(A stampede caused the loss of 74 lives and injury to more than 300 among those who awaited for tickets to enter the PhilSports Arena, formely the ULTRA in Pasig, last Saturday, Feb. 4. About 30,000 from the marginalized sector went to ULTRA, lured by the attractive prizes that included a million-peso grand prize, a house-and-lot, and jeepneys and hoping to bring home a prize to help alleviate their plight.)

After what happened, Willie said he can’t go back to "Wowowee" at this time. The other guests on "The Buzz" last Sunday, Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Rachel Alejandro, Geneva Cruz and Vina Morales who were there to promote their respective Valentine shows, joined the hosts, Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino and Cristy Fermin in expressing support to Willie. They assured Willie that it wasn’t his fault and that he shouldn’t be blamed for the tragedy.

Everyone urged Willie to stay strong and not to stop loving the people. Willie has always said that his and the show’s goal is to make people happy, especially the poor and needy, through the cash prizes they offer everyday. "Wala kaming hangad sa ‘Wowowee’ kundi mapasaya ang mga tao, ang mga nanoood ng show," he used to say every time.

Willie wanted to take a week off from the show so he could go around to comfort the bereaved families of those who perished in the stampede and also those who survived. Since Saturday, Willie has been going to the Arlington funeral parlors where the casualties were brought for their wakes and to the Medical Center where most of those injured were brought for medical treatment. Willie wants to see to it that all their needs are addressed to.

Willie recognized some of the fatalities to be avid fans of "Wowowee," having either guested in the show or having patiently lined up outside the studio for a chance to get in.

When she went to ULTRA last Saturday, Kris Aquino interviewed a female hopeful who told her she hoped to win a cash prize so she could have her eye operated on. Kris failed to ask for her name but she is now looking for her. Kris said she will shoulder all expenses for her eye operation. "I will recognize her when I see her again," Kris said.

For one week, "Wowowee" will be aired as a public service program.

ABC-CBN, who faces possible suspension (or even revocation of its authorization by the National Telecommunications Commission) if found guilty of negligence, is standing behind Willie, in that the network has vowed to take care of all the needs of the victims.

President Arroyo has ordered an investigation into the ULTRA tragedy (whose result she wanted known within 72 hours) and from initial probe by the inter-agency fact-finding team called Task Force ULTRA, security lapses and failure to control a large crowd by the network were the likely factors that caused the tragic incident.

In a press conference held last Saturday, Ms. Charo Santos-Concio, EVP and Head of ABS-CBN

Entertainment Group described what kind of a show "Wowowee" is. "Nagbibigay po kami ng kasiyahan, ng entertainment, nagpapasaya po kami. Ang realidad po talaga eh madami tayong kababayan na naghihirap. Ang kagustuhan lang namin ay makapagbigay ng pag-asa sa ating mga maralitang mamamayan. Lahat naman po tayo siguro, di ba we’re all human, meron din tayong mga sinasalihan na mga games of chance?"

The stakes that the tens of thousands wanted to take a chance on to win were a house and lot, a jeepney and a million peso cash in the show’s "Pera o Bayong" segment. There’s also R10,000, R20,000 and R50,000 cash prizes to be raffled off.

Tina Munzon Palma also declared during the press conference that "Wowowee" was more than just a game show.

She said, "Certain portions ng mga nakukuha ng ‘Wowowee’ ibinibigay sa Bantay Bata because yung mga nanunuod sinasabi nila na gusto nilang makatulong sa iba’t ibang organizations...marami silang nabibiyayaan na mga NGOs kasama na ang Bantay Bata. You can check the NGOs who have received an oustanding amount from ‘Wowowee.’"

According to ABS-CBN’s official statement, the network assures the public that it will do everything it can to provide assistance and support to those affected by the tragedy.

ABS-CBN’s assistance to victims of the "Wowowee" tragic incident includes: Taking care of funeral services and medical expenses, all funeral arrangements at Arlington, mass wake at the Camp Caringal Covered Court, medicines and medical check-ups for the injured, transportaions for people who want to go back to the provinces as well as people who want to come to Manila to look for their missing loved ones. Missing children are being taken care of by Bantay Bata Foundation, Assistance and donations are also coming from government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and private corporations.

In the ongoing investigation, it was also found out that as early as Thursday, there had been hundreds of hopefuls filling up the streets near Ultra that’s why an emergency meeting Friday night by execs of the network and ULTRA officials. The permit to the event was supposed to have officially started at 12:01 Saturday.

ULTRA’s covered court can accommodate only 9,000 and the bleachers’ area, 8,000. Total accommodation is 17,000 but police estimated there were about 30,000 who went to ULTRA hoping to be lucky enough to bring home some of the prizes.

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Superferry, where happy vacations start, endears its women passengers in "Day Off," an entertaining reality program on QTV 11 that rewards the hardships as well as accomplishments of female workers who have taken the role of breadwinner and sole provider for their families.

Superferry recently welcomed the "Day Off" team, led by host and veteran actress Carmina Villaroel, together with the winner, Cristina Alburo and her family who were all treated to a day of fun and surprises!

First, Cristina, who owns and manages a small beauty parlor at home, was treated to a full makeover in the hair salon onboard Superferry 19. " When the "Day Off" team arrived at my house and told me that I won a makeover package, I was surprised when we went onboard Superferry I didn’t know that there was actually a David Salon inside the ship!" Cristina shared.

After the makeover, Carmina, Cristina and company were given a guided tour around the ship, before dining at SuperFerry’s first class restaurant, Harizon Cafe. "I commend SuperFerry’s excellent service! The crew and staff are very warm, and the food is great, too!" Cristina said.

Of course, a day onboard the SuperFerry is not complete without visiting the acclaimed favorite Pinoy hangout, the Videooke Lounge. "This is the first time in so long that I’ve seen my family so happy, especially when we were having a grand time singing at the Videoke Lounge," beamed Cristina.

Then, Cristina was yet again stunned, as Carmina and the rest of the "Day Off" team announced that she and her whole family would be traveling onboard the SuperFerry for an exciting roundtrip sail away package to Cagayan de Oro!

At first, Cristina’s husband, Efren, was hesitant to travel via sea, since that was the first time for his whole family to travel onboard a passenger vessel. "I was really hesitant at first, especially since my whole family and I have not tried traveling onboard a ship, but since it is SuperFerry, where they put premium on safety and security, I decided to give it a try... and I’m happy,’ said Efren.

"In all honesty, I can truly say that our vacation started when we first stepped onboard the SuperFerry! My children enjoyed playing at the Children’s Playground where there were lots of toys... I personally enjoyed the Parlor Games that were conducted while the ship was sailing! And my eldest son was amazed that a Disco Bar was actually inside a ship!"Cristina said.

According to hailed Bonggang Beautician, what she truly treasures about her Day Off experience is the "bond" that transpired between her family and the crew onboard the SuperFerry. "The onboard crew of SuperFerry are sincerely nice, especially my namesake, Cris, the Hotel Manager, who catered to all our needs," Cristina added.

After the Day Off treat, Cristina said, she could not tell her neighbors and family enough about the trip onboard the SuperFerry. "For all the working mothers like me who need to unwind and relax, I recommend that you take a vacation... go home and visit your family and friends to the provinces and take SuperFerry dahil papunta pa lang, masaya na!" Cristina said.

Mainwhile, another QTV 11 show, Balikbayan, featuring popular teen icon, Drew Arellano, also shot a number of episodes onboard the SuperFerry to feature an enjoyable journey going to different destinations in the Philippines, such as Bacolod and Cebu.

QTV or "quality TV," was launched early part of Nov. last year to join the league of free TV channels.

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Tidbits: Happy b–day greetings today, Feb. 7, go to Dinah Dominguez, Liz Alindogan, Elpidio de Vera, Dianna Diego, Ramon Mauricio, Florinda Santos, Nanette R. Luciano, Gina San Buenaventura, Flor Salvador, Ricardo Javier, Nelia David, Winnie Velasquez and actor Ian Veneracion...Happy wedding anniversary to Benito M. Natividad Jr., and Dr. Evelyn J. Lozano...