#AlDubEBTamangPanahon packs Philippine Arena, raises P14-M for charity

Believed to have maximized the 55,000 capacity of the Philippine Arena, the AlDub special of “Eat Bulaga” dubbed “Tamang Panahon” was also able to raise P14 million from the event’s ticket sales for the building of school libraries all over the country.

“History na, charity pa,” exclaimed “Eat Bulaga” host Joey de Leon exclaimed. He suggested that the special is possibly the biggest in the 36-year-history of the popular noontime show but also possibly the most attended event in Philippine Arena since it opened its doors in July last year for the centennial celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo, which owns it.

The highlight of the commercial-free show — which continued the “Kalyeserye” saga that began only last July and accidentally introduced the #AlDub phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza a.k.a. Yaya Dub — moved its live audience and televiewers nationwide to tears when Alden and Maine found themselves in a prolonged tight embrace for the very first time.

The crowd cheered when the usually strict Lola Nidora (Wally Bayola) announced that this was the right time or “tamang panahon” for Alden and Maine to finally get to know each other more intimately without the usual obstacles that stood between them in the past.

As Lola Nidora promised, there were no more plywoods, no more split screens and no more communicating in writing and via Dubsmash.

In a Cinderella-themed number complete with matching glass slipper, a misty-eyed Alden sang Bryan White’s “God Gave Me You” as he and Maine finally held hands, hugged each other tightly and spoke at length to the crowd and to each other.

Audiences also got to know the real Maine better, as Lola Nidora narrated her humble beginnings, including how she became a Dubsmash sensation on YouTube and how she eventually impressed both the Dabarkads and fans of “Eat Bulaga” in her Yaya Dub persona.

The Philippine Arena attendance is not the only record that “Tamang Panahon” is likely to break. On social media, #AlDubEBTamangPanahon is not only the top trending hashtag to date but as of posting time has accumulated 24.4 million tweets, on pace to exceed the 25.6 million tweets that the hashtag #AlDubEBforLove recorded last September 26.

As tight security measures were implemented by the Philippine Arena, with the Metro Manila Development Authority also deploying 50 traffic constables, 20 motorcycle enforcers and six tow trucks to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct, the almost six-hour TV special proceeded without a hitch or any untoward incident.

source: interaksyon.com

Willie Revillame says new show has blessings of Joey de Leon, Sharon Cuneta

A mellow and relaxed Willie Revillame told media on Wednesday that “Wowowillie” has the blessings of Joey de Leon and Sharon Cuneta — two colleagues who might have something to say about his new variety show on TV5, set to debut on Saturday.

Joey, of course, is one of the pillars of “Eat Bulaga”, Philippine television’s noontime champ for over three decades, with whom Willie famously feuded in 2007 when he was still hosting “Wowowee” on ABS-CBN.


The two have since mended and enriched their friendship, so Joey’s sentiment was one of Willie’s first concerns when TV5 president and CEO Atty. Ray Espinosa first broached the idea of a return to the noontime slot (11:30AM to 2:30PM).

“Nasabi ko naman ‘yun kina Atty. Ray. Ayoko kasi na may masabi rin sa akin sina Joey. Yes, there was a time, nabanggit ko nga, hangga’t maaari hindi kami magsasalubong sa same time slot,” Willie told media at a press conference on Wednesday at his nightclub Wil’s Events Place.

Willie decided he needed to reach out to Joey. He spoke to him two weeks ago shortly after “Wil Time Bigtime” — his second TV5 show in the early evening slot — went off the air.

“I called him up. Out of respeto. Sabi ko sa kanya, I have to tell you, magkakaroon ako ng noontime show. And you know naman Joey, he’s very gentlemanly in every way. Okay naman sa kanya,” he related.

Willie said Joey — who is also a Kapatid because he co-hosts TV5′s Sunday noontime variety show “Game ‘N Go” — even quipped that they’re too old for petty rivalries and, who knows, they might even end up together in one show someday.

Willie had also been exchanging text messages with Sharon, whose talk show “Sharon: Kasama Mo, Kapatid” was terminated recently, paving the way for “Wowowillie” to take over its venue — TV5′s Delta Theater studio on Quezon Avenue.

“Magka-text kami ni Shawie. Wala pa siya ngayon dito, nasa Amerika pa ‘ata pero dapat kasama siya sa almost a hundred stars na guests sa Saturday. Kami, walang sama ng loob sa isa’t isa,” he said.

Willie noted that Sharon’s current negotiations for her own new program are a private matter between her and the TV5 bosses: “Sila ng TV5 ang nag-uusap. Kaya, hindi ko sila puwede panghimasukan.”

Ever since he transferred to TV5 in 2010 and hosted “Willing Willie”, he always found the remote location of its studio in Novaliches to be a liability.

“Ang mga matatanda o senior citizens nagbi-biyahe pa ng malayo para lang makapanood ng programa. Jeep-jeep, truck-truck nandiyan sila sa gilid ng studio, dun pa sa TV5. Nagpa-park sila sa SM Novaliches. Nakikita namin ang efforts nila,” he shared.

Needless to say, he is very excited about planting his roots on fresh ground. Willie said TV5 spent over P100 million and his own production company chipped in P35 million to expand and refurbish the theater. The result, he believes, should give the “Wowowillie” studio audience the illusion of being in a Las Vegas theater.

Willie said it was not his but TV5′s idea to return to noontime and go up against “Eat Bulaga” and “It’s Showtime”.

“Wala naman sa isip ko ang noontime. Kasi by October tapos na dapat ang kontrata ko. And now, they are asking me kung gusto ko pa itong ituloy ng three to five years. Saka ko na muna iisipin ‘yun dahil ang focus ko eh, nandito ngayon sa big day namin sa Sabado.”

That big day also happens to be his 52nd birthday. As he turns a year older and begins another chapter in his career, he does not feel the pressure of competition this time around.

“Kung sasabihin na pressured ako, wala. Sa akin, there is no competition right now. More on nakatutok ako sa content ng show. Hindi sa numbers game. Kailangan ko munang palakihin ang show, pagandahin at pasayahin ang mga taong manonood nito,” he said.

Willie vowed to give away more meaningful prizes to contestants, the kind that would have a lasting impact on their livelihoods. He also revealed his plan to provide houses to his own staff, many of whom placed their fortunes on his hands when they joined him when he left ABS-CBN for TV5.

And finally, he expressed his hope that “Wowowillie” would further boost TV5′s ascendant status in the ratings game, if only to make the network bosses, especially TV5 chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, happy.

“Siyempre, gusto nating matulungan din ang istasyon. Kasi dito naramdaman ko ‘yung pagmamahal. Imagine, big boss tine-text ka, kinukumusta ka, tinatapik ka sa balikat for a job well done. Very inspiring na amo. At sasabihan ka ni MVP ng ‘Your pain is our pain, your fight is our fight.’”

source: interaksyon.com

Willie Revillame, ikinuwento ang surprise visit niya kay Joey de Leon sa Startalk

Masayang ikinuwento ng television host na si Willie Revillame ang pagpunta niya sa bakuran ng GMA 7 para personal na batiin at ibigay ang regalo niya kay Joey de Leon na nagdiwang ng kaarawan sa showbiz talk show na Startalk TX nitong Sabado.

Sa artikulong isinulat ni Jojo Gabinete na lumabas sa Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), sinabing ikinuwento ni Willie sa kanyang programang Wil Time Bigtime sa TV5 nitong Sabado ng gabi ang masaya niyang karanasan sa pagbisita sa Startalk.

Pinalakpakan at pinuri rin ni Willie ang kabaitan at mainit na pagtanggap sa kanya ng mga empleyado sa Kapuso station. (Basahin: Joey de Leon, sinurpresa ni Willie Revillame sa bakuran ng GMA-7)

Dahil hindi dapat malaman ni Joey na darating siya, sinabi ni Willie na itinago siya sa control booth. Habang nagtatago, panay umano ang pagkuha nila ng litrato ng mga empleyado at staff ng Startalk.

“Palakpakan natin ang staff ng GMA, walang competition, walang personalan," ayon kay Willie. “Yung mga technical nila, yung mga director, yung mga writers. At pagpasok ko sa studio ng Startalk, nagulat… parang hindi makapaniwala na ako, e, nandoon sa GMA."

Ayon pa kay Willie, nagpaalam siya sa mga boss niya sa TV5 bago magpunta sa bakuran ng GMA-7 at pinayagan naman siya.

“GMA-7, salamat po! Atty. Ray Espinosa, Boss Bobby [Barreiro], salamat pinayagan ninyo ako. Siyempre, magpapaalam ka muna sa mga boss mo," kwento pa ni Willie.

Una rito, sinabi ni Joey na pambihirang pagkakataon ang papunta ni Willie sa show na tinawag niyang kaibigan at little brother. - FRJ, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com