How Alma Moreno helps son Vitto get through tough times

MANILA, Philippines — As a mom, Alma Moreno offered her full support to her son, Vitto Marquez, who went through anxiety and depression over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vitto is one of the three children of Alma with her ex-husband Joey Marquez. The other kids are Yeoj and Winwyn.

Vitto recalled in a recent media event for TV5’s comedy series Kalye Kweens, where the mother and son are part of, that he experienced tough times during the pandemic. He told The STAR, “It started during the pandemic, nung nag-lockdown na hindi makalabas ng bahay, dun tumama. Kasi sanay ako na nasa labas, sanay ako na may ginagawa. Tapos biglang pitik lang, wala na, bahay lang… I don’t know what to do.”

To keep him occupied, his dad Joey would be touring him around his farm. He added, “Tinuro niya sa akin anong mga ginagawa niya sa mga kotse, kung paano maglinis ng kwarto, do laundry, everything. At that time, I was with my dad. Pinapagawa niya sa akin lahat para mawala yung ganung feeling.”

According to Vitto, the veteran actor taught him how to be “busy.” “Na hindi lang yun ang pwede mong gawin, na hindi ka lang ma-stu-stuck sa bahay. You can do a lot of things while inside the house. He showed me,” he further said of his father.

Vitto would also receive support from his mother who would check on him, call him often and comfort him.

Alma said, “I didn’t know na tinatamaan na siya ng anxiety. Bigla na lang iiyak… nilabanan niya. I said to him, ‘Pray. Fight.’ And I let him feel that family is always there for him. Ako, kasama ko siya palagi. Kausapin mo siya. Nilalabanan naman niya.”

“And then, whenever he has projects, I told Boss Vic (del Rosario) about this as well, he has a show at that time. Biglang nag-sho-shooting (then) nawawala siya. Iyak siya ng iyak sa akin. I talked to Boss Vic. Yun yung tinamaan siya. Tapos naglalaro na lang siya. He became chubby. Ngayon, payat na. Nagpapayat na siya.”

Alma, Vitto and Joey Marquez in TV5’s Sing Galing guesting.

Photo from Alma’s Instagram

On the other hand, Alma proudly shared how she stays strong as a woman. “I’m like that. I always pray. Turn the negativity into positivity. ‘Wag mong sakyan yung pagiging negative mo. Kung sasakyan mo, it will only pull you down… (Think like) ‘This happened because…’ Think of the beautiful things… Think like there’s something good that will happen. Gawin mo hanggang ma-inspire ka. That’s what I taught him.”

She revealed that her children, Vandolph, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Vitto and Winwyn are “iyakin (cry babies).” “Sabi ko, ‘Ba’t ba hindi kayo nagmana sa akin?’ Nagmana sa ama (laughs).”

She reiterated that she drew strength from God when facing challenges in life. “‘Wag kayong bibitaw kay Lord. Kasi malaki ang sandata mo ‘pag nagdarasal. Iiwas ka niyan talaga.”

Even on the set of Kalye Kweens taping, Alma’s maternal instinct for Vitto would come out naturally. “Nangingibabaw pagka-nanay ko. Ito na lang, tapos na kami mag-taping, ‘O yung mga gamit mo ha (to Vitto). Don’t forget. O yung lamesa ko bigay mo nga kay VJ. Bakit walang lamesa yan?’”

“(During) lunch, please check if VJ has food. Nakakuha na? Wala kasing kasama si VJ, eh,” she continued and added that she is happy that she and Vitto got the chance to work together in a project.

Meanwhile, Vitto shared that he also learned acting tips from his parents and that is to “be myself.” He said, “They told me, ‘wag kang magkukunwari. Acting is natural, so in order to act, don’t act. So, that’s what I’m doing. If you got the role, i-feel mo. Kailangan kilalanin mo yung tao (character). That’s what I’ve been doing for four to five years now.”

Apart from acting, Vitto would also like to try performing and do a solo concert someday. His singing idols include Michael Bublé and John Legend.

Vitto has appeared in Squad Goals, Petmalu, Tropang Torpe and Otlum, and is part of It’s Showtime’s boy group Hashtags.

Directed by Temi Cruz Abad, Kalye Kweens also stars Dina Bonnevie, Marissa Delgado, Jeric Raval, Jojo Abellana, Giselle Sanchez, Marissa Sanchez, Jairus Aquino, Aubrey Caraan and Lyca Gairanod.

(Kalye Kweens airs Saturday nights at 8:30 on TV5 and Sunday nights at 8 on Sari Sari Channel.)