MANILA -- The "Your Face Sounds Familiar" family has expressed its support to Pepe Herrera, who decided to exit the show to prioritize his mental health.
On Saturday before this week's transformations, the show's hosts Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario announced Herrera's decision to withdraw from the competition.
"Isa sa mga celebrity performers natin dito sa 'Your Face Sounds Familiar' ay nangangailangan ng panahon para sa kanyang kalusugan at kapakanan kaya naman humantong siya sa isang desisyon," Hilario said.
"Ka-Familiars, si Pepe Herrera po ay nagdesisyon na hindi na magpapatuloy sa ating kompetisyon para mag-focus sa kanyang kalusugan. Siyempre yun naman po talaga ang pinakamahalaga ay 'yung maayos na health and well-being nang bawat isa sa atin. Kaya Kuys Pepe pahinga ka muna diyan we wish you all the best," Navarro explained.
The hosts also thanked Herrera for his all-out performances and stressed that the theater and screen actor will always be part of the "Your Face Sounds Familiar" family.
"Mami-miss ka namin. Salamat sa performances mo na tumatak, mga banat mong walang kupas at siyempre sa puso mong all-out lagi tuwing magpe-perform," Hilario said.
Navarro added: "At tandaan mo lagi kang parte ng 'Your Face Sounds Familiar' family kaya naman kuys Pepe diyan ka lang magpahinga, mag-relax."
The show's jurors Sharon Cuneta and Ogie Alcasid also expressed their love for Herrera.
After the on-air announcement, "Your Face Sounds Familiar" released Herrera's statement through its official social media accounts.
Pepe Herrera exits ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar’ to prioritize mental health and healing
READ: Pepe Herrera takes a break from social media due to anxiety
After the announcement, the show continued with comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto opening the episode, transforming into "huhot hitmaker" Moira dela Torre and received praises for her performance of "Paubaya."
"That was so nice. Nagulat actually ako dahil hindi ko alam ang i-expect ko. Ngayon ko lang nakita kang malumanay. Ang ganda naman, Peach. Thank you Peachy for that," juror Sharon Cuneta said.
"Hindi ako nagpapasakay lang pero ito ang pinakagusto kong ginawa mo sa lahat ng icons na ginawa mo," guest juror/mentor Nyoy Volante said.
"Kitang-kita talaga 'yung effort para makita ang isang Rufa Mae Quinto na talagang steady lang sa stage napaka-challenging noon pero nagawa mo. Nakita ko ang intention mo para magawa si Moira, 'yung outfit, 'yung itsura mo very Moira. So I'm so proud of you ate Peachy," guest juror/mentor Klarisse de Guzman said.
"Sabi mo nauunahan ka na tumatawa ka kasi nagtatawanan ang mga tao sa iyo dahil natutuwa kasi sila sa iyo kasi sobrang crowd pleaser ka talaga. So ito advice ko lang siguro i-focus mo ang sarili mo. Parang kapag si Ma'am Mega umaarte nandoon siya in the moment. Pero agree ako ito ang pinakamagaling mo," juror Ogie Alcasid said.
BGYO's Akira Morishita was the second to perform, transforming into hip-hop and rap icon Gloc-9 with "Sumayaw Ka."
"Bilib na bilib kami rito ang hirap nang ginawa mo kasi for you to be able to do what Gloc-9 does you have to have that skill. Noong sinasabi mo noong nagpa-praktis ka wala pa sa iyo 'yon. So paano nangyari? Paano ka nagkaroon ng kakayanan to do that? Kasi ang bilis. Medyo hinahanap ko lang 'yung matining na konti ni Gloc-9 mas mataas. Pero 'yung bilis ng bibig niya kuhang-kuha mo talaga. Congratulations," Volante said.
"Akira, napaka-angas nang pagra-rap mo. Sabi mo hindi ka nagra-rap eh 'yung pinakita mo kanina parang sanay na sanay ka. Nagawa mo ang mabilis na pagra-rap ni Gloc-9 kanina. Ang galing-galing sobrang napabilib ako roon dahil nga kilala si Gloc-9 sa ganoong pagra-rap niya, 'yun na achive mo 'yung part na 'yon," de Guzman said.
"Katulad nang sinabi ni Klang (de Guzman), alam namin na naka-focus ka sa talaga sa rapping na hindi ko maintindihan bakit sinabi mong hindi mo kaya mag-rap pero ang galing-galing mo. Napatayo kami. I just want to say kung magpo-focus sa rapping na ang totoo naman na 'yun ang pinakamahirap gayahin kay Gloc-9 sobra talagang galing Sir, doon ka naman talaga nag-shine. For that alone I want to say congrats and thank you for that performance," Cuneta said.
"Ang napansin ko lang bukod sa hinahanap nila 'yung pitch ni Gloc-9 minsan nakatayo lang siya, feeling namin nagpo-focus siya sa speed ng rap. So siguro 'yun lang ang iko-correct mo kasi parang si Akira na 'yung nagra-rap pero huli mo ang bilis. Pero nevertheless for your effort okay na okay," Alcasid said.
Sunday, meanwhile, was Alexa Ilacad's night as she received standing ovation from the jurors as she transformed into Britney Spears with "I'm a Slave 4 U," complete with her performing with a huge snake.
"That was so intense, on point. Wala na kaming masabi perfect ang galing," Alcasid said.
"Alexa, grabe! Perfect. Napakagaling mo. Alam mo, Alexa, habang tumatagal lalo ka pang humuhusay gumagaling. Kanina paglabas mo pa lang ng iconator nakita ko Britney Spears na, noong kumanta ka pa, pati boses nakuha mo 'yung sa mentoring natin, talagang inaral mo. Ang galing mo voice, stage presence, looks, cleavage, ahas sa leeg, talagang lahat 'yon nakuha mo. Wala akong masabi ang galing-galing mo," de Guzman said.
"That was Britney Spears. Sa history ng 'Your Face Sounds Familiar' simula season 1 hanggang ngayon may mga performances 'yung matantandaam mo talaga, 'yung ipinagmamalaki ng YFSF family na nagmamarka talaga, kumbaga ito 'yung pambato namin -- isa ito doon," Volante said.
"Every week pagaling ka nang pagaling. Alexa, this was effortless, it was flawless, it was so parang wala lang. Parang si Britney, 'yung parang matagal mo nang ginagawa. Tapos kamukha pa, the attitude, the presence, 'yung stance it was so Britney, congratulations," Cuneta said.
Jarlo Base, the show's winner for the third round, was the last to perform on Sunday, as he sang John Legend's "All of Me."
Jarlo Base wins third round of 'Your Face Sounds Familiar'
"Jarlo, mahirap 'yung ginawa mo kasi nakaupo ka lang at naka-focus kami sa voice mo kaya mahirap yon. Pero you did it, sobra kang kumportable doon sa ginawa mo. I'm so proud of you, have to know, I'm very proud of you, congratulations! Well done," Alcasid said.
"Sinasabi naming lahat we are so proud of you. Kasi magmula noong last episode sobrang lumabas na 'yung confidence mo at ease ka na, relax ka na. At saka pinapakinggan ka namin kanina lahat ng nuances ni John Legend kanina, lahat ng hagod, breathing, shifting kuhang-kuha mo, that was amazing, that was brilliant," Cuneta said.
"Ngayon talagang kumportable ka na sa stage 'yung confidence mo nandoon kuhang-kuha mo na.Tapos 'yung tone kanina as John Legend, naririnig ko talaga 'yung tone ni Legend. Tapos sabi ko nga sa iyo may nuances na ginagawa si John Legend na kapag kumakanta siya kino-close yung mga vowels agad, kitang-kita ko ang ginawa mo, ang galing-galing," de Guzman said.
"Siguro sa akin if you had exaggerated more baka mas lalo pang lumalabas, mas exaggerated ng konti but even without that ay labas na labas ang boses, 'yung character ni John Legend, so congratulations," Volante added.
Next week, Jason Dy, Dia Mate, and JM dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano are set to deliver their fourth impersonations.
Jason Dy as Sam Smith wins Round 2 of 'Your Face Sounds Familiar'
The brand new season of "Your Face Sounds Familiar" airs on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live and A2Z. Viewers can also catch it on TV5 every Saturday, at 8:15 p.m. and Sundays, at 8:30 p.m..
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