCB suspension by showing clips of ABS-CBN shows with children acts similar to Jan-Jan, the boy whose dancing became the focal point of the issue.
Revillame also took personal potshots at Aiza Seguerra and Agot Isidro, and named K Brosas, Mylene Dizon, Bianca Gonzales, Leah Navarro, Jim Paredes, Lea Salonga, and fellow TV5 talent Tuesday Vargas as among those who have attacked him, and threatened to sue those who tweeted against him. “What have you done for Filipino society?” he asked in Filipino. He called on his fellow artists not to judge him and to remember that the Filipino masses are the ones supporting them.
“Sino ba ang namimili? Kayo ang bida rito, hindi ang mga sponsors. Kung hindi kayo bibili nga mga produktong ito, wala. Walang kita ang lahat ng ito,” he told the audience. (Who are the consumers? You are the heroes here, not the sponsors. If you don’t buy these products, nothing. All these won’t profit.) He said that his detractors should be giving money to the poor and mentioned his donations to Bantay Bata and the Lebanon OFWs.
After Holy Week, if Revillame decides to return, the show will continue to air, with the prize money coming from his and TV5’s pockets if advertisers abandon them.
During the April 10 episode of Paparazzi, TV5 management confirmed the break in an official statement: "During this period, TV5 will dialogue and work with the MTRCB, KBP, PANA and other stakeholders to come up with appropriate guidelines that will apply to all networks and the entire industry with respect to the participation or use of children in talent, game and reality shows for television. TV5 will also complete the improvement of its internal guidelines and processes to achieve the same end."
"Furthermore, the network will work with Mr. Willie Revillame and WilProductions, Inc. in order to improve the program and ensure that it will continue to bring fun and entertainment to its many loyal viewers.
"TV5 reiterates its commitment to responsible broadcasting and vows to continuously enhance its programs as its way of serving the public and thanking its viewers for their unceasing support, trust and patronage.
"Beginning Monday, April 11, 2011, TV5 will show ‘Primetime Super Sine’ and ‘Magic? Gimik’ in the ‘Willing Willie’ timeslot."
