Vice Ganda and Ion Perez. Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

Vice Ganda initially didn’t want to have children of his own, but his romance with Ion Perez convinced him that parenthood is a “beautiful” experience.

The comedian opened up about his plans of having a baby with Perez through a surrogate in an interview with former Manila City mayor Isko Moreno, uploaded on the latter’s YouTube channel last Friday, Jan. 20.

The “It’s Showtime” host admitted that starting a family was not part of his plan since he didn’t want his future child to experience being discriminated against for having parents who are part of the LGBTQ community.

“Alam mo, surprisingly, gusto ko nang magka-anak. Dati talaga, no-no ako diyan. Kahit biological or mag-adopt,” he said.

(Surprisingly, do you know that I want to have a child? Before, having a child was a no-no — whether it’s done biologically or through adoption.)

(No matter how hard we try, people view children with gay fathers differently. I feel worried about my future child because they might receive comments such as “Why is your father like that?” I don’t want them to be put in a situation where they have to explain to their classmates why their father is like that, or why they’re different from typical fathers. They will be hurt and think that there’s something wrong with us, that’s why I don’t want to.)

But it wasn’t until the comedian’s relationship with Perez that gave him the confidence to become a parent, as well as to have children of their own.

“I found it really beautiful na sabi niya, ‘Kayang-kaya natin magkababy.’ Tapos bigla nalang, instantly, gusto ko na rin magkababy. Wala akong pakialam kung anong sasabihin nila. Ang mahalaga na lang ay mabi-build ko ‘yung personality ng magiging anak ko at ‘yung character niya,” Vice Ganda added.

(I found it really beautiful when he said, “We can really have a baby.” Then instantly, I wanted to have a baby too. I don’t care what other people would say. What matters is that I’ll develop the personality and character of my future child.)

Vice Ganda also shared that he flew to the United States to consult a medical professional and to learn more about surrogacy. However, he admitted that he didn’t have the “luxury of time” to do it since he’s busy with his acting and hosting gigs in the Philippines.

“I was planning to do it. Nagpunta akong Amerika tapos alam ko na kung saang pupuntang doctor, pero I didn’t have the luxury of time to pursue kasi ang dami kong ginagawa… Kailangan kong mag-allot ng oras at magdevote ng oras at tanggapin na kailangan ko munang i-set aside yung showbiz kahit ilang buwan para matutukan ko ‘yun,” he said.

(I was planning to do it. I went to the United States since I know which doctor to consult. But I didn’t have the luxury of time to pursue my plans because I’m very busy. I need to allot and devote my time, and accept to myself that I have to set aside my showbiz career to dedicate my attention to my future child.)

The “Praybeyt Benjamin” star also said that he’s open to the possibility of having a baby girl, as well as having twins composed of a boy and a girl in the future.

“Gusto ko ‘yung naka-gown si baby girl, naka-ballet shoes o naka-high socks siya,” he said. “Pwede rin ‘yung babae at lalaki. Kasi ‘di ba? Kung anong na-deprive sa atin nung kabataan, gusto nating bawiin. Gusto kong gawin sa kanila ang mga hindi ko naexperience. Ipapa-experience ko sa kanila ‘yun, we will experience that together.”

(I want the baby girl to wear a gown, ballet shoes, or even high socks. Maybe I can also have a twin boy and twin girl. Because what was deprived of us during our childhoods, we want our future kids to not experience the same fate. I don’t want them to experience what I have been through. I want them to experience having a good life, we will experience that together.)

Vice Ganda and Perez have been in a relationship for a year before confirming their status to the public in 2019. After getting engaged in 2020, they had a wedding commitment ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada in the U.S. in February 2022.

After being hounded with speculations about their split, the celebrity couple denied their breakup and clarified that they want to spend time apart for a moment to keep a “balance” in their relationship