Vice Ganda kept his 2020 engagement to Ion Perez secret: ‘Takot akong babuyin ng tao’

Vice Ganda and Ion Perez. Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

[Updated: Feb. 19, 2022, 12:23 a.m.]

Vice Ganda revealed that he had been engaged to his partner Ion Perez since early 2020 but opted to keep it from the public, citing how he’s scared of their reaction.

The comedian-TV host gave more details about their Las Vegas “wedding” and how it was a “spontaneous” moment for them, in the noontime show “It’s Showtime,” as seen on its Facebook page today, Feb. 16.

“May concert ako no’n sa America tapos nagkataong anniversary namin tapos nagpunta kaming Vegas. Sobrang spontaneous no’n, buti nga may slot don sa pinuntahan naming chapel,” he recounted.

(I had a concert in America back then and it was also our anniversary, then we went to Las Vegas. It was very spontaneous, it was a good thing that the chapel still had slots for us.)

“Nagpropose si Ion sakin nung Feb. 21, 2020, wala pang pandemic no’n. Nung nagpropose siya sobra kong takot na takot, as in lahat ng mga videos ng mga kaibigan namin pinabura ko talaga kasi ayokong lumabas. Sobra akong takot na bababuyin lang ng tao itong isang bagay na napakaganda para sa ‘min,” he said.

(Ion proposed to me last Feb. 21, 2020, before the pandemic. When he proposed, I was so scared so I asked my friends to delete all videos, so that it won’t be shared to the public. I was so scared that people would disrespect a beautiful thing that we have.)

“Tama na ‘yung tayong dalawa lang ‘yung nakakaalam — malalaman ng ibang tao, babastusin lang nila, bababuyin, pagtatawanan, gagaguhin kaming dalawa — ayoko, masakit ‘yon para sakin kaya sabi ko sa ‘ming dalawa na lang,” he added.

(It’s enough that only the two of us know — when people know about it, they will mock it, laugh at us, make a fool out of us — I don’t want that. That’s painful for me so I decided to keep it between us.)

Vice Ganda also reiterated his take on same-sex marriage and how Perez changed his perspective.

“Pag may nagtatanong sakin about same-sex marriage, kung gusto ‘yun ng ibang tao, give ko sa kanila ‘yon pero sakin, it’s not for me. Hindi ko ‘yon nakikitang gagawin ko pero nung nagpropose si Ion, gustong-gusto ko na,” he stated.

(When someone asks me about same-sex marriage, if they want that, I’d give them that, but as for me, I didn’t think it was for me. I didn’t see myself doing it, but when Ion proposed to me, I wanted it so bad.)

He said it does not even matter to him whether or not their marriage would be acknowledged here in the Philippines, adding, “I just want to celebrate our love for each other sa harap ng mga taong nagmamahal samin (before people who love us).”

Vice Ganda then turned emotional after admitting that they were also asked by their management to not disclose their engagement back then. He didn’t give much details about the request on them.

“Basta pinakiusapan kami na ‘Sa inyo na lang, wag na sabihin’ — ang hirap-hirap para sa aming dalawa,” he said. “Parang deprived na deprived naman kami, parang sa ibang tao ang dali lang magmahalan tapos sa ‘min ang hirap.”

(We were asked to keep it to ourselves and not talk about it in public — it was so hard for us. I felt like we were very deprived, it’s like other people find it easy to love each other, but when it comes to us, it’s hard.)

Vice Ganda earlier expressed his gratitude for the support they have been receiving after their “wedding” reveal. Fellow celebrities including Anne Curtis, Angel Locsin and Bea Alonzo sent their congratulatory messages to the couple. JB

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