Not everyone welcomes goodbyes. For many, goodbyes are bittersweet affairs best left for the hardhearted. Then again, in the cutthroat world that is show business, goodbyes are very much a given, particularly as it often go hand in hand with reinvention – a demand fundamental to sustaining relevance. The seemingly all-too-sudden sayonara by longtime “The Buzz” hosts Toni Gonzaga and Charlene Gonzales on Sunday came with no explanation but if anything, it signaled a big new beginning, as co-host Boy Abunda so dramatically hinted via voice-over.
“Sa inyong walang patid na pagsubaybay, sa inyong walang sawang pagsuporta at sa patuloy naming pagbibigay serbisyo, kasama kayo sa isang panibagong simula,” Abunda said. “Kasali kayo sa pagbubukas ng isang bagong kabanata, mas malawak, mas malaki. Pakikinggan, paguusapan at pakikialaman. Ito ang pagbabagong kakapitan, pagbabagong tatatak sa puso at isipan. Ito ang inyong ‘The Buzz.’”
In her parting spiel, Gonzales heaped thanks on the show’s staff and her co-hosts, describing her stint on the show as a “wonderful journey” and one that paved the way for her to share the stage with “two of the greatest artists in the industry – Toni Gonzaga and Boy Abunda.”
Gonzaga, for her part, acknowledged the “lessons” she learned while doing the show, courtesy of Abunda whom she said was “generous” in imparting “wisdom.” But her parting shot was quite telling: “I believe that goodbyes don’t really mean that it’s the end or tapos na ang lahat. It just means na ‘yung pamama-alam namin sa hapon na ito ay… I’ll see you again.” Of course. Not surprisingly, controversial TV host Willie Revillame also hinted at a comeback even before he finished saying his goodbyes to a teary-eyed audience during the farewell episode of “Wowowillie” on Saturday.
Although he had previously announced that the end of the program will mark his retirement from show business, Revillame said: “May bubuksan para sa magandang pag-asa at magandang buhay. Abangan niyo po ‘yan…”
“Wala pang kumakausap sa akin,” he added with a laugh, seemingly tickled pink with the idea. “Kung may kakausap, pagiisipan…”
It was not the first time Revillame made such a promise. “Wowowillie” aired for only seven months but it was actually the third version of the show since Revillame transferred to ABSCBN from ABS-CBN. The first, “Willing Willie,” was caught in a snag after a 6-yearold show contestant made headlines for supposedly dancing inappropriately.
Eventually, Revillame went on hiatus only to return a month later with “Wiltime Bigtime.” “Wowowillie” marked the program’s transfer to a noontime slot only in January this year. Revillame related the difficulties in producing a daily variety show in his farewell monologue. Said he, “Hindi po biro ang mag-show araw-araw, na kahit wala ka sa mood, may sakit ka, kailangan mo ngumiti. May namatay, may sakit ang anak mo, may sakit ang pamilya mo, may sakit ang staff mo, hindi po biro ‘yon dito sa amin sa ‘Wowowillie. ’” He added, “Kailangan paglabas namin, sumisigaw ka, nakangiti ka, kahit nagdurugo ang puso mo…” But all that said, he was quick to declare: “I will return!”(N. Ramos, mb)
