It is quite heartening to witness one spectacle no one saw or even
thought was coming. Two popular TV personalities almost always on the
warpath over several controversies through the years share the same
stage and camera shot on one TV show.
While Willie Revillame and Joey de Leon had buried the hatchet after
the former left ABS-CBN and changed his timeslot to late afternoon in
his subsequent TV5 show "Wiltime Bigtime," it was really a surprising
but delightful sight to see them together on nationwide TV—a very first
in a long time.
The occasion was Joey's birthday celebration on the longest-running showbiz talk show, GMA-7's "Startalk," on October 13. Willie
said he went to "Startalk" on his own initiative because he wanted to
surprise Joey on his special day to formally end years of verbal tussles
and heated exchanges.
Monumental clashes
Their clashes were monumental. Willie and Joey would make
unprecedented, valuable airtime off their noontime shows just to air
their attacks against each other—a sort of deviation from the norms in
Philippine broadcasting. Who could forget the tiffs over alleged
cheating on one's game portion, one co-host's looks, and any other thing
they could think of?
Some thought reconciliation was impossible, given the breadth and depth of their conflict.
But with Willie's appearance on Joey's show, it really shows nothing is impossible.
Despite his unannounced visit on the show, Willie had the support of
all those involved in the "Startalk" production, from the network guards
to the director.
They all had been on the surprise, with crewmembers even hiding Willie backstage before the moment came.
Incredible and touching
And when the moment did come, and Willie joined Joey on cam with the
other "Startalk" hosts, the sight was incredible and touching. A beaming
Joey welcomed his erstwhile opponent with a handshake on stage.
"Bihira lang mangyari ito at ako'y natutuwa na napadaan ka nga," Joey told Willie.
Willie, for his part, thanked Joey for the breaks he had in the business. "Alam niyo kasi nung ako'y medyo nagsisimula sa pelikula with (film director) Tony Reyes, dalawang 'Barbie' movie and 'Sam and Miguel,' kinuha nila ko. Wala pa akong pera noon… hanggang ngayon wala pa rin kaya lumalapit akong muli," Willie said in jest.
He also kidded Joey on their past clashes on TV. "Inaway mo 'ko. Sabi mo nanonood ako eh: 'Dito walang dayaan ha? Eto kamay ko.' Sinabi niya 'yon?" And that, he said was one of the factors that led to his eventual exit from ABS-CBN. "Tingnan mo ang nangyari. Nawala ako doon…away ka kasi ng away sa akin," Willie said.
But Joey said in response, "Little brother ko 'to." They ended their encounter with a shoulder hug.
Despite all the words that had gone between them, there will always be a time when all is forgotten and respect and friendship reign.
