A crowd gathers outside the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City hoping to get a ticket for ‘Wil Time Big Time’s’ anniversary bash. RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines—It was mayhem outside the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City Saturday morning as hordes of people jostled each other and clamored for tickets to “Wil Time Big Time’s” anniversary bash to be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 22.
The air simmered with nervous anticipation. Everyone was raring to get their hands on that prized piece of paper that could spell instant fortune for their families.
Unfortunately, contrary to what they had been told earlier, all the tickets had already been distributed the day before.
“Uuwi ako na luhaaan (I will be going home in tears),” said a distraught Mary Anne Jongay, a 37-year-old housewife from Caloocan.
Security personnel manning the stadium’s Gates 3 and 4 on Scout Chuatoco Street repeatedly told the jostling crowd that there were no more tickets to be given away.
TV5 vice president and head of creative and entertainment production Perci Intalan confirmed in a text message to the Inquirer that “WilProductions has released all the tickets allowed for the show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum” Friday.
But the people were adamant. “Hindi kami uuwi! (We won’t leave),” they chanted. They had heard a rumor that event organizers still had around 8,000 tickets.
“Baka kasi biglang mamigay ng ticket kapag konti na ang mga tao (Tickets may suddenly be distributed when the crowd thins out),” Jongay told the Inquirer.
People would surge forward whenever the gates opened to allow vehicles in or out the complex.
Adding to the crowd’s frustration was the fact that the tickets were released earlier than the announced time and date. On Thursday, Willie Revillame announced on “Wil Time Big Time” that the distribution of tickets would be on October 15, Saturday, at 7 a.m.
Those who trooped to the venue as early as Thursday night managed to get tickets. Those who came in much later—on the announced date—were frustrated.
Gemma Pili, a 35-year-old bakery worker from Biñan, Laguna, didn’t report for work for the past two days just to try her luck at winning cash and a house and lot.
“Umutang pa ako ng P300 para pamasahe ko papunta dito, pero wala namang nangyari. Dapat sinunod kung ano ‘yung in-announce sa TV. Pinaasa lang kami dito ( I borrowed P300 for transportation money to co0me her but nothing happened. They should have followed what was announced on TV. They gave us false hope),” she said.
“Nag-practice pa naman kami ng kendeng-kendeng ng anim kong kaibigan para hindi kami mapahiya kapag natawag kami sa stage (We even rehearsed swaying our hips so we would not be embarrassed if we were called onstage),” she added.
Magdalena Pabalan, 59, a farm worker from Baliuag, Bulacan, said had nothing but water all the time she waited outside the Amoranto stadium. She had to bear the pangs of hunger her money was not enough to get home.
The street reeked of urine and was littered with garbage and spilled food. Some of the people, Jongay said, had taken the liberty of emptying their bladders wherever they could, which was anywhere.
An eatery nearby opened its toilet to the public, but not everyone was willing to shell out P5.
Conditions were even worse the night before, Jongay said. “Mas marami ‘yung tao kagabi. Halos hindi kami makahinga There were more people last night. We could hardly breathe,” she said. “May nakita nga akong anim na hinimatay, eh (I saw six people faint).”
A television news report said 17 people were rushed to two hospitals in Quezon City – 16 to the Capitol Medical Center; one to the East Avenue Medical Center.
While most of the people were upset, Aida, a 58-year-old housewife from Taguig, was in a contemplative mood. She pointed out that some people didn’t realize that a stampede akin to what happened in the PhilSports Arena back in 2006 could happen again.
She also defended Revillame for the snafu. “Pwede walang alam si Willie tungkol sa bigayan ng ticket (It’s possible Willie doesn’t have anything to do with the distribution of tickets),” she said.