Early life[edit]

Before coming out to his family and loved ones, Vice Ganda was known as "Tutoy", which was his
nickname as a young boy.[23] The youngest of five children, Vice Ganda grew up in the
neighbourhood along José Abád Santos Street in Manuguit, Tondo, Manila. His father, a native
of Taysan, Batangas and a barangay captain in Tondo, Manila, was murdered when he was young,
prompting his mother, an Ilocana from San Juan, La Union, to leave her children to work abroad as a
caregiver.[24] He studied political science at Far Eastern University.[25]

Career[edit]
Stand-up comedy[edit]
Vice Ganda started out as a singer, then as a comedian for Punchline and The Library, whose owner
Andrew de Real gave him the stage name "Vice Ganda". [26] There he spent several years developing
his material in the comedy clubs. His career began to build after appearances on television and
reviews from tabloid columns. He works alongside fellow comedians Chokoleit, Pooh, John
Lapus and Rey Kilay.

Television[edit]

Vice Ganda (right) hosting in the "Showtime Goodtime" segment of It's Showtime.

Vice Ganda appeared in several television series and sitcoms such as Dyosa, under the direction
of Wenn V. Deramas. He also had another supporting role in the drama series Maging Sino Ka Man:
Ang Pagbabalik. In 2009, Vice Ganda became part of It's Showtime, a talent search program where
he eventually gained his present role as a regular presenter / judge. His life story of being bullied as
a young, closeted homosexual has also been featured in the drama anthology, Maalaala Mo Kaya.
[27]
 In 2011, He became host of his own Sunday talk show, Gandang Gabi, Vice!, the show ended in
2020.[28] Currently, Vice Ganda is under the management of ABS-CBN, and handling him is business
unit head Deo Endrinal[29] after being managed for four years[30] by local entertainment
columnist/host, Ogie Diaz.[31] In 2016, he became judge in the 5th and 6th seasons of Pilipinas Got
Talent, along with his fellow celebrities, Angel Locsin and Robin Padilla.[32][33] In June 2021, he hosted
a game show, Everybody, Sing!, which replaced his own talk show Gandang Gabi, Vice!, the game
show concluded in October 2021.[28][34][35]

Film[edit]
Before venturing into mainstream movies, Vice Ganda starred in minor roles in independent films
such as, Condo with Coco Martin and In My Life, where he appeared alongside Vilma
Santos and John Lloyd Cruz. In 2010, he starred in a remake of the comedy film, Petrang Kabayo,
[36]
 which was an instant hit at its release. [37] The following year, he starred in The Unkabogable
Praybeyt Benjamin, with Derek Ramsay, directed by Wenn V. Deramas. The movie became the first
local film to reach 300 million pesos in ticket sales, and proved to be an even greater box office
success than Petrang Kabayo.[38] In 2012, Vice Ganda starred in the Filipino comedy film This Guy's
in Love with U Mare! under Star Cinema and Viva Films, alongside Luis Manzano and Toni
Gonzaga, directed by Wenn V. Deramas. In 2013, he made another movie called Girl, Boy, Bakla,
Tomboy. In 2014, Star Cinema released a movie called The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin an official
entry for the MMFF 2014. Vice Ganda participated alongside actress Alex Gonzaga, and
actors Richard Yap and James "Bimby" Aquino-Yap. The film was directed by Wenn V. Deramas. In
2015, Star Cinema released Beauty and the Bestie, an official entry for the MMFF 2015, directed
by Wenn V. Deramas. He participated alongside actor Coco Martin, Kapamilya loveteam James
Reid and Nadine Lustre, actors Marco Masa and Alonzo Muhlach, and comedians MC Calaquian
and Lassy Marquez. In 2018 and 2019 respectively, Vice starred in 2 blockbuster
movies, Fantastica and The Mall, The Merrier, with Dingdong Dantes and Richard Gutierrez in the
former, and Anne Curtis in the latter.[39]
Vice Ganda is presently under contract with VIVA Films.[40]

Music[edit]
In 2011, Vice Ganda released his first studio album, Lakas Tama under Vicor Music. It features
mostly pop and novelty songs, including "Palong Palo", written by Callalily frontman Kean Cipriano.
[41]
 He is also included in the compilation album of Showtime, released by Star Records. In 2013, he
released his 2nd album, self-titled, and debut album under Star Records. In 2014, Vice Ganda
released his 3rd album, entitled #Trending, which featured the song Boom Panes and Push Mo Yan
Teh!

Book[edit]
On July 16, 2016, Vice Ganda launched his first book titled President Vice: Ang Bagong Panggulo
ng Pilipinas (lit. '"President Vice: The New Troublemaker President of the Philippines"'), [42] a parody
about how he would deal with problems of the Filipinos in case he was elected the next president of
the Philippines.[43] As of 2017, the book has already sold more than 100,000 copies in the Philippines.
[44]

Personal life[edit]

Vice Ganda appearing in a rally in support of Leni Robredo's presidential campaign.

Vice Ganda does not mind being addressed with either masculine or feminine pronouns, identifying
as non-binary. He has advocated for queer rights and representation throughout his career. [3]
Vice Ganda reportedly suffered from depression due to career issues and personal problems. [45] One
of his biggest life inspirations is his teacher who told him to "always follow his dreams no matter how
big or wild they are."[46] Since November 2019, he has been in a relationship with Ion Perez, a
member of the supporting cast on It's Showtime.[47] On his YouTube vlog uploaded on February 13,
2022, he revealed that he and Perez underwent a commitment ceremony on October 19, 2021, at
The Little Vegas Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.[48]
Vice Ganda endorsed Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte for president, during the 2016 Philippine
elections,[49] and has had him on as a guest for his late-night television show Gandang Gabi, Vice!.
[50]
 For the 2022 Philippine elections, he endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo for president, stating
that "Tayo dapat ang manalo. Si Leni Robredo ang magpapanalo sa atin. Ang tagal-tagal na natin
talo. Ipanalo naman natin ang isa’t-isa. (We should win. Leni Robredo will make us win. We’ve been
losing for so long. Let’s make each other win)."[51] At Robredo's miting de avance (final rally before
election day), he endorsed senator Kiko Pangilinan for vice president.[52]

Public reception[edit]
Controversies[edit]
Gang rape jokes against Jessica Soho[edit]
In May 2013, Vice Ganda was widely criticized for making several jokes about gang rape during
his I-Vice Ganda Mo Ko! comedy concert show. One of them was directed towards respected news
anchor Jessica Soho, whom he mentioned in a joke regarding several personalities starring in a
hypothetical pornographic film. Philippine women's rights group GABRIELA condemned the joke as
being distasteful in light of rape victims. GMA reporter Arnold Clavio, a colleague of Soho, defended
the news anchor and expressed his disapproval of Vice Ganda's body-shaming remark in one of the
former's radio programs.[53] Although Vice Ganda initially defended his stance, saying that the brand
of humor he uses is based on his roots doing stand-up in comedy bars and karaoke lounges, the
comedian issued an apology over the issue during an episode of It's Showtime.[54]
Nora Aunor[edit]
Actress Nora Aunor also took umbrage at Vice Ganda's style of humor when she pulled out of her
appearance as a special guest judge for the Tawag ng Tanghalan grand finals at the last minute.
Aunor believed Vice Ganda's brand of insult comedy was against her moral beliefs, and was
perturbed with the idea of being on the show alongside Vice Ganda. [55]
Apollo Quiboloy[edit]
On one of his daily comedic discussions following a performance by Gian Magdangal on Tawag ng
Tanghalan: Celebrity Champions, Vice Ganda made a joke after the founder of Kingdom of Jesus
Christ, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, among other claims of being responsible for stopping calamities,
claimed that he was responsible for stopping the earthquakes in Mindanao. Vice Ganda jokingly
challenged Pastor Quiboloy to stop one of the longest running and undying ABS-CBN television
series, Ang Probinsyano and the common Philippine problem which is the constant traffic on EDSA.
Members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ took offense and expressed their dismay for Vice Ganda.
[56]
 Radio broadcaster and SMNI anchor, Mike Abe, a friend of Quiboloy, defended the founder and
launched his foul-mouthed tirade on Vice Ganda about the controversial "stop" joke on Quiboloy.
[57]
 Two days after the joke, Quiboloy instead threatened that he will not only stop FPJ's Ang
Probinsyano and shut down ABS-CBN as a whole within 4 months. Before saying these threats by
Quiboloy, however, the company's contract, originally expiring on March 30, 2020, ended on May 4,
2020, based on Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra's speech during the Senate hearing on alleged
violations made by ABS-CBN.[58][59] Two weeks after the shutdown of ABS-CBN, Quiboloy delivered
the message to Vice Ganda on his show, Powerline, that he prophesized the network and Ang
Probinsyano's end.[60] However, the show (Ang Probinsyano) and all ABS-CBN shows and programs
are still ongoing on other TV stations and social media platforms.
Rodante Marcoleta[edit]
On May 26, during the first hearing of ABS-CBN's new 25-year franchise, Sagip Partylist
Representative and Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta presented videos showing Vice Ganda
jokingly asking Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Restorationist church Kingdom of Jesus Christ to
stop Ang Probinsyano. Marcoleta alleged that Vice Ganda's statement was meant sincerely, and that
the challenge was accepted. Vice Ganda responded to Marcoleta via a Twitter post, claiming that it
was a joke.[61]

Cultural impact[edit]
As cited by Bautista (2012), researchers from University of San Jose - Recoletos studied the role of
sarcasm and criticism on Filipino humor. Half of 100 participants stated that they gain more
confidence from mimicking Vice Ganda's style of humor, while 64% of the respondents said that they
usually imitate Vice Ganda's sarcasm during conversations. [62]