Who would have thought that a seemingly harmless staple during special celebrations could cause a stir and make headlines?
For some odd reason, the cake—in all its festive and yummylicious grandeur—has been a common denominator in many showbiz controversies in the recent past.
Prior to the Vice Ganda-Ion Perez issue on It's Showtime, there were also incidents in the past that involved this favorite dessert treat.
Some were not too controversial, but they hit the news nonetheless and tickled the public's curiosity.
Here are some that come to mind:
Vice Ganda-Ion Perez cake-licking brouhaha
The July 25, 2023 episode of It's Showtime became a hot topic after hosts and real-life couple Vice Ganda and Ion Perez displayed public affection on live TV.
During the segment called "Isip Bata," Ion was seen holding a cake. Using his right index finger, Ion proceeded to lick the icing from the cake with his eyes closed.
Ion approached Vice, who took a swipe of the icing from his BF's fingers before tasting it.
Some quarters took offense, calling Vice and Ion's act "indecent."
It didn't take long for the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to enter the picture, calling the scene a violation of Section 3c of Presidential Decree No. 1986.
In a nutshell, the said section states that the MTRCB has the power to "approve or disapprove, delete objectionable portions" of television programs, movies, and publicity materials.
Read: MTRCB summons It's Showtime over Vice Ganda-Ion Perez scenes in "Isip Bata" segment
On September 4, 2023, the MTRCB released an order suspending It's Showtime for 12 airing days.
Read: Vice Ganda, pasabog ang entrance sa 'It's Showtime' sa gitna ng 12-day suspension mula sa MTRCB
While some agreed with the decision, there are also those who lambasted the MTRCB, citing "inconsistency" and accusing the agency of "selective censorship."
The issue also resurrected calls to abolish the Martial Law era-founded agency, with critics saying that MTRCB's function is outdated and significantly reduced with the emergence of the internet and online platforms used to access content.
Bea "tagahawak ng cake" ALONZO
The September 3, 2023 episode of the weekend variety show All-Out Sundays marked the birthday of actress Kyline Alcantara.
At the end of her production number, Kyline was greeted by her fellow Kapuso stars complete with a bouquet of flowers and cake.
When it was time for Kyline to give out her thanks, former Kapamilya actress Bea Alonzo offered a helping hand to the birthday celebrant and held the cake.
However, some netizens took offense at the sight of Bea seemingly reduced being Kyline's "alalay" and "tagahawak ng cake."
Bea is Kyline's senior in terms of years in show business.
Some also brought up the fact that Bea has more accomplishments than Kyline.
Bea, however, simply said, "Naaawa kasi ako kay Kyline na hindi niya mahawakan ang microphone niya kaya kinuha ko na lang yung cake para makapag-thank you naman siya sa sponsors niya."
Read: Bea Alonzo downplays "tagahawak ng cake" issue in 'All-Out Sundays'
Kyline also addressed the issue, stressing, "Kasi, wala naman po yun sa intention na pagbuhatin ko si Ate Bea dun.
"Nakita ko naman po dun sa video na siya naman po yung... as in nag-effort si Ate Bea, and I'm so grateful for her.
"And, sana naman po, yung ibang tao, bago mag-judge or make comment, sana po panoorin muna nila yung buong video.
"Hindi lang yung articles [na nasusulat], kundi yung buong video."
Kyline also commended Bea for being "humble" and that she knew that the incident was no big deal for the award-winning actress.
"I mean, siguro ang masasabi ko, dahil lamang sa paghawak ng cake, ang dami nang naging nasasabi," lamented Kyline.
"But, talagang may freedom of speech, pero sana yung freedom of ay meron ding awareness na we need to know the two sides of the story."
Alex Gonzaga smeared icing on a waiter
What was supposedly a fun night turned into a PR disaster for actress-host and content creator Alex Gonzaga
On January 16, 2023, Alex was treated to a birthday party by close friends and loved ones.
A video from the event circulated online showed Alex smearing frosting on a waiter’s forehead after blowing out the candles on her birthday cake.
Many called out Alex for acting "rude" and “disrespectful” to the waiter tasked to hold the cake.
Taken aback by the backlash, Alex's camp issued a statement saying that the waiter Allan Crisostomo was a family friend of the Gonzagas.
Alex, according to the family's publicist Peter Ledesma, has apologized to the aggrieved waiter.
A letter purportedly written by Allan also went public, stating that Alex visited him at work to personally apologize.
Alex also wrote on Instagram, “On my birthday, God taught me a hard and important lesson.
"Humility, kindness, and better judgment. I am truly sorry, Kuya Allan.
"To my family, I am sorry for causing you pain and embarrassment. I will rise from this a wiser and better person.”
Donnalyn Bartolome's "tutong" cake
Vlogger Donnalyn Bartolome celebrated her 28th birthday in July 2022 by throwing a "kanto"-inspired party.
The celebration was literally a street party complete with tables, monoblock chairs, and a feast comprised of isaw, kwek kwek, and balut, among others.
The cherry on top was the "tutong" cake—made from real burnt cooked rice—with a candle for the birthday girl to blow.
Some netizens, however, found Donnalyn's party "highly insensitive," "offensive," and "romanticizing poverty."
Donnalyn explained the concept in a Facebook post amid the deluge of criticisms.
"My Kanto Birthday Party is not just a concept, this was my life when I left home abroad where my life was comfortable."
Continued Donnalyn, "So I relived the times when I was just starting out on my bday last month July 9, just like nung time na walang wala pa ako.. pero nandiyan yung mga taong mahal ako kahit butas butas ang shorts.. at murang sapatos at tsinelas lang kaya kong bilihin."
"Ngayon.. mas dumami pa ang nagmamahal sa akin kahit ganito mga trip ko."
Read: Donnalyn Bartolome refuses to apologize for kanto-themed party; shows proof of life’s struggles
As for the tutong cake, it inspired several copycats although these were real cakes designed to replicate the appearance of burnt rice.
NOT REALLY CAKE, BUT STILL... "RICE" VS. "ENSAYMADA" CAKE
Then-President Rodrigo Duterte got flak in March 2021 after a photo of himself blowing a candlestick on a mound of rice as his "cake" circulated online.
Read: President Rodrigo Duterte admits using "presidential powers" against ABS-CBN
The picture was taken by his close aide Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, implying that the president was having a "simple" birthday party in his hometown of Davao.
Read: The "super meal" of Digong
A video taken by Go on the same day, though, showed a table full of food, including a whole lechon, contradicting the "hindi po iyan nagpa-party o nag-celebrate" claim by the senator.
Read: Who is Jake Ejercito shading in his "those wearing 'West Philippine Sea' shirts" post?
In the meantime, acclaimed writer and novelist Lualhati Bautista posted an old photo of herself side-by-side with Duterte's photo with his rice mound cake.
The author of Dekada '70 and Bata, Bata…Pa’no Ka Ginawa was shown as she was about to blow a candle on top of an ensaymada.
She joked, “Siya, kanin; ako, ensaymada. At least, mas marami ang pansit ko.”
Lualhati added, “Kuha ang picture na ‘yan, siguro mga 20 years ago. Meaning, una ako kay Digong ng 20 years pagdating sa mga kalokohan."
A netizen commented, "May lechon naman po siya, Ma’am Lualhati hahaha.
Paawa epek lang niya (‘yung) kaning cake haha."
Lualhati Bautista passed away on February 12, 2023, at the age of 77.
Read: Vilma Santos, Leni Robredo nagbigay-pugay kay Lualhati Bautista
Marian-Dingdong wedding cake ALMOST MADE HISTORY
Far from being controversial, this cake made big headlines as well.
The wedding cake of Kapuso top stars Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes was breaking news back in 2015 for its sheer size.
As described by PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in its report on January 1, 2015, "The 12-foot 5-tiered cake had to be carried by 10 people to the reception venue, the Mall of Asia Arena. It created quite a stir, even with the foreign press."
Read: Dingdong Dantes-Marian Rivera wedding cake catches attention of foreign press
International media outlets such as ABC News through its Good Morning America program and the U.K.-based Mirror ran reports about the potentially record-setting wedding cake.
The cake—said to be adorned with Swarovski crystals and worth Php 7 million—was designed by a popular bakeshop brand that Dingdong endorsed and was reportedly given as a gift to the celebrity couple.
But aside from its size, the cake was 3D-mapped for projected CG effects.
As for its world record potential, the distinction as the world's largest wedding cake according to the Guinness World Records still belongs to the cake created by the chefs at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino in Connecticut.
It was displayed at the New England bridal showcase in 2004 and to this date is yet to be toppled as the world's largest wedding cake on record at 6.818 tonnes (15,032 lb).
Meanwhile, the world record for the tallest cake was the 108.27-foot cake created by the Hakasima-Nilasari Culinary School for the event Amazing Christmas and exhibited in Senayan City, Jakarta, Indonesia, in late 2008.
Mommy Divine hoArds Sarah G's birthday cakes?
In early 2020, Mommy Divine, the mother of singer-actress Sarah Geronimo, was at the center of a rumor that had to do with cake—lots and lots of them, actually.
The incident reportedly took place years ago during Sarah's birthday party at the Sunday variety show, ASAP.
Being one of showbiz's top endorsers, it was no surprise that Sarah got plenty of cakes from various brands and sponsors, generously sending these delicious sweet treats to the studio to mark the Pop Princess's special day.
A reporter, who happened to be at the studio that day, spilled that Mommy Divine took all the cakes, stuffing each one in their van and leaving nothing even for the show's staff.
Read: Si Mommy Divine at ang birthday cakes ni Sarah Geronimo...
According to PEP.ph its March 2020 report. "Hindi raw nila maisip kung paano kakainin nina Sarah ang cakes na iyon na iniuwi lahat.
"Kahit iyong isang cake na nahiwa na ni Sarah ay hindi raw iniwan para sa staff man lang sana. Wala raw talagang itinira."
The story came out after Ai-Ai de las Alas narrated a story about a not-so-pleasant experience with Mommy Divine in the dressing room back in the day.
Read: Ai-Ai delas Alas, may di magandang karanasan noon kay Mommy Divine dahil sa T-shirt ni Sarah
Maine Mendoza's roomful of cakeS
A day before her 24th birthday on March 3, 2019, Maine Mendoza was given a birthday special by the noontime show, Eat Bulaga!
Maine, according to reports, received 67 cakes and cupcakes.
That's certainly a lot of cake for a single person like Maine.
APT President Rams David told PEP.ph, "Just like in the past, yung mga cakes were donated sa mga simbahan, mga ka-barangay sa Bulacan, at sa mga bata.
"Maraming salamat sa lahat ng nakisaya sa amin sa Eat Bulaga. Advance happy birthday to me!" Maine posted on Twitter (now known as X)
"Salamat din sa lahat ng nagpadala ng cakes sa studio!"
Read: Maine Mendoza gets a roomful of cakes for her 24th birthday
Of course, getting an absurd number of cakes to celebrate one's birthday nowadays is not rare.
In 2021, young Kapuso star Jillian Ward reportedly got more than 40 cakes to mark her 16th birthday.
Read: Jillian Ward gets dozens of cakes, bouquets on 16th birthday