How Vice Ganda was inspired by foreign benefactor to give back

November 22 ------ Vice Ganda shared how he was inspired by a foreign benefactor who sent him to school — a memory brought back during the launch of his first endorsement project with partner Ion Perez, under the beauty and wellness company Beautéderm, led by CEO Rhea Tan. The celebrity couple were introduced together as ambassadors for the corporation’s Belle Dolls brand at a press conference, which The STAR attended.

The comedian and TV host said he tries to pay it forward by sponsoring the education of children — including three full scholars — with the help of Tan. When reminded of instances wherein these sponsored kids would surprise him by showing up on his noontime show “It’s Showtime,” Vice said, “Ako din nakakalimutan ko na rin. They’d suddenly show up on ‘Showtime,’ after a commercial break or after the live show, and they’d talk to me, show their certificates or diplomas…”

Vice continued, “Because I don’t personally meet them. Because I also don’t want to get attached. I don’t want to feel bad if the help that was given to them was taken for granted. Because there are such instances. Some didn’t value it, flunked school, even after being given allowance and tuition. “So, it warms the heart (knowing about scholars who finished their studies) that it somehow makes you realize, you’ve done something right or that you’ve made some right decisions in life.”

Vice said he knows how it feels to be on the receiving end of life-changing generosity. The host shared that a Japanese woman named Noriko Tokura from Kyoto supported his schooling up to college, and in return, he would faithfully write her letters every week. “I was once like them. I was a kid who was sent to school by someone I didn’t even meet in person. So ganun din ako, yung atake sa akin nung nagbigay ng scholarship. She was a Japanese woman with the name Noriko Tokura… from Kyoto, Japan,” Vice recalled. “I can still memorize her address to this day. I was a kid when I became her scholar, and up to college, she paid for my studies. So every week, I made sure to send her a letter. That’s why I memorized her address by heart.

“And then, when I had the capacity to look for her, we checked the address, it was no longer residential. So, they weren’t there anymore. I couldn’t find her. I was trying to meet her but I couldn’t because they were asking me for her kanji. “This was because many names in Japan are the same or similar so they would need the kanji,” added Vice, who explained that her name had to be written in kanji — the logographic characters used in Japanese writing — to identify the correct person.

However, fires frequently ravaged their community in Manila, so Vice wasn’t able to keep any of her letters, leaving him without solid proof to continue the search. “Of course, when I was a kid, I grew up in the squatter's area, so laging nasusunog yung lugar namin. I was unable to keep her letters. I couldn’t prove who Noriko Tokura was, the person who sponsored my schooling. I never got to meet her. That was my experience,” he looked back. “Kaya feeling ko rin, I don’t have to meet the scholar in person, and they don’t have to thank me in person. I just needed to send out help, and that’s it. I just have to send it out to the world, and I don’t need to know if it comes back to me and how it comes back to me.”

That’s why Vice expressed his profound gratitude to Tan for collaborating with him on the education advocacy even before any business partnership was formalized. “Even without a contract with Rei (Rhea) and even if our partnership wasn’t official before, we’ve already been working together for a good cause — for the community and our fellow Filipinos. I’m just so grateful. Thank you (Rei) for everything you do and everything you plan to do, not just for yourself or your company, but for the people,” Vice expressed. “I’m so grateful to be associated with you, to have my name connected to your company — it’s an honor for me and for both of us (with Ion). This isn’t just about money. Even without a talent fee, we’ve been helping each other. Making this partnership official is just a bonus.”

For Tan, the timing of the partnership announcement — during her birth month — felt like divine alignment. “I really prayed for this. And it even happened on my birth month pa. When the Lord makes the way, the Lord is always on time. We have to believe in His timing.” The entrepreneur recounted separately that although Vice has only recently signed on as their ambassador, they’ve been supporting the host for three years now, including the scholarship projects for underprivileged students.

Since then, she noted that they’ve always thought Vice would be a great fit for the brand. Tan also revealed that their first three scholars are expected to graduate from college soon. “We believe Vice and Ion perfectly represent our Belle Dolls brand. They exude confidence and motivate others to accomplish great things. Aside from their positive influence, what we admire about them is their authenticity, both with and without cameras. Finally, Vice and Ion prioritize their health,” Tan pointed out.

Meanwhile, the “Kapamilya Unkabogable Superstar” also reflected on the longevity of his career and how Vice tries to protect his “phenomenal” stature in the entertainment industry. He admitted that many taste success, but not everyone gets to sustain it. “Over the years, of course, it has changed. Rei and I have been able to experience the taste of success once in our lives. Now, sa dami ng nangyayari sa paligid, it really takes a phenomenon to sustain that. “Not everyone is able to sustain success, happiness. Not everyone is able to reach longevity, right? Being ‘phenomenal’ is being able to be there (now) and still be there tomorrow.”

Success, he firmly believes, is achieved not by accident nor merely by one’s own effort, but by God’s will. “Sa Kanya kasi talaga ito. No matter how much effort you put in kung hindi ibibigay sa akin ng Panginoon ‘yung pagkakataon and that moment, wala siya (it’s not going to happen).” Asked during the presscon how to keep it steady at the top, Vice said it all comes down to faith. “This may sound cliché, but every day, I simply pray… I just let Him do His thing. If it’s His will, I always tell Him, if it’s Your will, I embrace it.”

Source: philstar.com