Vice Ganda. Image:Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
Guess it’s true what they say, as you grow up, your Christmas list gets simpler.
This is real for Kapamilya comedian Vice Ganda who turned emotional as he shared the only thing that will make him happy this Christmas.
There’s no question that Vice Ganda is among the most successful celebrities in local showbiz. He’s got the fame, he’s got the money. But what his heart wants does not require a dime. Vice Ganda just wants to have more time for his loved ones.
“Kung pwede lang dagdagan ang araw, naiiyak tuloy ako, kung pwede lang maging 8 days sana ‘yung isang linggo para Monday to Saturday work ako sa [It’s] Showtime. Naiiyak ako, sana maging tatlo ‘yung weekends, Saturday, Sunday tapos may isa pa para mas mahaba ‘yung oras ko sa sarili ko sana saka sa nanay ko at sa pamilya ko kasi nahihiya talaga ako sa kanila,” Vice Ganda said at the recent digital conference for his movie “Gandarrapido: The Revengers Squad.”
His tears flow even more when he remembers the instances he helps out other people but feels he fails at helping his own family due to lack of time.
“Alam kong nauunawaan nila perong hiyang-hiya talaga ako. ‘Yung lalo na pag may tinutulungan ako sa [It’s] Showtime, minsan pumapasok sa utak ko, may binigyan na naman ako ng pera, ‘yung kapatid ko kaya may pera kaya, ‘di ko alam kasi ‘di ko naman siya nakakausap. I need time to be able to talk to them. ‘Yung pamilya ko kasi sobrang bait. They will not oblige or pressure me to spend time with them. Kaya ‘yun lang kung pwede sanang 30 hours a day. Parang 20 sa trabaho tapos 10 hours sa family tapos 8 days a week. Tangible kaya ko na ‘yun, pagtatrabahuhan ko lang ‘yun kaya kong bilhin kahit ano man ‘yun. ‘Yung masakit lang ‘yung kahit gano karami pera mo hindi ka makakabili ng oras,” he added.
Being a comedian is not just a job but a responsibility bestowed upon him by God so he could uplift the lives of his countrymen and his family understands.
“Hindi ko naman pwedeng sisihin ‘yung sarili ko at hindi rin naman isinisi sa’kin ng nanay ko at ng pamilya ko ‘yun kung hindi ko sila masyadong nabibigyan ng maraming oras kasi itong nangyari sa buhay ko naging obligasyon, kumbaga, ‘nung binigay sa akin ng Diyos ‘tong posisyon na ito lumaki ‘yung pamilya ko at hindi na lang sila ‘yung pamilya ko,” he said.
For him, every Filipino family represents his family so when he makes each one happy, he feels that he also makes his family happy.
“Ngayon pamilya ko na ang buong Pilipinas, hindi na lang nanay ko ang kailangan ko patawanin, kailangan ‘yung mga nanay sa buong Pilipinas mapatawa ko din. Hindi lang ‘yung mga kapatid ko ang kailangan kong tulungan, kailangan ‘yung ibang kapatid ko sa Pilipinas, matulungan ko rin sa paraang gusto ko … kaya ang laki laki na ng pamilya ko,” he added.
Despite being financially stable, his mother still works in the US as a caregiver. She, however, does not work for the money, she continues to work as stopping might cause her to weaken, he shared.
When he learned that his mother wouldn’t be able to go home because of work, Vice Ganda planned to visit and spend the holidays with her but his work schedules do not seem to allow him a decent break.
“For sure, I will prepare something very special para sa nanay ko, deserve niya ‘yun. ‘Nung bata ako espesyal ng pasko ko lagi eh. Hindi kami mayaman pero iginagapang ng nanay ko ‘yun eh. ‘Yung pagpunta namin sa Carriedo at sa Monumento para bumili ng sapatos ipinangungutang niya ‘yun kaya deserve niya na magkaron din ng masayang pasko,” he said.
Under Viva Films and Star Cinema, “Gandarrapido: The Revengers Squad” stars Daniel Padilla and Pia Wurtzbach. An official Metro Manila Film Festival 2017 entry, the movie will officially open on Christmas day.