For decades, Willie Revillame has used his celebrity, influence, and resources to help the underprivileged.
From the poor and the sick to the displaced and marginalized, Revillame has been known to give comfort as much as he could—that proverbial “jacket” to those in need.
As he enters the political arena for the first time, 64-year-old Revillame, for long reluctant to join the fray, wants to tackle familiar challenges that afflict Filipinos.
Only this time, he hopes to pursue reforms with an electoral mandate.
“Hindi mo kailangan maging magaling, hindi mo kailangan maging cum laude, valedictorian para gumawa ng mabuti sa iyong kapwa,” Revillame, said in his first press conference as an independent senatorial candidate.
After 27 years of engaging with people and listening to their stories in his daily show, Revillame believes “it is the right time” to run. “Ito ang tamang panahon para magawa ko na ‘yong gusto kong pagtulong sa lahat, not just inside the studio. Hindi na ko magbibigay ng jacket, magbibigay ng cellphone, Php10,000, Php20,000. Ito mas kailangan na ng mas malawak na pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Revillame faced the media Friday with Rep. JP Padiernos of GP (Galing sa Puso) Party-List, which the TV personality endorses.
The group, now in its sixth year, is seeking a third term in the House of Representatives. Revillame said his aspirations are aligned with the party-list group, that’s why he was drawn to support Padiernos.
“Una, ang ganda ng concept nila—galing sa puso,” said Revillame, who met the lawmaker through his father, a golf buddy. “Hindi kami magkasama and then accidental lang yung pag-uusap namin ng kanyang father. Nag-usap lang kami and then, ‘yung aking concept din puso para sa bayan. So, nagkaisa kami sa sa isang hangarin.”
Reform Agenda
Similar to his advocacies as a celebrity, Revillame wants to bring change in three key sectors, aligned with GP Party-list’s platform: health, employment, and education.
For Revillame, this triumvirate makes up a loop that cannot exist without the other.
“I think ang importante health is wealth. Kalusugan, kailangan ‘yung kalusugan mo talagang maayos para makapagtrabaho ka, mabigyan ka ng trabaho na maayos. Kasi ang hirap kapag may sakit ang magulang, asawa mo, o anak mo. After that, kung nakakapagtrabaho ka nang mabuti, mabibigyan mo ng edukasyon ang anak mo. ‘Yan ang basic na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
He cited how many among the poor still could not access quality healthcare because they don’t have money.
“Alam mo bang mas maraming namamatay na mahihirap kesa sa mayayaman? Kasi hindi sila nabibigyan ng tamang aruga sa ospital kasi walang pera,” he said.
He also hopes to attract more investors to the country to generate jobs. “Ako hihikayatin ko na sana maraming mga investors na pumasok dito para mas marami tayong matulungan na ating mga kababayan,” he said.
And to respond to the demand for a qualified workforce, Revillame wants to improve the quality of education: “Importante talaga ang edukasyon sa mga bata dahil ito ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa.”
Not a politician
As he takes on the campaign trail, Revillame wants to stand out as a candidate who aspires not to be a politician, but to become a public servant.
“Ako sa totoo lang, no offense kahit kanino, I don’t wanna be called a politician. ‘Pag sinabing politician ka, nasa isip nila korap, mangangako lang. I want to be called a public servant. Gusto ko talaga magserbisyo kasi sapat-sapat na ang ipinagkaloob sa akin ng Diyos sa lahat,” Revillame said.
“Kahirap magsilbi pero masarap ang pakiramdam kapag magagawa mo ito ng tama. At hindi ka gagawa ng mali sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.