News of a tragedy on a supposed joyous event stunned the whole nation as 74 were killed and 350 injured in a stampede outside ULTRA as thousands flocked to watch Wowowee’s first anniversary celebration. It was most specially tragic for the show’s host Willie Revillame, who only had the best of intentions for all the followers of the program. “I was in total shock.” Willie sorrowfully said in a tribute on showbiz oriented talk show The Buzz last Sunday.
“Ang hangarin lang naman po naming ay magbigay ng ligaya sa marami. Hindi po naming inakala na ganito ang mangyayari.” Willie stated during his interview with The Buzz hosts Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino and Cristy Fermin. Willie even related how he and his staff painstakingly prepared for the anniversary. “Very hands on po ako sa show, pati stage pinakialaman ko kasi concerned ako sa mga nanay na sumasali at umaakyat sa stage. Kasi pamilya ang bawat bisita. Six months naming plinano at pinagisipan ang anniversary na to. Dahil para sa amin sila ang bida, sila ang magcecelebrate.”
Another fact that hurt Willie was that he was familiar with the faces of some of the dead. “Humihingi ako ng paumanhin. Gusto ko akapin ang bawat isa sa kanila. Iniisip ko nga baka napasama pa ang pagbigay naming ng maraming premyo.” He vows that he will devote his time visiting the families affected by the tragedy. Willie’s celebrity friends will be taking over his hosting responsibilities this week on Wowowee, which will be a tribute to the victims of the stampede.
Discourage by the turn out of the events, Willie not only wants to relinquish his duties as host of Wowowee for a week, he is also thinking of retiring from the show. “Di ko na po yata kayang magshow. Nung misa sa Studio 3 kanina, kung saan ginaganap ang Wowowee, parang napalitan ng katahimikan ang mga sigawan at tawanan sa loob. Baka di na ako ulit mag-Wowowee. Di ko alam kung paano pa ako babalik. Masyado akong apektado.”
His multitude of friends told him to think about it first for he has given a lot of people joy and hope. “Tibayan mo ang loob mo. Andito kami para supportahan ka. Malalagpasan mo din ito,” colleague Zsa Zsa Padilla said sympathetically. Rachel Alejandro says that Willie must not stop what he has started. “There is a message in all that has happened. You must carry on with what you are doing.”
The tearful Willie thanked them for their words of encouragement and he has only this to say to them – “I am very thankful to the Lord for he has made me his instrument for the people through Wowowee. I am happy dahil napili niya ako.”
source: ABS-CBN