Willie tells ‘Wowowin’ audience not to ask for money: ‘Hindi ako mayor’

Willie Revillame  INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

TV host-businessman Willie Revillame set some new rules for  “Wowowin,” making it clear to the audience they will no longer allow the elderly and children in the variety game show.

Revillame made the announcement during the “Wowowin” episode on March 12 as he expressed his pity for the elderly who are made to wait in line in the heat just to be part of the audience.

“Yung pong may karamdaman na mga nanay, lolo, lola, wag na po kayong mag-aksaya ng panahon,” he said. “Pagbabawal na po namin yan. Ayaw po namin kayong mapahamak.”

(To those mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers who are sick, please don’t waste your time. We won’t allow you in the show anymore. We don’t want anything bad to happen to you.)

He also pointed out the lack of children in the studio and called out the tactic some parents use to get money from the show.

“Alam niyo kung bakit? Ginagamit lang yung mga bata, tinutulak, ‘humingi ka ng pera,’ kawawa. Hindi pinapapasok sa eskwelahan, dito pinapapasok para makahingi ng pera. Hindi po tama yun.”

(You know why? Some parents just use the kids, they push them to ask for money, it’s pitiful. They don’t send them to school, instead they bring them here so they can ask for money. That’s not right).

Revillame then lectured his audience members, telling them to strive hard to make their family’s lives better and to stop depending on the show for money.

“Wag niyo pong i-asa dito sa ‘Wowowin,’ ito pong programa na ito ay nagbibigay ng saya and it is also a game show, game of chance… Wag po kayong pipila diyan para humingi s’amin ng pang-gamot, pang-opera, pang-libing. Hindi po ako mayor, hindi po ako nasa politika.”

(Don’t depend on ‘Wowowin’, this program is meant to entertain and it is also a game show, game of chance… Do not fall in line there just to ask us money for medicine, for surgery, and for funerals. I’m not a mayor, I’m not in politics.)

Revillame maintained that he is a host and is there to entertain and make people laugh. He added that the show, from now on, will only accept audience members aged 17 to 70.

“Please, kawawa ang mga lola. Naghihintay sa labas, nahihilo, wag nalang po,” he repeated. “Pagpasensyahan niyo na, ako nag-desisyon nito, walang iba, kasi kawawa ang mga bata at lola at lolo, so sana maintindihan niyo.”

(Please, the grandmothers are pitiful. They wait outside, they feel dizzy, please don’t. I made this decision, not anyone else, because I feel bad for the children, the grandmothers and grandfathers, so I hope you understand).

The new rules seemed to have come after a 76-year-old woman was killed in an accident during the show’s taping last January, while a 68-year-old woman got injured, as per local reports. The two elderly women were apparently singing and dancing on the bleachers when they lost their balance and fell.

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