Malasakit. It's care, compassion, empathy, and concern all at once—a value so deeply woven into Filipino culture that it almost feels like instinct. It's the unspoken duty to treat another person's burden as if it were your own, to show up for a stranger the way you would for family.
In a country where just getting through the day has become a struggle for many, it’s hard not to feel the heaviness of everything happening around us. But every now and then, amid all the uncertainty, we keep finding proof that 'malasakit' still exists as we, Filipinos, continue to look out for one another.
We've seen that in the "It's Showtime" segment Laro Laro Pick, which has become a platform where ordinary lives are being changed in real time. More than once, we've watched players break down in tears upon receiving acts of ‘malasakit’ from big-hearted individuals—help that could cover tuition, hospital bills, debt, or even give them a new shelter.
And we've all probably cried with them, because when one of us wins, especially someone who has been carrying so much, it feels like we all win a little too. That's 'malasakit' in its purest form.
This Holy Week, we're looking back on some of the Laro Laro Pick moments that reminded us what it truly means to care for one another. As the Scripture says, whatever we do for the least of our brethren, we do unto Him.
They say the truest form of 'malasakit' is giving even when you have so little left to give. Tatay Armando, a ‘sorbetero’ since the 1970s, is living proof of that. Now at 72, traces of hard work could be seen in his wrinkled skin, but he still keeps pushing his ice cream cart every single day. He doesn't earn much, but finds joy in making his own ice cream and sharing it with kids, sometimes for free. Tatay Armando's wife, who was present in the studio, expressed how proud she is of her husband, who never gives up on their family no matter how tough life gets.
To reward the old man's selflessness, Vice Ganda promised his family a good Noche Buena spread and toys for his grandchildren (since it was Christmas season when the episode aired)—just as he has always tried to do from his meager earnings.
Affording education is honestly one of the heaviest financial burdens Filipino families carry these days, and yet one they refuse to give up on —which is why Vice Ganda's act of 'malasakit' in promising to shoulder Lolo Ricky's grandchildren's schooling moved us deeply. We were all the more touched upon learning that Lolo Ricky and his family had already been through a lot after losing so much to flooding, and yet the hardships never took away his faith, so much so that Vice Ganda got emotional when the old man sang his favorite song, "Maghintay Ka Lamang."
In another episode, we met Jovie, a loving father who sells 'balut' on the streets every night to support his family. His story of hard work and sacrifices moved Vice Ganda, who promised him a year's worth of house rent, sparing him the monthly struggle of pulling together ₱3,500 from his small earnings each month. Vice said ₱3,500 a month may sound ordinary to some, but for a balut vendor it's a mountain to climb. Tatay Jovie broke down in tears as he thanked Vice and the 'Showtime' family.
In a September episode, viewers learned the life story of Ondo, a houseboy from Davao staying with his employers in Las Piñas. He earns ₱8,000 a month and still manages to send support to three of his 14 siblings back home—a daily act of 'malasakit' he's been doing for his family without complaint, to the point that he doesn't even know what dreams to chase for himself anymore. All he wished for was to finally see his loved ones in Davao after 15 years apart. Malasakit begetting malasakit, Vice promised to cover his fare and add on more gifts, wanting nothing more than for Ondo to finally come home.
Laro Laro Pick proved that 'malasakit' has a way of spreading. Shortly after the airing of an episode featuring 'kariton' vendors, Kapamilya actor Donny Pangilinan personally reached out to Meme Vice to say he wanted to donate ₱300,000, which was then evenly divided among 20 ‘magkakariton’ who participated in the game. Vice shared that Donny’s heart broke for the players, and he couldn’t stand the thought of not helping them.
One of the players was Nanay Rosie, who had been living on the streets. Aside from the monetary support, Vice also helped her find a home and eventually shared that a permanent place had already been secured for her.
‘Malasakit’ shows up hardest when people have lost the most, which is why the "It's Showtime" family made sure calamity victims from Catanduanes, Isabela, and Aurora wouldn't leave the game arena empty-handed. On the fourth day of the Anniversary Special 2025, after player Disyang won the ₱1 million jackPOT, the hosts pooled together another ₱1 million, which was then distributed among the remaining players.
Malasakit is in our nature as Filipinos. It shows up without being asked to, because it is simply who we are. May we be reminded that we are called to do exactly that for one another.
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