The state's biggest Filipino community celebration got a whole lot bigger yesterday, as Waikiki reached near-gridlock and Kapi'olani Park appeared to have hit critical mass.

Some folks claimed it was the largest bunch of people that had squeezed into the park in living memory. Certainly the total topped any Filipino crowd that had gathered anywhere on O'ahu until yesterday, according to organizers.

"We thought we might have 20,000," said Bryan Andaya, chairman of the 14th annual Hawaiian Telcom Filipino Fiesta and Parade. "But we reached that already (by midday).

"This is the biggest Filipino crowd we ever had."

By noon Andaya and his team of officials had given up on making a precise head count, but he estimated the throng at more than 30,000, and possibly 40,000.

And that was an hour and a half before Willie Revillame — the main attraction — showed up and the entire park erupted into a chorus of cheers.

Revillame, the immensely popular comedian host of the Philippine network ABS-CBN show "Wowowee!," got the rock-star treatment.

"Wowowee!," which is aired locally via The Filipino Channel, is the most popular show on TFC, said Brandon dela Cruz of Salt Lake.

"It's like 'The Price Is Right' meets 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,' " explained dela Cruz, who was manning the Filipino Junior Chamber of Commerce table — one of 70 food, craft and information booths at the fiesta.

Flanked by two rows of burly security workers, Revillame waved and smiled as fans waded in for a close-up view. Even with all that security, Marita Acosta, 42, of Waipahu, managed to wriggle through the muscle to give Revillame a kiss.

Squealing with delight, Acosta deemed the impromptu smooch among the biggest thrills of her entire life. Moments later, safely ensconced in a dressing room beneath the park's bandstand, an amused Revillame took it all in stride.

"I was here a couple of years ago, but it was not the same, because it was before 'Wowowee!'" said Revillame, who had been mobbed earlier in the day when he checked into a Waikiki hotel.

"It's all right, though. I love these people and enjoy being with them."

Meanwhile, out in the park, food vendors were figuring how to cope with a supply-and-demand predicament: What to do when you run out of goods too soon.

"We sing songs," quipped David Pegram, who, along with wife Magnolia, was hustling feverishly to feed the demanding masses on a rapidly diminishing supply at Misty's Merienda, famous for its Filipino desserts.

"MAYBE WE DO 'KUM BA YA.' "

It was the couple's first time at the Fiesta, which was taking place in conjunction with this year's Filipino Centennial Celebration. Meanwhile, the line leading to Misty's Merienda booth remained long and wide.

"We're going to run out of pretty much everything a lot sooner than we had planned," Pegram said.

"If we could just get out and go to the restaurant we could get more. But the problem is getting in and out. This event has stopped Waikiki."

Meanwhile, Bobby and Barbara Gocong, who live near Punchbowl, had taken a stand at the tail end of a lengthy stretch of folks leading to Lynn's Fast Food Booth.

Bobby had come to the fiesta for one thing and one thing only, according to Barbara:

"Lumpia," she said. "He's here just for that."

"That's right," said Bobby. "That's all I'm here for. Lumpia is a stir-fry that's in a wrap they deep-fry. It's hard to get good. And the best way to get it is fresh fried."

At that moment Raul Tan, owner of Lynn's, was delicately coaxing two dozen lumpias through some extremely hot frying oil with a long spatula.

"We actually make the lumpia here on the spot and then cook it right away," said Tan. "That's the secret. Has to be fresh."

Twenty minutes later, the Gocongs had advanced only 4 feet in the line. Would they make it to the counter before Tan ran out of lumpias?

"We're staying until I get lumpia," Bobby Gocong said.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.