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Vice Ganda said her mission to provide scholarships and educational support to students in need is very personal.

The It's Showtime host said it was partly motivated by the scholarship she received as a child.

“I was once like them. I was once a kid who was sent to school by someone I didn't meet in person. So, ganun din ako,” she told GMANetwork.com and other entertainment media at the launch of her and Ion Perez newest endorsement, Belle Dolls, on Monday, November 17, at the Solaire Resort North in Quezon City.

She went on to tell the story about how she managed to finish his studies because of a Japanese sponsor, whom she never met.

“Yung atake sa akin, may magbigay sa akin ng scholarship na Japanese woman named Noriko Tokura [from Kyoto, Japan]. Bata pa lang ako, scholar na niya ako hanggang college. So, every week, I made sure to send her a letter.

“When we checked the address, hindi na siya residential. Wala na sila doon. Hindi na sila mahanap. I was trying to meet her, to know her, to go to her, pero hindi na siya mahanap.

“Kailangan daw ng Kanji, kasi maraming magkakapareho ng surname, sa ssulat daw makikilala. E, siyempre, noong bata ako sa squatters area kami nakatira. Laging sinusunog ang lugar na yun, so wala akong na-keep na letter niya. So, di ko ma-prove na yung Noriko Tokura yung nag-sponsor sa akin sa school. Ganun yung experience ko.”

Since she and her sponsor never met, this is also how Vice feels toward his scholars.

“Ako din, feeling ko, hindi ko kailangang ma-meet yung scholar at hindi niya ako kailangang pasalamatan nang personal. I just need to send out help and that's it. I send out ko lang yun sa mundo at hindi ko na kailangang malaman kung babalik ba siya o kung paano siya babalik,” she said.

This is why she gets surprised when her scholars visit It's Showtime to personally thank her.

“Minsan may pumupunta sa Showtime, nagpapakita ng certificate,” said the Unkabogable Star.

“Hindi ko rin sila personally nami-meet kasi ayaw kong naa-attach. Ayaw ko ring sumama ang loob kapag pinabayaan ang tinutulong. Kasi, may mga ganun, e, yung tinulungan mo na nga, hindi pa pinahalagahan, binagsak pa yung pag-aaral. Binigyan mo na nga ng pambaon, pang-tuition, 'tapos, hindi naman pala [pumapasok]. Nakakasama lang ng loob.

“Pero nakakataba rin ng puso. Somehow, mare-realize mo na may nagagawa rin akong tama. May mga desisyon din akong tama sa buhay kaya masaya mag-give back.”

Celebrity couple Vice Ganda (right) and Ion Perez (left) with Belle Dolls owner, Rhea Anicoche-Tan. Courtesy: Belle Dolls on Facebook

On getting sponsors

Meanwhile, Vice is thankful that Rhea Anicoche-Tan, the owner of Belle Dolls and Beautederm, is also giving out scholarships.

In fact, even before she and Ion became celebrity ambassadors of Rhea's brand, Vice already received help from her.

“Actually, Rei has always been generous. Hindi kami lumapit sa kanila,” Vice related.

“Noong nalaman nila na mayroon akong activations na nangangailangan ng support, they reached out to me to support, to lend a helping hand, without asking anything with her. Wala siyang sinabing, 'O, sige, tutulungan ka namin pero pa-post, ha?' Walang ganun. E, sa panahon ngayon ang daming didikit sa 'yo… di ba, ganun? Pero okay na nga rin yung nagpapaalam. Yung iba wala, e, biglang ganun, 'Ay taray, o, may posting.' Siya, walang ganun.

“We met in Quezon City to offer help with my travel series, yung 'Gandara The Beks Explorer.' Kasi, noong nalaman niyang nagbibigay ako ng scholarships, sabi niya, 'Baka gusto mong dagdagan yung mga pinapaaral mo. Tutulong ako kasi yun din ang advocacy ko, education.' Sabi niya, 'Puwede rin akong magbigay ng scholarship kung madami ang nangangailangan 'tapos, kailangan mo ng tulong.' Nag-offer siya. Then, nagdirediretso na ang friendship namin.”

Tan also emphasized that aside from students, they also give help to their parents.

“Hindi lang po scholarship,” she noted. “Yung mga magulang po ng mga estudyante ay binibigyan din natin ng pangkabuhayan showcase.”

Together, Vice and Tan have three scholars who are now in their third year in college.

The actress-TV host hopes their new partnership will allow them to sponsor even more students.

“Nahihiya ako humingi ng pabor. Pero kapag may nag-o-offer na, go na, grab na kasi hindi naman ako ang makikinabang. Yung mga bata ang mga makikinabang sa pag-aaral. Kaya let's expect na mas marami pa tayong mga batang matutulungan at maibabalik natin sa eskuwela,” she concluded.

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