PHOTO: Instagram/praybeytbenjamin, YouTube/ABS-CBN News

Vice Ganda is known for her comedic stints and her unkabogable performances. But today, we saw another side of her personality: the one that made us cry buckets.

Today on It’s Showtime, where Vice is a mainstay host, the regularly fun episode became a touching one as the comedian-host removed her wig. It was during on of their segments, “Expecially For You.” A contestant named April shared her experience of having alopecia, a hair condition that causes hair loss for individuals going through it—in Vice’s case, baldness.

Vice began to express some sentiments about her situation as well. The celebrity comedian has been using wigs for her everyday life in public. However, today, Vice was ready to open up to the world, as she also aimed to empower April and everyone else with insecurities about themselves.

“Hindi ako nangingimi, kung makakatulong para makakuha ng kahit katiting na kumpiyansa si April, why not?” Vice first said as she started to remove her wig.

Vice told April and the audience how affected she has always been by her hair condition. But now, she makes an emotionally stirring case for everyone watching her remove the wig. “Ang tagal nang panahon [na] hindi ako nagpapakita nang walang wig. Nasa punto na ako na wala na ‘kong paki.” Vice strongly proclaimed that no matter how she looks without her wig, there will always be someone who will love and accept her.

“Merong taong mahal na mahal ako kahit wala akong wig. Hindi na rin ako affected sa mga pangit na pangit sa’kin kapag wala akong wig. May wig o wala, may nagmamahal dito ‘no. May wig o wala, may tumatanggap dito,” Vice Ganda before fully getting rid of her wig on live television.

Vice Ganda hugs ‘Expecially For You’ contestant with alopecia YouTube/ABS-CBN News

There wasn’t a single dry eye in the room as soon as Vice finished her monologue. She hugged April and together they cried more, as if sharing the burdens and the heaviness of their hearts with each other.

April, who was absolutely left in awe by Vice’s bravery and confidence, kept thanking the host. It seemed that something shifted for the two of them, and also for the audience who were all completely moved.

The other It’s Showtime hosts applauded Vice’s actions and comforted her. Before they moved forward with the segment, Vice left a closing statement not just for April but for everyone else watching the show. “In time matatanggal niyo rin ‘yan [wig] no pressure. In your time. Pag handa na,” Vice Ganda proclaimed.

Whatever condition someone has, TBH, Vice’s message just seeps into the hearts of everyone who’s bothered by their insecurities. It sends a message to anyone wanting to get that boost in self-confidence, indeed.

What is alopecia?

For anyone who’s curious though, alopecia is also called hair loss on either the scalp or the entire body. There are different intensities for alopecia which may caused by genes, hormonal changes, or other medical conditions as well. Mayo Clinic notes that alopecia is more common in men. However, there are also cases of it affecting women.

There are several local and international celebrities who have also opened up about their alopecia. For one, Ryan Agoncillo shared about his condition in 2022. Ryan divulged that he needed weekly steroidal injections to be able to lessen the effects of alopecia on him.

“Hindi ako umabot na total yung baldness,” Ryan once shared in a noontime show. “Pero umabot po kasi ako na yung may mga patch as big as my hand. Wala ‘kong buhok sa likod. In fact, may mga serye dati, may mga pelikula dati na nalalabasan ko na kaya mahaba yung buhok ko, tinatakpan ko yung bald spot.”