NOONTIME show “It’s Showtime” on ABS-CBN yesterday started on a solemn note as the hosts lined up on stage under subdued lights to pay their last respects to film director Wenn Deramas who expired early yesterday morning due to cardiac arrest.
Comedian host Vice Ganda led the tribute, expressing his grief over the loss of Deramas. Vice Ganda treasures his ties with Deramas who gave him his first break on film. It is a fact that Deramas directed many a box-office Vice Ganda starrer.
“Lahat ng pelikulang tinawanan ninyo, lahat ng pelikulang pinalakpakan n’yo sa filmfest, lahat ng pelikula ko, si direk Wenn po ang director n’yan. S’ya ang director ng kauna-unahang pelikula ko na ‘Apat Dapat Dapat Apat,’ ’yung pelikula na pagkaabot sa akin ng script ay walang laman.
“Walang laman ’yung script kasi doon pa lang, pinaramdam n’ya sa akin ’yung tiwala n’ya dahil sabi n’ya bahala ka kung ano’ng gusto mong sabihin. Maraming, maraming salamat, direk Wenn, maraming maraming salamat ho sa inyo,” Vice Ganda, wearing dark glasses yet to cover his puffed eyes, said in between sobs.
Vice Ganda likewise apologized to “It’s Showtime” audience as he could not afford to be his usual jovial self on the show that day. “Ang hinihiling ko lang ho’y sana nawa’y ipagpatuloy ninyo ang pagdarasal para kay direk Wenn at sa naiwang pamilya niya. Humi-hingi po ako ng paumanhin sa inyo nga-yong araw na ito dahil hindi ko kakayaning magpatawa, pasensya na ho kayo.
Billy Crawford, picking up from where Vice Ganda left off, confirmed that all of them who have had the opportunity to work with the deceased came to the show with a heavy heart. Nevertheless, he said, the industry has taught that the show must go on.
At this point Vice Ganda cut him short to exhort the audience to give Deramas a big clap for the last time.
“Hinihiling ko po sa inyong lahat na sa huling pagkakataon ay bigyan natin ng masigabong palakpakan si direk Wenn,” he addressed the audience, which obliged to his call.
True to his word from that moment, Vice Ganda refrained from appearing in the various portions of “It’s Showtime” yesterday. Deramas’ demise was such a loss for him that he could not force himself to return to joy for the time being. (TESSA A. CASTILLO)