MOVIEGOER: Vice Ganda: I speak on behalf of many
Published Jan 14, 2026 11:36 pm
Fresh from the top-grosser success of his latest film, which fetched him a best actor award at the recently held Metro Manila Film Festival, Vice Ganda faced an assortment of about 200 campus journalists from around the Philippines to discuss issues ranging from personal to national.
Vice Ganda with Manila Bulletin columnist Nestor Cuartero at the Varsitarian’s Inkblots event.
Vice was my special guest in a mock media con tucked into my talk on Influencers in the Modern Media Setting on Jan. 13 at the Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Auditorium, University of Santo Tomas. The occasion was the 27th edition of Inkblots, an annual two-day campus journalism seminar organized by The Varsitarian, UST’s official student newspaper.
The theme of this year’s seminar is “The Campus Press and the Fight for Public Accountability.”
Vice acknowledged the important role of campus journalism and called upon budding journalists to be more conscientious of their work at the same time that they should be accountable for their action as media practitioners. All these, in the wake of injustice, disinformation and corruption pervading in our society.
A fellow from Iloilo asked him how he would teach the concept of accountability if he were a mother to her own children. The ‘It’s Showtime’ host said she would begin by being accountable for her actions.
The question was clearly in reference to "Call Me Mother," the actor-comedian’s latest award-winning MMFF film.
Other highlights straight from the mouth of Vice Ganda as he answered questions from Inkblots fellows:
Vice said he’s happy to use his voice as the voice of the people, to whom he owes his unique platform.
“I owe it to madlang pipol because it was they who put me here. I could actually just sit back and relax, make more money, but my position has given me a unique opportunity to speak on behalf of many.
“Itong posisyon ko ay hindi lamang siya ine-enjoy dahil masarap, pero kailangan ko rin mahalin at ipagsigawan ang boses na gustong lumabas sa inyong lalamunan.”
He added, “Mag-iingat, pero hindi mananahimik.”
Does he, too, get afraid when he openly disses corrupt politicians and the like? “I start feeling afraid when those close to me get afraid.”
“Every time I see people suffering, or hear about their stories from those who come to It’s Showtime, I get affected. I can’t help but become their voice to air their grievances.”
“I know how they feel, I know the face of injustice. I saw my father murdered before our very eyes.”
Reacting to my Facebook post on Inklots event, former journalist Edmund Silvestre shared: “Vice Ganda commands respect for standing up to evil politicians. He has become the voice of a helpless and hapless nation. Philippine leaders must take a cue from him.”
Vice said this current chapter in his career will see him in more films with a social message. Recognizing that his audience demands more from him, Vice said he could have rested on his laurels and kept churning out films just like his earlier ones. Yet, he said, growth is important to every artist.
“I feel I have so much more to give to my craft, which I love. My creative team and I are lining up many more stories of empowerment.”
He said he surrounds himself with people who are bright and knowledgeable.
Two of Vice’s most recent films, And The Breadwinner Is… and Call Me Mother are proofs of a step-up, career-wise. Previously, his filmography has been limited to comedies that are a mix between slapstick and witty one-upmanship.
In the same event, Vice teased that his talk show, "Gandang Gabi, Vice," is coming back soon.
How would he like to be remembered? One fellow asked. Vice said, “Just remember me as someone who made people happy.”
Thank you, Vice, for making Inkblots a happier place.