Nobody said it was easy, and Vice Ganda is fully aware of this. But despite the struggles, the unkabogable Filipino superstar is committed to fashioning the best life possible one fabulous layer at a time
It might be difficult to imagine Vice Ganda without the larger-than-life personality and the equally over-the-top sense of fashion and beauty that occupies the spaces of television, film, social, media, and well, veritably every form of media consumed in the contemporary cultural context. But once upon a time, when the comedian and host was starting to break through the mainstream, he had to operate within the confines of tradition. While he now challenges the norms of society and colors beyond the lines of convention, there was once a time where despite being acknowledged as gay, he was instructed and directed to be, in his own words, just a certain kind. “Parang okay, bakla ka pero dapat ganito lang, ha? ‘Yung suot mo ganito lang, ‘yung kinikilos dapat ganito lang, ‘yung mga sinasabi mo at pinapakita mo na bahagi ng pagiging bakla dapat hanggang dito lang. And I took the challenge. I accepted the directions, but slowly, deep inside me, I had a plan,” he recalls. “I thought, pagbibigyan ko lang kayo ngayon, but I will show you something about me that you cannot ignore. And there will come a point na wala na kayong magagawa kundi i-appreciate kung ano ang ipinapakita ko. Hindi niyo na ako masasaklawan, at talagang tuluyan na ma-e-embrace.”
Despite what we are led to believe by surface level assumptions, Vice Ganda is surprisingly gentle. There is a careful thought that courses through the words that form wizened sentences in conversation, and the delivery is paced and polite. This isn’t to discount the seemingly boundless source of energy and entertainment that he carries almost everyday in It’s Showtime and the many engagements that occupy the time of a superstar, but even a fleeting interface is a clear display of authenticity and warmth that belies the animated nature of job so to speak. “You know, I am no different with all of you. Siguro nasa showbiz kasi ako kaya I need to be extraordinary. But in reality, I’m just like everyone else. ‘Pag tinatanong nga ako to describe myself in one word, sinasabi ko, ‘human.’ I am human, I can be bad and good, just like everyone else. Hindi tayo mabait 24/7, may mga times na may sungay din tayo. Ganu’n din ako. I am a comedian, and people perceive me as a happy person. But I am not always happy and joyful all the time,” he generously explains. “May mga moments na nakasimangot ako, malungkot ako, masaya ako. Kapag artista ka at komedyante pa, parang hindi ka pwedeng wala ka sa mood or tahimik ka lang kasi may iniisip ka, lalo na kung nakikita ka nila sa TV na ang liga-ligalig mo. Ine-expect nila, sa lahat ng pagkakataon, maligalig ka at ‘di pwedeng tumahimik, at seryoso ka. Pero gano’n ako, basic.”
While there is certainly nothing basic about Vice Ganda in the eyes of both an adoring and scrutinizing public, it is endearing to realize how replete of the trappings and sparkle of the industry obsessed with perfecting the facade, he is only so willing to break down those walls and show what is real and yes, riveting.
The Becoming of Vice Ganda
If there is anyone who understands the struggle of being queer and navigating the perils of privilege and the stubborn insistence of the orthodox, it is Vice Ganda. Sure, he is on top of his game now, but he will be the first one to remind you that the journey was nowhere near the easiest. “I am super the happiest na ganito na ‘yung level of visibility na na-a-achieve ng community, because ‘di ba, for the longest time, it’s very hard for us members of the community to penetrate the mainstream. Pahirapan talaga—duguan, sobrang daming rejections,” he says. “Just like in my story, I waited for so long to be able to experience that spotlight. And now, mas welcoming na ‘yung industry, ‘yung audience, mas embracing sila and natutuwa ako na na-e-enjoy ‘to ng napakaraming part ng LGBTQIA+ community. ‘Yung pagpasok nila sa mainstream, ‘yung spotlight na nakukuha nila, all out, hindi pakonti-konti.”
For example, as unapologetic as he is with his sense of style, there always had to be some sort of compromise in the beginning. Where one can argue a modicum of acceptance, it was still conditional. “‘Yung pagdadamit babae, hindi ako pwedeng gano’n sa simula. Pants ka lang. Ang peg talaga was Michael Jackson—jacket, gano’n. Tapos hindi pwedeng heavy makeup: kilay lang, foundation, pero eyeshadow wala…lipstick in shades of brown. Sige, payag ako pero inuunti-unti ko sila. May pilik mata, gumo-gloss na ako, hanggang wala na silang magawa. Buo na pala siya,” details Vice Ganda. “Hindi na nila napansin ‘yon kasi mas na-overshadow siya ng performance ko. Naging mas mahalaga na ‘yung kaya kong gawin kaysa sa mga ipinagbabawal nila. Nagulat na lang sila nag-birthday production number ako na naka-tangga ako. And that’s a win for me and for everyone.”
From slowly chipping off the dictates of convention, there now exists a palpable sense of joy to the way Vice Ganda presents himself onscreen. “Ang magandang nagagawa nu’n is you inspire people to enjoy themselves, to enjoy who they really are, and to live their own concept of joy and freedom. Being able to express the liberty of becoming yourself, ‘yun ‘yung pinakamasarap talaga du’n. Naisasabuhay mo ‘yung tootong pagkatao mo na walang pagpanggap, walang limits, walang nagho-hold back sa’yo. Hindi nakakangawit, ‘yung para ‘kong naka-corset, ‘yung ‘di ka makagalaw or makahinga kasi may pumipigil sa’yo. Ang sarap lang maging kumportable for being yourself,” he asserts. In the same breath, it is this expansion of identity that Vice Ganda likens this to the art of drag. “Ang drag, ‘di ba may mas malalim na ibig sabihin, but for me, personally, drag is one of the many forms of expression for us in the community. Drag gives us freedom, gives us joy. It’s also a manifestation of strength.”
Of Representation, Finally
While significant strides have been made in recent years, the struggle for equality is still elusive for the queer community. There is a long way to go still, but with people like Vice Ganda defying the prescribed limits in the full view of the public consciousness, there lies a profound effect to what others might dismiss as superficial. “‘Yung visibility and relatability, for the longest time, wala naman akong nakikita sa TV na ‘yung katulad nung trip ko. May mga nakikita akong bakla pero hindi ‘yun ‘yung trip ko. ‘Yung trip ko, hindi ba pwede? ‘Yung trip ko ba, mali? Malaking bagay ‘yun na makita mo ‘yung sarili mo at masabi mong, ‘Ah, pwede pala ako, tanggap pala ako, okay pala ako.’ Kaya sobra akong happy na kung ano mang tinatamasan ng community natin sa lahat ng fields,” he says. This is also explains why when and where it is needed, Vice Ganda doesn’t just show up, he stands up and speaks up for the greater good of people, especially of those who in the LGBTQIA+ community. “For me, that is very important, kasi aside from entertainment, I think there’s another layer of my being there on that platform—and that is to be of influence. And ano mang mangilan-ngilang alam ko, I will share it to everyone.”
Aside from it being a lived truth, the advocacy has evolved into being a responsibility beyond the self. Outside the realm of entertainment, people now look to the star to not only shed a light to the plight of the LGBTQIA+ community, but to also guide the audience to a point of comprehension and hopefully, compassion. But despite the earnest desire to do so, Vice Ganda relents that even if the rest world expects him to, he doesn’t understand everything just yet. “’Pag may mga nag-iinvite nga sa akin for talks, I humbly decline, kasi sabi ko, I cannot put myself in the position to talk about things I fully understand. But the things I understand, I want to tell it to the audience and educate them. Sa platform ko, though not very easy, ‘yung programang kung nasaan ka, hindi naman gano’n ‘yung nature. So I need to find a way paano ko siya maipupuslit, maidadaos, or maisisingit,” he shares. “You know, it’s very hard for me because people give me this responsibility to educate. I would love to, but the nature of my program, ‘di ba, fully entertainment siya? But in my own little way, sa pelikula ko nag-i-inject ako kahit papaano, sa [It’s] Showtime, ‘pag nabubuksan ‘yung issue, I take that chance to at least give out that message na alam ko kahit papaano may relevance para sa ating lahat.”
It may not be the aggressive rah-rah-rah that people will expect, but whether it be a schooling of SOGIE on the long-running noontime show, It’s Showtime, or in the films that is churned from Praybeyt Benjamin to the upcoming Partners In Crime with Ivana Alawi, or even the highly anticipated coming together of the community in the Unkabogaball, there will be something that makes the audience think and feel. It’s subversive baby steps, Vice Ganda argues, which in the span of his thriving career has clearly worked wonders.
We Continue to Fight
“It was a dream for me to have an event like that, kasi ‘di ba, tayong mga bakla, masyado tayong na-a-amaze sa mga events that are very fashionable tulad ng awards night, ganyan. Eh, na-experience ko rin ‘yung may ball, and I was wondering, bakit hindi ako na-i-invite? Dream natin lahat maka-attend ng gano’ng ball where we can be stylish, outlandish, unkabogable. So, gusto kong gumawa ng event na eto, kasali tayo dito, atin ito. Naimbitihan naman din ako eventually, but I didn’t really feel part of it, parang hindi sa akin. Eto, baklaan, talyadahan, dragahan. Darating tayo du’n na hindi tayo ‘yung nakakaliit kasi atin ‘to,” Vice Ganda explains of what has become of Unkabogaball, which now finds itself in the Queen City of the South, Cebu. “Nagsimula lang ‘to as a Christmas party. But sabi ko, if we will do this annually, gusto ko naman may significance ‘yung ginagawa natin. Baka naman sabihin ng tao na puro lang tayo landian. So, gusto ko may civic activity para ‘yung pagpapaka talyada natin once a year, may nagagawa ding mabuti not just exclusively for the community, but also for society. Kaya sa pagpunta namin sa Cebu, may mga civic activities kami and donations na ibibigay sa mga certain groups.”
From the aforementioned ball to the House of Ganda that he has built, the magnanimous spirit of Vice Ganda isn’t just for lip service either, because he has been known to have a generous heart in both the literal and figurative sense. Even with what he had and we could before all of the fame and fortune to his name now, it is no secret that he has helped many people along the way.
“That is very important to me and that is something that we should do regardless of our gender, our SOGIE. That should be natural: to be able to share love, care, and support, to everyone especially those that you value. That’s very basic for me, giving importance to people, giving love to people, showing them care and support.,” he says.
“‘Di ba nga ‘yung pinakalumang kasabihan na ‘Charity begins at home?’ Magsisimula ka kasi du’n, para sa akin ‘yun ‘yung malalapit at mahalaga sa akin na mga bakla at kaibigan ko. Siyempre, ‘yun ‘yung unang kaya mo. Minsan, ‘yung kakayahan, suporta at pagmamahal natin minsan limitado din. Pero ‘pag ang dami mong pondo no’n, mas malawak and mapagbibigyan mo. Eventually, magiging posible na ‘yun sa hindi mo kakilala. As simple as, ah bakla ka, o sige, support kita. Since I am one person who was very fortunate to be able to experience a helping hand from a lot of people, now it’s my turn to give it back. Kasi kahit gaano ka kagaling na tao, kakailanganin mo ng taong tutulong at susuporta sayo. Ang swerte ko na na-experience ko ‘yon. Now that I have the capacity, ako naman ang gagawa nu’n para sa ibang tao.”
With the softest spot for the LGBTQIA+ community, Vice Ganda is more than willing to help, even with the renaissance of drag, he is more than happy to not only share, but give these artists a stage to thrive. “First, congratulations kasi madaming nagtutulong-tulong para magkaroon ng ilaw para magpaliwanag at magpapaningning sa kanila. Just continue what’s been started and let’s try to help each other in one way or another,” he says. “Ako nga, ‘di naman talaga ako drag artist, pero sabi ko nga kela Precious Paula Nicole nung nag-perform ako sa OBar, sana makatulong ako kahit papaano sa inyo, kung paano ko pa kayo mapapakita sa tao, kung paano pa mas maraming taong makakasilip at makakita sa inyo, and ‘yung boses, mas mapapalaki natin. Enjoy what we have now, but let’s not settle. Marami pang pwedeng maipakita, kaya ‘wag tayong mag-settle kasi kung ano pang pinanghahawakan natin ngayon, maganda at malaki na, pero may mas malaki pang naghihintay.”
At this point, Vice Ganda is unparalleled. And while relishing in sweet success, he acknowledges that more work needs to be done. So, it doesn’t end with just enough. For him, there is always something greater to aspire to personally, and in the grand scheme of things, for the community. Here, Vice Ganda turns serious, and surprisingly somber, which heightens the severity of what we all need to contribute to within the community and as human beings. “In my lifetime, baka mawala na ako, hindi pa natin na-achieve ‘yung absolute freedom and understanding of society. Ang haba ng lalakbayin, but I’m happy of the baby steps, because somehow, someday, darating ‘yung panahon na masasabi natin na napanalunan na. Now siguro nagsisimula pa lang tayo sa contest na nilalaban natin. Una, nakapasok na tayo sa contest. Pangalawa, naka-perform, napasin na tayo. Baka nag-best in swimsuit or long gown, konting Q&A na lang, makukuha na natin myung korona. It’s a journey, but it’s going to be worth it,” he beams. “Kahit hindi ko man makitang mangyari in my lifetime, I know it’s going to happen at mapagwawagian ng next generation. Katulad ng mga pinaglalaban at ginagawa natin ngayon, marami na ding nagsimula nito nung mga early generations, pero itinutuloy pa rin. ‘Wag mapapagod kahit laging nare-reject. It’s heartbreaking, but hopefully, the next generation do not allow that heartbreak from fighting what needs to be fought for.”
And as they always say, the great work now begins. Kabog.
Photography DOOKIE DUCAY
Creative Direction ANGELO DE CARTAGENA and JUJIIN SAMONTE
Art Direction BRIE VENTURA
Styling RYUJI SHIOMITSU, assisted by MIGUEL QUILANG, BEA GUERRERO, and JOAQUIN RODRIGO of NEW COLLECTIVE STYLE
Beauty Direction MIA CASTRO
Makeup JELLY EUGENIO
Hair BUERN RODRIGUEZ
Shoot Coordination KZ FRANCISCO & MJ ALMERO
Shot on location DESSERT MUSEUM
