As ABS-CBN’s newest noontime variety show Happy Yipee Yehey debuts this Saturday, February 12, the issue between its main hosts John Estrada and Randy Santiago and their good friend and former MTB co-host Willie Revillame has not died down. Willie has reportedly severed communications with his two friends after he found out they signed up again with ABS-CBN. But during the February 8 presscon for Happy Yipee Yehey held at the Dolphy Theater inside ABS-CBN compound, John clarified that there was never really any binding contract between him and Willie. “There was never a formal agreement. Usapang barkada yun. Usapang kaibigan yun na ang dami-dami naming napag-usapan na ganun na hindi naman natutuloy, so dun lang po kami nanggagaling. Our first offer came from ABS-CBN. I spoke with the bosses of TV5 and they gave a serious offer nung dumating ang ABS-CBN. Meaning, gumawa sila ng counter offer. Yun po yun. Nauna talaga yung ABS-CBN,” he shared, speaking also on Randy Santiago’s behalf.When Willie found out about their contract with ABS-CBN, he called up John via cellphone on air during his variety show and berated John for not considering his offer. This was a totally unexpected move considering John thought he would be able to clarify things with his friend. “Hindi ko alam na live pala ako. Akala ko mag-uusap lang kami. That night when he called me up, sasabihin ko na, alam ko magagalit siya, nag-eksplika ako ng maayos. Pero hindi nga ako naka-react eh. Kaya wala akong masabi over the phone. Pinakinggan ko na lang siya. At the same time, ang huling sinabi ko sa kanya, tatawagan ko na lang siya ulit kasi hindi kami magkakaintindihan eh. That was the last time we talked,” he shared.
John also showed his unwillingness to burn bridges with his friend by not sharing with some press people’s sentiments that what Willie did was a form of power-tripping, because he chose to broadcast what was supposed to be a private conversation between friends. “To be honest, ang daming nagsasabi sa akin that it was power tripping na ginawa niya yun. Pero ang sagot ko dun, ang totoo, baka sa akin hindi yun ganun. Nag-react lang siya bilang isang kaibigan,” he explained.
Another issue that further fueled the flames of their rift was his absence at Willie’s 50th birthday celebration held last January 29, which he and Randy Santiago were reportedly supposed to host. “Hindi naman sa hindi kami dumating. Hindi na kami inimbita. To set the record straight, hindi na kami pinaimbita. Alam na namin yun, siyempre naman. Hindi sa hindi kami sumipot dun, hindi kami ganun,” he clarified.
Source: www.push.com.ph
