Vice Ganda recently bagged the coveted Best Actor award at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival for her film "Call Me Mother." But you know where else she’s been mothering at? In sparking social awareness among everyday viewers, as she drops truth bombs about our collective frustrations with a system that keeps making life harder for Filipinos.
In a time when our country is going through so much, we need voices that are brave enough to call out toxic cycles and demand better.
Vice Ganda knows exactly how to use her platform for that. Let’s revisit some of her boldest 'woke' statements on "It’s Showtime" that sparked social awareness.
On failed flood control and protection
At the height of the national outrage over the alleged flood control scam, Vice Ganda stood among the celebrities who weren’t afraid to speak truth to power. She used her voice, and her massive platform on "It’s Showtime," to call for accountability and justice.
During a "Laro Laro Pick" round, when survivors from calamity-stricken areas in Visayas and Mindanao were invited to join the segment, she amplified the rage felt by millions of Filipinos after hearing the stories of players who lost their homes and even their loved ones due to flood. "Nananawagan kami sa pamahalaan. Bigyan n'yo naman ng hustisya ang mga taong ito, utang na loob, kung may konsensiya pa kayo," Vice pleaded after speaking with a player named Luna, who lost her newborn and 3-year-old child during the Cebu flooding at the height of Typhoon Tino last November.
"Mayroong may kasalanan kung bakit nangyari 'to sa inyo," she added. “Ang ulan o bagyo ay pangkaraniwang nangyayari pero 'yung ninakawan kayo ng pangprotekta sa inyo, hindi 'yan pangkaraniwan at dapat may managot doon."
"Ang masakit, sa kalagitnaan ng nangyayaring ito sa Pilipinas at sa mga kapwa natin Pilipino, meron pa ring nakikinabang," Vice reacted after hearing the story of Tata, a calamity victim who risked his own safety to rescue neighbors and animals during the height of the flood. "Habang may namamatay sa baha, habang may nagkaka-leptospirosis, habang may mga natatabunan sa mga landslide, may kumikita at yumayaman. Sana huwag n'yong kalimutan ang pangalan ng mga politikong may kinalaman sa mga pangyayaring ito bilang pagbibigay-hustisya natin sa ating mga kababayan na talaga namang ninakawan ng hustisya sa buhay."
On gaps in the education system and shortage in classroom
Vice, alongside Anne Curtis, voiced her frustrations over the shortage of classrooms in the Philippines during a “Laro Laro Pick” episode that featured Gloria, a solo parent, who cited her inability to finish school as one of the reasons life has been difficult for her and her children. Gloria lost her parents at an early age and, with no one to support her education, had to start working for herself at just 10 years old.
Vice called this the harsh reality for many Filipino youth, which is why the government needs to focus on bringing children back into classrooms. But even before that can happen, Anne stressed there simply aren’t enough classrooms in the first place. Vice then recalled a disturbing scene she witnessed during a visit to a province with a public classroom with no reading materials and in such poor condition, "bulok" as she put, that she felt compelled to step in and send help herself.
"Kailangang ayusin ang mga paaralan. Kailangang tulungan ang mga magulang na mailagay sa paaralan ang mga anak. Kailangan ng tulong ng mga Pilipinong magulang mula sa pamahalaan," she remarked, before addressing the viewers, "Actually, hindi siya tulong lang. Actually isa siyang serbisyong deserve ninyo galing 'yan sa tax ninyo. Hindi n'yo utang na loob kung may classrooms. Hindi utang na loob ng mga Pilipino kung may maayos na lipunan. 'Yan ay deserve ninyo bilang mga Pilipinong nagbabayd ng buwis araw-araw."
On the convenient excuse of ‘Filipino resilience’
In relation to this, Vice also expressed her thoughts on the low salaries of teachers, which she drew parallels to the abuse of Filipino resilience. She thinks it has reached a point where teachers’ passion for their work is being romanticized to sugarcoat the lack of proper compensation they receive.
"Ang ganda ng purpose ng isang guro pero kailangan kayong ituring nang mas disente," she stated, speaking on behalf of the teachers who joined the "Laro Laro Pick" segment. "Naaabuso ang resilience ng mga Pilipino. 'Huwag na nating ayusin 'yang lugar nila, resilient naman 'yang Pilipinong 'yan, 'eh.' 'Huwag na nating bigyan ng tamang suweldo ang mga teachers kasi masaya naman sila kapag nakikitang nakangiti ang mga estudyante.' Is that fair and just?"
On responsible parenthood
In another "Laro Laro Pick" episode, a tricycle driver named Jake shared that he, his wife, and their three young children live inside his tricycle. Unable to imagine how difficult it must be for Jake’s children to grow up without a proper home, Vice voiced out her concern on the importance of responsible parenthood.
"Paalala, sa mga hirap na hirap, masarap umibig pero kontrolin n'yo muna ang mga sarili n'yo at huwag muna kayong mag-anak kung hindi n'yo mabibigyan ng disenteng buhay," she imparted, clarifying that her message wasn’t meant to shame Jake, but to offer a reality check for viewers who may be in similar situations.
Vice went on to emphasize that while the government does have a major role to play in supporting the poor, citizens also have a responsibility to make decisions that consider the long-term welfare of their families. "Malaki ang obligasyon ng gobyerno para sa mga mamamayan pero ang mga mamamayan ay may obligasyon din para sa inyong mga sarili."
On the importance of family planning
The Unkabogable Superstar didn’t shy away from speaking about a topic that many Filipinos have avoided for decades—family planning. This happened during the segment "And The Breadwinner Is" in January, where the hosts met Rose, a bank teller who worked her way through high school and college without relying on her parents. Coming from a family of 11 siblings, Rose shared that after their mother passed away in 2022, their father eventually abandoned them as well.
Hearing her story, Vice emphasized that it’s time for Filipinos to approach family planning with a more open mind. “Meron talaga tayong problema sa family planning sa Pilipinas,” she reacted, noting how Rose’s family continued to grow in size even when they were already struggling. “It’s 2025, we have to be talking about these things. Kailan pa natin ’to pag-uusapan?”
On stealing and corruption
Vice Ganda also reminded Filipinos to take the issue of theft and corruption seriously. “Gusto kong imulat ang mga mata n’yo na hindi na ’to nakakatawa. Ang daming kailangan ng tulong kasi tinake natin ’to nang light hanggang sa naging normal na sa lipunan natin ang nagnanakawan,” she said.
Speaking to a group of security guards who joined a "Laro Laro Pick" episode, she pointed out the irony of their role. These guards are assigned to protect establishments from theft, yet many of them become victims of systemic theft themselves. “Stealing is never right. Kahit maliit ’yan,” she stressed. And then turning to one of the female guard players, she illustrated how corruption directly affects ordinary citizens, “’Yung pinambili mo ng lipstick, alam mo bang may tax ’yan? ’Yung suot mo ngayon, may tax ’yun. Ninakaw nila ’yun, eh dapat ’yun para sa mga anak mo."
On the plight of farmers
Vice has also consistently used her platform to speak up for marginalized groups, including Filipino farmers. In one episode of “Laro Laro Pick,” she spoke with a contestant named Tony, a farmer who opened up about the lack of irrigation in their area, which limits how much they’re able to plant and harvest.
“Ayun, isa ’yan sa problema ng mga magsasaka,” she said in response, before calling out government shortcomings. “Kulang kayo sa infrastructure mula sa gobyerno. Hindi sila nakakapagtanim dahil kulang sila sa irigasyon na matagal na nilang ipinaglalaban.” She went on to say that there is nothing lacking in the farmers’ dedication or skill. They are hardworking and capable. The real problem is that they are not getting the support they need from the very offices meant to assist them.
On Gen Z being the hope of the nation
Vice has repeatedly encouraged her fellow Filipinos to dream big and not settle for the bare minimum, saying that we deserve more, especially when it comes to the kind of service we receive from politicians. Along with that, she places her faith in Gen Zs whom she calls 'pag-asa ng bayan,' believing that they will use their voices and strength to stop toxic cycles in the government.
"Kaya hinahamon ko talaga lahat ng Gen Zs, ilabas n'yo ngayon lahat ng ingay, tapang, talino, at lakas ng loob ninyo. Huwag kayong papayag na binobobo kayo," she urged the youth.
For a long time, many of these issues have been pushed aside or treated as too uncomfortable to discuss on national TV, let alone on a noontime show. But maybe it’s time we start paying closer attention.
Catch "It's Showtime," Mondays to Saturdays, 12 NN on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), GMA 7, A2Z, ALLTV2 and iWant.