Late last year, 2025, news broke that It’s Showtime host Ryan Bang and his non-showbiz fiancée, Paola Huyong, had called off their engagement.
At the time, neither Ryan nor Paola publicly discussed the breakup. No interviews were granted, no statements were released, and details surrounding the end of their relationship remained private.
Still, eagle-eyed netizens noticed subtle changes in the months that followed. Followers observed shifts in the pair’s social media activity, while others pointed out developments involving their business ventures. Among them was the closure of Paola’s café, which operated within Ryan’s restaurant, fueling speculation about the status of their relationship.
For months, Ryan remained silent.
Likewise, It’s Showtime host and dancer Jackie Gonzaga, who is also managed by Vice Ganda, has kept details of her own breakup private despite being the subject of playful teasing on the noontime show for the past couple of years.
Now, in Vice Ganda’s latest vlog episode, both Ryan and Jackie opened up about navigating one of the most painful experiences in life — heartbreak.
The emotional conversation saw Vice sitting down with two of the people he considers among his closest protégés in show business. In the candid discussion, Ryan finally spoke about what led to the end of his engagement with Paola and why their wedding never pushed through.
According to Ryan, one of his biggest regrets was failing to prioritize the relationship as he became too focused on earning money and preparing financially for their future together.
Screengrabs courtesy of Vice Ganda | Youtube channel
He admitted that while his intentions were good, he eventually became distracted by work and the pressures of providing for the wedding and the life they planned to build. The It’s Showtime host admitted he had his shortcomings.
Ryan also revealed that after the breakup, he tried his very best to win Paola back.
However, he shared that Paola’s parents, whom he described as warm, kind, and gentle people, eventually encouraged them to give each other space.
Looking back, Ryan said he understood their position, believing they were also protecting their daughter as she navigated the difficult aftermath of the separation.
The conversation then shifted toward healing and finding meaning after loss, with Vice offering words of comfort that resonated deeply with both Ryan and Jackie.
“Pero alam mo, it was a painful thing to experience, to go through. The pain, the hurt, for sure, was unimaginable. It was almost unbearable. Pero ang baduy man, really, everything happens for a reason. May magandang dahilan ‘to kung bakit yan nangyari sa inyo. Sa’yo, di ba?”
Vice went on to explain why he often shares this perspective with friends who are grieving the loss of a relationship.
“Lagi kong sinasabi yan sa mga kaibigan kong nakaka-experience ng loss. Sabi ko, naniniwala ka kayong ganyan Diyos. Kung naniniwala ka, siguro naman dapat maniwala ka na hindi siya gagawa ng anumang intensyon na saktan ka at paghirapan ka. May mga bagay at may mga taong tinatanggal sa atin. Kasi baka ginagawa niya yan para protektahan lahat. Hindi natin maiintindihan agad, pero ginawa niya yun to save you or to save the other person or to save you both.”
He continued by suggesting that sometimes the very things people pray for may unknowingly lead them away from relationships that are not meant for them.
“Baka hindi na nga pala nangyari yun kasi ipinanalangin mo yun. Hindi man yung direct na tao na yan ang kunin sa’yo, pero may ipinanalangin ka sa kanya na yun ang sagot. Maybe you prayed for something about something that you thought did not apply to that person pero baka siya yung sagot dun sa ipinanalangin. Baka minsan sa buhay mo, pinanalangin, Lord, sana balang araw magkaroon ako ng asawang ganito at ganito yung pamilya namin. And kaya niya tinanggal yun kasi hindi yun yung makakasama mong bubuo nun. At pag siya kasama mo, hindi yun mabubuo yung pinapanalangin mo. Baka we were just all saved from something or spared from something. Eventually, ma-uunawaan, maiintindihan natin. ‘Ah, kaya pala nangyari. Kasi ganyan.’”
The heartfelt exchange appeared to provide both Ryan and Jackie with a safe space to process experiences they had largely kept away from the public eye.
One of the most emotional moments in the vlog came when Ryan and Vice reflected on their bond through the years.
Ryan shared that it had always been part of the plan for Vice to walk him down the aisle alongside his mother on his wedding day. Having spent much of his life in the Philippines away from his family in South Korea, Ryan said he considers Vice his second mother and credits him for helping shape both his career and personal life.
The revelation moved all of them to tears.
Ryan also recalled how devastated he felt after the engagement was called off and how Vice quietly stepped in to support him during one of the darkest periods of his life. According to Ryan, Vice would visit him almost every day, send him food, and even offer to cook for him while he was trying to recover emotionally from the breakup.
Beyond the headlines, the vlog revealed a deeply personal story about grief, friendship, healing, and the people who stay beside you when life does not go according to plan. For Ryan and Jackie, there is Vice Ganda.
