Willie Revillame Reveals 1st Talent Fee On GMA’s ‘Lunch Date’

How much did Willie Revillame receive as his first talent fee on GMA network?

Wowowin host Willie Revillame revealed the amount of the talent fee that he received on GMA’s defunct noontime show Lunch Date.

During the recent episode of his current game show in the Kapuso network, Willie shared his humble beginnings in the entertainment industry.

He shared that he started in the said Kapuso show in the past featuring Randy Santiago. “Nagsimula po ako sa GMA sa Lunch Date. Kasama ko diyan si Kuya Randy, sidekick [ako],” the TV host said.

In line with that, he revealed his first talent fee. “Kasama ko diyan si Kuya Randy, sidekick [ako],” Willie revealed. He said that he received an increase later on, as his talent fee became P200 to P250.

That was back in the late 1980s up to the early 1990s. Now, Willie Revillame is considered as one of the wealthiest celebrities in the Philippines.

However, he also shared that coming back to GMA, from his Wowowee show on ABS-CBN and Wowowillie on TV 5, was not that easy. He revealed that it was like “dumaan sa butas ng karayom”.

Willie had to produce Wowowin for several months because there were no advertisements coming in. “I’m spending about P14 million a month, yun ang ginagastos, sarili kong pera ‘yon. Laki na ho nagagastos ko, walang bumabalik. Ganoon talaga, e,” he said.

When he was about to give up, GMA Network Acquisition Department Joey Abacan talked to him regarding their half-half arrangement.

“’Hati ng gastos. Kung ano ang kaya mo, kung ano ang kaya namin… airtime, ganito. Kami ang magbebenta ng programa mo. Nabuhayan po ako doon,” Willie shared. And, as they say, the rest was history.

From once a day, Wowowin is now airing with the Monday to Saturday schedule and became the gateway to the primetime slot. Currently, his show also has its own YouTube channel.

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