This year, Wowowee host Willie Revillame made showbiz headlines several times due to various controversies, including being accused of owning a smuggled Ferrari, dating 19-year-old college student Nadine Ignacio, engaging in a nonstop word war with Joey de Leon, and being robbed right inside his Corinthian Hills home. Surprisingly, he is still able to keep his cool amidst negative write-ups and other misfortunes because he believes that they help him stay grounded. “Wala yun okay lang yun (being a victim of home robbery). Huwag lang ako nakawan ng lakas kasi everyday nagsho-show ako so dapat may energy ka lagi. [At saka] alam mo ako kahit negative or positive I accept that kasi ganoon talaga ang buhay eh. Hindi ka pwe-pwedeng laging masaya. Meron dapat dumarating sa buhay mo na mapag-iisip ka para matuto ka. So dapat balanse. Kapag nadadapa ka, d’yan ka natututo,” he said to ABS-CBN.com during the taping for the ABS-CBN Christmas Special in Araneta Coliseum last December 16.

For someone who is always able to bring joy to Filipino viewers through Wowowee, Willie claims that Christmas is already no different from his usual day at work. But he still has one great wish and that is to be an inspiration to his fellow countrymen. “Basta gusto ko lang laging masaya ang bawat Pilipino, na lagi-laging isipin ng tao na yung problema parang bagyo lang yan. Babagyuhin ka ngayon for how many days, [tapos] tatayo ka ulit. Gano’n lang ang buhay,” he happily exclaimed while bantering with Pokwang who was standing by Papi (as he is fondly called in his noontime show) during the interview. His hopes and dreams are no longer for himself but more for the helpless people whom he constantly meets in Wowowee. “My dream gift? Wala na. Ang pinakadream na lang ng bawat isa ay laging may umaasensong kapamilya natin, kababayan natin,” he maintained.

When it comes to his love life though, it was obvious that Willie was reluctant to talk about rumored girlfriend Nadine who was seen with him during the ABS-CBN Christmas Special. “[Yung Christmas ko] sa umpisa malamig pero iinit rin kasi magdya-jacket ka na eh,” he quipped. Apparently, he won’t even have enough time to celebrate Christmas with his family because of his hectic schedule. “Alam mo ako may Wowowee o wala, wala na talaga akong personal na oras eh, wala na talaga. Sunday lang. Tapos kapag Sunday ano ginagawa ko? Sa bahay lang ako, minsan kung saan-saan lang ako. ‘Di ba? Sa tabi tabi d’yan, walang kasama, nag-iisa. Minsan yung mga babae pa nga iniiwan na lang ako sa kwarto nakatwalya na lang ako,” he further joked. Seriously though, he feels that maybe it his destiny to be more of use to other people than to build a family of his own. “Gano’n talaga. Siguro ginawa talaga na ganyan, ginawa kang instrumento para [magbigay ng pag-asa sa kapwa tao],” he then said in earnest.

To end the interview on a positive note, Willie announced some good news for avid fans of Wowowee. “Madaming dapat abangang new gimmicks ng show next year. Basta para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. Madami kaming gagawing papremyo na mas madaling mapanalunan. Kasi I believe na these coming years talagang mahirap na ang buhay. Pupunta kami sa Amerika [for the Wowoweetours], mararamdaman namin yung mga sentimiyento ng mga kababayan natin dun. Hindi porke nasa Amerika ka akala mo maayos ang buhay mo. Mas mahirap dun kasi malayo ka na sa pamilya mo, kayod ka pa ng kayod, andami mo pang trabaho, so ang hirap. Maraming mga bagay na ibang-iba dito sa atin. So sana itong darating na 2009 mapuno ng puro positive happenings,” he exclaimed.