[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] Vicky Morales: From ‘Fairy Godmother’ to ‘Ate ng Bayan’

From news reporting in “24 Oras” to granting wishes in “Wish Ko Lang,” GMA News Pillar Vicky Morales has shown her versatility in public service through the years. Last Feb. 22, the award-winning broadcast journalist took on another role, this time around as the “Ate ng Bayan” in the reality-drama program “Ilaban Natin ‘Yan!”

In “Ilaban Natin ‘Yan!,” Vicky helps parties in conflict resolve their issues by reaching out to the people in the barangays, getting to the root of their problems, and encouraging them to make positive changes in their lives.

“It’s very real, very relatable at talagang kapupulutan ninyo ng aral sa pang-araw-araw ninyong buhay,” Morales told Filipino-Japanese Journal in an exclusive interview during an episode of Kapuso PR Girl’s “Press Play.”

What’s the biggest challenge or battle you’ve ever faced in your life, and how did you win it?

Vicky: Wala akong biggest challenge, I hope it stays that way. Kasi parang lahat naman ng challenge ko, wine-welcome ko naman at ang importante malapit tayo sa pamilya natin, strong yung faith natin, with all those ay malalampasan natin yan.

How is your show Ilaban Natin ‘Yan! different and at the same time similar to Wish Ko Lang, and what do you look forward to hosting it?

Vicky: Ang Wish Ko Lang ay 16 years ko ginawa at itong Ilaban Natin ‘Yan ibang-iba sa ginagawa ko in the past. Sa Wish Ko Lang at sa Good News panay good vibes yan, dito naman sa Ilaban Natin ‘Yan talagang papakinggan mo yung dalawang nag-aawayan na panig at susubukan mong pagbatiin silang dalawa so in that sense very different siya. Very similar in the sense na ang Wish Ko Lang doon nakikita natin ang mga challenges na pinagdaraanan ng tao sa buhay niya at yung compassion na meron ako sa programang iyon ay nadadala ko rito sa bagong programa, which is very important dahil pinapakinggan mo yung life story ng dalawang tao, and then also perhaps for news and public affairs talagang simula’t sapul ang palaki namin dito is always listen to both sides of the story, and that also is a very good skill to have when handling, when mediating heated arguments. And then of course, siyempre sa Wish Ko Lang mami-miss ko ang pag-reunite ng mga pamilya, mami-miss ko mamigay ng mga pangkabuhayan packages, mga scholarship pero I’d like to think na in this show, magbibigay naman tayo ng pagkakataon sa mga pamilya na magkaayos and to speak to each other about what they are going through, and I think that is a very important gift to give to families.

From Wish Ko Lang’s fairy godmother to Ilaban Natin Yan’s ate ng bayan, who really is Vicky Morales?

Vicky: Actually, in these shows naman, this is really me eh. I don’t like to be someone I am not. So in Wish Ko Lang, yun ako. Whatever you see there, yun talaga yung totoo kong persona. Even in Ilaban Natin ‘Yan also, ganun din ako. I am someone who really values peace, ayoko ng may kaaway. Hindi ako nakakatulog kapag alam kong may masama ang loob sa akin or people who are important to me. It is always important for me na yung mga tao they get along with each other. Nabo-bother ako kapag may mga nag-aaway-away so that’s me. I’m also very much a family person. I love my kids very much, and I think siguro yung mapalaki ko sila nang maayos, more important than anything else, more important than may career. It’s always good to have a solid family… so that’s me.

What is your message to our kababayans in Japan?

Vicky: Type na type ko ang Japan talaga, yung food, yung mga tao – ang babait nila, and they are very respectful to each other, and they are very helpful lalo na kung may mga turista, talagang they go out of their way to help you. I think we can learn a lot from the Japanese. Please watch and enjoy the show with us. At kung meron po kayong mga feedback, please let us know also.

Kapuso viewers in Japan can catch “Ilaban Natin ‘Yan!” every Saturday on GMA Pinoy TV. - Interview by Florenda Corpuz, Photographs courtesy of GMA