Vice Ganda (center) poses for a photograph with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as he carries his anak-anakan, Carlo Mendoza. (Photo by Clarizel Abanilla/INQUIRER.net)
In this day and age, it’s quite normal seeing members of the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders) have their own biological children. But for Kapamilya comedian Vice Ganda, the idea is unpalatable.
“Una, ayoko namang mag-anak para lang may mag-alaga kasi ayoko namang obligahin ‘yong tao para alagaan ako,” Vice Ganda said at the recent grand media launch of his Metro Manila Film Festival 2017 entry “Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad” in Enchanted Kingdom.
“Mag-iipon na lang ako para meron akong pambayad ng caregiver. At saka sigurado naman ako ‘yong mga pamangkin ko at mga kapatid ko aalagaan din naman ako ‘pag tumanda ako,” he said.
At the same time, the comedian believes the Filipinos are not yet ready to embrace alternative family structures.
“Ayokong i-subject ‘yong bata ‘dun sa hirap ng sitwasyon niya habang lumalaki siya na ang magulang niya ay isang bakla. Dahil pakiwari ko po ay ‘di pa handa ang lipunan sa Pilipinas para doon,” he said.
“At since hindi pa handa ‘yung mga taong nakapaligid sa atin para unawain ‘yung ganoong sitwasyon, ayokong iparanas doon sa bata ‘yon, ‘yong hirap na lumalaki siya at iniisip niya kung anong isasagot niya sa lahat ng magtatanong sa kanya kung bakit ang tatay mo ay bakla.”
He’d rather grow old alone than witness the pain of his children who would not be able to answer the many questions of people around them.
On and off screen, Vice Ganda is fond of children. In his TV shows–“It’s Showtime” and “Gandang Gabi Vice”–he has been helping poor kids by sending them to school and giving them financial assistance.
Currently, his “anak-anakan” is gigil kid Carlo Mendoza. The six-year-old YouTube sensation’s career is slowly taking off through the help of Vice Ganda, who even gave the kid an acting role in his upcoming movie.
But did he ever consider having his own biological kid?
“Naisip ko rin minsan na parang gusto ko na mag-anak. Pero ‘wag na lang din kasi ilang taon na ko? Forty na ako. Kung mag-aanak ako tapos magiging 20 na siya, 20 years from now 60 na ako,” he said.
“So sa edad niya ‘pag umabot siya ng bente hindi ko na ma-e-enjoy siya kasi baka uugud-ugod na ko noon. Konti na lang ‘yong time kaya sabe ko ‘wag na lang,” explained Vice Ganda.
“Yung pwede kong gawin dun sa magiging anak ko, gagawin ko na lang sa mga batang makakasalamuha ko, pwede ko naman silang anakin kaya ‘di sila galing sa akin.”