Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a Filipino game show based on the original British format of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The main goal of the game is to win ₱2,000,000 (earlier ₱1,000,000) by answering 12 (previously 15) multiple-choice questions correctly. It was presented by Christopher de Leon on IBC and Vic Sotto on TV5.
Lifelines[]
IBC version[]
TV5 version[]
- 50:50 (2009–2015; classic format), (2015; high-risk format)
- Phone-a-Friend (2009–2012, 2015)
- Ask the Audience (2009–2010)
- Switch the Question (2011–2012; after 10th question), (2013-2015; at once)
- People Speak (2011–2015)
- Double Dip (2013–2015; high-risk format), (2015; classic format)
Seasons[]
- Seasons 1-7 (IBC)
- Seasons 8-21 (TV5)
IBC[]
| Seasons | Episodes | Premiere date | Finale date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-7 | 205+ | November 13, 2000 | December 14, 2002 |
TV5[]
| Seasons | Episodes | Premiere date | Finale date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 70 | May 23, 2009 | October 2, 2010 |
| 6-8 | 42 | May 15, 2011 | February 26, 2012 |
| 9 | 15 | July 1, 2012 | October 7, 2012 |
| 10-13 | 70 | September 8, 2013 | January 11, 2015 |
| 14 | 28 | May 10, 2015 | November 22, 2015 |
Returning[]
- On first pilot episode of TV5 version celebrities Ara Mina, Polo Ravales, Assunta de Rossi, Rafael Rosel, Manilyn Reynes, Jay Manalo, Megan Young, Gladys Reyes, Nadia Montenego and Mo Twister appeared.
Who Deserves to Be a Millionaire?[]
For four episodes starting from December 12, 2009 to January 2, 2010, a special charity edition of the show was held called Who Deserves to Be a Millionaire?. Each episode comprised one celebrity and a representative from his/her chosen charity playing as a team. Rules stayed the same. The tradition returned on December 4, 2011. The Philippines was the fourth country to use the Deserves title and format; after Chile (2006–10), Nigeria (2007; 2022) and China (2007–08).
The following are the celebrities who played in this special edition and the prize that they each won:
- 2009:
- Efren Peñaflorida for the Dynamic Teen Company (₱400,000)
- Lucy Torres-Gomez (₱150,000) (13th question wrong)
- Sen. Chiz Escudero and Renato Escolano (₱250,000)
- Ruffa Gutierrez and Rose Aboran (₱400,000)
- 2011:
- Gloria Diaz (₱400,000)
- Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta from Face to Face and Public Atorni (₱600,000)
- Tessa Prieto-Valdez (₱400,000)
- Aiza Seguerra (₱400,000)
Money Trees[]
13.11.2000 - 01.03.2001[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | ₱1,000,000 | ₱500,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱400,000 |
| 14 | ₱500,000 | ₱400,000 | ₱300,000 | |
| 13 | ₱400,000 | ₱300,000 | ₱200,000 | |
| 12 | ₱300,000 | ₱200,000 | ₱100,000 | |
| 11 | ₱200,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱0 | |
| 10 | ₱100,000 | ₱50,000 | ₱10,000 | ₱40,000 |
| 9 | ₱50,000 | ₱40,000 | ₱30,000 | |
| 8 | ₱40,000 | ₱30,000 | ₱20,000 | |
| 7 | ₱30,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱10,000 | |
| 6 | ₱20,000 | ₱10,000 | ₱0 | |
| 5 | ₱10,000 | ₱5,000 | ₱0 | ₱5,000 |
| 4 | ₱5,000 | ₱3,000 | ₱3,000 | |
| 3 | ₱3,000 | ₱2,000 | ₱2,000 | |
| 2 | ₱2,000 | ₱1,000 | ₱1,000 | |
| 1 | ₱1,000 | ₱0 | ₱0 |
05.03.2001 - 14.12.2002[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | ₱2,000,000 | ₱1,000,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱900,000 |
| 14 | ₱1,000,000 | ₱500,000 | ₱400,000 | |
| 13 | ₱500,000 | ₱300,000 | ₱200,000 | |
| 12 | ₱300,000 | ₱200,000 | ₱100,000 | |
| 11 | ₱200,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱0 | |
| 10 | ₱100,000 | ₱50,000 | ₱10,000 | ₱40,000 |
| 9 | ₱50,000 | ₱40,000 | ₱30,000 | |
| 8 | ₱40,000 | ₱30,000 | ₱20,000 | |
| 7 | ₱30,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱10,000 | |
| 6 | ₱20,000 | ₱10,000 | ₱0 | |
| 5 | ₱10,000 | ₱5,000 | ₱0 | ₱5,000 |
| 4 | ₱5,000 | ₱3,000 | ₱3,000 | |
| 3 | ₱3,000 | ₱2,000 | ₱2,000 | |
| 2 | ₱2,000 | ₱1,000 | ₱1,000 | |
| 1 | ₱1,000 | ₱0 | ₱0 |
23.05.2009 - 11.01.2015[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
Miss Answer Value (risk) |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer (risk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | ₱2,000,000 | ₱1,000,000 | ₱150,000 | ₱850,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱980,000 |
| 14 | ₱1,000,000 | ₱600,000 | ₱450,000 | ₱580,000 | ||
| 13 | ₱600,000 | ₱400,000 | ₱250,000 | ₱380,000 | ||
| 12 | ₱400,000 | ₱250,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱230,000 | ||
| 11 | ₱250,000 | ₱150,000 | ₱0 | ₱130,000 | ||
| 10 | ₱150,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱80,000 | ₱80,000 | |
| 9 | ₱100,000 | ₱70,000 | ₱50,000 | ₱50,000 | ||
| 8 | ₱70,000 | ₱50,000 | ₱30,000 | ₱30,000 | ||
| 7 | ₱50,000 | ₱35,000 | ₱15,000 | ₱15,000 | ||
| 6 | ₱35,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱0 | ₱0 | ||
| 5 | ₱20,000 | ₱10,000 | ₱0 | ₱10,000 | ₱0 | ₱10,000 |
| 4 | ₱10,000 | ₱5,000 | ₱5,000 | ₱5,000 | ||
| 3 | ₱5,000 | ₱3,000 | ₱3,000 | ₱3,000 | ||
| 2 | ₱3,000 | ₱1,000 | ₱1,000 | ₱1,000 | ||
| 1 | ₱1,000 | ₱0 | ₱0 | ₱0 |
10.05 - 22.11.2015[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
Miss Answer Value (risk) |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer (risk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | ₱2,000,000 | ₱1,000,000 | ₱150,000 | ₱850,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱980,000 |
| 11 | ₱1,000,000 | ₱600,000 | ₱450,000 | ₱580,000 | ||
| 10 | ₱600,000 | ₱400,000 | ₱250,000 | ₱380,000 | ||
| 9 | ₱400,000 | ₱250,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱230,000 | ||
| 8 | ₱250,000 | ₱150,000 | ₱0 | ₱130,000 | ||
| 7 | ₱150,000 | ₱100,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱80,000 | ₱80,000 | |
| 6 | ₱100,000 | ₱70,000 | ₱50,000 | ₱50,000 | ||
| 5 | ₱70,000 | ₱50,000 | ₱30,000 | ₱30,000 | ||
| 4 | ₱50,000 | ₱35,000 | ₱15,000 | ₱15,000 | ||
| 3 | ₱35,000 | ₱20,000 | ₱0 | ₱0 | ||
| 2 | ₱20,000 | ₱10,000 | ₱0 | ₱10,000 | ₱0 | ₱10,000 |
| 1 | ₱10,000 | ₱0 | ₱0 | ₱0 |
Parodies and Appearances[]
Mahal Kita, Final Answer[]
- The film "Mahal Kita, Final Answer" featured the character Joanna del Rios (played by Rufa Mae Quinto) on the show, with Christopher de Leon appearing as himself. On her first run, Joanna flunked the first question and left with nothing. On her second run, she then won the top prize. The film was produced by Viva Films, with its parent company Viva Entertainment, Inc. holding the rights to Millionaire at the time, which meant that they had the rights to use elements from the real show, including showing the contestants' monitor. However, the music used throughout her second run were changed from the Keith & Matthew Strachan music to generic stock sound. In real life, Rufa Mae Quinto went on to the show on 25th December 2001 and walked away with ₱300,000, less than a month before the film was shown in Philippine theaters. This was the only time that the classic graphic message of "Total Prize Money: ₱0" was seen in the Philippines. The film was later released by Viva Films on YouTube for free in 2022.
First run[]
| ₱1,000 (1 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| What is the national flower of the Philippines? 'Phone-a-Friend', '50:50', and 'Ask the Audience' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: Rose | ⬥ B: Kampupot |
| ⬥ C: Sampaguita | ⬥ D: Plumeria |
| Ask the Audience Results: A: 50% ⬥ C: 50% | |
| Her Phone-a-Friend was skipped over because her friend was cussing at the host. |
Second run[]
| ₱30,000 (7 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Who is the patriarch of Judaism? | |
| ⬥ A: Moses | ⬥ B: Isaiah |
| ⬥ C: ? | ⬥ D: Abraham |
| ₱500,000 (13 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which is not a major language in India? | |
| ⬥ A: Hindi | ⬥ B: Urdu |
| ⬥ C: Bengali | ⬥ D: Malay |
| ₱1,000,000 (14 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| What is a hirudo medicinalis? | |
| ⬥ A: worm | ⬥ B: snake |
| ⬥ C: leech | ⬥ D: snail |
| ₱2,000,000 (15 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| How many dance contests were held by IBC13 in 1999? | |
| ⬥ A: 12 | ⬥ B: 11 |
| ⬥ C: 16 | ⬥ D: 18 |
Ispup[]
- There was a parody from comedy show Ispup aired on ABC5 (now TV5) which is titled "No One Can Be A Millionaire?" which was hosted by Royet de Leon (the parody host of Christopher de Leon which was played by Leo Martinez). While the segment featured various impersonations of notable Filipino personalities, none of whom win the top prize, the contestant listed here is Mary King Kong Pong Chow Alias Rosebud (which was played by Mystica). Here is the full parody run:
| ₱8 - Not Timed | |
| If solo is one, then duo is 2, how many is a triad? | |
| ⬥ A: eight | ⬥ B: five |
| ⬥ C: three | ⬥ D: six |
| The host mistakenly reading the choices that he said C: six and D: Three. |
| ₱99.95 - Not Timed | |
| In the song 1 little 2 little 3 little Indians, what are the names of the indians? | |
| ⬥ A: ? | ⬥ B: ? |
| ⬥ C: ? | ⬥ D: ? |
| She can't tell him the names of the Indians then bring out the envelope because of her cat. Then the host said that he will ask this question then he will have another question in the same value. |
| ₱99.95 - Not Timed | |
| Where is underground located? '50:50' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: in the surface of ground | ⬥ B: in under the ground |
| ⬥ C: floating in the wind | ⬥ D: in outer space |
| In the lifeline selection, there is an error selecting the 50:50 lifeline which was Ask the Audience. |
| ₱500,049.95 - Not Timed | |
| What do you call the white-colored stone and usually crushed when scrubbing the armpit? 'Phone-A-Friend' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: menthol candy | ⬥ B: hilod |
| ⬥ C: tawas | ⬥ D: Shabu |
Winners[]
- For all winners, see: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Philippines)/List of Winners
- See also: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Philippines)/Final Questions
Trivia[]
- Because of the multilingual nature of Filipinos, most on-screen text and dialogue (including questions, which are never translated back and forth unlike in other multilingual versions of Millionaire) is in Filipino/Tagalog while lifeline names and other elements are kept in English; the contestants and the host also code-switch between Tagalog and English often, which can be jarring to people who know English but not Tagalog.
- Celebrity contestant Sharon Cuneta is the only contestant in the Philippine version who saw the final question twice. One of them she walked away from on December 25, 2001, and later on January 9, 2010, she won top prize.
- The biggest loss in this version is ₱850,000. On August 23, 2015, Kyle Andaya answered incorrectly on the last question worth ₱2,000,000 and left the game with a second fireproof amount of ₱150,000, since he chose Money Tree 1 (Classic Money Tree).
- In Season 14, the 50:50 lifeline was only available in a risk version, as a bonus, fourth lifeline. It is the only version of Millionaire to lock 50:50 behind another gameplay element as opposed to being available from the start.
- The original IBC set in Viva Television Studio in Parañaque was burnt down in an electrical fire in April 2002. Another one was shortly built after in the Riverbanks Center in Marikina to film more episodes in before its cancellation.
- For the TV5 airing, its set was built in the old TV5 Complex in San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. While auditions for Season 14 took place in the new TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong, it is unknown if the set was moved there.
Gallery[]
First logo (2000-2002)
First studio (November 2000 - April 2002)
Second studio (April - December 2002)
Fourth studio with new LED and audience background (May 2011 - January 2015)
Fifth studio with new monitor base (May - November 2015)
Money tree (2001-2002)
Money tree (2009-2010)
Money tree (2013-2015 without risk mode)
Money tree (2013-2015 with risk mode)
.jpg "CONTESTANT SCREEN (MAHAL KITA, FINAL ANSWER).jpg (557 KB)")
Contestant Screen in 2002 (IBC 13)
_CONTESTANT_SCREEN_-_PHONE-a-FRIEND_USED_%26_50-50_ACTIVE.jpg "WWTBAM PH (IBC 13) CONTESTANT SCREEN - PHONE-a-FRIEND USED & 50-50 ACTIVE.jpg (552 KB)")
Contestant Screen in 2002 (IBC 13) with Phone-a-Friend used and 50:50 active
_CONTESTANT_SCREEN_-_50-50_USED.jpg "WWTBAM PH (IBC 13) CONTESTANT SCREEN - 50-50 USED.jpg (543 KB)")
Contestant Screen in 2002 (IBC 13) with 50:50 used
_CONTESTANT_SCREEN_-_ASK_THE_AUDIENCE_ACTIVE.jpg "WWTBAM PH (IBC 13) CONTESTANT SCREEN - ASK THE AUDIENCE ACTIVE.jpg (543 KB)")
Contestant Screen in 2002 (IBC 13) with Ask the Audience active
_CONTESTANT_SCREEN_-_ASK_THE_AUDIENCE_USED.jpg "WWTBAM PH (IBC 13) CONTESTANT SCREEN - ASK THE AUDIENCE USED.jpg (554 KB)")
Contestant Screen in 2002 (IBC 13) with Ask the Audience used
Sources[]
- Website after show (2002-2003)
- Official website (2009-2010)
- Official website (2010-2011)
- Official website (2011-2012)
- Official website (2013-2014)