Revillame is widely recognized for his charitable acts, often giving away his trademark jackets, stacks of cash, and other prizes to audience members, participants, and individuals in need through his television programs.[4][5][6]
Entertainment career
Early years
Prior to hosting and acting, Revillame began his career as a drummer.[7][8]
Revillame was also a film actor, with one of his earliest films being Bobo Cop by Regal Films in 1988.[11] He appeared in various movies, often playing sidekick to big-named stars until he landed the leading role in Alyas Boy Tigas: Ang Probinsyanong Wais.[12]
Revillame was known for hosting Wowowee on ABS-CBN, which aired from 2005 to 2010.[14]
Among the notable incidents during the airing of Wowowee was the PhilSports Stadium stampede and the Hello Pappy scandal. Prior to the supposed broadcast of the anniversary special on February 4, 2006, a crowd crush outside the PhilSports Arena occurred at 6:00 a.m., which killed 73 people and injured 400 others.[15] Criminal charges against Revillame in connection to the event were dropped, but charges of other ABS-CBN officials were affirmed.[16] In the August 20, 2007 episode, a technical error in the "Wilyonaryo" segment led to allegations of rigging by the show's producer and an on-air feud with fellow TV host Joey de Leon of Eat Bulaga!, the competing variety show of GMA Network.[17]
On August 3, 2009, ABS-CBN decided to air a live coverage of former President Corazon Aquino's funeral procession alongside Wowowee. Revillame responded that he "could not make people happy while the entire country was mourning". This statement was interpreted as disrespectful to the deceased president and her family.[18] Revillame said he intended no offense and that he had requested to have the supposed episode pre-recorded instead for airing on the next day to avoid clashing with the funeral coverage.[19]
Wowowee ended airing on July 30, 2010, followed by Revillame's rescission of contract with ABS-CBN after relations with his employer deteriorated.[20]
Wil Time Bigtime and Wowowillie
From 2010 to 2013, Revillame has hosted TV5 variety programs such as Willing Willie,[21] later renamed as Wil Time Bigtime in 2011,[22] and Wowowillie in 2013. Following the latter's conclusion, he went into a hiatus to focus on business.[2][23]
Wowowin
In November 2014, Revillame negotiated with the executives of his original home network, GMA for a television comeback by airing his variety game show Wowowin, with the help of former rival Joey de Leon, and broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez.[24][25] He marked his homecoming by signing a contract with GMA Network on March 20, 2015,[26] and Wowowin premiered on May 10. The show first aired in every Sunday afternoons and later shifted to weekdays on February 1, 2016, due to the huge popularity of the show.[27]
On February 5, 2022, GMA Network announced that Revillame's contract will end on February 15,[28] prompting his show to air its final broadcast in the network, four days prior.[29] Out of "delicadeza", he did not renew his contract with GMA after taking the opportunity to work with Manny Villar on Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS).[30]Wowowin resumed through livestreaming on March 15[31] and later returned to airwaves via All TV on September 13, coinciding with the network's soft launch.[32]
In 2023, Revillame has reached an agreement with Villar to terminate his contract with AMBS,[33] after his show stopped airing on All TV among others caused by lower ratings and lack of advertisers.[34][35]Wowowin was supposed to resume in both government-owned broadcast networks PTV and IBC, but plans were discontinued due to lack of budget, facilities and equipment.[36][37][38]
Wil to Win
On April 26, 2024, Revillame returned to TV5 after 11 years and signed a partnership with MediaQuest Ventures.[39] During a livestream on June 14, he announced his new show, titled Wil To Win, officially retiring the Wowowin name.[40] The pilot episode aired on July 14 with a special event called the "Wil-Come Back Party", held at the New Frontier Theater, prior to regular programming the following day.[41]
Political career
Revillame repeatedly been convinced by President Rodrigo Duterte to run for senator.[42][43]
He was convinced to run for a political position in the 2010 national elections. Comedian Dolphy cautioned him against it stating politics is a more "dirtier" field than showbusiness. He advised the then Wowowee host to continue making "people happy" and "maybe, later on" then consider entering politics.[44] Revillame did not run.
2022 election and Tutok To Win partylist
Revillame declined in October 2021 to run for the 2022 Senate election stating he would like to focus on his role as host of Wowowin. He expressed concerns about his inexperience in lawmaking since he is not a lawyer.[42]
Revillame expressed interest in running for the position of Senator for the 2025 Senate election as early as January 30, 2024 when he declared so during an anti-charter change rally of supporters of now former president Duterte. However he rescinded the plan in July 2024 citing a three-year contract with TV5 baring him from being involved in "politics".[43]
Nevertheless on October 8, 2024, Revillame filed his candidacy to run in the 2025 election.[46] He was granted permission from MediaQuest chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and TV5. Addressing concerns on his inexperience in lawmaking, Revillame insist that it is enough for one to have a "heart open to helping others"[47] He admitted of not having a legislative platform.[48]
Business ventures
Revillame is known for developing the Wil Tower, a condominium building in front of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City, with his business partner, former Senate President Manny Villar. It held its grand opening on September 15, 2013.[49] Revillame is also a former owner of the restaurants W Bar and Wil Steak Town at Wil Events Place located near Wil Tower Mall and ABS-CBN along Sgt. Esguerra Avenue in South Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City. Wil Tower Mall was developed by the real estate firm Vista Land, but Revillame's holdings were later sold to Villar.
Revillame was interviewed for the April 2015 episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho at his own rest house in Tagaytay after the signing of contract with GMA Network. During the interview, broadcast journalist Jessica Soho said that Revillame is planning to build a 5-star resort-hotel located within the 5-hectare (12-acre) lot that he acquired from the Madrigal family. His own rest house is also located within the same lot.
Following the acquisition of Advanced Media Broadcasting System, which obtained the former main ABS-CBN's free-to-air terrestrial channel frequencies and all of the terrestrial stations by the Villar family,[50][51] Revillame was tapped to invest in the company's plans on broadcast ventures.[52]
Personal life
The city of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija is Revillame's hometown.[53] Revillame was first married to actress Princess Punzalan.[54][55] In March 2005, he married Liz Almoro in a civil ceremony at Lipa, Batangas, officiated by then-Mayor Vilma Santos. This was followed by a church wedding in June 2005. Their marriage was annulled in 2008.[56]
Revillame has four children, namely, Louise Anne, Juan Emmanuel, son of Almoro, Marimonte Shanelle, daughter of Sharon Viduya[57] and the eldest, actress Meryll Soriano.[58]
During the live airings of his shows on national television, Revillame has been notable for his numerous tirades and rants in front of the cameras, such as reprimanding his staff members and co-hosts.[59][60][61][62] He was also engaged in feuds with his critics and competitors.[63][64][65][35][66]
On May 4, 2010, Revillame went into another on-air tirade in Wowowee, this time directing his anger at entertainment columnist and DZMM radio host Jobert Sucaldito. Revillame said he had enough of Sucaldito's alleged criticisms against the show having high-school contestants whose grades were below the passing mark for the Willie of Fortune segment and also ridiculing them on-screen. He threatened to resign from the show unless the ABS-CBN management dismissed Sucaldito, who described Revillame's rant as being "pikon" (Tagalog slang meaning 'short-tempered').[67] He went on an indefinite leave three weeks later after the network declined his resignation letter.[68]
In a press conference on August 9, 2010, Revillame announced that he was ending his contract with ABS-CBN, even if it is supposed to expire in September 2011.[69] He also accused ABS-CBN of violating several provisions in his contract. He narrated that his decision came out of meetings between ABS-CBN production head Linggit Tan and network president Charo Santos-Concio regarding a return to the show on July 31. However, on July 20, Tan said the management will replace Wowowee with a new show on July 31 and also offered him a one-hour weekly show. She added negative feedback still prevailed among network employees about him going to work again. Despite the move, the network stated that Revillame's Wowowee tirade only highlighted his arrogance and stressed that the contract is still in effect.[70]
In response to Revillame's departure, ABS-CBN pursued legal action in September 2010 by filing a counterclaim in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, seeking ₱486 million in damages for breach of contract.[71][72] Later on November 24, the network also lodged a ₱127 million copyright infringement case against him, his company Wil Productions, Inc., and rival network TV5 in the Makati Regional Trial Court, alleging that Willing Willie is a "copycat" of Wowowee, despite the new show and segment titles.[73][74]
On March 12, 2011, a "macho dance" by an apparently unhappy six-year-old boy while the Dr. Dre song "The Next Episode" is being played on the background on Revillame's primetime show, Willing Willie resulted in criticism, including the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development describing it as a case of child abuse. Revillame "sincerely and deeply" apologized for the segment, “which viewers may have found offensive or in bad taste.”[75][76][77][78] The Commission on Human Rights pursued an investigation of the program for violating the law.[79]
In October 2015, the Court of Appeals allowed the arrest and prosecution of Revillame over the case.[80] Atty. Nards de Vera, lawyer of Revillame, clarified in a GMA News article that Revillame has already posted the bail for the two cases in September 2013, and does not need the warrant of arrest served against his client.[81]
On April 11, 2016, the 3rd division of the Court of Appeal (CA) had affirmed the Regional Trial Court Quezon City Judge Roberto Buenaventura Decision. The CA said that Judge Buenaventura hadn't committed no grave abuse of discretion. In the CA's Decision, written by Justice Maria Luisa Quijano-Padilla, on the arrest and to bring to trial Revillame, they said, “as there is probable cause for the petitioner’s commission of a crime, his arrest and arraignment should now ensue so that this case may properly proceed to trial, where the merits of both parties’ evidence and allegations may be weighed.”[82]
^"Willie Revillame tahimik pa sa balik-TV" [Willie Revillame mum on TV return]. Abante (in Filipino). March 4, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024. Sa ngayon daw ay nasa hometown niya sa Cabanatuan si Willie at nag-e-enjoy na kasama ang mga kababata niya.
