How Ice Neo Became It’s Showtime's Most Colorful Intern

(SPOT.ph) Content creator Ice Neo may have walked onto the It’s Showtime floor as an intern, but it didn’t take long before the content creator started getting airtime of their own.

The 21-year-old first stole the spotlight during the August 6 show when Vice Ganda turned the cameras to Neo, describing them as “Granny Goose” thanks to their colorful top and skirt combinations, bold makeup, and scarf accessory. The shoutouts kept coming in later episodes, with Vice even joking that they wanted Neo within sight on the studio floor.

“Sinasabi ko, ‘Pagdating ko, kailangan nandoon siya sa floor.’ He’s making me happy,” Vice had said on the show.

Soon, Neo's internship became more than a behind-the-scenes stint. From being dubbed as Vice Ganda’s happy pill with their eclectic style to hosting the show’s Online U 10th anniversary live broadcast, Neo might be living the dream of many student-creators.

But if you ask Neo, this is nowhere near the peak yet. During our interview, they made one thing clear: they’re only getting started.

When SPOT.ph spoke with Neo, the incoming Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) broadcasting senior was wrapping up their 200-hour on-the-job training stint. There, they worked on It’s Showtime segments like the Miss Q&A pageant.

“No nepo po 'yung pagpasok ko sa ABS-CBN. Ako po mismo ang nag-asikaso ng requirements ko,” Neo joked, a cheeky disclaimer given their 352,000 TikTok followers and long-time friendship with Showtime Online U host and fellow creator AC’s Life.

According to them, landing on It’s Showtime came down to the usual internship process. ABS-CBN’s human resources team assigns interns based on need and interest—and as a long-time fan of both the show and Vice Ganda, Neo had been hoping Showtime would be in the cards.

“Ang sabi ko sa HR [during the interview], ‘Gusto ko po yung nacha-challenge ako kasi gusto ko na marami akong matutunan since ito yung last internship ko. Noong nag-Showtime ako, triple yung tuwa ko. Surreal siya sa akin kasi nung first year ako, nag-studio visit kami. Full circle moment siya na doon na ako nag-iintern.’”

Their internship has flown by, with weeks stretching to 40 to 50 hours because of the fast pace of It’s Showtime’s daily broadcast. But Neo said they have no complaints doing what they love.

“Ang saya niya. Every time na matatapos yung live, ang fulfilling [ng pakiramdam]. Naging wired talaga ako, bumalik ang lahat. Nasistema talaga ako nang hard,” Neo said.

Since starting at ABS-CBN, Neo has enjoyed the rare chance to share the screen with their idol, Vice Ganda. On the show, Vice has fondly nicknamed Neo’s outfits “Baby Elephant,” “Sailor Moon,” and “Ang pinaka-cute na isda na nakita ko.”

When Neo finally mustered up the courage to ask Vice Ganda for a selfie during the third week of their internship, the moment brought them to tears.

“Isa sa biggest inspirations ko si Meme Vice kasi she opened the doors para sa maraming sangkabaklaan sa Pilipinas at pinadali niyang i-explain ang term na non-binary. Every time may nagtatanong sa akin ‘ano yung kasarian mo?’ madali na siyang i-explain kasi meron tayong Meme Vice,” they gushed, flashing the selfie set as their phone lockscreen.

But beyond Vice Ganda’s representation, Neo also shared an admiration for the professionalism that the It’s Showtime crew brings to the set. As part of the creatives team, Neo had firsthand experience in the writers’ room and production floor, learning to craft entertaining segments, develop the wit and awareness needed for hosting, and tune into every moving part of a massive show.

“Ang tataba ng utak nila sobra. Nakakapagsulat sila every day to cater something new para mapanood at mapatawa ang milyon-milyong Pilipino. Sa creatives team, kailangan you put your mind into the work. Hindi ka pwedeng nakatulala kasi live yun. Attentive ka dapat.”

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A lover of Pinoy media since a young age, Neo’s interest began on a G-Liner bus crawling through traffic from their home in Cainta, often while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers.

At the time, Neo was studying computer programming to appease their parents, who worried that pursuing a humanities course would limit their opportunities and earning potential. During those long commutes along Ortigas Extension, Neo would watch GMA’s Unang Hirit on the bus TV and slowly fall in love with the art form.

“Yung TV sa harap ng bus talaga ang kaagapay ko noon. Doon ko napagdesisyunan na, ‘I’m born for this.’ Gusto ko maging part ng TV,” Neo shared.

The compromise Neo and their parents agreed upon was simple: If Neo wanted to pursue media, it had to be at a tuition-free state university. So Neo considers passing PUP as a “blessing in disguise” because it gives them the chance to pursue their true passion.

Before It’s Showtime, Neo started creating content on TikTok in 2023 after a video revealing that their father was Kris Bernal’s stylist on the 2006 GMA show Starstruck went viral. Since then, the trendstarter has been known on social media for their “danas” videos about life in a state university.

#DANAS took off, with other social media users making their own videos set to the beleaguered chorus of Nora Aunor’s “Kahit Konting Awa.” Other viral series include their witty fit checks, fondly nicknamed “ANG SAPATOS?!”, where Neo and their friends share local pop culture references instead of brands.

But Neo refuses to stop at viral hits. They’re always thinking of ways to revitalize their content to keep boredom at bay, even if it means surprising themselves along the way.

“'Yun yung gusto ko sa sarili ko: I keep wanting more, I keep striving every day. Ayokong makilala ako or mag-stop ako within a certain topic [only]. Every time, gusto ko meron pa ako ibubuga. Ang pagiging content creator at part ng media, gusto kong gawin habang buhay.”

At a time when algorithms tend to push sameness, Neo stands out on the feed—and on screen—with their unapologetic humor and style. As the ‘alagad ng media’ fantasy comes alive, Neo remains grounded in a core belief: there’s no boxing them in.

“Neo is limitless. Neo is someone who can be anything. Gusto kong malaman ng tao na being Neo is trying something new everyday, someone na hindi takot mag-explore at express ng sarili. Neo is free,” they said.

In this freedom, Neo holds firm to the fantasy that, one day, they’ll be a star of their own making, hosting an internet show about Filipino pop culture.

“Gusto kong mag-work behind the scenes pa bago ako magkaroon ng show na ganon. Hashtag Neo na interdisciplinary artist. Neo in Cinemalaya. Neo sa mga suking tindahan. Mas maganda na mabalandra ako sa iba’t ibang mga forms ng media,” they shared.

Because for Neo, whose dreams of airtime started on a crowded public bus and have since taken them behind the scenes of one of the country’s biggest noontime shows, what good is a goal if you don’t pour everything you’ve got into it?

“Kung mangangarap ka naman, lubus-lubusin mo na.”