Did ABS-CBN mount a demolition job against Willie Revillame?

By: Noel B. Orsal

There is still no definite date when Willie

Revillame will return to his noontime show
Wowowee.

Mark Angelo Ching

A rumor against ABS-CBN refuses to die

down three days after the network's decision
regarding the recent scandal involving Willie
Revillame. Despite a seemingly favorable
outcome for the controversial TV host, who
still has a chance of getting back the reins of
noontime show Wowowee, observers speculate
that ABS-CBN mounted a demolition job
against their prized talent.

FIRST REPORT. The rumor started on Friday, May 21, when a report aired on ABS-CBN's
late night news program Bandila tagged Revillame as the "Bad Boy of Philippine Television."
The report by Marie Lozano compared the "Bad Boy of Philippine Movies," Robin Padilla,
who's temporarily hosting Wowowee, with Revillame, who had been involved with several
scandals during his work on television.

The report was released after Revillame's letter to ABS-CBN, where he asked the top
management to "release" him from his contract in the network, was leaked to the media. In the
report, Lozano narrated the contents of the letter, and the network's position that it should have
been settled "privately" ("sa pribadong pag-uusap").

Lozano's five minutes and 30 seconds report gave a rundown of the scandals Revillame had
been involved in. "Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nasangkot si Willie sa kontrobersiya,"
Lozano said.

Included in the report were Revillame's suspensions in Magandang Tanghali Bayan for his
lascivious jokes and actions, his suspension in Masayang Tanghali Bayan for his lascivious jokes
against midget actress Mahal, the Ultra Stampede Tragedy, and his outburst during the funeral of
the late President Cory Aquino in August last year.

The report also pointed out the "faults" still committed by Revillame, including his less than
harmonius relationships in Wowowee. Lozano said in the report, "Pero hindi pa rin maiiwasan ni
Willie ang kontrobersiya sa show. Gaya na lang ng hindi magandang pagbibiro niya sa guest sa
show, at pang-ilang beses na pamamahiya niya sa kanyang staff habang umeere ang show."
 Lozano also mentioned "Anti-Willie" campaigns in several social networking sites like Twitter
and Facebook.

In conclusion, Lozano said, "Para sa kanyang mga fans, ganyan lang daw talaga si Willie.
Mapusok at pabigla-bigla. Pero para sa kanyang mga kritiko, hindi niya dapat kinakagat ang
kamay na nagpapakain sa kanya."

REACTIONS ON THE NET. Immediately after Lozano's report, several social media users
and fans of Willie Revillame took offense. Twitter user @johaira_, for instance, said "Grabe
abscbn! demolition job agad against willie revillame just because he wants out!! Parang walang
nagawang tama yung tao a!"

@johaira_ also questioned ABS-CBN's ethics. "Did abscbn just threaten willie revillame on air
@bandila tonight? Woww! Low blow ha, for such a huge network. Wala talagang journ ethics
to!" she said on Twitter the same day.

Charlene Luague (@iamcharlenel), on the other hand, tweeted, "Why u'r not airing Sucaldito's
paninira kay Wil? U shouldn't b one-sided. If Class A & B are anti-Willie; B,C,D,E like him."

Jennifer Ann Libre (@jayleelibre) of also tweeted, "halata na talaga miss mariel na isa ka sa
mga hater ni HOST..haha"

Marie Lozano, also an active Twitter user (she has 8,153 followers as of this writing), defended
herself. "Some tweeps(3), say im Anti-Willie for telling a story based on facts, supported by
video footage. Don't shoot the messenger..... Im only telling the story," she said.

@jayleelibre answered this tweet the next day, May 22. "yeah your the messenger so you must
aware of the output of your report..lalo na ung last part of your report is mejo pinatama mo ang
host then nega un sa kanya..im not fighting u miss mariel ..im a viewer that make also comments
or suggestions..tnx..," she told Marie Lozano thru Twitter.

Lozano then countered, "1st of all my name is Marie not Mariel. 2nd, please review what I said.
Willie's fans defend him.... While his critics say....."

A showbiz blog site on Monday, May 24, also called Marie Lozano's report "biased,"
"malicious," and "libelous." "Shouldn't ABS-CBN be the one undergoing trial by publicity
instead?" the writer of the article asked, to punctuate his piece.

Lozano defended herself from this post through Twitter. She first posted the link of the piece
with the words "Interesting Article. Im just confused, Is it against me or Robin Padilla? What do
you think?"
Later on, Lozano thanked fans who defended her through Twitter. She also retweeted (reposted)
some of her follower's tweets, a sign that she agrees with the statements even if she did not speak
them herself.

She retweeted Harry Trinidad (@sirdoc) of Manila: "Some writers shouldn't be writers, MUCH
LESS opinion makers! Statement of facts? Technically correct but twisted still."

She also retweeted Antonio Andolini (@DonVitoCorle0ne): "Robin Padilla is the 'bad boy' of
Philippine Movies. Willie, the 'bad boy' of Philippine TV. Everyone can attest to that"

SECOND REPORT. Cries of "demolition job" escalated after Marie Lozano's second item on
Willie Revillame aired on TV Patrol. Lozano's report again listed all the controversies that
involved Revillame while he was in ABS-CBN.

The TV Patrol report, which lasted four minutes and thirty seconds, opened with ABS-CBN's
last video interview with Willie Revillame. "Pag natanggal ka sa ABS magmumukmok ka?
Hindi. Make it as a challenge. Lumipat ka. Ba't ka matatakot, iisa lang ba ang channel?"
Revillame said in the video clip.

The report continued with a summary of the current issue facing the TV host. It then showed
another video clip, featuring Revillame's tirade at Wowowee asking for Jobert Sucaldito's ouster.
"Pag hindi niyo 'yan tinanggal, ako magre-resign dito sa Wowowee," Revillame said in the clip.

In her own words, Lozano annotated the video as such. "Maraming humanga kay Willie, at
sinasabing nagpapakatotoo lang ang host. Pero binira rin ng marami ang kayabangan umano ni
Willie, lalo na sa pagtira nito sa mismong network na umaruga sa kanya sa maraming taon."

Lozano continued, "Sa unang show ni Willie na Magandang Tanghali Bayan o MTB, ilang
beses siyang nasuspindi dahil sa malalaswang jokes."

In a video clip of the defunct MTB, Revillame was shown to be caressing a hand of a
goodlooking woman. He told the woman, "Malaki nga ang hiwa mo... four inches." Revillame's
green joke referred to the woman's scar on her wrist, which may have been the result of a
previous suicide attempt.

Lozano continued, "Mabilis namang kumabig si Willie at humingi ng paumanhin." Another

video of MTB was shown, where Willie said, "Kung ako po'y naging mayabang, sorry. Masyado
lang po ako sigurong nadala. Ako po kasi'y pinanganak ng walang gabay ng magulang."

"Kaya't paulit-ulit din siyang inunawa at tinanggap ng mga manonood," Lozano said further. "Sa
pagbabalik niya sa Wowowee noong 2005, agad siyang napalapit sa masa, at naging sandalan ng
mga mahihirap. Pero sa gitna ng tagumpay, unti-unting napuna ang masyadong kumportable sa
kanyang show."
Lozano elaborated, "Mula sa pamamahiya ng kanyang audience (Willie on video: 'Magparenta
nga tayo ng arinola diyan para di na sila lumalabas.'), sa kanyang staff, (Willie tells a staff not
shown on camera: 'Um, bading!'), at sa mga co-host (Willie tells Ruffa Gutierrez: 'Maraming
salamat, naka-itim ka. Noontime na noontime.')"

"Maging si Megastar Sharon Cuneta, hindi nakaligtas sa pang-iinsulto ni Willie," Lozano said.
(On video, the TV host joked around with Sharon Cuneta, telling her she's "fat." "Ang isasama
ko sa yate, siyempre sexy. Baka lumubog, e," Revillame said.)

While the report was showing an infamous video clip from Youtube, which shows Revillame
clearly "touching" the breasts of a guest with his left arm, Lozano said "Pinagpistahan din sa
Youtube and pambabastos umano ni Willie sa isang babaeng audience, kung saan umabot na sa
mahigit 1.8 million hits.

The report also referenced Revillame's outburst in Wowowee during former President Cory
Aquino's funeral. "Pero tumanggap ng pinakamalaking pambabatikos ang pagpuna ni Willie sa
prusisyon ng labi ni President Cory, kasabay ng kanyang show."

Revillame said in another video clip, "Nagsasaya kami, tapos pinapakita yung... I don't think
dapat ipakita 'yan... Mahihirapan akong magsalita rito, nagpapasaya ako, nakikita ko yung ano ni
Tita Cory. Sana pakitanggal muna 'yan."

Lozano continued, "Kusang nagpahinga si Willie matapos nito, at nagpakumbaba sa pamilya

Aquino. Sa pagbabalik, may bago nang paninindigan."

In a new video clip, Revillame was shown saying, "Magmula ngayon, wala nang magagalit,
wala nang mag-iinit ng ulo. Laging pagmamahalan na lang ang gagawin natin."

Lozano added, however: "Pero muling naipit sa kontrobersiya si Willie, nang sumambulat ang
galit niya sa pambabatikos umano ng host na si Jobert Sucaldito... Mula noon, hindi na nag-host
ng Wowowee si Willie. At nung May 12, tinanggap ng ABS-CBN ang sulat ni Willie kung saan
umapela siyang pakawalan na bilang talent ng istasyon."

Lozano was then shown standing in the middle of Wowowee's empty studio. "Sinasabing isa sa
mga pagyabang at paglaki ng ulo ni Willie, ay ang paulit-ulit na pagbibigay ng bagong simula sa
kanya ng Kapamilya network. Pero sa kabila nito, hinamon niya ang sariling istasyon, at
huminging pakawalan na siya."

"Sa masinsinang pag-uusap ng ABS-CBN management at ni Willie, malalaman kung

mabibigyan pa uli siya ng panibagong pagkakataon, o hahayaang magpaaalam na," Lozano's
report ended.

REACTIONS, PART 2. Minutes after the news item was aired, Filipinos posted on Facebook
and on Twitter "demolition job" statements against ABS-CBN. Twitter user @TheFilipinoTime,
for instance, posted, "Did you all watch that Star News feature on Willie Revillame? That's not a
feature that they would produce if they intend to keep him."
Twitter user @ianklsdmbldr, meanwhile, said "demolition job ang TV Patrol ngayon kay willie
revillame. pati issue sa libing ni cory binuhay pa e isang malaking misunderstanding lang yun"

SECOND REPORT. Cries of "demolition job" escalated after Marie Lozano's second
item on Willie Revillame aired on TV Patrol. Lozano's report again listed all the
controversies that involved Revillame while he was in ABS-CBN.

The TV Patrol report, which lasted four minutes and thirty seconds, opened with ABS-CBN's
last video interview with Willie Revillame. "Pag natanggal ka sa ABS magmumukmok ka?
Hindi. Make it as a challenge. Lumipat ka. Ba't ka matatakot, iisa lang ba ang channel?"
Revillame said in the video clip.

The report continued with a summary of the current issue facing the TV host. It then showed
another video clip, featuring Revillame's tirade at Wowowee asking for Jobert Sucaldito's ouster.
"Pag hindi niyo 'yan tinanggal, ako magre-resign dito sa Wowowee," Revillame said in the clip.

In her own words, Lozano annotated the video as such. "Maraming humanga kay Willie, at
sinasabing nagpapakatotoo lang ang host. Pero binira rin ng marami ang kayabangan umano ni
Willie, lalo na sa pagtira nito sa mismong network na umaruga sa kanya sa maraming taon."

Lozano continued, "Sa unang show ni Willie na Magandang Tanghali Bayan o MTB, ilang
beses siyang nasuspindi dahil sa malalaswang jokes."

In a video clip of the defunct MTB, Revillame was shown to be caressing a hand of a
goodlooking woman. He told the woman, "Malaki nga ang hiwa mo... four inches." Revillame's
green joke referred to the woman's scar on her wrist, which may have been the result of a
previous suicide attempt.

Lozano continued, "Mabilis namang kumabig si Willie at humingi ng paumanhin." Another

video of MTB was shown, where Willie said, "Kung ako po'y naging mayabang, sorry. Masyado
lang po ako sigurong nadala. Ako po kasi'y pinanganak ng walang gabay ng magulang."

"Kaya't paulit-ulit din siyang inunawa at tinanggap ng mga manonood," Lozano said further. "Sa
pagbabalik niya sa Wowowee noong 2005, agad siyang napalapit sa masa, at naging sandalan ng
mga mahihirap. Pero sa gitna ng tagumpay, unti-unting napuna ang masyadong kumportable sa
kanyang show."

Lozano elaborated, "Mula sa pamamahiya ng kanyang audience (Willie on video: 'Magparenta

nga tayo ng arinola diyan para di na sila lumalabas.'), sa kanyang staff, (Willie tells a staff not
shown on camera: 'Um, bading!'), at sa mga co-host (Willie tells Ruffa Gutierrez: 'Maraming
salamat, naka-itim ka. Noontime na noontime.')"
"Maging si Megastar Sharon Cuneta, hindi nakaligtas sa pang-iinsulto ni Willie," Lozano said.
(On video, the TV host joked around with Sharon Cuneta, telling her she's "fat." "Ang isasama
ko sa yate, siyempre sexy. Baka lumubog, e," Revillame said.)

While the report was showing an infamous video clip from Youtube, which shows Revillame
clearly "touching" the breasts of a guest with his left arm, Lozano said "Pinagpistahan din sa
Youtube and pambabastos umano ni Willie sa isang babaeng audience, kung saan umabot na sa
mahigit 1.8 million hits.

The report also referenced Revillame's outburst in Wowowee during former President Cory
Aquino's funeral. "Pero tumanggap ng pinakamalaking pambabatikos ang pagpuna ni Willie sa
prusisyon ng labi ni President Cory, kasabay ng kanyang show."

Revillame said in another video clip, "Nagsasaya kami, tapos pinapakita yung... I don't think
dapat ipakita 'yan... Mahihirapan akong magsalita rito, nagpapasaya ako, nakikita ko yung ano ni
Tita Cory. Sana pakitanggal muna 'yan."

Lozano continued, "Kusang nagpahinga si Willie matapos nito, at nagpakumbaba sa pamilya

Aquino. Sa pagbabalik, may bago nang paninindigan."

In a new video clip, Revillame was shown saying, "Magmula ngayon, wala nang magagalit,
wala nang mag-iinit ng ulo. Laging pagmamahalan na lang ang gagawin natin."

Lozano added, however: "Pero muling naipit sa kontrobersiya si Willie, nang sumambulat ang
galit niya sa pambabatikos umano ng host na si Jobert Sucaldito... Mula noon, hindi na nag-host
ng Wowowee si Willie. At nung May 12, tinanggap ng ABS-CBN ang sulat ni Willie kung saan
umapela siyang pakawalan na bilang talent ng istasyon."

Lozano was then shown standing in the middle of Wowowee's empty studio. "Sinasabing isa sa
mga pagyabang at paglaki ng ulo ni Willie, ay ang paulit-ulit na pagbibigay ng bagong simula sa
kanya ng Kapamilya network. Pero sa kabila nito, hinamon niya ang sariling istasyon, at
huminging pakawalan na siya."

"Sa masinsinang pag-uusap ng ABS-CBN management at ni Willie, malalaman kung

mabibigyan pa uli siya ng panibagong pagkakataon, o hahayaang magpaaalam na," Lozano's
report ended.

REACTIONS, PART 2. Minutes after the news item was aired, Filipinos posted on Facebook
and on Twitter "demolition job" statements against ABS-CBN. Twitter user @TheFilipinoTime,
for instance, posted, "Did you all watch that Star News feature on Willie Revillame? That's not a
feature that they would produce if they intend to keep him."

Twitter user @ianklsdmbldr, meanwhile, said "demolition job ang TV Patrol ngayon kay willie
revillame. pati issue sa libing ni cory binuhay pa e isang malaking misunderstanding lang yun"