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Does Wowowwee still wow the people?

By Pink-Jean F. Melegrito and Katrine del Rosario, Florence Batawang, Angely Lubo/UP Interns

It had been years since I owned a pet. January 31, 2006, my partner bought our new pets, two goldfishes. We named them after their colors- one is White; the other is Orange. The next day, Orange died. White is now left swimming alone in an old empty chicken bucket. (See, economy drives everybody to improvise.)

So we were sad our Orange died. What is more (if not the most) disheartening was the stampede at the Philsports Arena (Ultra), Pasig City last February 4. More than 70 lives are now interred in various funeral homes, more than 150 are injured, and some are still missing.

What these people only wanted was better lives, supposedly to find hope and fulfillment of their dreams through the promises of a television game show to give them financial augmentation. What was once a dream became a nightmare in a span of a few hours.

Our interns have created a random survey on the peoples’ reaction about the stampede. Here is what they have gained from various people:

Azenath Formoso, 20, student. “The show imbued false consciousness in the people. They imbued in them false redemption, which made them desperate to have a share of that ‘false redemption’ from poverty.”

Joan Leda, 20, student. “Yung network kasi dapat may sapat na security dahil big event ang palabas. Dapat pinaghandaan na nila yun.”

Michelle Flora, 20, student. “Kasalanan ng mga tao dahil sinabihan na nga silang puno na ang Ultra, nagmatigas pa rin sila.”

Ana Farinas, 22, student. “Pinapakita lang nun na ang nangyari ay dahil sa kahirapan.”

Mella Cuvin, 17, student. “Sa kagustuhang guminhawa ng maraming tao ay pilit nilang ginawa ang lahat ng paraan para matupad ang pag-unlad. Kaso nga lang sa pagiging pabaya o kaya masyadong palagay ang management o crowd control, di na-anticipate ang maaaring kasamaang maidudulot ng okasyong iyon.”

Jette Arcellana, 18, student. (pertaining to the crowd) They were very interested to be in the show and were hoping to win. (regarding the event organization and planning) They should have visualized the possible events that may happen, and have prepared pews on it. They should also focuse on the safety of the crowd.”

KM, student. “Katangahan ng crowd control ng ABS-CBN…”

Sherlan Tongol, student. “Lack of maintenance doon sa place kasi di na chenicheck ng mga engineers yung place kung okay pa o hindi.”

BlesVir Menioria, student. “Kagunggungan ng crowd control at kagustuhan ng mga taong magkapera sa madaling paraan.”

Nico Tabat, 34, cellphone load retailer. “Para sa akin may pagkukulang talaga ang ABS-CBN kasi ilang araw nang maraming tao doon, dapat nakipag-ugnayan sila ng maayos sa mga pulis. Pera na ang pinag-uusapan eh kaya dapat alam na nilang dadagsain yun ng mga tao.

Ryan Ramos, 18, fishball vendor. “Walang kasalanan si Willie, wala ring kasalanan yung mga tao. Sobrang hirap lang talaga ng mga Pilipino kaya sila nakipagsapalaran ng ganun. Kung may pagkakataon nga lang, pupunta rin ako dun sapag-asang baka manalo rin.”

Joy, 19. Ukay-ukay saleslady. “ABS-CBN talaga ang may kasalanan dahil hindi nila pinagplanuhan ng maayos yung seguridad ng mga tao.”

Eric Iglesia, 33, former Psychology instructor of Tarlac State University. “Malungkot talaga mostly mahihirap at matatanda pa ang mga namatay. It is just a picture of how poor the Filipinos are these days. Napakalaki ng responsibilidad ng mga organizers but there should be also a participation of both sides. Yung mga tao, sana hindi dapat ipagsapalaran ang buhay with the prize that they are very uncertain of. I am not saying I am blaming them kasi ang mga Pilipino, they are willing to gamble everything for even a very small ray of hope na puwedeng magpagaan ng buhay nila. What drove the people to stay there days before the event is poverty. Though it is their choice, there was this force that kept on driving them na tiisin ang pagod at gutom.”

Tessybel Palada, 24, education graduate-Korean Tutor. “For me, the organizers should be really blamed, though di dapat tayo magsisihan ngayon. If they are really willing to help those people, there were a lots of ways na puwede nilang ginawa that won’t require the presence of thousands of people.”

Lorna Ramos, 20, student. “Liable talaga ang ABS-CBN dun. Dapat nga may contigency plan but even Plan A wala sila. They should have coordinated well with the police and the local officials there, hindi sana mangyari yun.”

Cindy Miranda, 20, student. “Even by just watching the news, makikita mo na ang kakulangan sa organisasyon nung event eh. Walang pulis, walang enough authorities na nag-pacify sa mga tao. Nakakaawa talaga yung mga namatay, even yung hindi, because those people who went there got really hurt physically and emotionally.”

Rainer Rufino, 21, student. “Hindi ko masisisi yung mga taong pumunta, napakalaki ng premyong ipapamigay. Hindi totoong pupunta ka dun just to see Willie. Para sa mga taong pumunta, yung mere presence nila dun parang cash na ang katumbas for them. Alam nilang kahit papaano, maaambunan sila ng blessing dun, grabe talaga ang nagagawa ng advertisement lalo sa mga common people.”

‘Whose fault is this? Who should be accountable?” These questions would never stop in anticipation of appropriate actions from appropriate people.

Obviously, this reflects that our economy is falling into the pits of an abyss. People are left with no choice, but to cling falsely into game shows just to have little money for their everyday necessities.

However, I am not saying that the network-organizer of the show and the security from the local government unit are not to be blamed. These people are still their responsibility.

Now, who says our economy is reaching progression?

This issue will never cease to be the topic of scrutiny, unless justice is served.

These people deserve more than hospital-bill assistance. I guess, Wowowwee is not so Wow! at all. #

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