JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Alicia Gonzales, right, Violet Natividad, Perlita Talledo, Janet Samson and Anna Madriaga showed their enthusiasm yesterday while standing in line prior to attending the "Wowowee" television show at Aloha Stadium.

Wow watchers

Wowowee: Fans flock to Aloha stadium

Officials expected about 20,000 people last night for the variety game show, which features songs, dance, games, and a grand prize of 1 million pesos or about $20,000.

For Georgie Gines, 48, who moved to Hawaii from the Philippines 35 years ago, the show reminds her of her hometown.

"There's a lot of us, we've been here so long," she said. But when watching "Wowowee," "You feel like you're at home."

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Hundreds of fans lined up to enter Aloha Stadium prior to the "Wowowee" television show performance last night. Producers of "Wowowee" expected 20,000 people to turn out to see the Philippines' No. 1 television game show. The show will be broadcast on The Filipino Channel and ABS-CBN as an international two-hour special. The show is on a tour across the United States and will include stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, Canada.

"This show is very important in the Philippines because it helps many people, especially the poor, street children and the old," she said while waiting to enter the stadium.

Oliver Edeger, a Waipahu resident and member of the Army National Guard, was selected as a contestant.

"It's part of my culture," he said. "My parents always watch it so I got to watch it ... They're more excited than I am."

Leslie Ann Mendoza, 18, waited behind security lines with dozens of other contestants from Hawaii.

"It seems like I'm the youngest here," she said. "Out of thousands and thousands of people, I got chose."

Mendoza, who was born in the Philippines, believed her Tagalog was good enough to help her participate -- and win. She was remembering the advice from her family to be hyped up on stage.

The taping will air in Hawaii in about two weeks on The Filipino Channel.

Rowena Cabanting, 33, of Kalihi, bought $125 in souvenir T-shirts, jackets, and hats that were for sale before the show. Jhanette Udani-Navarrete saw the show five times in the Philippines just last year, but had never been a contestant. If she wins the big money, she said, "I'll share half with the unfortunate people in the Philippines."

Her daughter was also joining her on stage as one of about 50 back-up dancers selected after auditions.

Ashley Ramos, 16, a Pearl City High School junior, auditioned because her parents like the show.

"I was happy since my parents really like it. I knew they'd be proud of me," she said. After a week of four-hour practices, she felt exhausted, but ready.

Waiting for the show to begin, Anita Battulayan held a sign reading, "Aloha Kauai." Her daughter gave her the ticket as a Mother's Day gift and her two sons bought her a plane ticket from Kauai to Oahu.

"I love it," she said. "They know that I watch it every day. I watch it while I'm cooking dinner. The show makes us happy."