WILLIE REVILLAME AND PRESIDENT CORY'S FUNERAL CORTEGE

(Photo from http://tagpuan.com)

Willie Revillame has been absent from ABS-CBN’s noontime TV program “Wowowee” for a number of days now. He is reportedly on indefinite leave that was a consequence of the controversial statement he made regarding the funeral cortege of our beloved President Corazon Aquino.

President Cory has already been laid to rest. Yet, discussions, both verbally and in print, about that above-mentioned statement still go on. Even my own officemates—especially Annie who is a Cory fan and supporter and Reanne who is Kris Aquino's avid fan—are still talking about it.

I read one news item defending Willie for what he had said and justifying both his words and action. But many were criticizing him.

It will be noted that Wowowee is still being telecast until now. But our dearly beloved Tita Cory’s wake was over. Never will there be another President Cory's funeral cortege subject for a TV coverage.

ON WOWOWEE AND WILLIE REVILLAME

Wowowee is my favorite noontime show. It makes me laugh. It makes me happy. It helps me forget my worries even if only momentarily.

I like the show’s format and I love the “Willie of Fortune” portion most of all. Spontaneous laughter makes me feel real good and deeply moving scenes that touch my heart give me positive feeling.

Of course, I like Willie very much. He’s the principal life of the show (my opinion). Perhaps, he was the major reason why many watch Wowowee.

Willie once commented, “Even doctors (maybe psychiatrists) now prescribe or recommend watching Wowowee to their patients,” or words to that effect. He might be right. And I believed him. For laughter resulting from funny scenes as well as spontaneous positive emotion resulting from touching scenes that abound in his show can be so therapeutic. They’re indeed healthy.

The fact that I am Willie’s kababayan (we are both from Nueva Ecija) made me like his program even more. I support someone who comes from my home province.

ON PRESIDENT CORY'S DEATH

I’ve been very supportive of Madame Cory since I learned or read about her sufferings brought about by her husband Ninoy’s incarceration and assassination. Fate seemed so cruel to Madame Cory. She had been deprived of some of her very essential needs in life.

But emboldened by the death of her husband, Madame Cory fought the Dictator for us. And because she gave us back our freedom, she deserved to be loved.

Even the management of ABS-CBN where Willie Revillame has a noontime show is indebted to Madame Cory for giving back said station to its owners after winning her fight for democracy.

But Madame Cory’s winning ways did not stop with the fall of the Dictator. Installed as President, she served the Filipino people—selflessly and with all honesty and integrity.

When Tita Cory died, we shed tears for her. Everyone especially those who couldn’t make it to her wake patiently and intently watched the coverage of her wake and funeral cortege on television.

In our very own office where a TV set was turned on during the late President’s funeral cortege, my officemates closely monitored the latest on President Cory. In fact, I often heard each one watching the coverage (simultaneously with the noontime show Wowowee) ask, “Where is it now?” referring to the funeral cortege. Obviously, on that particular day, they were more interested with ABS-CBN’s coverage of President Cory than watching Wowowee.

Shifting channel or station—from ABS-CBN to GMA which had its own coverage of the late President's funeral cortege—was a clear indication they deemed it more important to watch the late President’s funeral cortege on that day than Wowowee which they can watch some other time and regularly.

ON THE FOUR HONOR GUARDS

It would be worth mentioning here that the four honor guards assigned to escort the late President’s remains as she headed for her final resting place, standing still for more than nine hours without food and drink, braving the elements, and not even attending to their personal necessities, won the hearts and admiration of the public.

The four honor guards were awarded cash, showered with gifts, and accorded other honors for the services they rendered to a very prominent personality that the Filipinos so dearly loved.

Perhaps, in much the same way, anyone from any television station who gave way to the coverage of a well-loved president's final moments on earth will also win the admiration and love of every Filipino.