FRIDAY, we were at Wiltime Bigtime, programa ni Willie Revillame on TV5, para manood ng kanyang birthday presentation. ’Di itinatago ni Wilie na 51 years old na siya. And at his age, he admits, he, likewise, amassed a fortune na hanggang siguro sa kabilang buhay ay mananatiling pangarap sa audience na nanonood ng kanyang show, including us.

But what actually drew our interest to watch Wiltime Bigtime, pardon Willie, was the presence of Aga Muhlach, who was to be his co-host that evening.

The following day, Saturday, ayon kay Willie, he would have naman  Sharon Cuneta bilang co-host niya, na tulad ng alam nating lahat, is a Kapatid na rin tulad nina Willie at Aga.

Yes, finally, we should all know na nag-kiss and make up na sina Sharon at Willie, na for a time, ay nagkaroon ng ‘falling out,’ dahil, if we remember right, sa  patutsada ni Willie tungkol sa size ni Sharon. Truth nga naman kasi hurts, ’di ba?

But this was a long time na, for those who remember will say, when both the two of them were still a Kapamilya. Well, just like Aga.

Kung time heals all wounds nga naman, why not a mere patutsada?

Well.

* * *

Inside the hall where Wiltime Bigtime was held, punumpuno ito ng tao. Masaya ang kapaligiran, kahit pa siguro without the urging na lahat ay kailangang maging masaya, pumapalakpak, humihirit at humagalpak ng tawa, from a studio heckler, ganun pa rin ang magiging atmosphere na madarama.

Most of the audience, after all, were there, hoping na kahit papaano ay mabigyan sila ni Willie ng tulong, gaano man ito kalaki o kaliit, na sapat para makatulong sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya.

Pathetic, it may seems, but, as Mother Lily said, nakaka-share pa rin si Willie sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap ng amount na makaka-sustain sa kailangan nila even for a day.

Kaya, ikaw naman, who just went to the show, merely to watch and enjoy it, perhaps, feel somewhat a little luckier than your fellow audience na iba nga ang purpose.

But that evening, even Willie agreed, was different. Willing siya to give more than what in every episode na kanyang naipapamimigay, dahil nga, birthday niya.

Literally, it was raining money.

* * *

Later, we joined Willie, Aga and Willie’s friends and supporters, big bosses sa TV5, headed by Atty. Rey Espinoza at Perci Intalan, sa kanyang birthday party na ginanap sa kanyang bagong event’s place located sa Scout Borromeo, Quezon City, across the newly opened TJ Bar and Restaurant owned by actress Sylvia Sanchez at malapit sa studio ng ABS-CBN, dating network na kinabibilangan ni Willie.

Also among Willie’s guests were Ben Chan of Bench, owner ng Cherry Mobile, Vernna Fores ng Smart-Araneta Coliseum, talent manager Shirley Kuan, Annabelle Rama and some entertainment writers.

Maaga kaming nakaalis kaya ’di namin na-sight ang iba pang guests na dumating. Although nakita namin ang ilang upcoming stars ng TV5, kabilang na si Danita Paner, who told us na kahit may differences na namamagitan between her Mom Daisy Romualdez and her talent manager, Annabelle Rama, she remains a talent ng kanyang Tita Annabelle.

Her next series with TV5 will be most challenging, according to reliable sources, as she will play a bitchy character.

If Danita emerges daw successful in her portrayal of the character assigned to her then and there, masasabing a new star is truly born.

Keep up with the challenge, Danita.