Willie Revillame wants to help more people

Author: Napoleon Quintos

Willie Revillame was very excited about his new project: a studio mall complex named Wil Theater Mall which will rise on a 3,000-sq.m. lot beside the ABS-CBN compound. The May 13 groundbreaking ceremony was attended by ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio, Channel 2 Head Cory Vidanes, Head for TV Productions Linggit Tan, and Wowowee directors Johnny Manahan, and Edgar Mortiz.

Willie also took the opportunity to describe his most ambitious venture yet. " Dito sa itatayong Wil Theater Mall ang magiging bagong studio ng Wowowee. Magkakaroon din ng mga restaurants, spa, gym, basketball court kung saan pwede maglaro ang lahat. Merong isa pang theater k ung saan pwede nang magpa-premiere night ng mga pelikula ang Star Cinema. Dun din pwedeng magpalabas ang ASAP at pwede ring gamiting concert venue nina Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Pops Fernandez. Kaya nga si Mr. Johnny Manahan ang kinuha kong theater consultant."

Putting up a new studio for Wowowee is Willie's way of thanking the millions of people who continue to make the show a success and who painstakingly fall in line everyday to be in the audience. "' Yung mga Kapamilya naman natin na pipila para makapanood ng Wowowee magkakaroon sila ng waiting area. Parang airport, air-conditioned at may mga TV kung saan ipapalabas 'yung mga events ng Wowowee in the past week. May mga kainan din. Gusto ko naman na 'yung mga dating naiinitan sa pila ng Wowowee e maging komportable naman. Sa kabilang lote, nakikipag-negotiate pa ako, gusto ko sanang tayuan ng Wil Tower. Condo building siya na kung saan 'yung mga TFC subscribers na manonood ng Wowowee hindi na magche-check in kung saang hotel. Dun na lang sila sa Wil Tower para convenient."

Through his Wil Theater Mall, the TV host also aims to continue his efforts of helping the less fortunate to find decent means of livelihood. " Sa baba na 1,600 square meters ang lawak pwedeng maglagay ang SM, Rustans, Mercury Drug, at ibang supermarket. Almost 60 units ang available sa mga tenants. I've talked to the owners of Jollibee, Delifrance, Red Ribbon, Greenwich, Chowking, sa Sy family ng SM Malls. Maraming na ring nakikipag-usap sa akin na gusto nilang kumuha ng space. Itong Wil Theater Mall maraming tao ang matutulungan nito. Maraming magkakatrabaho. Janitors, security guards, maintainance. Ang gusto kong kunin dito e 'yung mga taong nawalan ng trabaho na mapagkakatiwalaan."

The Wil Theater Mall, a 12-story building expected to be completed in the 12 to 16 months, is said to be worth 500 to 600 million pesos. While it's well known that Willie has multi-million peso homes and luxurious possessions, he maintains that everything wouldn't have been possible without the support of God and the people. " Kahit naman gusto ako ng management pero ang mga tao e ayaw sa akin, wala rin. Ang magdedesisyon talaga diyan 'yung mga tao. Sa showbiz, tao ang magbibigay ng ratings. Sa politics, tao ang boboto sa 'yo. Ang lahat ng meron ako ngayon ay utang na loob ko sa lahat ng Pilipino na nagtitiwala at nagmamahal sa akin. At siyempre dahil na rin sa Panginoong Diyos. Ito ay ibinigay sa akin para gamitin sa mabuti."

Willie added that aside from helping the poor, the primary reason he is making all these investments is to secure the future of his children. "Never in my life or in my dreams naisip kong magkaroon ng ganito. Lahat ng ito ay ginawa ko para sa mga anak ko at sa mga magiging anak nila. Kapag wala na ako sa mundong ito mga anak ko naman ang makikinabang ng lahat ng ito. Tinuturuan ko lang sila kung paano i-manage. Kapag namatay ako magiging abo lang naman ako."

However, Willie did not earn this success overnight. This comedian has suffered several setbacks in his 20-year career like controversies, suspensions, and unemployment. But Willie is just thankful that he was able to survive all those challenges because of hard work. " Hindi ako naniniwala sa luck. Naniniwala ako sa hard work. ' Yung swerte 'yung paggising mo may sampung milyon sa tabi mo. Ang pinagdaanan ko alam niyo naman na madaming negative muna bago ko nakuha ang mga positive. Ganun naman talaga ang buhay, bago ka umangat dadaan ka muna sa butas ng karayom. Kaya ngayon nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos dahil I'm so blessed, ibinigay Niya sa akin ang show na Wowowee."

With all these blessings, Willie's public service doesn't stop at Wil Theater Mall. He further talked about his plans of putting up a school for street children.

Willie Revillame wants to help more people through his Wil Theater Mall