VICE GANDA will have a concert via streaming on KTX on July 17, produced by Viva Concerts, entitled “Gandemic”.
“I really have a concert every two years.” she says in the zoom presscon Viva hosted for her.
“Last ko was with Regine Velasquez. But because of the pandemic, we don’t know how to do it.
"Then Boss Vic del Rosario offered na let’s give the audience something to look forward to and enjoy amidst all this chakang kaganapan this year so yun na nga, may concert ako this year.”
That was some months ago.
“Dapat sana, May 1 itong concert, but since pabago-bago nga ang rules dahil sa ECQ, hindi kami makabuo ng show. Yung May naging June at ngayon, naging July na nga, so sana naman matuloy na yun.”
How did she get title “Gandemic” title?
“Kami ng friends ko, nagbe-brainstorming kami, then someone mentioned Gandemic, sabi ko, ang ganda ng term so sinabi ko naman kay Boss Vic at nagustuhan naman nila.”
How does she keep her mental health intact during the pandemic and how does she survive the anxiety felt by everyone?
“I always start the day with a prayer. I always ask for guidance, kasi life has been very difficult nga during this pandemic. I keep myself sane by avoiding toxic stuff, specially online.
"Unlike before, subsob ako lagi sa social media, ngayon, binawasan ko yun. 5% na lang ang time na dine-devote ko sa social media, kasi nakakadagdag lang siya ng worries and fear.”
She now tries to spend more time on positive people.
“Yes, dinagdagan ko ang time that I spend on the beautiful people na nakapapagpasaya sa’kin.
"Hindi ako bumibitiw sa hope na everything will be over soon at mae-experience na natin uli ang buhay natin noon. Very soon. Kine-claim ko na yan agad kay Lord.”
What does she do when she has a problem?
“Kapag may problema naman ako or I feel sad, hinaharap ko yun. Hindi ko siya dine-deny. When I need to cry, I cry. My tears just fall down, I face my emotions and deal with them.
"That’s the healthy way, kaysa dine-deny ko siya. I consciously take care of myself and the people who surround me, kasi kapag ok ako and ok rin sila, then ok ang buong paligid ko.”
What is difference of her concert to those of other celebrities who have also staged digital concerts?
“I watched the concerts done by Daniel Padilla, Regine and Sarah Geronimo, kasi i have no idea how they do it, so may conscious effort ako to watch them. The difference is hindi ako real singer or dancer.
"Although I sing and dance, 90% of my concert is really comedy. Sila, hindi mga nagpapatawa. Ang strength ko is super patawa ako. Kaya kailangang grabeng patawa itong concert ko, kasi ang dami ng magagaling na singers and dancers, so you can see them on a regular basis.
"Pero yung comedy concert ako lang ang gumagawa noon sa ngayon, so nakikipag-collaborate ako ngayon sa ibang comedians to get good materials. Gusto ko matawa talaga ang audience para makalimutan nila ang mga malulungkot na nangyayari ngayon sa ating buong paligid.
"Gusto ko yung tawa lang sila ng tawa, and I’ll make sure I will give it to them nonstop for two hours.”
Who will be her guests?
“Actually, may line up na sana ako. I want Ice Seguerra and Jake Zyrus for an LGBT number na masaya. At magagaling talaga silang kumanta, e. Tapos si Moira, may song kami na kami ang gumawa. Silang magbibigay ng magandang musical numbers.
"Then si Anne Curtis is, gaya ko, song and comedy rin. Kaso nga, hindi natuloy ang original schedule namin for May, so ngayon, hindi lahat, available na sa bagong date. Kaya hindi pa ako sure about my guests.”
She wants the concert to be staged live.
“Gusto ko talagang mag-live, but sabi ng Viva, hindi raw sigurado ang internet sa Pilipinas, baka magkaroon ng biglaang aberya.
"Nakakahiya nga naman sa mga taong magbabayad, so we will just air it nang taped as live para sure na walang glitches.”
What did she realize during this pandemic?
“More than anything, I realized that nothing is for sure or definite, Everything is in the hands of God. Even if you feel powerful, iisa lang talaga ang powerful at Siya lang ang makakapag-decide sa mga mangyayari.
"All the others are powerless, so we just have to keep our faith with the One who has the Utmost Power. Hindi lang alam ng tao, pero ako, dasal lang talaga ng dasal. Sa Kanya lang ako kumakapit to survive.”
It’s good she has not lost her passion in performing despite the pandemic and the lockdowns.
“Actually, I’ve never been this passionate in performing. Kung pera pera lang, hindi naman na ako maghihirap, but I’m really very passionate about doing this concert.
"Kasi achievement talaga for me kapag nakakapagsaya ako ng audience ko. Ang tagal ko rin kasing hindi nakapag-perform kahit sa comedy bars or corporate shows or sa mga fiesta na noon, ang dalas kong gawin.
"So gusto ko talaga uling mag-perform. Gutom talaga ako kasi ang tagal ko nang di nakaka-perform sa harap ng isang live audience.
She felt she got rusty so she had to brush up on her live performance acts for the concert. “Lahat naman, kinakalawang kapag naputol yung ginagawa mo on a regular basis, so pinapraktis ko ito ngayon sa mga friends ko.
"Kahit sa phone, okrayan lang kami ng okrayan na para kaming nasa comedy bar. Kailangan talaga, magamit mo lagi yung utak mo para hindi ka nabablangko. So now gumagana na uli ang utak ko at happy na ako. Maliksi na uling mag-isip ang utak kong kabayo.”
The full title of her show is “Gandemic: Vice Ganda, The VG-Tal Concert”. It will be aired twice.
On July 17, it’s 9 PM, Manila Time for local streaming. And July 18, 11 AM, for worldwide streaming. Regular tickets are P1,000 and for VIP tickets, P1,500.
What’s the difference of getting a VIP ticket?
“Sa VIP, may extra special performances and features na dun lang mapapanood and hindi for regular viewers,” she replies. “Kumbaga, mas maraming pasabog. The tickets will be available for sale sa KTX.ph starting May 8 kaya kumuha na kayo agad kahit sa July pa ang concert ko.”
