After dedicating his first Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Best Actor award to the queer community in his acceptance speech on Friday, Vice Ganda delivered another memorable statement on the “It’s Showtime” stage the next day, saying his win was the “biggest clapback” following the bashing he experienced days prior.
On “It’s Showtime” on Saturday, Aug. 23, Vice Ganda admitted that he wasn’t able to sleep the night after he received his Famas best actor trophy for his performance in the Jun Lana-helmed drama-comedy film “And the Breadwinner Is…”
“Ang saya saya ko po. Sabi ko nga kay Ion, ang saya ko naman lately kahit ang daming nangyayari sa paligid ko, pero ewan ko bakit ang saya-saya ko, pero di ko alam kagabi, nabigla ako meron pa pala akong isasaya […] Si Lord talaga grabe Siya timing, that trophy that is the biggest clapback,” he told the audience.
(I’m so happy. I told Ion, I’ve been so happy lately even though there’s so much going on around me, but I don’t know why I’m so happy, but I didn’t know last night, I was shocked that I still have something to celebrate […] Lord, He ‘s really good at timing , that trophy that’s the biggest clapback.)
The actor-comedian explained that the trophy appeared to be God’s way of redeeming him.
“Thank you, Lord, for making me win win win, no matter what. Hindi ka lagi ipapanalo ni Lord sa oras at sa pagkakataong gusto mo. Ipapanalo ka Niya sa tamang pagkakataon kasi Siya ang nakakaalam kung kailan. Maybe I should have won this award noon pa, pero baka hindi ko kailangan noon. Sabi ko nga, maybe He made me win because He wanted to redeem me,” Vice Ganda further said.
(Thank you, Lord, for making me win win win, no matter what. The Lord doesn’t always make you win at the time and place you want, He makes you win at the right time because He knows when. Maybe I should have won this award before, but maybe I didn’t need it before. I said, maybe He made me win because He wanted to redeem me.)
Vice Ganda shared that he was not aware he was getting bashed after he did a spin on the popular “Jet2 holiday” meme, linking it to the controversial issues on the West Philippine Sea and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s detention in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Just last week, hindi ko alam na binabash ako ng malala kasi hindi ako nagso-social media. Right after the concert, I just decided to rest. I was very, very tired physically, mentally, and spiritually. Sabi ko, papahinga lang ako nagpunta akong Singapore. Hindi ko alam na binabash ako,” he shared.
(Just last week, I didn’t know I was being bashed so badly because I wasn’t on social media. Right after the concert, I just decided to rest. I was very, very tired physically, mentally, and spiritually. I said I was just going to rest. I went to Singapore. I didn’t know I was being bashed.)
“They were asking if I’m okay. Okay ako kasi hindi ako nagbabasa, pero alam ko kung anong nangyayari. Sabi ko, Lord, hindi ko naman hawak ang cellphone ng mga tao, so hindi ko maco-control kung ano ang pipindutin at ipopost nila about me. Sabi ko, Lord, ikaw na bahala sakin. You control me,” the comedian added.
(They were asking if I’m okay, I’m okay because I’m not reading, but I know what’s going on. I said, Lord, I don’t have people’s cellphones, so I can’t control what they press and post about me. I said, Lord, you control me.)
Vice Ganda then emphasized that he was greeted with a new endorsement and an award right after he came back, adding, “See? Nanahimik lang ako (I was just being quiet.)”
Aside from Vice Ganda, Marian Rivera, Nadine Lustre, and Arjo Atayde bagged the top acting honors at the 73rd FAMAS Awards held on Friday, Aug. 22. /edv
