Vice Ganda says filming ‘And the Breadwinner Is…’ was soul-healing experience
Vice Ganda during the “And The Breadwinner Is…” grand media day. Image: X/@StarCinema
Vice Ganda considers the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2024 entry “And the Breadwinner Is…” as a healing experience, saying that filming took place while he was undergoing therapy.
The Jun Robles Lana-helmed film tells the story of Bambi Salvador (Vice Ganda), an overseas Filipino worker who, upon returning to the country, finds their home in ruins after his family made him believe his salary was used for repairs. After a near-death experience, he was forced to pretend that he was gone for good to support his family financially.
“I wasn’t scared of not going out of my comfort zone. I was scared to not deliver. I had to make sure na ma-deliver and mapanindigan (to deliver and ensure the strength of my delivery)… I was so insecure,” Vice Ganda admitted during the film’s launch.
This insecurity led to the host-comedian requesting a “one-on-one workshop” with Lana and his co-star Malou de Guzman, which the latter noted was a moment of “paghuhubad ng kaluluwa” or baring their souls to each other.
“It was very hard at the time, ang paghuhubad ng kaluluwa. Noong nag-workshop kami, that was the time I was about to restart my therapy,” he recalled. “Noong winorkshop ako, durog ako. Durog ako pero hindi ko ma-address gaano ako ka-durog. Tinulungan nila ako sa workshop kasi nailabas ko ‘yung mga nasa sa loob ka na nandito lang, hindi ko napakawalan kasi hindi ko alam kung paano.”
Article continues after this advertisement(Baring my soul was very hard at the time. When we had our workshop, it was the time I was about to restart my therapy. I was crushed when we had our workshop. I was crushed but I didn’t know how to address it. They helped me express what I felt inside since I was struggling to let go.)
Article continues after this advertisement‘Paghuhubad ng kaluluwa’
This moment, along with other behind-the-scenes experiences, reminded the “It’s Showtime” host why he considered his co-stars and staff in the film as his family. “Natulungan nila ako. Mahal ko silang lahat kasi hindi lang ito propesyunal, personal din ito.”
“Kahit ‘yung paggawa ng pelikula, naging therapy,” he continued. “I thought we were already successful doing the movie, but naramdaman kong successful din ang therapy ko. Pareho ko silang napagtagumpayan.”
(They helped me. I love them, and I don’t just consider this experience as professional. It’s personal as well. Doing the film was also therapy for me. I thought we were already successful in doing the movie, and my therapy was successful too. I pulled them off well.)
Touching on the workshop, Lana looked back at Vice Ganda’s hesitation in bringing his character to life while sharing how he helped the latter find himself throughout filming.
“More than anything, I want to help Meme embrace the character in a way he’s going to feel comfortable. He confessed to me that from the very beginning, meron siyang hesitation and fears that he’s going to be working with these brilliant dramatic actors and be involved in intensely dramatic scenes,” he said, referring to the host-comedian using his nickname.
(More than anything, I want to help Meme embrace the character in a way he’s going to feel comfortable. He confessed to me that from the very beginning, he was going through hesitation. He feared working with these brilliant dramatic actors and being involved in intensely dramatic scenes.)
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The filmmaker then noted that when comedians cry, it’s a moment of “true devastation.”
“Believe me when I say that Meme is a brilliant actor. Hindi lang niya nare-realize ‘yun or hindi niya nae-embrace ‘yun (He just doesn’t realize it or he doesn’t embrace it),” he added.
Seeking help
Vice Ganda then reiterated that he’s “proud” that he seeks help whenever he deals with mental health struggles. “Nagthe-therapy ako (I go through therapy) and I’m proud of it.”
“Ito ay isang bagay na hindi dapat pag-isipan,” he continued. “Going through therapy or seeking help para tulungan ka sa inyong mental health issues should be as normal as going to the dentist. It should be as normal as going to the derma. Para pangalagaan ‘yung [mental health problems ko], I go to therapy every now and then.”
(This shouldn’t require any second thoughts. Going through therapy or seeking help in dealing with your mental health issues should be as normal as going to the dentist. It should be as normal as going to the derma. I go to therapy every now and then to take care of my mental health.)
Also part of the film are Eugene Domingo, Gladys Reyes, Jhong Hilario, Maris Racal, Anthony Jennings, MC, Lassy, Kokoy de Santos and Joel Torre.
