What started as a series of mishaps on ‘It’s Showtime’s’ ‘Laro Laro Pick’ segment last Saturday turned into an emotional and heartwarming moment, thanks to Vice Ganda’s quick thinking and generosity.
The round began with four finalists—contestants Kath and Bunso, plus co-hosts Karylle and Teddy Corpuz—choosing from powder sprays to determine who would proceed to the jackpot. The spray containing pink powder would signal the winner.
However, when Teddy tried his spray, nothing came out. The other three released blue powder. Vice stepped in:
“Definitely, ‘yung hawak ni Teddy, may pink ‘yan. Kaya lang, ang sinabi natin, kung sino ‘yung pag-spray mo, may lalabas na pink powder. Eh wala namang lumabas na pink powder. We have to stay true to the mechanics. How can we declare him as the winner eh wala namang lumabas na pink?”
The selection was reset after a break, this time using lightsticks. Kath, a dishwasher from Bulacan who earns only ₱6,000 a month, drew the longest stick and advanced to the jackpot round.
Kath chose the safe option of ₱50,000 instead of risking the ₱600,000 jackpot. Vice still read the jackpot question: “Ano ang alyas o pen name ng bayaning si Gregorio del Pilar na mula sa binalasang mga letra ng kaniyang apelyido?”
The answer card revealed “Plaridel,” which is historically the alias of Marcelo H. del Pilar, not Gregorio del Pilar. Realizing the error, Vice immediately addressed it: “Hay, kayo talaga. Mali ang nasa question. Buti na lang talaga hindi mo pinili ito dahil magkakagulo-gulo na naman tayo. I would like to apologize. Mali ‘yung tanong.”
To make amends, Vice doubled Kath’s winnings from ₱50,000 to ₱100,000.
“Baka nga rin inadya ito ng tadhana na magkamali para kailangan naming bumawi, baka mas kailangan mo ng mas malaki kesa sa ₱50,000,” Vice told the contestant.
Kath, who plans to use the money for her grandmother’s hospital expenses, was moved to tears: “Salamat po, Meme. Grabe po talaga. Loding-lodi po kita mula nun, Meme. Kayo po ay isa sa hinahangaan ko po talaga.”
Before the segment ended, Vice offered a heartfelt apology to viewers: “Again, ako po, sa ngalan po ng buong programang ito ay gusto kong humingi ng tawad sa aming mga pagkakamali at pagkukulang sa araw na ito. Buong pagpapakumbaba po akong humihingi ng paumanhin sa inyo… but still, it’s not acceptable. I am very, very sorry. Hiyang-hiya po ako sa inyo.”
Netizens praised Vice for her honesty, humility, and leadership in handling the blunders with grace. One user on X wrote: “Another instance where Meme Vice’s leadership kept the show afloat. If she wasn’t there, the other hosts might’ve just let it slide.”
