Advertisement

What Vhong’s return to ‘It’s Showtime’ means

It was a day a lot of his friends and followers were looking forward to since that fateful night in late January.

Despite this, it seems Vhong Navarro still had second thoughts about returning to “It’s Showtime” on Saturday, March 8, just over a month since the incident.

With marks from the mauling still very visible, Vhong said he made sure he would overcome this fear and hopefully regain the spirit and the “kulit” he has been known for as host of the ABS-CBN noontime show for the “madlang people.”

“Hindi ko po alam kung paano ako nakakatayo ngayon dito sa harapan ninyo. Natatakot po ako eh. Natatakot po ako sa lahat ng mga pinagdadaanan ko sa buhay ko. Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong maging 'yun dating makulit, dating masayahin pero susubukan ko po," Vhong says, with cameras rolling for the live telecast.

The old Vhong

Even though he said the trauma is still fresh in his mind, the host-comedian still made it a point to try to bring the old Vhong back to keep up with the show’s lively essence and tone—a sure way to melt the hearts of everyone glued to their TV sets that afternoon.

Was it a good decision to go back on air that soon? Judging from what we see as his strategy since Day 1 after his beating, I think it is going the way it was planned. As such, being low key or much less, inaccessible to media, is the last thing Vhong would want to happen.

The more people see you, the lesser the possibility the situation will go out of hand once more. This means Vhong wants to be in control.

If not, he could have just skipped that monologue and just did his job as host. But he would definitely not risk having his audience or Kapamilya leave his side in this most serious threat to his career and his person. Thus, the "heartfelt" appeal from a "terrified" victim.

Cedric, Deniece and their gang indeed have their hands full in their continuing battle against the prominent TV star and the high-flying world he lives in—the network and madlang people he confidently calls out to.

The verdict

Even if we assume the case to be heard in the courts should be presided by the proverbial blindfolded lady justice, all but a possible Filipino from Mars (as lawyer Harry Roque puts it) has made his verdict. Anne Curtis’ tears upon Vhong’s return seals it even further.

No one is guilty until proven such in a court of law. Even if Vhong’s maulers have the bloodied glove in their pockets for all to see, they still have their day in court. Then, let destiny or justice take its course. But that’s hogwash in a case being presented, processed and decided before the glare of media, especially in a country like ours. Vhong’s “well-meaning” friends know this too well and use it to the hilt.

Hence, the celebrated return.

You want real justice? Tell that to the madlang people.