Vice Ganda opens up on why he pushed for ‘ReINA ng Tahanan’
“I wanted a new segment para ma-excite ako dahil ilang taon ko na itong ginagawa,” box-office host-actor Vice Ganda said as he talked about his noontime show It’s Showtime’s newest segment, Reina ng Tahanan. “Before we do a new segment we research first kung ano gusto ng mga tao.”
Reina ng Tahanan is a new pageant within the Kapamilya noontime show that celebrates their beauty, brains, and talents.
Vice began talking about finding out that mothers encountered a lot of issues during the pandemic from a recent research he and his team conducted. “May mga nanay na nawala ang sense of purpose sa dami ng mga ginagawa nila na sabay-sabay – nalilito na sila,” he continued. “‘Yung dati nilang routine ay nawala because of the pandemic. Ngayon, nasa bahay lang ang mga asawa at anak nila at sila lang ang nag-aasikaso sa lahat.“
“Pumangit, napagod, at na-haggard ang mga nanay,” Vice concluded from the facts. “Ang sabi ko, ibalik natin sa kanila ang belief na magaganda silang tao para di nila makalimutan ang essence ng pagiging tao nila bukod sa pagiging nanay. Over and above being a mother, may sarili din silang buhay. Maraming definition at attributes ang pagiging babae bukod sa pagiging nanay nila. Nakakalimutan nila na maganda sila at may talent sila at nakakalimutan na din nilang magpahinga.“
Pushing for moms’ empowerment
“This is a segment para ma-empower ang mga nanay,” Vice emphasized and revealed that having the concept approved was a bit of a struggle. “Una ayaw ng management na gumawa kami ng another pageant. Kung pageant na naman daw, huwag na lang.“
Vice firmly fought for the idea. He said, “But I insisted on a pageant – but not a conventional one – iba ito.” He explained further, “Iba ang Q&A portion namin – di manggagaling sa judges ang tanong. Ang tanong ay manggagaling sa isang taong connected sa Nanay na contestant at ang tanong na ito ay tungkol sa isang issue sa pagitan nilang dalawa na dapat ma-resolve at masagot. Because of the unique Q&A portion of the segment, naging very personal ‘yung pageant para siyang naging pageant/reality show.”
The ABS-CBN management eventually approved the concept. What was supposed to be a segment that airs three times a week was turned into a daily portion of the show.
“I really wish to honor all mothers, get their interest, and pay tribute to them because it’s my advocacy to promote the love and care and respect to all mothers,” Vice said about his passion for the issue.
On a personal level
Vice revealed, “Umiyak ako sa first episode nung segment nung lumabas ang anak ng isang contestant. Yung anak ay 24 years old, lalake, maganda ang katawan, at may hitsura. Gusto niyang patunayan sa kanyang ina na may kaya siyang gawin at kaya niyang tumulong sa kanyang pamilya.”
“Kaya lang naghahanap siya ng work pero wala siyang mahanap at lalo pa siyang nahirapan dahil sa pandemic. Nahihiya siya dahil hanggang ngayon ay nakaasa pa rin siya sa kanyang mga magulang. Super try pa rin siya na maghanap ng work pero wala talaga siya mahanap.”
“Tinanong niya ang nanay niya, ‘Was there ever a time na sawa ka na sa paniniwala sa akin?’”
“Naiyak ako kasi lahat tayo gusto nating patunayan na ‘di tayo pabigat pero may mga tao talaga na nahihirapan makahanap ng trabaho. Madami tayong kilala or part ng family natin na nakikita naman nating nagpupursige pero ‘di talaga nila ma-achieve ang gusto nila lalung-lalo na ngayong pandemic na marami talaga ang nahihirapan sa work.”
Vice began to share how the pain was real and that he personally felt it. “Like ‘yung kapatid ko na si Babot, nahihiya siya kasi for her, overachiever ako at wala naman daw siya naibibigay financially sa family namin,” he related.
“Iba-iba ang purpose ng bawat member ng pamilya. Ako, I provide the financial support, my sister is taking care of our mother, at si Babot naman is taking care of the kids and the house,” Vice explained. “I can support them financially pero ‘di ko kaya asikasuhin ang bahay like maglinis at magluto dahil sa schedule ko. Babot takes care of the kids and makes sure that the house is okay and that is as important as my financial support.“
Sharing the credit
Vice Ganda made sure he doesn’t take all the credit for coming up with the well-received segment. “Sa Reina Ng Tahanan, nagbigay ako ng input pero it is really conceptualized and developed in close collaboration with the staff of “It’s Showtime” – it’s a team effort,” he ended.
How Reina ng Tahanan works
Each episode of “Reina ng Tahanan” puts focus on three moms or ‘reinanays’ who will compete in three rounds. In “Queen-troduction,” they will introduce themselves à la beauty queen, share their life stories, and answer trick questions in the wittiest way they can. After this, they get to show off their talents in “The Greatest Showmom.”
The competition reaches an emotional peak in the “Inay Thank You” round, where the ‘reinanays’ have to answer a question that they will be hearing for the first time ever from a surprise guest – a relative, a friend, or a neighbor.
Don’t miss the fun and excitement on “It’s Showtime” on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, and on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and on iwanttfc.com. Viewers outside of the Philippines can also catch it on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV.
