MANILA, Philippines – Popular variety show host Willie Revillame has been a perennial inclusion in pre-election surveys on possible senatorial bets, but it still came as a surprise when he finally took the plunge and officially joined the 2025 Senate race just as the filing period ended on Tuesday afternoon, October 8.
The 64-year-old Revillame, who is running as an independent candidate, said in response to questions that he was prompted to run because he often saw educated politicians “bickering,” and that he wanted to bring someone with a “good heart” to the upper chamber.
“Hindi ako abogado, hindi ako nakatapos, pero ang purpose dapat ng bawat senador, bawat public servant, namumuno sa anumang lokal na gobyerno, mabuting puso ang meron ka,” he said.
(I’m not a lawyer, I didn’t finish my studies, but the purpose of every senator, every public servant, local government leaders, you should have a good heart.)
He said that in his 21 years as a variety show host, he had received the same requests from people in need — cash assistance for medicines and medical treatment, and tuition. This, he said, was an indication that the country’s laws have failed to improve the lives of the poor.
Responding to questions, Revillame said that based on the rules of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), he can continue to appear in his show, Wil To Win, until February 10, 2025.
Revillame used to place high in pre-election surveys on potential 2025 Senate bets, but in more recent surveys, he had been outside the so-called winners’ circle. He placed 14th to 15th place among potential senatorial bets in the March survey of the Social Weather Stations. In the September SWS survey, he fell to 18th to 19th place, well outside the winners’ circle if elections were held during the survey period.
In January, Revillame expressed readiness to finally accept the long-standing offer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to run for senator under the latter’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino in the 2025 elections.
Speaking at the prayer rally organized by the Dutertes in Davao City at that time, he said Duterte first offered him a slot in the 2022 administration slate but he declined. Years later, after a period of discernment, he said he felt more certain that he was “ready to serve.”
“Palagay ko, handa na ako. Handa akong gumawa ng kabutihan, handa akong magsilbi hindi lang sa bayan. Handa akong magsilbi sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong,” an emotional Revillame said in late January.
(I think I’m now ready. I’m ready to do good, ready to serve not only the country but our countrymen who are in need.)
Revillame, however, backtracked on his supposed 2025 Senate bid in April — just days before he signed with billionaire Manny Pangilinan’s MediaQuest Group.
His old show, Wowowin, was apparently a key factor in his past decision-making. In the week of the filing of certificates of candidacy in October 2021, he announced that he had turned down then-president Duterte’s invitation to join the administration’s 2022 Senate slate because of his commitment to GMA Network, which was airing his show. (Wowowin ended its GMA run in February 2022.)
Revillame tried to enter politics over a decade ago, through his 1-WIL SERVE party-list group in 2012, but the Comelec disqualified the group. – Rappler.com