Filipina comedian Pokwang has revealed why she ditched the glitz and glam of the 2025 GMA Gala — and it had nothing to do with fashion or feuds. She was busy in the kitchen.
The 54-year-old star, real name Marietta Subong, raised eyebrows after being noticeably absent from the star-studded event held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on August 2. While other celebrities strutted in designer gowns, Pokwang was stirring pots and filling orders for her Antipolo-based food brand, Mamang Pokwang’s Gourmet.
“Nagluto po ako ng paninda ko,” she wrote bluntly on X (formerly Twitter). “Meron po kasi deadline mga bulk na order.”
But the actress wasn’t done. In a follow-up post, she threw a bit of spice on the matter.
‘Attend ka nga, lalaitin ka rin’
“Attend ka ng GMA Gala, gagastos ka, e-effort ka, tapos lalaitin ka pa ng tao. Hahahaha. Edi magluto nalang ng paninda,” Pokwang tweeted, prompting cheers from fans — and some raised eyebrows from others.
It’s unclear what or who she was referring to, but the implication was clear: why invest in glam when critics are waiting with claws out?
One user pushed back, saying Pokwang should have supported her “mother network.” But the actress stood firm.
“Hindi sa ayaw mag-support,” she replied. “Nagkataon na hindi keri ng sched sa dami ng lulutuin. Hands-on po ako. Umattend po ako last year.”
True enough, Pokwang had attended previous Kapuso events, including GMA’s Beyond 75 anniversary celebration in June, where she was photographed with Kim Atienza.
A mother’s hustle
Supporters quickly rallied behind her, hailing her as a hardworking single mom who chose livelihood over limelight.
“Let’s not be too quick to judge Mother @pokwang27,” one fan account posted. “What she said came from the perspective of a hardworking single mother.”
Pokwang has long been open about her journey raising her daughter following her 2021 split from American partner Lee O’Brian. While they initially claimed to be on good terms, Pokwang later filed a deportation case, accusing O’Brian of working without proper permits. The Bureau of Immigration confirmed he was deported in April 2024.
Gowns vs. Gourmet
While many celebrities reportedly spent upwards of ₱35,000 on gowns and glam for the gala, fans pointed out that Pokwang likely made far more from her business that night.
“Dyan pa lang, talo ka na,” one netizen wrote, referring to the cost of hair, makeup, and dress alone.
Others cheered her on:
“Kung saan ka happy at komportable, go lang!”
“At least kumita ka pa — ‘di lang puro pa-picture.”
The GMA Gala is an annual event that brings together the Kapuso Network’s biggest names, with proceeds supporting the GMA Kapuso Foundation. This year’s event marked the company’s 75th anniversary.
But while the stars dazzled on the ballroom floor, Pokwang proved you don’t need a red carpet to shine — sometimes, a kitchen apron does the job just fine.
