'Willing Willie', to return or not to return? Take the poll!

With the recent turn out of events, Willie Revillame has announced that his show "Willing Willie" will be off air for two weeks or until he makes up his mind of continuing the show without the sponsors.


What do you think, guys? Should "Willing Willie" go on air once again? Or is it better for TV5 not to have the show anymore?

Poll: ''Willing Willie", to return or not to return? Cast your votes!

Background

The controversial March 12 episode of "Willing Willie" where a 6-year old boy named JanJan Suan did a macho dancing act as his talent in a segment of the show, has been found to constitute child abuse by some government agencies.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board is currently investigating on the matter. Meanwhile, the show's sponsors have pulled out their ads on the show.

Willing Willie March 12 episode slammed by CHR for child abuse

Willing Willie's March 12 episode was lambasted by another government entity yet again. Following the condemnation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development a few days ago, the Commission on Human Rights has recently pointed out how the TV5 show constituted child abuse.

Willing Willie March 12 Episode | Photo courtesy of Google Images

In a statement released on March 29, the Commission said it strongly condemns the episode since it exploited the "child’s innocence and demeans his inherent dignity for entertainment's sake."

It added that "the multiple pressures exerted on Jan-Jan by the TV program’s host, audience, and his parents to perform a humiliating act in exchange for ten thousand pesos constitute child abuse as defined in Section 10 of R.A. No. 7610 or “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.”

The March 12 episode of Willing Willie had 6 year-old JanJan Suan as a contestant where the boy did a macho dancing routine as his talent. A copy of the episode was uploaded on Youtube where it was flooded with criticisms from concerned parents. (Check out the video HERE.) The video also went viral in social media sites and as of today, it already gained more than half a million hits.

Here's a copy of the CHR press release posted on Facebook by journalist Ellen Tordesillas:

Commission on Human Rights
For Release
29 March 2011



CHR on Child Abuse in the TV program Willing Willie

The Commission on Human Rights strongly condemns the “Willing Willie” episode aired on March 12, 2011 wherein a 6-year old boy named Jan-Jan Suan performed a “macho-dancing routine”. This is an exploitation of the child’s innocence and demeans his inherent dignity for entertainment's sake.

The multiple pressures exerted on Jan-Jan by the TV program’s host, audience, and his parents to perform a humiliating act in exchange for ten thousand pesos constitute child abuse as defined in Section 10 of R.A. No. 7610 or “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.” It provides that:

Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development. –

(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child's development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period.

The willingness of Jan-Jan’s parents to expose him, both in private and public, to a humiliating and degrading situation is child abuse. The Commission is also deeply alarmed that the abuse suffered by Jan-Jan was seen on national television and that its videos are being repeatedly watched by the public, including children.

The Commission will investigate this incident in order to identify the person/s liable and to recommend proper legal actions against them. The Commission will also issue recommendations to relevant private, especially TV5, and public agencies in order to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The Commission also calls upon the relevant government offices such as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Justice to undertake the appropriate actions to address this incidence of child abuse and to provide the necessary relief to Jan-Jan.


LORETTA ANN P. ROSALES
Chairperson



MA. VICTORIA V. CARDONA
Commissioner
Focal Commissioner for Children

Willing Willie macho dancing 6-year old boy issue intensifies | DSWD condemns child abuse

The child abuse issue on a Willing Willie March 12 episode where 6 year-old JanJan Suan did a macho dancing act as his "talent" for a segment of the show and where Willie Revillame said to have bestowed "emotional abuse and humiliation" to the kid did not just end up with the flood of criticisms in social media sites like Twitter and Youtube, but it also prompted a government agency to file a complaint against the show, its host Willie Revillame and the TV5 network.

JanJan Suan macho dancing like an adult to the tune of "Next Episode" on a March 12 Episode of Willing Willie | Video courtesy of Youtube

In press statement, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that their agency condemns the abuse and they will be looking for the family to "determine the effect/impact on the child and from here determine if necessary counseling and/or stress debriefing should be given to the child and his parents to prevent further trauma and abuse".

Here is the full text of the said statement which was posted in the Department's website:

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) condemns the emotional abuse and humiliation bestowed on a six-year-old child contestant, during the March 12, 2011 episode of the Willing Willie show aired on TV 5.

The sequence shows the boy gyrating in a distasteful manner with the audience, including the host (Willie Revillame), manifesting no evidence of concern or alarm for the child. This incident is clearly a violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and a blatant manifestation of child abuse. The term “child abuse” includes the following acts: “psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment,” and “any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child as a human being.”

Putting pressure on children to do acts such as mimicking adult sexy dances, in exchange for a certain amount of money, and at the expense of being laughed at and ridiculed by hundreds of people, clearly traumatizes the child. This is a clear form of child abuse and will not be tolerated by theDepartment of Social Welfare and Development.

The Department has already communicated to ABC Development Communication Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan asking that children should not be allowed to appear in TV shows like Willing Willie, especially those capitalizing on poverty as a source of immediate entertainment. In the formal communication with Mr. Pangilinan, theDepartment has also rebuked the insensitive actions and remarks of Mr. Revillame.

The DSWD will look for the family, determine the effect/impact on the child and from here determine if necessary counseling and/or stress debriefing should be given to the child and his parents to prevent further trauma and abuse, especially with the media hype triggered by this incident. ### (DSWD – Social Marketing Service) March 28, 2011

6 year-old boy, macho dancing on Willing Willie

The video of the 6 year-old boy macho dancing on "Willing Willie" below has been the center of criticisms, recently. The issue is that Jan Jan "was allowed to be publicly humiliated on the Filipino entertainment show "Willing Willie" in exchange for money", according to a post in a petition site.

Some people also aired their views on the matter on the microblogging site, Twitter.

According to "@iamhappyamy" she found it sickening tweeting, "a kid gyrating like a macho dancer, willie making fun of him, the audience enjoying – truly sickening!"

"Willie didn't learn the word 'polite' when he was a kid. He thinks he can toy with the 'mass' by dangling them money," "@richard_carpio" said on Twitter.

Noypi's Notes:

*** I previously posted this clip with the comment that I found it funny. As I said, I have not watched this episode. The video only shows the dancing part which I found funny. I did not even notice the boy was crying and Willie was not saying so much either.

I recently saw the entire interview and Willie was indeed making fun of the kid in the earlier part of the interview.

Six year-old Jan Jan macho dancing to the tune of "Next Episode" on Willing Willie. | Video courtesy of Youtube/TV5

WW. Girls suspended from "Willing Willie"

The all-girls dance group WW. Girls that regularly performs in TV5's Willing Willie has been suspended by the show's host Willie Revillame. According to Willie, he made the decision since some members of the group are having a conflict and that they even fight in the microblogging social networking site, Twitter.

"Mga matitigas ang ulo. Suspendido po sila hindi alam, indefinite kung babalik pa sila o hindi. Awayan ng awayan, awayan ng awayan. Pati sa twitter ho nag-aawayan. Yan ang disiplinang sinasabi ko. Biruin mo, programa niyo ‘to e magkakasama kayo dito. Sabi ko sa inyo, pumikit kayo, ibalik niyo yung dati niyong ginagawa nung nandun tayo sa kabilang istasyon, at anong buhay niyo ngayon. Ang lalaki ng sweldo niyo, almost 40 thousand, may kotse pang libre," Willie revealed in the January 12 episode of Willing Willie.


Willie added that they strictly prohibit fighting of crew in the show and that "noone is indispensable."

For the meantime, the group's choreographer Anna Feliciano and some other staff replaced the dancers parts in the show while they are settling the matter.

Check out pictures of each member of the Willing Willie Girls HERE.

Willie, Shalani spotted together in Boracay on New Year's Eve

The controversial TV host Willie Revillame and his co-host in a TV 5 show Willing Willie, Shalani Soledad were spotted together in Boracay on New Year's Eve. They were seen talking at the Discovery Shores in Boracay where a fireworks show was held. As seen on the picture below which was posted on Spot.ph, the TV personalities seem to show some degree of closeness. It was previously reported that Willie is indeed courting Shalani. The big question now is whether they are a couple already. Does this picture answer that question?

Same night, same event... Good thing they are not the ones on the Boracay New Year Scandal Video posted HERE.

"Willing Willie" skyrockets viewership

There is another thing that Willie Revillame will surely brag about, his new TV5 show "Willing Willie" gained 11.6% ratings which tied up on third place with GMA7's "24 Oras" among Philippine primetime shows and outranking ABS-CBN's TV Patrol which welcomed back Ex-Vice President Noli de Castro and Korina Sanchez. This is according to AGB Mega Manila People Ratings on a November 8, 2010 survey.

Another reason for this high ratings would be the show's new attraction which was the hosting debut of the ex-girlfriend of President Noynoy and city councilor Shalani Soledad.

Check out AGB Mega Manila People Ratings for November 5-8, 2010 below:

TOP 10 PROGRAMS - MEGA MANILA PEOPLE RATINGS (November 5 to 8, 2010)

DAYTIME (November 5)
1. Eat Bulaga (GMA) 10.3%
2. Koreana (GMA) 8.1%
3. Temptation of Wife (GMA) 7.6%
4. Little Star (GMA) 7%
5 & 6 Juanita Banana (ABS-CBN), Alyna (ABS-CBN) 6.2%
7. Ben 10 (TV5) 6.1%
8. Ang Yaman ni Lola (GMA) 5.7%
9. Down with Love (ABS-CBN) 5.5%
10. Kapamilya Blockbusters: My Big Love (ABS-CBN) 5.1%

PRIMETIME (November 5)
1. Magkaribal Finale (ABS-CBN) 15.7%
2. Imortal (ABS-CBN) 15.3%
3. Mara Clara (ABS-CBN) 13.2%
4. Survivor Philippines (GMA) 12.6%
5. 24 Oras (GMA) 12.3%
6. Grazilda (GMA) 12.2%
7. Bantatay (GMA) 11.4%
8. Noah (ABS-CBN) 10.8%
9. Ilumina (GMA) 10.5%
10. Kristine (ABS-CBN) 10.3%

DAYTIME (November 6)
1. Eat Bulaga (GMA) 11.9%
2. Showtime (ABS-CBN) 6.3%
3. Kapamilya Blockbusters: Ang Tanging Pamilya (ABS-CBN) 6%
4. 5 Max Movies (TV5) 5.4%
5. Wish Ko Lang (GMA) 4.9%
6. Ben 10 (TV5) 4.4%
7. Startalk (GMA) 4.1%
8 & 9 Johnny Bravo (TV5), Batman The Brave and the Bold (TV5) 4%
10. Ed Edd Neddy (TV5), Oggy and the Cockroaches (TV5) 3.9%

PRIMETIME (November 6)
1. Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho (GMA) 12.8%
2. MMK feat. Coco Martin (ABS-CBN) 11.8%
3. Talentadong Pinoy (TV5) 11.1%
4. Laugh Or Lose (TV5) 11%
5. Imbestigador (GMA) 10.9%
6. Wansapanataym: Kakambal Ko'y Manyika (ABS-CBN) 9.5%
7. Willing Willie (TV5) 8.8%
8. 24 Oras Weekend (GMA) 8.3%
9. Jejemom (GMA) 8.1%
10. TV Patrol Weekend (ABS-CBN) 8%

DAYTIME (November 7)
1. The Big Showdown: Lopez vs Marquez (ABS-CBN) 5.9%
2. Party Pilipinas (GMA) 5.5%
3. Kapuso Movie Festival: The Echo (GMA) 5.4%
4. ASAP XV (ABS-CBN) 5.1%
5. Tween Hearts (GMA) 5%
6. The Buzz (ABS-CBN) 4.7%
7 & 8 Johnny Bravo (TV5), Your Song Presents: Andi (ABS-CBN) 4.4%
9 & 10 Ben 10 (TV5), Showbiz Central (GMA) 4.2%

PRIMETIME (November 7)
1. Talentadong Pinoy (TV5) 12.1%
2. Pepito Manaloto (GMA) 10.3%
3. Kap's Amazing Stories (GMA) 9.7%
4. 24 Oras Weekend (GMA) 9.4%
5. Mel & Joey (GMA) 8.9%
6. Magic? Gimik! (TV5) 8.8%
7. TV Patrol Weekend (ABS-CBN) 7.9%
8. Rated K (ABS-CBN) 7.8%
9. Goin' Bulilit (ABS-CBN) 7.5%
10. Star Power (ABS-CBN) 6.2%

DAYTIME (November 8)
1. Eat Bulaga (GMA) 9.2%
2. Down with Love (ABS-CBN) 5.8%
3. Juanita Banana (ABS-CBN) 5.6%
4. Pacquiao vs Margarito Daily Bulletin (GMA) 5.4%
5 & 6 Showtime (ABS-CBN), Koreana (GMA) 5.3%
7. Alyna (ABS-CBN) 5.2%
8. Little Star (GMA) 5%
9. Temptation of Wife (GMA) 4.8%
10. Kapamilya Blockbusters: Enteng Kabisote (ABS-CBN) 4.5%

PRIMETIME (November 8)
1. Imortal (ABS-CBN) 13.5%
2. Survivor Philippines (GMA) 12.9%
3 & 4 24 Oras (GMA), Willing Willie (TV5) 11.6%
5. Ilumina (GMA) 11%
6. TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) 10.7%
7. Mara Clara (ABS-CBN) 10.5%
8. Noah (ABS-CBN) 10.3%
9. Grazilda (GMA) 10.2%
10. Beauty Queen (GMA) 10.1%

Figures courtesy of AGB Nielsen through PEP

Shalani Soledad, Newest Host on "Willing Willie"

Shalani Soledad, the ex-girlfriend of President of Noynoy Aquino, is in the limelight again as she starts another career as Willie Revillame's co-host on TV5's newest variety show, Willing Willie. The pretty Valenzuela City Councilor will be seen on the show starting this coming Monday, November 8, 2010.

The above information was confirmed by Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) on an article by Erwin Santiago.

Although the niece of the former Senator Francisco Tatad is new to hosting a show, Shalani was once a field reporter of UNTelevesion before. A Human Resource graduate from the College of St. Benilde, Shalani is now 29 years old.

Photo Credits: Philstar