Revillame shuts down rumors, launches ‘Wilyonaryo’

After months of speculation following his loss in the 2025 senatorial race, Willie Revillame stepped back into the spotlight not with excuses but with clarity, conviction, and a brand-new game show aimed squarely at the Filipino masses.

At the grand media launch of Wilyonaryo in Quezon City, Revillame addressed head-on the persistent rumors questioning his financial standing. Calm yet firm, he brushed them aside with a mix of humor and candor.

“Hindi totoo ‘yun eh. Minsan natatawa na lang ako kung saan nila kinukuha ‘yun. Hindi mo alam kung kino-content ka o may galit sa’yo,” he said, making it clear that the talk had no basis in reality.

(“That’s not true. Sometimes I just laugh at where they get it. You don’t know if you’re being turned into content or if someone is angry at you.”)

Without posturing, the longtime host explained that recent property movements were simply smart business decisions — not signs of distress.

“Ganito lang ‘yun eh. Kung meron kang property na may nagkagusto at kikita ka ng doble, hindi mo ba ibebenta? So mag-i-invest ka uli,” he shared, framing reinvestment as part of long-term planning rather than a financial emergency.

(“It’s simple. If you have a property someone wants and you’ll earn double, wouldn’t you sell it? Then you invest again.”)

Revillame then laid everything on the table, careful to stress that transparency — not bragging — was his intention.

“May bago akong resort sa Puerto Galera… May pinapaganda akong high-end hotel… May binili akong dalawang floor sa isang penthouse sa BGC… Buong floor, hindi lang isang unit,” he said, before adding, “Ayoko na sanang sabihin ito baka sabihin n’yo nagyayabang ako. Kaso gusto kong ipakita na hindi naman ako naghihirap. Pinaghirapan ko ang mga ito.”

(“I have a new resort in Puerto Galera… I’m improving a high-end hotel… I bought two floors of a penthouse in BGC — an entire floor, not just one unit. I didn’t want to say this because you might think I’m bragging, but I want to show that I’m not struggling. I worked hard for these.”)

Gratitude above all

More than assets or achievements, Revillame was quick to credit the institutions and people who stood by him through decades of television.

“Kaya pinasasalamatan ko ang ABS-CBN, TV5, GMA, at ALLTV… Pero ang pinaka-importante sa lahat ay ‘yung mga tao na sumuporta sa lahat ng programa ko. Kapag ayaw sa’yo ng mga tao, hindi ka magre-rate,” he said, underscoring that his real capital has always been public trust.

(“That’s why I thank ABS-CBN, TV5, GMA, and ALLTV… But the most important of all are the people who supported all my programs. If people don’t like you, you won’t rate.”)

Love, age, and purpose

When asked about his personal life, Revillame was blunt.

“Zero. Walang saysay. Hindi ko na naiisip ‘yun eh.”

(“Zero. It’s meaningless. I don’t even think about it anymore.”)

Approaching his 65th birthday, he admitted he no longer wished for anything extravagant — only meaning and impact.

“Wala na akong wish… Siguro maging successful lang ito okay na ako… Kapag naging successful ang show na ito, tutulungan ko ang gobyerno, lalo na ang ating mga mahihirap na kababayan,” he said, reiterating that service, for him, does not require public office.

(“I don’t have any wishes anymore… If this becomes successful, I’ll be OK… If this show succeeds, I’ll help the government, especially our poor countrymen.”)

Why Wilyonaryo matters

Revillame also clarified why Wilyonaryo did not immediately land on free television, revealing that leadership changes and concerns about gaming regulations led to a pause in network negotiations.

“For me, hindi sugal ito. It’s a raffle game. Ang pakiramdam ko rito, mas maraming mananalo, mas maraming matutulungan,” he stressed, noting that the program is fully licensed and compliant.

(“For me, this is not gambling. It’s a raffle game. I feel that the more winners there are, the more people we can help.”)

At its core, Wilyonaryo reflects the same philosophy that defined his career, from Wowowee to Wowowin.

“Mahigit dalawang dekada na akong game show host, pero hindi pa rin nagbabago ang hangarin ko — na kahit papaano ay mabigyan ng panalo sa buhay ang mas maraming Pilipino,” he said.

(“I’ve been a game show host for more than two decades, but my goal hasn’t changed — to somehow give more Filipinos a win in life.”)

“Kaya talagang ginawa at pinaghandaan ko itong ‘Wilyonaryo’ dahil sigurado akong napakaraming Pilipino ang mananalo.”

(“That’s why I really created and prepared ‘Wilyonaryo,’ because I’m sure many Filipinos will win.”)

A birthday gift to the nation

Launching on 25 January, just days before his birthday, Wilyonaryo premieres not as a personal celebration but as an offering to viewers nationwide. It serves as a reminder that for Willie Revillame, the mission remains unchanged: to entertain, to uplift, and to give ordinary Filipinos a fighting chance at extraordinary wins.

At 65, Kuya Wil isn’t retreating. He’s doubling down — on purpose, on people, and on the belief that as long as the masses are watching, his work is far from finished.