“It’s Showtime” host Vice Ganda endorses the candidacy of actor and businessman Richard Yap during the Saturday night launch of Youth Accelerators for Progress Movement held at the IC3 Convention Center in Cebu City. /Photo taken from Richard Yap’s FB page
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Phenomenal Box Office Star Vice Ganda made a quick Cebu visit Saturday night to campaign for his friend, Cebuano businessman and actor Richard Yap, who is seeking election as Cebu City north district representative in the May 13 election.
The “It’s Showtime” host together with Kapamilya singers Daryl Ong and Bugoy Drilon entertained the crowd during the launch of the Youth Accelerators for Progress Movement held at the IC3 Convention Center in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
The movement is composed of youth volunteers for Yap.
“Gusto ko i-congratulate ang matalik ko na kaibigan na si Richard Yap. Sa dami ng ginagawa ko, hindi pwedeng hindi ko pagbigyan at samahan si Richard Yap sa gabing ito dahil naniniwala talaga ako sa kanya, sa mga advocacies niya. Naniniwala talaga ako sa magandang pangako para sa kinabukasan ng marami lalo na sa youth dito sa Cebu,” Vice Ganda said after he performed Dua Lipa’s “New Rules.”
(I would like to congratulate my good friend, Richard Yap. Despite my very hectic schedule, I cannot miss this visit to be with Richard Yap tonight because I believe in him and his advocacies. I also believe that he can keep his promise for a better future especially for the youth in Cebu.)
Vice Ganda also gave rendition of “Kung ‘Di Rin Lang Ikaw” by December Avenue and “Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako” by Michael Pangilinan. He also led the “Dalagang Pilipina” challenge to the delight of the audience.
Vice Ganda and Yap starred in the film, “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” which was part of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) in 2014. In the movie, Vice Ganda played the role of a soldier named Benjamin “Benjie” Santos VIII, who was assigned to a mission under the orders of General Wilson Chua, a character portrayed by Yap, who is now the Barug PDP-Laban candidate for the north district post.
Yap will challenge the reelection bid of Rep. Raul de Mar of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). But he is not the first celebrity to challenge del Mar for the north district congressional post. Talent manager Anabelle Rama, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) candidate in 2013 election tried by lost her bid.
Before Yap decided to pursue politics, he was known for several television projects under ABS-CBN. He top-billed series like “My Binondo Girl” (2011), “Be Careful with my Heart” (2012), and “Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko” (2018). Yap also starred other movies like “Mano Po 7: Tsinoy” (2016), “The Achy Breaky Hearts” (2016), and “Just the 3 of Us” (2016). /dcb