Pumutok ang balitang paglipat diumano ni Diether Ocampo sa GMA-7, ang rival network ng ABS-CBN. Tiyempo naman na nakausap ng entertainment press si Billy Crawford sa opening ng branch ng Fox Clothing Company kahapon, November 19, sa Greenbelt 5, Makati City. Kaya naman hiningan siya ng kanyang opinyon ukol dito.
Matatandaan na isa rin si Billy sa mga artista na "nag-ober da bakod" ngayong taon mula sa GMA-7 papuntang ABS-CBN. Ayon sa kanyang paliwanag, kinausap siya ng Endemol noon habang nasa California upang mag-host ng singing contest na Pinoy Dream Academy.
Ano ang masasabi ni Billy sa paglipat naman ni Diether sa Kapuso network?
"We're happy where he thinks his career will take him. I think he definitely has the power of heart and he's gonna work naman, 'no?" sabi ni Billy.
Paliwanag niya, "You know, it's kinda hard to decide which company you'll be in. To be honest with you, it's work for us, pero it's also limited to the fans that we need their suporta. I think we're all doing good sa mga sumusuporta sa amin. And, you know, no matter what network you are na sumusuporta, from what you do, from what passion sa ginagawa namin. So, kung happy na lilipat si Diet, of course, good luck."
Kahit papaano ay naiintindihan naman niya ang desisyon ni Diether kung sakaling lilipat talaga ang aktor sa GMA-7. Aniya, "As John [Prats] said, he will be a missed soldier 'cause I'm a new soldier here [ABS-CBN]. So, I kinda understand where he's going into. Of course, different naman ang job namin. I'm a performer here, he's an actor. For wherever he's going, hopefully he will be happy there and, you know, mag-enjoy lang siya. But we'll always be here as friends."
INTERNATIONAL SINGING CAREER. Kinumusta rin ng entertainment press ang plano noon ni Billy na magbalik na lamang sa France, kung saan kinikilala siya bilang isang sikat na singer. Ayon kay Billy, bumalik siya sa Pilipinas dahil, "May trabaho kasi. 'Yon nga, it's a blessing na nandito ako."
Nang tanungin naman ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kung paano na ang kanyang career abroad, ito sinabi niya:
"Ang kino-concentrate ko naman sa international ngayon is mostly producing and song writing, hindi naman ako 'yong artista. I can always produce songs and write for other people. 'Yong career ko rin naman do'n, of course, is put on hold right now. Pero I'm just doing so much more right now. Actually, I'm also leaving for France by next year."
Kahit na pansamantalang iniwan ni Billy ang kanyang career abroad, masaya naman daw siya sa nangyayari sa kanya sa Pilipinas.
"I'm just happy and I'm very excited to look forward to a new beginning—to career, to love. I'm here to do my job, I'm here to do a great job to really show the people that I'm here, and hopefully masuportahan ako ng mga tao. So, stay humble, keep humble, keep my feet on the ground, and I'm just happy, I'm happy with everything."
CHRISTMAS WITH FAMILY. Napag-usapan din kung paano ipagdiriwang ni Billy ang kanyang Pasko ngayong taon. Sa puntong ito, nalaman ng entertainment press na may karamdaman pala ang kanyang ama.
"We'll be here for Christmas," sabi ni Billy. "My father is flying over from the States. As I've said, he's sick so he wants to spend time with the family, no matter what. So, spending time on Christmas and New Year is definitely with the family."
Sa kabila ng malungkot na balita na ito, naging positibo pa rin naman si Billy. Aniya, "You know, life's tough no matter what happens. Everybody has their own set of problems that they're dealing with. I'll be fine. Everybody has to be strong. Nadadaan 'yan with prayers and my dad is a strong man. He's old but he's strong. He can still make his feet up and still be doing the same thing. I love my dad and I'm happy that we're gonna be a whole family again here for the Christmas."
Ano ang karamdaman ng ama ni Billy?
"He has cancer...multiple," malungkot na sabi ng singer. "We're just finding out. He just got through some tests and some [chemotherapy]. This is the second... We got it taken care of last year and bumalik na naman..."
Muli, naniniwala si Billy na malalabanan din ng kanyang ama ang karamdamang ito.
"He's getting old, you know," ngiti niya. "But as I've said, hindi magpapatalo ang daddy ko. Malupit 'yong si Dad! I love my dad, that ‘s why he's coming for Christmas [and we] give him support, you know."
Dagdag niya, "But as I've said, I need to spend time with my father, 'yon naman ang inuuna ko, e. Kahit wala akong trabaho or whatever, my family comes first, no matter what happens."