Vice Ganda and Ion Perez Open Up About How Therapy Strengthened Their Relationship
It's one of the secrets to their seven-year relationship.
by Kyla Villena
Published on Nov 7, 2025
Vice Ganda and Ion Perez recently celebrated their seventh anniversary as a couple. Through a vlog shared by the "unkabogable" star, they brought viewers on a trip to the peacefully cozy province of Rizal. The milestone also marked Vice’s first time being Ion’s angkas on the motorcycle. While it’s not something she would usually do, she explained that it’s a way for her to understand her partner better, and the experience turned her fear into enjoyment.
As they reached their destination, they were met by their fellow It’s Showtime host, Ryan Bang. The couple outlined their relationship through a series of questions provided by their “baby boy” and their other friends in the industry. When asked about the depth of their love, Ion brought up a certain incident that introduced them to the impact and importance of therapy.
Vice Ganda and Ion Perez Advocate for Therapy
In every relationship—and in all aspects of life, for that matter—there will always be ups and downs, and all of these are worth honoring. They traced back to the 12-day suspension experienced by their noontime show in 2023, which was a fire ignited by the affection that the LGBTQIA+ couple innocently expressed on national television.
For the unacquainted, on July 25 of that year, Ion presented a cake for a now-discontinued segment called Isip Bata. To model, he licked icing off from his finger, which Vice reacted to by saying that the gesture must be performed “with feelings,” to which Ion complied. After being prompted by their co-hosts to do the same, Vice followed suit as well.
Six days later, the MTRCB issued a Notice to Appear and Testify to the show’s producers, referring to the act’s “concerning scenes” as “indecent.” This caused the long-running noontime show to cease airing for 12 days.
In the recent vlog, Ion shared that the judgment and misunderstanding caused by the incident led him to feel a sense of depression because, to them, “Wala lang ‘yun talaga.” The controversy sparked by the harmless act drained them of energy. “May time na sinabi ko sa kanya na ayaw ko na, gusto ko nang magpaalam [sa It’s Showtime],” he detailed.
Vice chimed in, saying, “Sobrang bigat ng challenge na yun.” Seeing the silver lining, they took it as an opportunity to strengthen their love. “Yun yung time na kailangan naming iparamdam sa isa’t isa na magkakampi tayo,” adding that they consciously decided that they must recover at the same pace, and provide more support for each other along the way.
As they began noticing changes in each other, the couple realized the weight of what they were going through. Hobbies they once looked forward to—motorcycle rides included—no longer excited them. They barely wanted to leave the house, often skipped meals, and struggled to maintain sleep routines. It was a stark departure from their usual selves, and they knew it was time to seek help.
Ion was initially hesitant to seek therapy. “Kasi alam ko sa sarili kong okay pa ako eh, pero hindi na pala,” he admitted. One day during the suspension, while they were sharing a quiet meal with barely any energy to eat, he finally spoke up and asked Vice if they could try therapy—and they did. “Malaking tulong,” Vice shared, noting how the experience helped them understand what they were going through and navigate that difficult period.
The fact that they are now celebrating their seventh anniversary stands as proof of that growth.
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.