Willie Revillame has taken an indefinite leave of absence from his popular noontime show. Or at least that is what is being stated by the management of ABS-CBN instead of really stating a fact that he has been suspended. Obviously his tirade during the funeral procession of Cory from Greenhills in San Juan to the Manila Cathedral live on air piqued some officials at ABS-CBN, when Willie shouted on air against showing segments of the funeral march during his show. It took Gabby Lopez and some of his officials some time before they could react to the issue given that Wowowee is one of the highest rated and grossing show on the network based on advertising receipts. It had to take 47,000 viewers (and still growing) from all over the world petitioning for the removal of the highest paid TV host to make ABS-CBN officials act on the insult that was first addressed to them but were seen by the Filipino viewing public as un-becoming and grossly inappropriate behavior given that the nation was in mourning.
Obviously Willie is not from a very well educated background, otherwise he would have known what was appropriate behavior at that time. His antics have become worse in recent times as reported by other news outlets and blogs. Which now brings to question the stand of ABS-CBN network on how it should be part of morally up-lifting the nation. Condoning Willie and his antics and insults on air would be tantamount to saying that the Kapamilya network has the same values. In fact they should dis-associate themselves from this boob of a host and retain some self respect for the network and its owners.
It seems that success has gotten into the head of this show host. Thinking that he is a money maker for the network and an endorser for Presidentiables, he can do anything on air without getting sanctioned or penalized for it. Nobody should be above the law, least of all someone who is on air everyday and whose actions are being emulated by the Filipino youth. Willie is no longer a positive image for ABS-CBN and they should have known that long before when he was caught driving an illegally imported vehicle. They should make him know that now. Soon crocodile tears will come out from his eyes once again on air where he will make a plea of forgiveness to the public. Should we believe him would be the question. I’m sure Kris Aquino did (forgive him), but nobody takes her seriously anyway nor is she an expert on moral standards.
Consumer brands being endorsed by Willie should also know that the mere association with him at this moment is tantamount to being associated with a negative proposition- it is brand suicide. Some crass creative directors may disagree, but that is the risk that they have to take when they sell their concepts to the Brand Managers and owners. PANA or the Philippine Association of National Advertisers have already individually and unofficially discussed the matter with ABS-CBN officials. An official statement has yet to be stated however.
Even without Willie as a host on his noontime show (Willie is an owner), the show would probably survive given that it has already developed a following worldwide. However if he stays on, advertising revenues would dry up. It is still a wonder why Unilever is associating itself with the show given the antics and the insults that Willie dishes out during their segment when he says comments about the armpits of women. We are sure that Unilever officials cringe at this when they view the segments.
Maybe it should be up the advertisers and viewers to make a decision for ABS-CBN to take out this arrogant show host. The MTRCB is surely dragging its foot on this. For ABS-CBN it is a business and when the ratings go down because no one is watching, the advertising revenue will surely dry up.
The San Lorenzo Village Monitor calls on all advertisers (PANA and NON-PANA members), advertising agencies and viewers who live in Barangay San Lorenzo and have their businesses here to boycott Wowowee until such time that ABS-CBN makes an official statement removing Willie Revillame from its network. Petition for his removal at: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?badwilly
Willie should go, ABS-CBN should know!
San Lorenzo Village Monitor 