Willie Revillame has signed a contract with Advanced Media Broadcasting Systems (AMBS). This will be the new home network of his widely-followed program “Wowowin” which the TV host hopes to revive soon.
But according to AMBS President Ms. Maribeth Tolentino, there is no definite title or position yet for Willie in the new TV network although he has accepted the offer of businessman and former senator Manny Villar to help put up the network.
Willie, however, is hopeful that the partnership he has forged with Mr. Villar will be fruitful in the long run. “I am thankful for the trust given to me by the Villar family to be part in putting up the network that will be the new home of ‘Wowowin’,” he said in Filipino during a recent media conference.
He added that AMBS is open to hiring stars, staff and production crew, including former ABS-CBN employees who lost their jobs when the network was denied a franchise renewal two years ago.
“All they need to do is apply and present their credentials so that HR can decide who to accept. If they are qualified, we would like to have them on board,” said Willie.
His objective is to have “Wowowin” back on air so he can continue to entertain the show’s many followers who have been waiting for its return after he didn’t renew his contract with GMA Network as he already accepted in principle to join AMBS.
He also plans to bring “Wowowin” overseas in places where there are many OFWs like Middle East and Hong Kong, to bring joy and entertain them.
Willie hopes to launch the new network and “Wowowin” before the year ends. There is also a plan to produce a noontime show for AMBS 2.
He likewise admitted that former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go tried to convince him to seek a Senate seat but he opted to choose his showbiz career because “this is where I am happy.”
“Wala akong alam sa paggawa ng batas. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko roon. Di dahil popular kang artista ay tatakbo ka na. Mas gusto ko na makapagbigay kasiyahan sa paraan na alam ko,” said Willie.
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When asked about playing former First Lady Madame Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Ruffa Gutierrez the role is a dream come true for her.
“I hope that I was able to give justice to her role which is a very coveted one and it’s an honor that I was given the opportunity to play the part,” said Ruffa. “Prior to this role being offered to me, I was already manifesting. I have been watching documentaries, interviews with the Marcoses, with Madam Imelda Marcos.”
“As a matter of fact, two days before Direk Darryl (Yap) offered the role, I was already going through my own photo albums and I saw the pictures of Imelda Marcos during my wedding.”
When she did not get the call from director Darryl Yap for three weeks, she thought the role was given to someone else. “And then I got the call. So, sabi ko, wow! And I never heard from Direk. Like three weeks, hindi na niya ako tinawagan. ‘Ay, sa iba na ‘to napunta.’”
“As you all know, playing the role of Imelda Romualdez Marcos is a very coveted one and I’m very thankful that it was given to me and I really hope that I’m able to give justice to our First Lady forever, Madam Imelda,” said the actress.
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Since he has a lighter workload as a city councilor, Alfred Vargas is hopeful he will have more time to devote to his acting career. The session for the Quezon City council is just every Monday that’s why Alfred can schedule a movie shoot or TV shoe taping the rest of the week.
The actor-turned-politician would like to thank the people of the 5th District of Quezon City for giving him a fresh mandate. He was planning to take a break first from politics after serving for nine years in Congress. But Alfred said it was the people who convinced him to run since they want him to continue his kind of public service.
And since we are still in a pandemic, Alfred wouldn’t want to leave the people in his district. But Alfred plans to produce a movie again. He is currently reading some scripts to choose want he can produce by the end of the year. He is also selecting from a number of TV shows that GMA Network has offered him.