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Willie RevillameWilfredo Buendia Revillame is a famous host, singer and comedian. He more likely to be called Willie Revillame. His big break when he hosted Magandang Tanghali Bayan, a defunct noontime show of ABS-CBN. Presently, he hosted Wowowee, one of the most popular noontime game show of ABS-CBN. He is considered as one of the most recognized Filipino Persona worldwide. He was born on January 27, 1961 as Wilfredo Buendia Revillame. He supported his living as a concert drummer of Alma Moreno’s musical variety show, Loveliness and several singers like Gary Valenciano. He later met Randy Santiago and hired him as sidekick in Salo-Salo Togather (SST), a now defunct GMA noontime show. He stayed for three months and signed with Regal Films to star together with Joey marquez in the Movie Bobocop. Since that, Willie appeared in movies as sidekicks with other personalities such as Rudy Fernandez, Edu Manzano, CesarMontano, Aga Muhlach, Joey de Leon and Vic Sotto. He hosted Sang Linggo nAPO Sila in 1998 together with Randy Santiago and John Estrada. The three became famous and noted for their chemistry and comic timing. As Revillame rose to fame with this show, criticism as well emerged. He was criticized for his vulgar behavoir during Calendar Gil segment. He was caught putting his hand inside his pocket, fondling himself while interviewing contestants. This happened during the entire duration of the segment. The critics denounced him as sex maniac. But in spite of the criticism received, the triad received great support from the management and eventually became the lead hosts of noon time show, Magandang Tanghali Bayan. Magandang Tanghali Bayan was the third noontime show which was aired on November 30, 1998. He also played lead roles of two movies, Matalino Man Ang Matsing and Pera o Bayong not da TV. He also engaged in selling and buying cars. He became hard-headed and this can be proved on his late arrivals on appointments and tapings. But he overcame the rating of Eat Bulaga and his two movies were certified box-office hits. In 1999, the three were suspended from the show MTB because of their jokes upon the Calendar Girl contestants. A week after, the entire show was suspended and was replaced by Esep-Esep for a mean time. Majority of the public supported Willie, so the show hired the three again. He recorded an album entitled Parental Guidance, produced by Andrew E. the album reached platinum status but did not enjoyed airplays on radio because of its double meanings like “Ang Cute Ng Pokemon” and “Wag Mong Pigilan”. John replaced Willie who was dropped from the cast of Richard Loves Lucy. Because of his constant vulgar jokes, he was finally terminated from the show, Magandang Tanghali Bayan on 2001 and was replaced by another trio, Marvin Agustin, Dominic Ochoa, and Rico Yan. After his termination from the station, he appeared in several shows of the rival station, GMA Network like Kool Ka Lang, Idol Ko Si Kap and SOP. According to him, he went to U.S. and planned to quit showbiz but after getting positive results from Filipino-Americans, he went to Philippines on 2002 and sought help from friends like Aga Muhach, Dolphy, Sharon Cuneta and Bong Revilla. Arlene de Castro, an executive of ABS-CBN News and Curent Affairs offered him a public service show entitled Willingly Yours. On 2003, the trio co-hosted Masayang Tanghali Bayan as replacement of former Magandang Tanghali Bayan together with Roderick Paulate and Amy Perez. But its rating did not soar high to overcome the rival show, Tito,Vic and Joey of GMA. Willingly Yours was eventually deleted from the show lists even though Willie won an award. On 2003, he was supposed to be terminated again from the show because of her remark to Mahal on her birthday but he made a resignation instead. On January 2004, he was seen crying on ABS-CBN’s The Buzz while biding his farewell remarks. This captured the compassionate Gretchen Barreto. She promised to hire him on ABC 5. He hosted Puso o Pera of ABC 5 together with Maui Taylor and Patricia Javier but was axed also because of low ratings. His second album entitled Ikaw under Universal Records on 2005. All songs were by Lito Camo and were approved by MTRCD. After the death late Bella Tan, Willie transferred to Star Records and released another album entitled Wowowillie. Approved by MTRCD, the songs were composed also by Lito Camo. After Puso o Pero, Willie guested Extra Challenge and the show got its highest ratings. He also appeared in All Together Now together with Egdar Mortiz, MTB director and achieved good rates. This proved that Willie still appealing to the public. Because of this, ABS-CBN, contacted him through Arlene de Castro who became his manager afterwards replacing Wyngard Tracy. ABS-CBN decided him to hist his own noontime show of the same time slot and Willie named it Wowowee. The first in the Philippine television ever happened during the stampede at the PhilSport Arena of the show Wowowee. It was considered the deadliest accident killing almost 71 people and hundredths were injured. But on August 24, 2007, Department of Justice dismissed the criminal charges against Willie but affirmed that the staffs were guilty of gross negligence. The show was launched not long after and still existing until today. Last 2005, he was married to Liz Almoro, former beauty queen at Lipa, Batangas and was followed by their marriage in the church on August of the same year. The said marriage was sponsored by ABS-CBN and was adjudged as the “Wedding of the Year 2005” by the reader’s of YES Magazine. Their son was named Juan Emmanuel. Aside from Juan, Willie also has three daughter from previous relationship incuding an actress, Meryll Soriano. Meryll bore a son and officially making Willie a grandfather on August 2007. On the same year, Willie’s marriage is undergoing annulment upon the advise of Liz Almoro. He was allegedly charge for abusing his wife, which he denied in his counter-affidavit claiming that he had difficulty in doing his job as a father because of explosive moods and hurtful tirades of Almoro. Willie was also involved in another problem about his Ferrari car. He is advised either to return the car or pay the proper taxes, but Willie insisted presenting his certificate of payment worth 1 million. The certificate turned out to be fake and the initial investigation showed that the car was registered in Cebu but its license was released in Manila. Albums
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