Vice Ganda gets ‘It’s Showtime’ audience crying as she removes wig to show support for ‘Expecially For You’ contestant with alopecia

COURTESY: IT’S SHOWTIME/YOUTUBE

Vice Ganda got “It’s Showtime” audience members as well as mainstays crying as she removed her wig on live television Friday to show support for April, the “Expecially for you” contestant with alopecia.

With her ex-boyfriend Andrei, April appeared on the segment looking for a date.

The two had a good relationship, but April ended up pushing Andrei away as she went through a rough patch. She became too busy supporting herself and her family as a working student, was grieving the death of her father, and had to take care of her ill mother.

Besides, she also had alopecia. “Wala akong hair. Naka-wig lang ako. Nagkakaruon ako ng insecurity — baka mas deserve niya yung iba,” April said tearfully.

Alopecia is an autoimmune disease that “can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging,” and may also be from “a very stressful event,” Mayo Clinic reports.

It can be temporary or permanent, and can also be a side effect of certain medications and supplements including those for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure.

In a 2017 episode of “Pinoy MD,” Dr. Jean Marquez said there are two kinds of alopecia: Alopecia Areata and the Genetic Alopecia.

While there are treatments for the condition, there aren’t known cures for alopecia. People with the condition, like April, often need to power through their insecurity and find ways to gain their confidence back.

During “It’s Showtime,” April admitted the condition had a huge impact on her.

“Sobrang laking impact ng insecurity ng pagkatao ko po,” April said through tears. “Parang ang baba ko po, ‘yun ‘yung tingin ko sa sarili ko. Mababa po kasi sa sobrang dami kong problem, tapos ganto pa ‘ko. Pero laban lang po.”

It prompted Vice to give April a hug, before opening up about her insecurity when her hairline started to recede.

“Nung nalalagasan na rin ako ng buhok sa stress, sobra ‘yung insecurity ko,” Vice admitted. “Malayo ‘yun sa pinagdaanan niya.”

“Hindi lahat ng nagsusuot ng wig gusto lang umara o lumandi or for aesthetic purposes,” Meme continued. “This wig gives us power. This gives us strength and hope and energy.”

Meme admitted that it took a while for her to love and accept her hairline.

The host told April, “Nakakapraning talaga ‘yan pero sa dulo, hindi siya tungkol sa buhok eh. Tungkol ‘yan sa uri ng pagmamahal na mabibigay mo sa sarili mo tsaka sa ibang tao. At ‘yung pagmamahal na ‘yun, bumabalik.”

“May buhok ka o wala, subukan mo lang magmahal ng sarili mo at ng ibang tao. Babalik ‘yun,” Vice continued. “At ‘yung pagmamahal na ‘yun ‘pag naramdaman mo, higit pa sa buhok na pwedeng magkaroon ang ulo.”

The host told April they were both wearing wigs. “Sana makahanap ka ng lalaki na mamahalin ka kahit wala ka nang wig, hahalikan ka kahit wala ka nang wig, nag ‘I love you’ pa rin kahit wala ka nang wig.”

After a group hug with April, Andrei, and the “It’s Showtime” hosts, Vice said it took a while for her to take off her wig in front of the other hosts, explaining It was a process.

When Vice started removing her wig, she said she was doing it to help April gain back her confidence.

“Kung makakatulong ‘to kung para makakuha ng kahit katiting na kumpiyansa si April, why not?”

“Nasa punto na ‘ko nang wala na ‘kong pake. Meron nang taong mahal na mahal ako kahit wala na ‘kong wig.”

“Hindi na rin ako affected sa mga pangit na pangit sa ‘kin pag walang wig,” she said. “May wig o wala, may nagmamahal dito ‘no. May wig o wala, may tumatanggap dito. Bukod kay Ion, mahal ako ng nanay ko, mahal ako ng mga kapatid ko. Mahal ako ni Lord.”

When Vice finally removed her wig, she was giving a standing ovation by her co-hosts and the Madlang People were in tears.

Both crying, Vice and April shared another hug.

“’Wag kang magmadali, in your time,” Vice told April.

“This is not for me, but for people like you.”

She added, “Kung makakapagbigay ako sa inyo ng kahit katiting lang na lakas, ‘di ko pagdadamot ‘yun. Para ‘to sa mga taong tulad mo.”

Turning to the camera, Vice said, “In time, matatanggal niyo din ‘yan. No pressure. In your time, pag handa na.”

On Facebook, Vice posted a collage of the whole portion. “May wig man o wala, may nagmamahal sa’yo,” she said. As of writing, it’s already generated more than 2K shares.

“It’s Showtime” made an epic debut on GMA-7 last April and had several trending moments. The noontime show is also aired on GMA Network’s GTV.