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What now, Willie Revillame?

Willie Revillame (File photo, NPPA Images)
Willie Revillame (File photo, NPPA Images)

It has been a while since we last heard of Willie Revillame.

After the cancellation of his last noontime gig, Wowowillie on TV5, it seemed the once toast of variety game shows has turned reclusive and inaccessible.

And rumors of alleged gambling sprees at a Pasay casino spread, decimating the once-proud, celebrated host into a downward spiral of losses amounting to the millions. Reports say it cost Willie some of his properties, including one luxury car just to pay up. Even his grandiose Tagaytay mansion was said to have been put on the block after he actually sold his Wil Events Place last year.

‘Nag-eenjoy ako’

When Willie last faced the press, he said: "Kung nagpapatalo ako sa casino ng P100, P200 or P300 million, pera ko naman na pinaghirapan yan. Naglilibang ako, nage-enjoy ako. Hindi ako nagpapatalo in the sense na talagang nagsusugal ka, minsan naglilibang ka sa sarili mo. You work so hard. And importante na hindi ko ninanakaw yung perang ginagamit ko," he said in a Manila Bulletin interview in Dec. 22 last year.

Five months since, it is really not clear how Willie has been, except that he was keenly attempting to revive his TV hosting career for a show to air in a major network. It’s also been said that he’s trying to bury the hatchet with ABS-CBN, with which he is in a court battle over numerous cases, just to bring back his glory days.

Given all the wrangling both parties went through, this option may seem unlikely. But this obviously is a sign of desperation on Willie’s part.

Formula for disaster

I’m sure Willie knows the math. A thriving gambling career plus a weakening flow of income spells disaster.

And he can’t let it all go away, unless he is willing to face a pre-Wowowee life, full of uncertainties and trouble. But from the looks of it, he can still make both ends meet and enjoy the wealth he has amassed since taking that mic. However,Willie has to control his urge to spend and prevent exposing himself to risks here and there. He should get back to his senses and really strategize his future both personally and financially—even if he can still afford a P45 million Lamborghini without a stable job.

If not revive his career, Willie should really concentrate on his “aces,” particularly his precious friendship with real estate titans. He can engage in very good investments, or concentrate on opening other entities, a film production outfit or music recording label maybe. He can partner with existing giants. I think he should follow such celebrities like Piolo Pascual and Vic Sotto, who despite their flourishing careers, have been very serious about and successful in their business ventures. Of course, you won’t see them in lavish yachts or sports cars even if they can very well afford it.

I’m not really a big fan of the guy but I like the way Willie brings hope to the hopeless. He should start with himself.