Officially 50, Vice Ganda shows that "it gets greater later" by staying at the top of her game despite changes in time and the showbiz landscape.
On Monday night, Vice had an intimate birthday dinner in Angeles City with her close friends including Petite, Lassy, MC Muah, Tonton, Divine Tetay, and Rhea Tan as well as her mother Rosario Viceral and partner Ion Perez.
From school clown to superstar, Vice's concept of success has clearly evolved. “‘Yung matulog ka lang na masaya. Nakakatulog ka nang mahaba-mahaba. ‘Yun na ang success sa akin. Not the material things na,” Vice previously told ABS-CBN News.
Photo by Rhea Tan
“Dati, nung wala ka pang pera, ang success sa ’yo ay may kinalaman sa finances, material wealth. Kapag nakuha mo na ‘yun, hindi na ‘yun ang concept mo ng success. Sa akin, pahinga, family na. I simply pray every day,” she added.
As Vice celebrates her birthday today, March 31, let's look back at her memorable moments, from viral TV and film moments that sealed her superstardom to real-life scenes that made her a cultural icon.
May nag-text!
The Kapamilya star was not originally the permanent judge ("hurado") for the then-new ABS-CBN talent competition show "It's Showtime." However, her natural wit and pop cultural awareness drew her in as a permanent judge, and she later became a regular host. Her iconic "may nag-text" remark went viral at the time and became part of everyday slang, starting her now-successful television career.
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Photo by Rhea Tan
Praybeyt Benjamin
Her iconic character Praybeyt Benjamin, which made her a box-office sensation despite some critics calling it “too corny," symbolized much more: it was political.
During Vice's appearance on her podcast, director Antoinette Jadaone put it best: Vice's ability to turn that gay character into a phenomenal success was a political statement, given how Philippine cinema has always been dominated by heterosexual male box-office stars.
FAMAS and MMFF
For the first time, the phenomenal superstar received best actor awards at the 73rd FAMAS (for "And The Breadwinner Is") and 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (for "Call Me Mother").
While she used to believe that she was only a popcorn star who wasn't allowed or expected to win any acting awards, her perspective shifted when she met director Jun Robles Lana, who reinvented her: there was so much more to life than having blockbusters. Her two best actor awards were and continue to be important to many who identify as queer.
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Anti-corrupt
Using her star power on “It’s Showtime” stage to address social concerns and participating in several rallies to challenge politicians, Vice exhibits no fear.
“Ito ‘yung mga taong ninanakawan natin. Ang korapsyon ay hindi lamang pagnanakaw ng salapi ng bayan. Ito ay pagnanakaw ng pag-asa. Ito ay pagnanakaw ng pangarap. Ito ay pagnanakaw ng magandang posibilidad. At maraming tao na ang namatay dahil sa pagnanakaw ninyo ng pondo ng bayan. Maraming mga magulang na ang hindi nakapagdala sa hospital ng mga anak nilang may sakit dahil sa korapsyon. Maraming matatanda ang hindi naagapan ang sakit dahil sa korapsyon. Maraming buhay ang nasira dahil sa korapsyon. Maraming asawa ang naghiwalay dahil sa problema ng kahirapan. Hindi lang pera ang ninanakaw ninyo — buhay,” she passionately said.
Little Ponies
Despite her immense success as the country's most trusted celebrity, according to Reader's Digest, Vice never forgets the people who have always rallied behind and for her – her fabulous fan group, the Little Ponies.
While many naysayers expected that her superstar status would change who she is, her love for ordinary people grows stronger every day, not just on cam but also off.
“Ako at ang masang Pilipino ay may relasyon. Kami ay nagkakaunawaan. Iisang wika o lengwahe ang sinasabi namin. Iisa ang trip namin. Ang relasyon ko sa masang Pilipino ay parang pangkaraniwang relasyon sa araw-araw. May love-hate relationship pero hindi kami nag-iiwanan. Iniisip ko sila lagi. Inuunawa ko sila lagi at inuunawa rin nila ko. At araw-araw, nagmamahalan kami. Kaya naman, tuwing may pelikula ako, lalong-lalo na sa Pasko, kami ang nagkikita. Kasi, ako at ang masang Pilipino ay pamilya,” the Kapamilya superstar remarked in her speech as the Box Office Hero award recipient from 8th Eddys.