Azkals Vs. Bangladesh on Studio 23

Studio 23 will be airing ABS-CBN SPORTS' AFC CUP CHALLENGE: PHILIPPINES VS BANGLADESH on March 31, Thursday, from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM.

The AFC CUP CHALLENGE: PHILIPPINES VS BANGLADESH will then have a primetime replay on April 1, Friday, from 10:30 PM - 1:30 AM, pre-empting GREY'S ANATOMY, PRIMETIME CRIME and the TOP RANK BOXING replay.

Willie Revillame Strikes Back to Stars Condemning Him

Nagbigay si Willie Revillame ng mga paghamon sa mga artista na bumabatikos sa kanya. Aniya, dapat tumulong na lang ang mga nasabing artista sa mga mahihirap imbes na magbigay-puna.

Ilan sa mga artistang nagbigay ng kanilang reaksiyon sa pamamagitan ng Twitter ay sina Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra, Jim Paredes, Kat de Castro, Bianca Gonzalez, at Monique Wilson.

Banta ni Willie, maraming magagalit sa mga artistang ito kapag inisa-isa niya ang kanilang mga pangalan.

"At dun sa mga artistang nagti-tweet sa akin, tumulong na lang kayo sa inyong mga kababayan. Wag na kayong magsasalita sa tweet niyo. Hindi ko na ipapakita 'yang mga pangalan n'yo.

"Kasi pag binanggit ko sa inyo, maraming magagalit sa inyo. Maniwala kayo sa akin. Maraming magagalit sa inyo kapag binanggit ko ang pangalan n'yo. Wag na kayong mag-tweet; pare-pareho tayong nasa industriya."

Binantaan niya rin ang isang singer na hindi niya pinangalanan.

"Mag-concert ka, kung sino ka man, nang libre, at yung perang kikitain mo, ibigay mo. Okay? Yun ang dapat mong gawin. Wag kang magtutu-tweet.

"Sa ibang artista, magkakasama tayo rito, ha? Saka alamin n'yo muna yung ginagawa ng programa. Hindi namin kailangang ipakita on-air o off-air lang. Marami kaming ginagawang kabutihan sa ating mga kababayan."

Bukod pa rito, nagbigay rin si Willie ng banta sa mga advertiser na balak i-boycott ang kanyang programa.

"Tapos yung iba, sumulat na sa mga sponsors namin, sa advertisers. Ang gusto nila, mag-boycott ang advertisers. Napakasakit na po ng ano, e, umaabot na ho sa ganun, na bino-boycott yung problema...

"Alam n'yo ho, pag binoycott kami ng advertisers, yung mga nagmamahal naman sa amin, hindi nila bibilhin ang produktong 'yan? Pag sina... Di ba? Hindi ho, e. Hindi naman ganun ang labanan dito."

Agad na pinalakpakan ng studio audience ang pahayag na ito.

Sa bandang huli, nagbigay si Willie ng konkretong hamon sa kanyang mga tagapagbatikos.

"Ngayon, kung tatanggalin n'yo ang programa, pinipilit n'yo kaming mawala sa mundo. Sana kayo ang sumagot sa mga pangangailangan ng mga taong mahihirap na mga ito. Di ba?" saad niya.

Its so sad that Willie Revillame sees himself as the saviour of the poor people and uses TV medium in showing his harsh attitude.

Toni Gonzaga Renews Contract With Star Cinema

Toni Gonzaga just signed a 2 year, 3 picture contract with Star Cinema. Her upcoming projects include the movie with Eugene Domingo, Zanjoe Marudo and John Lloyd Cruz.

Photo courtesy of www.darlasauler.com.

DSWD Says Boy Was Abused in Willie Revillame's Show

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has stepped into the controversy involving television show “Willing Willie” and a 6-year-old boy who was made to dance in a lewd manner in exchange for P10,000.

The DSWD said the incident that aired March 12 on TV5 is clear case of child abuse.

“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,” the agency said in a press statement.

“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,” it said.

The DSWD said 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,” it added.

“This is a clear form of child abuse and will not be tolerated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” the statement said.

Apology

Revillame, the producers of his show and the management of TV5 immediately issued a public apology.

In an official statement, they “sincerely and deeply” apologized for the segment, “which viewers may have found offensive or in bad taste.” They stressed that it was “never their intention to humiliate or abuse Jan-Jan or any contestant on the show.”

They also pointed out that the child’s appearance on the show was completely voluntary and with the blessings of his parents.

“He appeared to be sad or even in tears, not because he was being forced to dance, but because he felt the dance was ‘serious’ and he was playing a role. He did not want to smile because of his missing upper front teeth and because of the presence on the set of former basketball player Bonel Balingit who Jan-jan thought was a scary ‘giant,’” the statement read.

According to them, Jan-Jan has performed in the past in school programs and mall contests.

“TV5 and Wil Productions express profound regret for any insensitivity on their part, and wish to thank all those who have expressed concern. We are always grateful to be reminded of our obligations to the viewing public. In turn, we hope to make clear that the objective of the show has always been to bring joy and hope to Filipinos, whether they are participating on the show or viewing at home,” the statement read.

Insensitive

Before the apology, the DSWD said it had gotten in touch with ABC Development Communication chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and asked 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 its letter to Mr. Pangilinan, the DSWD also rebuked Revillame’s “insensitive actions and remarks.”

The government agency also revealed that it will look for the boy’s family, determine the incident’s effect on the child and determine if necessary counseling should be given to the child and his parents.

The incident has set social media networks like Facebook and Twitter on fire. Blog entries condemning the show and its host have also been published online.

Twitter users condemned the incident while a campaign was launched on Facebook to raise the issue to the authorities:

MTRCB investigation

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), in a statement Monday, said it has referred the issue to its Hearing and Adjudication Committee.

MTRCB chairperson Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares said the board also received numerous complaints about the said “Willing Willie” episode wherein the boy was asked to gyrate like a macho dancer.

Llamanzares said it is the board’s duty “to enforce the Constitutional mandate that the state shall defend the rights of children from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.”

The board further emphasizes that whenever children are featured in television programs, producers are mandated to observe legal standards stipulated in R.A. 7160 to avoid “psychological abuse xxx cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment” and “any act by deeds and words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child.”

Columnist Condemns Willie Revillame's Show

On Sunday, mom and columnist Cathy Babao Guballa wrote a letter to Jan-Jan, the 6-year-old boy who was made to dance in a lewd manner in television show Willing Willie in exchange for P10,000.

Since then, the letter has been making the rounds on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and has been causing netizens to react strongly to the issue.

In the said letter, Guballa stressed that a child shouldn't go through humiliation for any reason, not even money woes.

"It's not all about the money, Jan-jan. The dignity of every child must be upheld. By allowing you to perform that way, they trampled on you and made you feel so small. I could see the fear and embarrassment in your eyes. It was undeniable. If there was only some way to rescue you from that moment, I'm sure every parent worth their salt would have done so," Guballa wrote.

"Poverty must never be an excuse to humiliate people. A child must be allowed to be a child. This terrible experience has probably left a mark on your soul and my prayer is that you will not be damaged by it forever. And this is why this insanity has to stop," she added.

Guballa, a columnist for The Philippine Daily Inquirer, said there are many people to blame for the humiliating experience that Jan-jan went through -- the child's guardians, the studio audience and host Willie Revillame.

She scored Revillame in particular for egging on the crowd and comparing Jan-jan to a "burlesque dancer."

"Willie had the power in that moment to stop, no, to prevent you from even performing your dance number. Had he done so, he may have even redeemed himself in a way. But what did he do? He gave you the money that you perhaps came for so that you could give it to your parents who for the life of me perhaps did not know any better than to send you there," Guballa wrote.

She continued, "Willie, a parent many times over, and a grandfather -- did not see the faces of his children or of his grandson when he was egging you on to dance a second or a third time? That he found enjoyment in watching you, and poking fun at you as you cried and looked so miserable was to my mind inexcusable. You are a child, and you are supposed to be loved and protected. Your right to protection is provided for under the law. I am so sorry that we failed to do this for you."

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has stepped into the controversy involving Willing Willie and Jan-jan, saying that the episode aired March 12 is a "clear case of child abuse."

DSWD has asked TV5 to not allow children to appear in shows like Willing Willie and other programs that "capitalize on poverty as a source of immediate entertainment."

The agency will also get in touch with Jan-jan's family, determine the incident's effect on the child and determine if necessary counseling should be given to the child and his parents.

Below is the full letter written by Guballa to Jan-jan.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dearest Jan-jan,

My heart broke as I watched you cry on television. You should never have been there in the first place. There are many people to blame for the humiliation that you went through. What took place should have never happened if people had been doing their jobs, if people had only known better.

First of all, I cannot understand how your tita would teach you to dance that way!! You are only six years old and what do you know about the world? I’m sure you are a very bright, sensitive, and talented little boy, that much I could see. That’s another reason why it was so painful for me to watch you suffer. You were, in fact, the only one in that studio who knew that what was happening was so very wrong. You rely on your parents and your guardians to take care of you. They need to ensure that you grow up to become healthy in mind, body and spirit. But by allowing you to suffer that way, they miserably failed you.

It's not all about the money, Jan-jan. The dignity of every child must be upheld. By allowing you to perform that way, they trampled on you and made you feel so small. I could see the fear and embarrassment in your eyes. It was undeniable. If there was only some way to rescue you from that moment, I'm sure every parent worth their salt would have done so.

Poverty must never be an excuse to humiliate people. A child must be allowed to be a child. This terrible experience has probably left a mark on your soul and my prayer is that you will not be damaged by it forever. And this is why this insanity has to stop.

I have no explanation for the way that the crowd treated you that evening. I feel very sad at what we have become as a people. That these adults would actually find it entertaining to see a young boy like you shamed that way. That these so-called adults did not see beyond the lewd gyrations to see the little boy with warm tears running down his face. It pains me that we have become so desensitized as a people, that we would allow a child to suffer that way.


But for me, the biggest fault that evening falls on Willie Revillame’s shoulders. I have no explanation for what possessed him to egg on the crowd, to say those words to you, to liken you to a burlesk dancer. Willie had the power in that moment to stop, no, to prevent you from even performing your dance number. Had he done so, he may have even redeemed himself in a way. But what did he do? He gave you the money that you perhaps came for so that you could give it to your parents who for the life of me perhaps did not know any better than to send you there. And he egged you on…

Willie, a parent many times over, and a grandfather – did he not see the faces of his children or of his grandson when he was egging you on to dance a second or a third time? That he found enjoyment in watching you, and poking fun at you as you cried and looked so miserable was to my mind inexcusable. You are a child, and you are supposed to be loved and protected. Your right to protection is provided for under the law. I am so sorry that we failed to do this for you.

The image of your face has been running through my head over the last couple of days. What happened to you that day must not go to waste. If we can save even one other child from having to go through what you had to endure then all these efforts we are now doing will not be in vain.

We can no longer turn back the hands of time and take away your pain, Jan-jan, but we can always give a deeper meaning to the humiliation you went through it by working together, hand in hand, to ensure that no other child, or minor, for that matter will ever have to suffer the way you did on national television.

I hope someday when you recall this moment, it will no longer bring you shame. Your tears will not go to waste. In doing what you did, before millions of people in and out of the studio, you woke us all up and in the process, perhaps saved so many other children from ever having to go through what you did. You are a brave little boy Jan-jan, always remember that.

Cathy S. Babao Guballa
March 27, 2011

Ai-Ai delas Alas Speaks About the Box Office Queen Issue

Last March 15 ay mabilis na kumalat ang balitang mayroon nang itinanghal Na Box Office King and Queen ang Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Nag-tie diumano sina Vic Sotto at Bong Revilla bilang Box Office King para sa Si Agimat At Si Enteng Kabisote at si Aiai Delas Alas naman daw ang Box office Queen para sa Ang Tanging Ina Mo, Last na ‘to. Kasunod nito ay lumutang naman ang balitang hindi raw matanggap ng ina ni Toni Gonzaga na si Mommy Pinty ang pagkakapili kay Aiai bilang Box Office Queen. Nagbigay na rin si Toni the other day ng kanyang pahayag tungkol dito.

Ano naman kaya ang reaksyon ni Aiai sa isyung ito? “Nag-start kasi yung about doon sa scheduling, kung kailan yung coronation. Siguro may tumawag na taga-Guillermo, nalaman nila na sina Sen. Bong and Bossing Vic ang Box Office King, so tinanong nila kung sino yung babae, sinabi nila ako. Tinawagan ako, kinongratulate ako. Ngayon naman after five days, ang Backroom (management agency ni Aiai) tinatawagan ako kung pwede ako sa May 8, kasi ako ang kokoronahang Box Office Queen. Sabi nila, bakit daw kami merong ganun eh may deliberation pa,” kuwento ni Aiai.

Ayon naman sa isa sa mga directors ng Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation na si Amy Samaniego Tiongco ay wala pa raw talagang official at final results sa ngayon para sa Box-Office winners. “We based the results from the data we gathered. We collate all the data, and from there, makikita natin kung sino ang top-grossers, yun po talaga. Hindi pa po kami nagde-deliberate, we are still in the process of gathering the results, we have few data in hand. When we have all the data in hand, we will set a date on when we are going to do the judging and the deliberation and ire-release po namin agad ang results. As of now I cannot divulge any official statement kasi nga po wala pa po kaming data, although I can officially say talaga pong sila ang best contenders doon sa award,” paglilinaw ni Amy.

Sa kabila nito ay inamin ni Aiai na umaasa pa rin daw siyang maiuuwi ang korona. “Thank you kung sa akin, thank you rin kung hindi, pero mas maganda kung sa akin. Parang price namin, nakakatuwa iyon para sa akin, regalo, gift. Nakaka-inspire iyon para lalo naming pagbutihan, lalo naming galingan. Gusto ko talaga iyon, gusto ko kapag malalaki na yung apo ko, ipapakita ko sa kanila na ang dami kong awards,” dagdag pa ni Aiai.

Wala naman daw hinanakit ang comedy queen sa kampo ni Toni dahil sa isyung ito. “Hindi naman ako nagtatampo kasi mahal ko naman si Celestine (Toni), kung kanino naman ang para kanino, ibigay, let’s be fair. Alam mo naman kami ni Celestine, anak ko iyon, mahal ko yun kaya walang problema sa amin,” pagtatapos ni Aiai.

Piolo Pascual on Real Leaf Green Tea

Here is the new TV commercial of Piolo Pascual in Real Leaf Green Tea.

Toni Gonzaga on Preview April 2011 Issue

Toni Gonzaga perhaps scored her best magazine cover ever–on Preview April 2011 issue!

Preview’s April 2011 issue is all about bold colors in time for the summer season.

Looking bright and beautiful on the cover is the Multi-media Queen herself, Toni Gonzaga.

Other features inside this ish include “Fashion’s Bold Move,” “40+ Key Summer Pieces Under P2,500,” “Vacation Mode,” “Earth Saver,” “Is Your Workout Keeping You Fat?” and more!