TV5 boss: ‘We’re not renewing Willie’s contract’

Curtain-raisers:

The height of irony: You know that it’s Wally Bayola and Jose Manalo whom you see at the start of each screening in moviehouses reminding (nay, warning!) the audience that videotaping (with celfone or other gadgets) is strictly prohibited and is, in fact, punishable by law. Obviously, Wally did not heed that warning. Proof? His self-made sex video has gone viral.

Is Derek Ramsay burping now that he has eaten his words? In an interview with Funfare a few months ago, Derek, obviously “burned” by his breakup with Angelica Panganiban, swore that he’d never fall for a showbiz girl again, admitting that he was dating a non-showbiz girl. Here’s the rub: He just confirmed that he and his former “just friend” Cristine Reyes are now an item and, blasting his image as a quiet/dignified gentleman, is blithely announcing it to the whole world on his Instagram complete with his and Cristine’s lovey-dovey photos, captioned “It’s forever!” Like somebody close to Derek, I suspect that this “romance” has something to do with the “lovers’” forthcoming movie, Trophy Wife (with Heart Evangelista, directed by Elwood Perez). So how long is “forever?” Oh well, perhaps until after the showing of the movie. Unless…

 Could it be true that when a certain actor made public his engagement to his TV-host girlfriend, his ex-girlfriend cried a river? Why, does the ex still have a feeling for him? Did she break up with the actor in all reluctance just to please her parents?

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When new TV5 president/CEO Emmanuel “Noel” Lorenzana and TV5 COO for Entertainment Wilma Galvante met the movie press last Monday at the VIP Room of Luxent Hotel, they were swamped with questions about the Kapatid Network’s plans, foremost of which was whether or not Willie Revillame has been persuaded upon to stay as soon as his contract for his noontime show Wowowillie expires on Oct. 12.

“No,” clarified Noel, repeating what Willie said during a meeting with TV management before Noel started his term. “Willie said that he wanted to take a break,” so that’s it. “His contract will not be renewed. And if ever he wants to come back, it will have to be under new terms and new conditions.”

On the other hand, Wilma denied rumors that Judy Ann Santos might sign up with TV5, but she confirmed that there’s a standing movie offer for Juday and her husband Ryan Agoncillo whose top-rating show Talentadong Pinoy recently ended (not “axed”).

“But Talentado will be back,” added Wilma, “together with Amy Perez’s Face-To-Face which has been airing replays. When it returns, FTF will have a stronger format, still with Amy but with Gelli de Belen coming in as her co-host.” (When Amy went on maternity leave early this year, it was Gelli who pitched in for her.)

You may be wondering who Noel Lorenzana is. He is the president and CEO of MediaQuest, the holding company that owns media assets such as TV5 and Cignal Digital TV, among others. (Singer Jo-Anne Lorenzana is his cousin and actor Guji Lorenzana is their nephew.) He was previously the executive vice president and head of the Wireless Consumer Business at Smart. Before joining the PLDT group, Noel was president of NutriAsia, the leading condiments company in the Philippines. He also held various positions at Unilever for many years — chairman and managing director of Unilever Malaysia and Singapore, managing director of Home and Personal Care Business for Unilever Philippines, vice president for the Oral Care Category for Asia and Africa, and marketing director for Unilever Shanghai. In case you didn’t know, Uniliver is the biggest placer of TV ads.

And Wilma…well, she needs no introduction. Before moving to TV5, she was with GMA where she pioneered hit shows and, after leaving GMA, she put up her own Asian Academy of Television Arts (which was behind the Kapatid talent search Artista Academy).

What Noel and Wilma were excited about is the September package which kicks off next week, including (the Saturday block, starting Sept. 14):

• Showbiz Police, which premieres at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, hosted by Cristy Fermin, Lucy Torres, Joey Reyes and Raymond Gutierrez (formerly with the GMA defunct show H.O.T. TV);

• Tropa Mo Ko Unli, with Ogie Alcasid (formerly with the GMA gag show Bubble Gang) and Gelli de Belen, to be joined by Edgar Allan Guzman, Empoy, Alwyn Uytingco, Eula Caballero, Ritz Azul, Jasmine Curtis-Smith and the top scholars of Artista Academy;

• Killer Karaoke, featuring six contestants in a “challenging” singing contest (which puts them to various stumbling blocks while they’re singing); and

• What’s Up, Doods?, a comedy talk show hosted by Edu Manzano. (“The show is a favorite,” said Noel, “I’m a fan of Edu.”)

And the Sunday Block (starting Sept. 15), including:

• Pinoy Explorer, hosted by Aga Muhlach;

• Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Season 10, hosted by Vic Sotto;

• Wow Mali Pa Rin, hosted by Joey de Leon; and

• The Mega and the Songwriter, hosted by Ogie Alcasid and Sharon Cuneta.

Noel and Wilma promised bigger things soon, so stay tuned.

What’s Up?

Jamie Anne Yap (photo) passed the physician licensure exams. She graduated from La Salle (B.S. Physics, a pre-med course) summa cum laude and from the UP College of Medicine with a 100 percent grade. She’s the daughter of Dr. Welson Yap and wife Siony. Also, congratulations to Dr. Toni Uy who passed the same exams.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)