If there's one thing that Vice Ganda has learned in the intricate world of show business, it's that losing is just as important as winning. The phenomenal star opened up about the highs and lows of her career as an actress in her recent cover interview with Preview.
One of the many things that she highlighted in her cover story was the moment when the entry she was part of wasn't the top-grosser during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) back in 2019. It was the first time that she didn't claim the top spot since she started starring in MMFF movies in 2012.
She recalled going through it, underscoring that it was a liberating moment for her. "Five years ago, it was the first time na hindi ako nag-number one sa MMFF. And imbis na maiyak ako, sabi ko, 'Ay! Wala na akong kailangan i-maintain next year. Wala na akong kailangan ipaglaban, wala na akong kailangan panindigan.' It was so liberating," Vice told Preview.ph.
Vice didn't look at it as "losing" per se. It was a matter of perspective for her to be able to see that losing the top spot has helped her to learn more about herself. "Sometimes you will have to lose in order to win. Sometimes you have to experience embarrassment in order to have pride. Depende kasi kung paano mo siya titignan. [...] Even if you lose, you can still turn it into a win."
She may be one of the top stars of this generation, but it's not every day that she wins in life. But amid everything, she continues to believe in herself and take pride in the things that she does. "And for me, I am still unkabogable because no one can do the things that I do. Because only I can do the things that I can do," she proclaimed.
Vice Ganda's take on comedy
For the most part, Vice traversed through the path of comedy throughout her career. From making puns in her own TV shows (It's Showtime and Gandang Gabi Vice!) to creating unforgettable roles in Philippine cinema, Vice stayed on top of her game.
But for her, there was little regard for what comedy means for the masses. In her Preview interview, she voiced her thoughts on pursuing her journey as an actress. "Bakit kailangan kong lumabas sa comedy just to be seen? Binigyan nila ako ng citation kasi nag-drama ako. So kung hindi ako nag-drama, hindi talaga nila ako mapapansin. I was seen because I did something else aside from comedy."
ICYMI, Vice was awarded a special jury citation at the 2024 MMFF "Gabi ng Parangal" for her film, And The Breadwinner Is...
She furthered, "For the longest time, I felt like comedy was being disregarded as a legit genre. 'Pag sinabing comedy, feeling nila na ang babaw. Hindi ina-appreciate 'yung kagandahan ng comedy at ang kahalagahan niya as a genre of cinema. Nasasaktan ako 'pag sinasabi nila na basura ang comedy [kasi] hindi madali gumawa ng comedy."
More importantly, other than the difficulties of executing comedy, it's something she sees as not just as a distraction, but as a vital part of everyone's lives. "Kailangan nilang manood ng pelikulang nakakatawa in order to escape for at least two hours. Maraming problema ang hindi na nila masosolusyonan. [Kailangan nila] makatakas kahit ng panandalian lang," the unkabogable star stated.
