Actress Gelli De Belen has decisively refuted rumors about her potential entry into politics, citing her commitment to her family as her top priority.
The announcement was made during a press conference for the second season of the public service show ‘Si Manoy Ang Ninong Ko,’ held in Greenhills, Quezon City on June 15.
“Alam niyo, yung pagtulong na ginagawa ni Manoy, hindi ko kaya. It is a commitment that’s 24/7. It’s a commitment that’s very challenging. Maraming challenges na feeling ko hindi ko talaga kakayanin. For a public servant, you need 24/7 commitment. Wala kang oras sa sarili mo. Hindi puwedeng pamilya muna ako. It has to be bayan muna. I don’t have that commitment yet…forever,” stated De Belen, who is married to OPM icon Ariel Rivera.
She further clarified, “Uunahin ko muna ang pamilya ko. Iiiwan ko nalang kay Manoy ang lahat ng mga problemang yan.”
Rep. Wilbert “Manoy” Lee of the AGRI party-list, who co-hosts the show with De Belen, expressed his strong support for her potential in politics. He remarked, “Kayang kaya ni Gelli na maging mayor ng isang lugar. May puso si Gelli kaya pwedeng-pwede siyang public servant. Pero totoo yung sinabi niya na napakahirap maging public servant. Kagabi nga lang alas kuwatro na kami umuwi. Your emotions are up and down. Pero sabi ng anak ko ng anak ko, okay lang ako maging politician basta huwag lang maging corrupt. Kung maglalabas man ng pera, personal na pera ang gagamitin.”
As ‘Si Manoy Ang Ninong Ko’ enters its second season, Lee assured that the show would continue to captivate audiences with inspiring tales of resilience, unity, and the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan. Each episode showcases the strength and resilience of the Filipino people.
When asked about the pressure to provide assistance nationwide, Lee emphasized that they help everyone in need. “Manoy is kuya na pwede mong sandalan or puntahan anytime. Yun talaga ang concept nito. Sa Bicol manoy is kuya na takbuhan mo,” he said.
Lee also addressed the issue of scammers who exploit the situation. He recounted an incident where his team had to double-check a case of a sick boy they had already assisted. “Siguro hindi naman talaga gusto ng ibang tao na manloko pero nangyayari ito dahil na rin sa dala ng kahirapan,” he noted.
@lionheartv Paano nga ba tinetake ni @Gelli de Belen ang mga udyok sa kanyang pumasok sa pulitika? #GelliDeBelen #SiManoyAngNinongKo #EntertainmentNewsPH #TiktokTainmentPH #BestOfTiktokPH #LionhearTV #RAWRNation
The show’s core hosts for this season also include Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Bea Luigi Gomez and Kapuso actress Andrea Torres, who bring unique perspectives and a passion for public service to the program.
‘Si Manoy Ang Ninong Ko’ Season 2 airs on GMA Network on Sundays at 7 a.m. nationwide and 8 a.m. in Central and Eastern Visayas. Follow @SiManoyAngNinongKo on Facebook and @AngNinongKo on Instagram and TikTok for updates.
