WATCH: Thousands of AlDub fans fill up Philippine Arena

Tens of thousands of Eat Bulaga and AlDub fans filled the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Saturday for noontime show Eat Bulaga’s “Sa Tamang Panahon” event.

Fans were allowed to enter the world’s largest mixed-used indoor arena as early as 6 a.m.

Personal note

Lawrence Dy, 64, said he went all the way to Bulacan from Las Piñas City to show his support for “Dubsmash Queen” Maine Mendoza.

He said Mendoza learned that he was a big fan and sent him VIP tickets to the Philippine Arena event.

“May personal note na inilakip siya [sa tickets]. Sinabi nya na nalulungkot sya na hindi nya nadala nang personal kasi ‘di nya nadala within this week. Very sincere ‘yung note niya kaya naiyak ang misis ko. Sulat kamay pa,” he said.

(She sent a personal note with the tickets. She said she was sad that she was not able to personally give it to me. Her note was very sincere that’s why my wife cried. It was even handwritten.)

Another senior citizen, 77-year-old Nely Yanoria, said her children encouraged her to watch the event and see Alden Richards and Mendoza live.

She said she also wanted to know what makes AlDub so popular that it beat her favorite noontime show “It’s Showtime.”

Lessons

Cronica de Jesus of the Provincial Public Affairs Office of Bulacan said they also joined the event to be “part of the history of Philippine television.”

“Maganda ‘yung pinakikita nila sa tao at spontaneous, totoo lang. Parang reality TV. Parang walang script. Tsaka tagos sa puso,” she told INQUIRER.net.

(What they show to the public is really good, spontaneous, true. It’s like reality TV. And it’s heartfelt.)

READ: ‘Tamang Panahon’ finally comes for Alden Richards, ‘Yaya Dub’ | LOOK: AlDub fans arrive at Philippine Arena; vendors sell shirts, paper dolls

Mark Jerome Cruz Caudilla of the AlDub MaiDen Nation Bulacan Chapter arrived at the Philippine Arena dressed in drag. He said he was in character as Lola Tinidora, one of the grandmothers of Mendoza’s character Yaya Dub.

“May kapupulutan ng aral dito…na tatatak sa ating mga puso at isipan,” he said.

(There are lessons to be learned here…that will be ingrained in our hearts and minds.)

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal also showed up, saying Eat Bulaga’s hit segment “Kalyeserye” is an opportunity to showcase Filipino unity.

“Magaganda ang aral na ibinibigay. Iyan ay talagang Pilipinong Pilipino. Kaya ako naniniwala ang mga ganitong uring programa ang dapat tinatangkilik,” he said.

(It imparts good lessons. It’s very Filipino. That is why I believe these kinds of programs should be patronized by the people.) KS/CDG