Actress Gelli De Belen has firmly turned down rumors of her joining politics.

Gelli made her definitive statement at a press conference for season 2 of the public service show "Si Manoy Ang Ninong Ko" with Rep. Wilbert "Manoy" Lee of AGRI partylist 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," said Gelli, wife of OPM icon Ariel Rivera.

She added: "Uunahin ko muna ang pamilya ko. Iiiwan ko nalang kay Manoy ang lahat ng mga problemang yan."

Manoy has openly and wholeheartedly championed Gelli's potential in the political arena.

"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," he said. 

(Gelli is capable of being the mayor of an area. She has a heart that allows her to be a public servant. But what she said is true: it is very difficult to be a public servant. We just went home at four o'clock last time. Your emotions are up and down. But my son said, it's okay for me to be a politician as long as I don't become corrupt.)

As the show entered its second season, Manoy said it would captivate audiences with inspiring tales of resilience, unity, and the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan.

Each episode of "Si Manoy ang Ninong Ko" is a testament to the strength and resilience of the Filipino people.

Asked if they are pressured into giving assistance to the needy nationwide, Manoy said: "Wala tayong pinipili na mga taong tutulungan. Manoy is kuya na pwede mong sandalan or puntahan anytime. Yun talaga ang concept nito. Sa Bicol manoy is kuya na takbuhan mo.

"So gusto kong ipaalam sa lahat na meron kayong takbuhan anytime. Kung meron kayong mga problema, pangangailangan, meron kayong matatakbuhan.

"Sa tuwing nilibot namin ang buong bansa, isa lang ang fear namin. Yung takot na magkasakit. Dahil kapag nagkasakit, affected yung kita, maraming apektado. Yung magbabantay sayo hindi rin makakapasok. Ubos yung ipon. Kasi yung naipon mo kailangan mong ipambayad sa hospital. Pambili ng gamot. Kaya yun po ang tinututukan namin.

"Mag-message lang po sila sa official Facebook account namin para matulungan namin kayo. Lahat po yun sinasagot namin. Parang call center na nga dahil sa dami ng humihingi ng tulong.

"Yung mga nangangailangan ng wheelchair, walker, maintenance medicines, lahat po yan, pinapadala po natin, Kami lang po yung hindi nagrerequire na dapat pumunta ka sa office para mabigyan ka ng tulong," the congressman said.

But Manoy has expressed concern about scammers who take advantage of the situation. He recalled a situation when he ordered his team to help a sick boy, but after double-checking, his team had already assisted the young patient. 

"Siguro hindi naman talaga gusto ng ibang tao na manloko pero nangyayari ito dahil na rin sa dala ng kahirapan," he said. (Maybe other people don't really want to take advantage of the situation but it happens because of poverty.)

Manoy said that whatever problem we are facing, we can overcome it with a little help from the community and our countrymen who care about others.

"The help that the beneficiaries of the show need is the usual food or financial aid; what they need is something that will help them earn a living and sustain them in the long run," said Gelli.

Patricia Tumulak, who goes on a weekly mission and interacts personally with the subjects, says, "Sometimes they just want to feel that they are seen and heard. So listening to them is already a form of help. Of course, we don't stop there. We thoroughly study their cases and try to provide solutions to their concerns."

Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Bea Luigi Gomez and Kapuso actress Andrea Torres join the core hosts this season. They bring unique perspectives and passion for public service to the program's compelling lineup.

"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.

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