Vice Ganda recalls working with late director Wenn Deramas

MANILA, Philippines – Leading many celebrities in mourning the death of director Wenn Deramas, It’s Showtime host and comedian Vice Ganda did not hold back his emotions after losing his dear friend and longtime colleague. 

In an interview on TV Patrol Monday, February 29, Vice, who immediately went to the hospital after Wenn’s death, shared how he saw the director inside the emergency room.

“Pag pasok ko ng ospital, sa emergency room, nakita ko siya agad. Para akong namanhid. Hindi ako nakaiyak agad. Pinipisil ko lang yung mga kamay niya, na ang lamig na,” Vice said. 

(When I got to the hospital, in the emegency room, I saw him immediately. I felt so numb. I could not cry right away. I was just squeezing his hands, which were already so cold.)

Vice also shared that he felt he had a premonition of the director’s death when they were joking with each other on Facebook, about sending chain letters. According to Vice, he told Wenn he was not going to send him one back and Wenn replied that he hadn’t meant to send it to Vice to begin with.

Vice also recalled the first time Wenn got him for the movie Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat.

“The first script na binigay niya sa akin, blangko. ‘Itong eksena bahala ka na kung ano’ng gusto mong gawin.’ Kaya noon pa lang alam mo na ang laki-laki nung tiwala niya sa akin,” Vice said.

(The first script he gave me was blank. ‘For this scene, it’s up to you how to do it.’ From the start, it just showed how much he trusted me.)

The two would later work together in more films such as Petrang Kabayo, The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy, Sisterakas, The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, and the recent hit Beauty and the Bestie.

With Wenn now gone, Vice tearfully said that he does not know if he’ll be able to do films like he used to.

“Ngayon hindi ko na alam paano ako gagawa ng pelikula. Lagi ninyo sa akin tinatanong noon bakit palagi si Direk Wenn? Kasi hindi ko naman alam kung meron magtitiwala sa akin katulad ng tiwala na binibigay sa akin ni Direk Wenn,” he said.

(Now I don’t know if I’ll be able to do a movie. You always ask me, why always Direk Wenn? Because I don’t know if anyone else will trust me the same way that Direk Wenn trusts me.)

“Ang laki nang nawala sa akin. Hindi lang ako natanggalan ng director, natanggal ako ng confidence,” he added.

(I lost a big part of me. I didn’t just lose a director, I lost my confidence.)

Vice continued: “Para akong nawalan ng magulang. Para akong batang paslit na naulila. Hindi ko alam. Ang lungkot-lungkot ko. 

(It feels like losing a parent. I feel like a young child who’s lost someone. I don’t know. I just feel so sad right now.)

“Siya ang gumawa ng career ko eh.” (He was the one who made my career.)

Celebrities such as Kris Aquino, Coco Martin, and more paid tribute to Wenn, who died due to cardiac arrest on Monday.

His remains were brought to the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. – Rappler.com