We remember seeing a new face once in Wil Time Bigtime while surfing the TV channels. We remember stopping to listen, finding the new girl adept at her hosting job and wondering who she was. Next time around, she was no longer around.
Late last week, we were invited by Lolit Solis to lunch with one of her “alagas” she said, and since we hadn’t seen her in a while, we quickly said yes. At Cibo in Greenhills, we chatted over lunch while waiting for a girl named Camille Villar. Soon enough, in came a young girl whom Lolit quickly introduced to us. We quickly recognized her as that girl we had noticed in Wil Time Bigtime and told her so. We asked why she had disappeared when we tuned in to the show another time.
It turned out that Camille, 27, (looking like a teener) was no ordinary wannabe host on television. Her guest hosting in Wil Time Bigtime came about when regular host Mariel Rodriguez had to take a leave to accompany husband Robin Padilla on his birthday out of the country. Camille is the only daughter of realty giant, Sen. Manny and Cynthia Villar. Sen. Manny had come so close to winning the presidency in 2010 until a series of unexpected changes in the political landscape led to the final unforeseen presidential and vice-presidential results.
A Business Management graduate of the Ateneo, she now heads the 30-strong Britanny division of her dad’s company that develops luxury properties in Sta. Elena City, Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Portofino in Daang Hari, Alabang as well as the Crosswinds in Tagaytay. She confirms she is exactly where she wants to be, in real estate, where she swears she will still be 10 years hence. She has two brothers who had also tried out the business. For now, she just wants to concentrate on the show of Willie, because Willie is close to the family, her dad is assured she will be cared for, and she likes the concept to helping people and making them happy. She doesn’t see herself part of show business. “Tita, wala akong talent kumanta, sumayaw, at umarte, aaminin ko na. Even hosting is a learning process.” No commercials, even as a kid? She thinks back and remembers a drink called Aloe Youth that she once did.
We needle her into trying out more entertainment-based activities. She muses, then says, “My dad has always said to seize all the opportunities that come your way since that is the only way one progresses. But for now, I’m very happy with Wil Time Bigtime.” She describes it as a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has come her way to help people. Being in the show, seeing old people and kids, hearing of their struggles in life, and being given the chance to help them are what to her make it a unique experience.
We probe further, doesn’t she think the format is espousing dependence and laziness? That Willie, perhaps in his eagerness to help people, is quick to pull out a thousand pesos as reward, so that instead of searching for jobs, it becomes their ultimate goal to get into Wil Time Bigtime? “I don’t think so,” Camille quickly replies. We get the feeling that we are now getting into her nerves with our constant questioning. Her answers are no longer thought-out but they come out in rapid fashion.
“Many of them have jobs and are trying their best. I also think that sometimes people need to be given an opportunity to catch a lucky break. People who are there, pinangarap nila ito, na makapasok sila. And this is just one day of their lives, and Willie and I, too, feel so blessed that pag andun na sila, gusto mo na lang sila pasayahin, di ba, ayaw mo na silang lumungkot. In whatever capacity you can, it’s more like sharing. Willie has achieved so much, and the reason why he loves the people is na parang family na niya, like throughout all his struggles hindi siya iniwan, kahit saan siya pumunta sinusundan siya nila. I think what he’s doing in the show is not that he is teaching them to be tamad but just sharing his blessings. I think that’s very important. And that’s the same view we share, that my Dad shares. I believe in that.”
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