Before he became one of the most recognizable and decorated figures in Philippine comedy and film, Jose Marie Viceral experienced a devastating loss when his father, Reynaldo, a barangay captain in Tondo, Manila, was shot and killed in front of him and his family in 1991.
The tragedy became a defining moment in his life, forcing his mother to work overseas as a caregiver and inspiring him to vow never to stay silent in the face of injustice, a promise he continues to uphold today as Vice Ganda, a multi-awarded artist with two Asian Academy Creative Awards, a FAMAS Award, and even a Guinness World Record.
Vice Ganda, who added to his long list of accolades by winning Best Actor at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival for his performance in “Call Me Mother,” said acting should transcend entertainment and be used to confront urgent social realities.
Speaking during a press conference with student journalists at the 27th Inkblots, the annual UST National Campus Journalism Conference organized by the Varsitarian, Vice Ganda said he intentionally takes on roles outside comedy to address national issues and forge a deeper connection with his audience, whom he calls the “madlang people.”
“You see me every day on TV, so I use that platform,” the actor-comedian said. “If ever I feel like there’s a very important issue to tackle, I do not waste the chance. And I make sure that the opportunity on the platform is not wasted. Because not everyone is given that platform and that chance to speak up.”
Although his father’s murder remains unresolved and he has said he has forgiven the perpetrator, Vice Ganda said the experience continues to drive him to speak out against injustice.
“Naging biktima ako ng kawalan ng hustisya, at ang sakit sakit n’on. Hanggang ngayon nararamdaman ko ‘yon — ang kawalan ng hustisya. Kaya ‘pag nararamdaman ko kung anong nangyayari sa kanila, lalo ko itong ikinasasakit. At hindi ko ikaliligaya kung wala akong magagawa para sa kanila,” he said.
While acknowledging the fear that comes with joining protests against corruption, Vice Ganda said speaking up is a responsibility that comes with his platform, adding that success has not deterred him from confronting injustice despite the risks.
“Nakakatakot man, pero mag-iingat at hindi mananahimik,” he said. “Yes, fear is very powerful, but my love for the madlang people is even more powerful.”
Despite the presence of injustice and the fear it brings, Vice Ganda expressed his belief in comedy’s ability to transform lives.
“Sa dami ng nangyayari sa paligid ngayon — at ang daming rason para maging malungkot at mawalan ng pag-asa — masarap na kahit papaano, nabibigyan ko kayo ng rason para tumawa at makatakas sa hirap ng buhay,” he said.
Vice Ganda’s filmography spans slapstick comedies, message-driven narratives, and blends of both. Many of his films, often drama-comedies, combine humor with social critique to mirror the everyday struggles of Filipinos.
As a queer artist, Vice Ganda said portraying layered characters strengthens his craft and affirms his dignity as a performer.
His Best Actor win at the 2025 MMFF, where he portrayed Twinkle Reyes in Thomasian filmmaker Jun Lana’s emotional film exploring the meaning of motherhood, marked another milestone in his career, making him the first openly queer performer to receive a major acting award at the festival.
READ: MMFF 2025: Lana’s ‘Call Me Mother’ redefines motherhood
“It’s a win not just for me but for my entire community,” he said. “It is a win for the LGBTQIA+ community. And of course, we are so used to being invalidated, we are so used to being questioned, but again, we have to own it — it’s ours.”
Vice Ganda also pointed out that injustice extends to the way Filipinos experience cinema.
Asked about the issue of high MMFF ticket prices, he said the concern is not simply about cost but about the limited purchasing power of Filipinos amid low wages and rising expenses.
“Actually, hindi ‘yong presyo ng ticket ang dapat nating tanungin. Tanungin natin kung bakit mababa ang kakayahan ng mga Pilipino na bumili at gumasta,” he said, adding that high ticket prices are an effect of deeper social and economic injustices.
Manila Bulletin columnist and former UST journalism coordinator Nestor Cuartero introduced Vice Ganda as a guest during The Varsitarian’s 27th Inkblots, the publication’s annual campus journalism fellowship, held Jan. 13 and 14, at the St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P., Auditorium.
More than 200 fellows from 25 schools and student publications gathered at the UST St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Auditorium for the two-day event, which carried the theme “Campus Press and the Fight for Public Accountability.”
