John, Randy tell Willie: It's nothing personal
ABS-CBN's upcoming noontime variety show "Happy Yipee Yehey" is being plagued with intrigue as its male hosts, John Estrada and Randy Santiago received disapproving remarks from longtime friend Willie Revillame.
In a "Willing Willie" episode last January 26, Willie aired his side over John and Randy's decision to accept a noontime show that has the same timeslot with his cancelled program "Wowowee."
"Masama talaga ang loob ko. Masama ang loob ko dahil inayos ko na kay Mr. MVP [Manny V. Pangilinan], kay Mr. Ray [Espinosa]. Pero kung diyan kayo masaya, sa taong nanakit sa akin, nanakit sa atin dati, diyan na lang kayo," Willie said while talking with John over the phone while "Willing Willie" was on air last January 26.
Willie, John and Randy hosted the ABS-CBN noontime show "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" from 1998 to 2005. The network subsequently reformatted the show to only headline Willie in the program "Wowowee."
"Wowowee" was then canceled on July 31 last year after Willie went on indefinite suspension over his on-air rant against Kapamilya talent Jobert Sucaldito. Willie then filed a case before a Quezon City court seeking to rescind his contract. ABS-CBN continues to challenge Willie's case with a P486-million counterclaim suit. While the case is pending, Willie produced and hosted the early evening game show "Willing Willie" for TV5.
On Sunday's episode of "The Buzz," John and Randy aired their side over the negative issues being thrown against them.
"Hindi lang naman sa kaibigan nangyayari yan, kahit sa mga magkakapatid, tunay na magkapatid. Meron talagang tampuhan. Just to put an end to this, I just like to say, wala po kaming ginawang masama. Kami po ay tumanggap ng trabaho pero gayun pa man din, gusto lang namin naman magpasaya ng tao so with that sana po ay magpasaya na lang tayo ng tao at mapapagbigyan kami ng sambayanang Pilipino," John said.
"Kung meron mang ibang taong nagtataka kung ano talaga ang nangyari, wala po talaga kaming nagawang masama po at alam ni Willie kung gaano namin siya kamahal. Kami po ay tunay na kaibigan. Ito'y trabaho lang. Kailangan din namin magtrabaho ni Randy. Sinabi ko kay brother Randy as long as malinis ang kunsensiya natin at alam ng Diyos na wala tayong ginagawang masama, eh siguro naman kahit sinu-sinong gustong kumalaban sa atin ay hindi magtatagumpay dahil Diyos ang kakampi natin dito," the returning Kapamilya host added.
Randy, though expressing his sentiments, maintained that his respect and love for Willie are intact. He said he did not mean to offend Willie and it was nothing personal.
"Kami ni Willie magkasami since 1983. You're talking about 28 years together. Isang kuwarto ang tinutulugan namin when we were doing Cicada (Band). In other words sabi ko nga, eh tampuhan lang ng magkakapatid. Right after nakita natin ‘yung tampo niya (Willie) we were deeply hurt also. Dahil gusto niya siyempre magkasama-sama kami uli. But of course dahil sa nangyaring ito at hindi natin inaasahan na nandito pa rin kami sa Channel 2, right away tinext ko agad siya at si brother John ay nagtext din sa kanya at humihingi na sana sa mga susunod na panahon magkakasama pa rin tayo. Pero at this point siyempre trabaho lang, ‘ika nga at nauna nga lang agad itong ABS-CBN," Randy explained.
Despite the fallout with Willie, John and Randy will headline "Happy Yipee Yehey" on February 12 with co-hosts, reunited friends Toni Gonzaga and Mariel Rodriguez, together with Jobert Austria, Melai Cantiveros and Bianca Manalo.
Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN
