Hey Willie Revillame, this is child exploitation!
Updates (03/28/2011):
- Willie Revillame, the producers of “Willing Willie” and TV5 issues a an apology.
- Sec. Dinky Soliman of DSWD sends a letter to Manny Pangilinan, Chairman of ABC TV5.
After the so many miscues Willie Revillame has done throughout his career, I have never thought he can ever top any of them until I saw a clip from a recent “Willing Willie” episode which aired on TV5 on March 12. It shows a 6-year-old child (and I will withhold his name), the son of a man who owned a parlor as the child himself revealed. On the talent part of the segment, he presented his ability to do a provocative dance, akin to something a ‘macho dancer’ in a bar would do. In my opinion, it was fine up to this point, he gets the customary cash and the contest proceeds as usual. Instead however, Willie started egging the poor child into repeating the performance over and over wherewith you can see the child cry while doing the act, and as if that weren’t enough, he was asked to perform on a rising pedestal at the end of the clip.
This is entertainment? The child was obviously humiliated the first time he had to do it, but performed the dance several times upon the inducement of Willie himself, his staff and with the encouragement of the people in audience — some of whom can be seen brought to tears in laughter. This is not funny at all. The ‘performance’ should have been allowed only once to qualify for the ‘talent’ portion of the contest, and that should have been the end of it. The child’s father was also ridiculed by Willie for owning a parlor, seemingly trying to coerce the child into revealing the sexual orientation of his father. What is wrong with trying to make a decent living by cutting people’s hair? Straight or homosexual, so what. Why was he trying to make that funny? Also, don’t these contestants go through an ‘audition’ before coming on air? Why did TV5 allow this?
A 6 year old child performs a provocative dance amidst the cheering of Willie Revillame, his staff and the studio audience.
Willie and TV5 are making money at the expense and humiliation of its contestants, and in this case, a very young child. The money they give away is a drop in the bucket compared to the money they make in advertisements, sponsorships and endorsements. It is clear that wherever Willie goes, he does whatever he wants. Unfortunately for us Filipinos, these are the usual classless, crass, disrespectful antics Willie is widely known for.
Shame on you Willie. It is obvious that you have not learned from any of the previous lessons, what is your excuse this time? Shame on you TV5 for sustaining a problem, by supporting him and keeping this classless act on TV. Shame on many us for tolerating such a person, don’t we have anything better on TV?
I have decided not to provide the link to the video as it will further contribute to the child’s humiliation.
©Copyright 2011, Definitely Filipino™ Blog Network. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise stated, all articles in this blog are opinions of their respective authors and not necessarily of Definitely Filipino and its staff.
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[...] Definitely Filipino dia milaza fa fampiasana zaza tsy ampy taona izany tranga izany: Fialam-boly ve izany? Afa-baraka mihitsy ilay zazakely tamin'ny nanao izany tamin'ny voalohany, nefa nandihy im-betsaka ihany ary niaraka tamin'ny famporisihan'i Willie, ny tompon'andraikitra ary ny mpijery nanatrika mihitsy aza izany — ny sasany tamin'izy ireo dia latsa-dranomaso mihitsy noho ny fihomehezana. Tsy mampihomehy mihitsy izany. Tokony natao hampisehoana ny ampahany ‘talenta' amin'ity fifaninana ity fotsiny izany ‘fisehoana an-tsehatra’ izany, dia tokony nifarana teo. Nalàn'i Willie baraka ihany koa ny dadan'ity zazakely noho ny fananany trano fihetezana, ary toa notereny hamboraka ny fironan'ny rainy ara-pitiavana ihany koa ity zazalahy. Inona no mahadiso amin'ny fivelomana amin'ny fanapahana ny volon'ny hafa? Na mahitsy, na mifanambady amin'ny mitovy aminy, dia maninona? [...]
if this is the case then vice ganda needs to be punish as well.,irony isnt it everyone tries to be righteous when somebody cries wolf…but if no one does…the show goes on and we be laughing our butts of,enjoying what is in entertainment. Tell me if he should be punish then i think we should to (the viewers) because 99 percent of the time we are laughing with the antics of willie. This is ridiculous if you guys want change then dont support such entertainment. Support other alternstive means of entertainment. Ang babaw ng kaligayahan ng filipino talaga.
[...] Definitely Filipino denounces the incident as child exploitation: This is entertainment? The child was obviously humiliated the first time he had to do it, but performed the dance several times upon the inducement of Willie himself, his staff and with the encouragement of the people in audience — some of whom can be seen brought to tears in laughter. This is not funny at all. The ‘performance’ should have been allowed only once to qualify for the ‘talent’ portion of the contest, and that should have been the end of it. The child’s father was also ridiculed by Willie for owning a parlor, seemingly trying to coerce the child into revealing the sexual orientation of his father. What is wrong with trying to make a decent living by cutting people’s hair? Straight or homosexual, so what [...]
[...] Definitely Filipino denounces the incident as child exploitation: This is entertainment? The child was obviously humiliated the first time he had to do it, but performed the dance several times upon the inducement of Willie himself, his staff and with the encouragement of the people in audience — some of whom can be seen brought to tears in laughter. This is not funny at all. The ‘performance’ should have been allowed only once to qualify for the ‘talent’ portion of the contest, and that should have been the end of it. The child’s father was also ridiculed by Willie for owning a parlor, seemingly trying to coerce the child into revealing the sexual orientation of his father. What is wrong with trying to make a decent living by cutting people’s hair? Straight or homosexual, so what [...]
[...] Definitely Filipino denounces the incident as child exploitation: This is entertainment? The child was obviously humiliated the first time he had to do it, but performed the dance several times upon the inducement of Willie himself, his staff and with the encouragement of the people in audience — some of whom can be seen brought to tears in laughter. This is not funny at all. The ‘performance’ should have been allowed only once to qualify for the ‘talent’ portion of the contest, and that should have been the end of it. The child’s father was also ridiculed by Willie for owning a parlor, seemingly trying to coerce the child into revealing the sexual orientation of his father. What is wrong with trying to make a decent living by cutting people’s hair? Straight or homosexual, so what [...]
If this is what many Filipinos find entertaining, then many should take a deep breath and a good look at the mirror. I know many will blame Willie Revillame, the boy’s parents and TV5 for this abuse but Filipinos should also realize that if they want to stop poor taste, moral and cultural degradation on TV, change should first begin in us.