Willie Revillame, Wowowin host/co-producer, had 11 of the 86
gorgeous Miss Universe candidates as guests, the biggest batch of contestants to appear in a local television show, on January 26. Wowowin airs weekday afternoons on GMA 7 at 5 p.m.
Through an exclusive arrangement of Willie's wedding sponsor, Luis "Chavit" Singson, who is Miss Universe 2017 sponsor, they included Miss Universe Canada Siera Bearchell, Cayman Islands Monyque Brooks, Haiti Raquel Pelissier, Curacao Chanelle de Lau, Sweden Ida Ovmar, Norway Christina Waage, Barbados Shannon Harris, British Virgin Islands Erika Creque, Bulgaria Violina Ancheva, Croatia Barbara Filipovic and Czech Republic Andrea Bezdekova.
The guests danced to "Isn't She Lovely" and were welcomed by Willie with a serenade of his hit song, "Ikaw Na Nga." With the Wowowin Dancers handing them gifts, they first received Cherry Mobile Android mobile phones in black boxes.
When it was Miss Curacao's turn, Willie suddenly knelt in front of her and proposed marriage, to which she proudly said, "Yes!" Holding Miss Curacao, he jokingly said, "Goodbye, Miss Universe," and added that he'd go home with her. This drew cheers and laugher from the candidates and viewers. Willie praised Miss Curacao, "You're special!"
Then, more gifts of karaoke microphones and Wowowin jackets were distributed, making the recipients joyful. Then he asked viewers to watch the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant on GMA 7 on January 30 starting 8 p.m.
Willie celebrated his 56th birthday the following day at the ballroom of the newly inaugurated Windlord Hotel and Casino in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Up next from Willie is the second anniversary of top-rating daily game show on February 1.
SEN. VICENTE SOTTO SPEARHEADS MMFF REDIRECTION. If Sen. Vicente Sotto III's proposed National Film Promotion Act will be passed this year, we will have the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which is usually held during lucrative Christmas season, most likely adapting a suitable new name, turning into a national festival in scope and a separate annual festival for independent films every summer.
Sen. Sotto vows to file a bill that will be dubbed the National Film Promotion Act to help new, small film producers and all stakeholders to promote their movies in specific number of days and to generate more income.
Sen. Sotto authored the law creating the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the implementing body of the MMFF, and sponsored the bill creating the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
The mechanics of the largely successful annual film festival was subjected to swift changes by filmmakers identified with indie films favoring independent films and converted it into their own last year without regard to viewer preference and financial viability.
Sen. Sotto has been thinking a solution after observing this huge drop (more than 50 percent) in MMFF 2016 revenues due to its focus on indie films and disregard for viewer preferences. "The small income of MMFF 2016 will definitely affect its beneficiaries."
All servicing the needs of workers in the local film industry, wholly or partially, these beneficiaries are the Mowelfund, Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Film Academy of the Philippines, Film Development Council of the Philippines and Optical Media Board.
A decrease directly affects beneficiaries and deliverables as they get a share from MMFF net earnings, which their managers plow in to projects aimed to benefit film industry workers in particular and the film industry in general. The decrease naturally translates into a cut of such shares.
On January 5, Sen. Sotto filed Senate Resolution 257, calling for an exclusive film festival for independent films with Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, supporting the proposal. In filing the resolution, he explained that this is not to favor anyone, including his brother, comedian, TV host and producer Vic Sotto.
BEN'S SEDUCTION. The ilawod, the water elemental from downstream (Ilaya is its upstream equivalent), latches on to online reporter Dennis while he is covering an exorcism rite with photographer Carlos (Epy Quizon) in a faraway barrio, by a river rushing downstream in Quantum Films' Ilawod. Strange things start to happen once he gets home to their swanky condominium building without conscious attention of the occurrences.
Ben gets attracted unknowingly to the perennially clad in white under dress Isla (Therese Malvar), who mysteriously reappears when he passes by the common swimming pool after school. His sweet behavior slowly turns foul when he falls for the seduction like the alarming change in conduct of the rest of his family members.
Ben isolates himself and starts having a fascination for the razor blade. Unsuspectingly, Dennis, while attempting to bond with his now surprisingly distant teener, informs about his new friend whom he openly namedrops as Isla. He encourages him to bring his new girlfriend to their condo unit. Taking advantage, Isla proceeds claiming Ben's soul by deflowering him in an implied shower sex scene.
To prove his quickly earned love and loyalty, she asks for evidence to which he complies without hesitation by wounding a fingertip for a blood compact. Flash-forward to Ben, perversely slashing his left forearm with ferocity, then Isla taking him down for a swim in the pool. Quick cut to younger sister Bea screaming upon finding Ben floating dead.
LEAD-OUT. Cory Quirino giving up on the Miss World franchise is backfiring big time!... The buzz is that Cory's decision has something to do with Chavit Singson's involvement with the Miss Universe pageant!... Pregnant with their love baby, Kylie Padilla and Aljur Abrenica are going to Australia so he can ask for her hand in marriage from her mom!... Robin Padilla, Kylie's father, expressed his disapproval then, and stated in an interview: "Hindi ko ibibigay ang opinyon ko diyan kasi sumisikat ang ibang tao. Sinaktan na nga ang anak ko, e!"...Filipino-British Xia Vigor is leading Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids!...Xia has beaten former top favorite Awra Briguela, who shows a major weakness when impersonating male celebrities!... The frequent sightings of Regine Velasquez at the ABS-CBN premises have something to do with husband Ogie Alcasid being a contract star there!... Former hunk Diether Ocampo is now in the US to convert into a Mormon!... Dr. Aura Azarcon was evicted from Pinoy Big Brother on Saturday!... Nora Aunor is sour-graping by talking about the Oro script calling for the clubbing of a dog as director Alvin Yapan admitted that!... Will President Rodrigo Duterte declare Nora as National Artist for film?