20,000 watch 'Wowowee' live in Dubai

Author: Trina Lagura
Column: Entertainment

Dubai, UAE-More than 20,000 people, mostly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East and as far as the United States flocked to Dubai to watch "Wowowee," a noontime and variety game show, hosted by Willie Revillame.

Some of the fans arrived at the venue on the eve of the show to have a guaranteed front-row seat at the Dubai Festival City.

The gates were supposed to open by noontime, but organizers said they had to move it an hour earlier to give space to the massive crowd.

"Wowowee in Dubai" is the first leg of the show's world tour sponsored by The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Liezel Garcia, a former Dubai-based scholar of Pinoy Dream Academy 2, was the first to perform with her own rendition of "Disturbia," "Take a Bow," and "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw."

Dancers Luningning, Milagring, Mariposa and Saicy and alluring co-hosts Mariel Rodriguez, Valerie Concepcion and Pokwang spiced up the show.

The crowd went wild as Revillame emerged from the stage. He sang a medley of his hit singles - "Wowowee," "Buksan Mo Papasukin Ako," "Umaalog-alog," "Sayaw Darling," "Rock 'n' Rollin," and "Igiling-giling."

Charice, dubbed as the "most talented girl in the world," left the whole Dubai Festival City concert arena in awe after her powerful rendition of Celine Dion's "Alone" and "Because You Loved Me."

Games

A Palestinian married to a Filipina was chosen as among the 20 "Bigat-10s" who played in the "Hep, Hep, Hooray" challenge. But it was a salon-worker who took home P100,000 in cash prize.

Winning the "Big Time Pera O Bayong" jackpot prize of house and lot and P100,000 cash, meantime, was a certain Aling Flor, who is a former household worker living in UAE for 22 years now.

The most poignant game segment of the program was the "Willie of Fortune" where some struggling OFWs shared their slice of life to the crowd.

Another contestant, Aling Pacita, won in the final elimination round of "Tanong ko, Sagutin Mo." She won a total of P65,000 and a brand new car.

Capping the four-hour fun, music and prizes was Revillame's rendition of "Munting Hiling" as he paid tribute to thousands of OFWs around the globe.

"It's really a reunion. Alam mo sa dami ng taong yan, kahit anong pagod mo, pag nakita mo ang mga yan na nakangiti, nakakahiyang mapagod," Revillame said.

"Wowowee" is celebrating its fourth anniversary while TFC is commemorating its 15th year.

Raffy Lopez, ABS-CBN Global's chief operating officer, said Revillame and his popular show will also go to Italy, Florida and Las Vegas in the US this year.

"We're going to bring Willie all over the world because of the happiness he brings to all our kababayans," Lopez said.

ABS-CBN president Charo Santos, meanwhile, said: "Nakakataba ng puso, nakakatuwa na sa pamamagitan ng The Filipino Channel, nakakadala kami ng kahit sandaling katuwaan at saya sa kanilang mga puso." -- With a report from Dindo Amparo, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

Source: ABS-CBN News