‘Willing Willie’ may be back May 14, says Pangilinan

MANILA, Philippines—Beleaguered game show “Willing Willie” will likely be back on air on May 14 following a month-long suspension slapped on the show by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Manuel V. Pangilinan, chair of Associated Broadcasting Corp., which operates television network TV5, told reporters that May 14 was a tentative date for the resumption of the show’s broadcast, even if the suspension ends by May 9.

Pangilinan said the station needs time to reformat the show.

“We have a new studio, new programs, new games, so let’s see,” he said.

The program’s controversial host, Willie Revillame, drew criticisms from viewers, government agencies and children’s rights advocates because of its March 12 episode where a six-year-old boy performed a “macho dance” while in tears.

Revillame claimed the criticisms were part of a demolition job orchestrated by rival network ABS-CBN where Revillame used to host his show, “Wowowee.” The host and TV5 are now in the middle of a legal battle with ABS-CBN.

In the wake of the controversy, TV5 voluntarily suspended the show for one month. The MTRCB suspended the show for 30 days, but suspension includes “time served” during the station’s self-imposed suspension.