Vice Ganda is optimistic with the collaboration of ABS-CBN and GMA Network. Karl Cedrick Basco, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – “It’s Showtime” host Vice Ganda is cherishing the historic move of ABS-CBN Corp. and its former rival GMA Network to air the noontime show on the latter’s GTV channel.
On Wednesday, the comedy superstar personally witnessed the contract signing between the top bosses of the two media giants that formalized the transfer of ABS-CBN’s noontime program to the GMA-owned channel.
Representing ABS-CBN were chairman Mark Lopez, president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, and chief operating officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes, while GMA was represented by Gozon, president and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr., senior vice president for programming Annette Gozon-Valdes, and executive vice president and chief finance officer Felipe Yalong.
Apart from Vice Ganda, also present at the event were co-hosts Anne Curtis, Jhong Hilario, Ogie Alcasid, Amy Perez, Ryan Bang, Kim Chiu, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Ion Perez, MC, Lassy, and Jackie Gonzaga.
In a speech, Vice Ganda described the drama that led to the Philippine TV milestone as “Pinoy na Pinoy,” likening “It’s Showtime” to a Filipino family that has endured hardships but continues to soldier on.
“Pilipinong-Pilipino ang nagaganap ngayon. Ang ‘Showtime’ ay parang kumakatawan sa lahat ng pamilyang Pilipino,” he explained.
“Yung pamilyang Pilipino na lahat na yata ng kaganapan sa buhay ay dinanas. ‘Yung pangkaraniwang Pilipino na lahat na yata ng bagyo ay hinarap. Lahat na ata ng baha ay naranasan. Lahat na ata ng klase ng problema sa pamilya ay naranasan. Pero patuloy pa rin tumatayo dahil sa pagmamahal na nararamdaman nila sa mga kasama nila sa bahay. At dahil mahalaga sa kanila sa bahay.”
Continuing his analogy, he said: “At ‘yung ABS-CBN naman ay kumakatawan sa lahat ng mga magulang ng bahay — ‘yung kahit anong kaharapin nung mga anak niya, kahit anong danasin ng bahay niya, ng pamilya niya, ‘yung mga magulang na kahit anong hirap, hinding-hindi titigil sa paghanap ng paraan para maitaguyod ang pamilyang ito.”
He then said GMA is the neighbor who is always willing to help those who are in need.
“Ang GMA naman ay Pilipinong-Pilipino na parang mga kapitbahay na sa panahon ng pangangailangan ay handang mag-alay ng bayanihan sa nangangailangan nilang kapwang Pilipino,” he added.
For Vice, the transfer to GTV is a victory for the “madlang people” or the show’s loyal viewers.
“Hindi ko makita kung saan ito mapupunta, kung anong kahihinatnan ng araw na ito. Pero alam ko na ang pangyayaring ito ay magiging susi at simula ng napakaraming magaganda pang susunod na mangyayari,” he said in optimism.
