MANILA, Philippines - "Showtime" resident judge Vice Ganda expressed happiness over his blossoming friendship with Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
"Ganda ko talaga! Si Phil (Younghusband) kay Angel Locsin tapos si Neil naman sa akin! Natapakan niyo na yata ‘yung hair ko diyan! Ha ha ha! Kapag pinag-uusapan si Neil Etheridge nagagandahan talaga ako sa sarili ko. Siguro nabibwisit na sa akin ‘yung mga tao sa sobrang pagka-feelingera ko," Vice Ganda said during the contract signing for his hit comedy talk show "Gandang Gabi Vice!" on Wednesday.
Vice Ganda shared that he came to know Etheridge via the microblogging site Twitter.
"Nagsimula sa Twitter ‘yan. One day bago siya pumunta ng practice nakanood siya ng 'Showtime'. E nasiyahan siya so nag-tweet siya. Ako naman nag-thank you. Nag-tweet uli siya. 'Di na ako nag-tweet back kasi baka kapag hindi na siya sumagot, masasaktan lang ako. Aasa lang ako," Vice Ganda said.
He said that it was destiny when he personally met the football player at Rufa Mae Quinto's party.
"That night, party ni Rufa Mae, dumating si Neil. Naloka siya kasi ang kasama ko si Jon Avila. Nagyaya si Jon na umalis na at lumipat ng place. Sabi ko sandali lang tatapusin ko lang ‘yung iniinom ko. Pero ang totoo, ayoko pang umalis kasi nandiyan si Neil. Pero hindi ko siya tiningnan kasi baka hindi rin niya ako pansinin kasi hindi naman niya ako kilala. Maya-maya siya na ‘yung lumapit. Sabi niya, ‘Hey! We were just tweeting this morning.’ Chumika siya sa akin. Ang bait niya," he added.
Vice Ganda said he saw Etheridge again during the taping of ABS-CBN's flag raising ceremony last Friday.
"Nakita ko agad si Neil. Katabi ko si Anne (Curtis), inaasar na niya ako. Sabi ko kay Anne, dedma na, ‘wag na niya akong lokohin kasi baka hindi na niya ako maalala, mapahiya lang ako. Hindi talaga ako tumitingin sa kanya. Sabi ni Anne nakatingin daw sa akin. Ayoko maniwala. Pero nakita ko sa peripheral (vision) ko na nakatingin nga siya sa akin. Eeeeeee!" Vice Ganda said.
The comedian said he found out how humble the football player was when Etheridge sent him a tweet after the ceremony.
The tweet was: "@vicegandako sorry I never got to say hi at abs, was trying to get hold of you at the end, but then I got dragged off, sorry."
With Etheridge's tweet, Vice Ganda got the courage to invite him to grace 'Showtime'. Etheridge then agreed and even dragged other members of Azkals to visit 'Showtime'.
"Sabi ko, 'I'm still here in ABS-CBN, if you want you can drop by at the 'Showtime' studio.’ Tapos hiningi na niya ‘yung BBM ko. Pupunta raw siya sa 'Showtime' kasama ‘yung ibang Azkals," the host said.
Etheridge made good on his promise and the Azkals guested on "Showtime."
"Ang bait niya. Dedma lang (siya) kung bading ka o ano man. Nakikipag-friends siya kahit kanino. Totoong lalaki nga. Kaya kinikilig ako hanggang ngayon," Vice Ganda added.
Asked if he considers Etheridge as one of his boys, Vice Ganda replied: "He’s one of the many boys na nakakapagpakilig sa akin."
Vice Ganda is being romantically linked to Paolo Hubalde, Jon Avila, Kean Cipriano, and Xian Lim.
Source: ABS-CBNnewsdotcom
