There was no discussion of the controversy days before. What was meant to be a night of pure fellowship, however, got the country’s top comedian Vice Ganda eventually opening up about what matters the most now amid the everyday excitement — and chaos — of showbiz.
In fact, there was some uncertainty about whether Vice would attend the long-planned get-together with members of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEED), which his team scheduled immediately after the 2025 Entertainment Editors’ Choice Awards (The EDDYs) last July 20. Chuck Gomez, Vice's longtime publicist, had clarified that no issues would be addressed at the gathering, which Vice was hosting to express appreciation for receiving the Box Office Hero Award for the blockbuster film “And The Breadwinner Is…”
But there Vice was, on a Thursday night, looking well-rested from a three-day vacation in Singapore and making his first public appearance after his much-talked-about “Super Divas” concert with Regine Velasquez. He made the VICE Comedy Club, home to his first love — stand-up comedy — the first stop of his return.
The next day, Vice said he would go straight to shooting for his upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Call Me Mother.” Yesterday, he resumed hosting duties for “It’s Showtime.”
At the VICE Comedy Club, Vice was joined by only a few friends. Aside from Chuck, his friend from when he wasn’t the Vice that he is now, RS Francisco, businessman, actor-producer and club owner, was also there.
In case you don’t know, Vice started his career at a small comedy bar — then dubbed a sing-along bar — in Malate.
Now, it’s his turn discovering comic talents with VICE Comedy Club, where we couldn’t help but notice every act looking to Vice’s direction after almost every punchline.
“Lagi silang ganun. Kaya minsan sinasabi ko pupunta ako para ‘di na sila mabibigla. Sabi nila ang tagal na natin magkakaibigan pero ‘pag andyan ka nahihiya kami. Kaya ‘pag andyan ako, super palakpak ako and super tawa ako para na i-encourage sila,” he said, quipping, “Ako may-ari pero ako pa nagpapaalam (na pupunta). Pero ang ga-galing nila lahat!”
Since he appeared refreshed after the trip, Vice was asked how he recharges. He admitted though, “I barely (take a) rest. Like now, even before the concert, I asked to just rest, but they only gave me three days. So sometimes, I escape…”
The past few weeks have been crazy, with Vice juggling concert rehearsals and preparations for the MMFF film.
“Especially as the movie and concert (preps) happened at the same time, ma windang-windang ako. We start shooting tomorrow. We began with workshops, then brainstorming because I’m part of the creative team. It was hard because they’re different. The concert is fun, the movie has sadness. It was difficult to compartmentalize.”
Asked if in the future, he’s open to directing his own movie, he said that there was a time that there were plans to send him abroad for studies after the passing of Wenn Deramas, who megged his 2011 breakthrough movie “Praybeyt Benjamin” and succeeding films.
Vice’s happy and content with being a creative, and would rather leave the directing to the directors.
But he’s been thinking of businesses aside from show business. Vice is one of the owners of the resto-bars Tipsy Pig, District 8, The Palace, among others. He’s now searching for another location for another Vice Comedy Club branch. Vice also hopes to start a streetwear apparel brand.
Success Redefined
With all this going on, in and out of entertainment, Vice defined what “success” means to him nowadays.
“Being able to sleep happily and not being completely exhausted… Being able to sleep for a long time… Before, when you didn’t have much money, your concept of success was tied to finances, material wealth, what you were deprived of. Once you got that, it was no longer your concept of success.”
Vice continued, “What you’re trying to reach because you don’t have it, yun na yung concept of success. But for me now, it’s rest, simple bonding with family, which is why when my interview with MJ Felipe came out, I said, I think I prefer a smaller house. Because before, of course, I wanted a big house. I’ve experienced that now. But there’s also beauty in simplicity, yung sapat lang (just enough). Something like that.
“I realized na yung mahalaga talaga may matulugan ka na mapayapa (what’s really important is being able to sleep peacefully). And maintaining good relationships…
“I’m a flexible person, I can deal with (different) people but I know the ones who are real… Even short-term friendships, I still get something from them. Fun for the time being and experience. And I also learn from them.
“Yung mga kagaguhan ng ibang tao, I also learn from them. Kung ano yung ginawa nila sa akin, may wisdom pa rin akong matutunan dun. It’s good if you have a group that makes you feel safe. But even if you find yourself in a not-so-comfortable side, may nakukuha ka (lesson).”
What Vice values more than anything else right now in his life are “family, relationships and health.
In terms of health, he said he has had two executive checkups this year, and thankfully, “I’m super OK.”
He tries to eat only fish and vegetables, and has no maintenance to date. It also helps that Vice has a partner, Ion, who’s into fitness.
Someone in the conversation observed that Vice is at his peak form, his most fabulous self, especially in terms of style and fashion.
Vice reacted that he would like to believe so, sharing: “I went to Singapore, I didn’t shop much because I just slept, didn’t use social media. Bina-bash daw ako, ‘Wag ka mag-social media.’ So, hindi ako nag-social media… I brought with me several suitcases. Yung isang maleta may laman, the rest walang laman. (Last minute) bili ako ng bili, sabi nila, grabe, sa isang araw, magkano nagastos mo? ‘Napagod naman ako nung isang linggo.’ (Laughs). Gusto ko naman mapagod pero maganda suot ko.
“And pamilya ko kasi hindi din mahingi kaya ako nakakaipon. Kaya kaya kong bumili kung ano gusto ko…. Yung pamilya ko hindi magastos. I’m very lucky because I’m earning more than enough that I can afford to spend on stuff. Kaya rin siguro gumaganda yung aura kasi nakakagamit ka ng matitinong gamit at maganda.”
In terms of managing his finances, Vice said, “Ever since kasi may discipline din sa amin. Lumalaki kami, yung nanay ko nasa Amerika (working) and wala na kaming Tatay, so it was just us siblings. The allowance sent to us was good for the entire month. We didn’t have a grocery budget. Yung allowance namin yung ang pang-kain namin. Kanya kanya kaming pagkain so ‘pag naubos yun, walang mapapadala nanay ko.
“We had to budget our own allowance, so I cannot live beyond my means. So when I started earning, I was very careful. That’s why I was able to save, because I was so afraid of (financial) hardship.”
This rare bonding occasion with Vice somehow provided a glimpse of the comedian behind the headlines.
“I’m a very simple person, I’m not actually loud,” he said, addressing some misconceptions. “It’s hard to believe, yes, because I have to be loud and flamboyant and bigger than life all the time because that’s my brand. But in real life, I’m not. Among the three of us (referring to Chuck and RS), I’m the quietest.
“Mga tao, parang may intimidation because when they see me in public, I really don’t talk that much kasi yun na lang din yung time na pagod na yung bunganga ko,” he joked.
“Especially in ‘Showtime,’ they’re all noisy (during commercial breaks). I stay quiet because I’m preparing for the next segment. And I observe. But when there’s a camera, I come alive.
“Kahit sa group namin mga bakla… ako pinaka-tahimik at parang nanay ng lahat, lagi taga-saway… Even in school, they were surprised I became a comedian. I’m not the life of the party.
“I’d rather observe. I go at my own pace, especially now that I’m older, my energy depletes quickly so I pace myself. There are times (when I have to conserve energy), so (I just tell the others) you guys go ahead, I won’t make the effort now, I’ll reserve it for later because I can’t sustain it anymore.