Vice Ganda says month-long absence from ‘It’s Showtime’ not due to ABS-CBN issues
Vice Ganda has clarified that his month-long break from “It’s Showtime” had nothing to do with the issues currently facing ABS-CBN, including the highly-publicized Lopez family feud.
One of the biggest Kapamilya stars alongside Coco Martin, he recently returned to the long-running noontime show to the delight of fans and supporters.
In an interview with members of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors, including this writer, for a belated 50th birthday gathering, he admitted that he was aware of the speculations surrounding his lengthy absence.
“Yun ang rason kung bakit pumasok na ako agad,” Vice said in response to The STAR, when asked about talk that he was affected by ABS-CBN’s situation. “Parang naawa na rin ako sa kanila. Parang kailangan na nila ng suporta kasi papasok na nga ako.”
As for claims that ratings supposedly dip whenever he is not around, he simply reacted, “Ayoko din umabsent kung kaya ko na hindi ako um-absent.”
Vice further expressed how he continues to stand by ABS-CBN through its struggles.
“For the longest time, wala naman akong ibang pwedeng gawin kundi ipagdasal yung ABS-CBN, ‘di ba? Magmula pa nung nasara, nung natanggalan ng prangkisa yan, ‘di ba? So wala naman akong ibang pwedeng gawin kundi ipagdasal sila at suportahan sila at manatili akong kasama nila habang lumalaban sila sa mga pagsubok nila,” he said.
Vice said he hopes the network’s problems will be resolved, not just for the sake of its artists and employees but also for ordinary Filipinos who benefit from its services.
“Hopefully, mas gusto natin na ma-solusyunan kung ano man yung mga problema nila kasi mas maraming makikinabang na mga pangkaraniwang Pilipino kung magiging mas maayos na yung sitwasyon ng ABS-CBN,” he said.
“Hindi lang naman mga artista at mga mismong nagtatrabaho sa ABS ang nakikinabang sa ABS-CBN. The entire country has been served by ABS-CBN,” he added.
“Hindi lang mga programa nila ang nagbibigay ng serbisyo kundi marami ring iba pang uri ng serbisyong naibibigay sa lipunan ng ABS-CBN.”
Vice cited disaster coverage as one example of the network’s public service role, saying the absence of a major platform can affect how people receive information during calamities.
“Pag may mga sakuna, parang nawalan ng isang malaking plataporma na nakapagbibigay-alam sa mga mamamayan tungkol sa mga sitwasyon ng sakuna, nagbibigay ng babala sa sakuna. That’s one of the sentiments of the people — walang ABS kaya di sila masyado informed ‘di ba?” he said.
“So bukod sa mga taong nagtatrabaho mismo sa kumpanyang yan, maraming nakikinabang sa ABS na mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan.
“Dalangin natin hindi maputol kasi sa ngayon ang kailangan ng mga Pilipino ay serbisyo hindi lamang sa gobyerno kundi sa mga iba pang tao,” he further said.
As for his absence from “It’s Showtime,” his longest yet so far, Vice admitted he also missed being on the program.
“Hinahanap ko rin siya. Nababaliw ako pag wala ako sa ‘Showtime’ eh. Hindi pa dapat ako babalik pero gusto ko, kailangan ko nang bumalik kasi sabi ko, ‘I’ll go crazy,’” he said.
He clarified that the break was not intentional but health-related, stemming from a right foot injury that had worsened over time.
“Ka-cheapan kasi nangyari sa akin kaya hindi ko kinukwento,” he joked. “Hindi naman kasi sinasadya yung bakasyon na yon. My right foot got injured.”
Vice explained that something had developed near the bone under his big toe after years of wearing heels. The condition was aggravated when he tripped months ago.
He added that when he brought it to the hospital, he was told that the affected part needed therapy because it had suffered trauma.
Vice admitted, however, that he did not immediately undergo therapy and continued wearing heels, which only made the condition worse.
“Parang nabugbog siya, nagkasugat na yung paligid nung ano ko, namaga siya nang malala… hindi ako nakakalakad,” he shared.
At first, Vice thought it was gout and took medication for it, but the swelling did not go away. What he expected to disappear in a few days stretched to weeks, until his foot had been swollen for about a month.
“Hindi siya masakit pero hindi ko siya kayang itapak,” he said.
Vice eventually went to Singapore for a checkup, where the condition was properly identified. He admitted becoming worried because the swelling had lasted so long.
The injury also affected his birthday break.
Vice said he was not able to fully enjoy his birthday trip to Amanpulo because he could not walk properly or step on the sand.
“Even my birthday, I wasn’t able to celebrate my birthday the fun way, the most fun way I wanted to because I had difficulty walking,” he said.
He also had to skip a planned Songkran trip in Thailand and said that even while in Singapore, he was not able to go around or shop because he went straight from the hotel to the hospital.
Vice was also told that he could not wear shoes for three months. That explained why he returned to “It’s Showtime” wearing slippers underneath long outfits.
Still, he’s grateful that it wasn’t medically serious. He also managed to jokingly ask the press not to dwell on his foot condition because it wasn’t good “optics.”
- Latest
- Trending
