Vice Ganda

Vice Ganda is a self-acclaimed gay and prefers to wear his sexual status on his sleeve. However, during his growing up years, he used to be a closet homosexual for which he had to put up with indescribable ignominy and bullying.

He is a confirmed bachelor and it is not known whether he is in a gay relationship with anybody. He presently resides in Quezon City in Philippines.

Vice Ganda was born on 31 March 1976 in Manila, Philippines. He is the youngest sibling amongst his five brothers and sisters. He was lovingly called Tutoy during his growing up years much before he became famous as ‘Vice’.

His father was the administrative head of a district and his mother was a llocano, hailing from San Juan, La Union. At the outset, there was nothing that could distinguish him from other boys in the locality as he played games and ogled at girls.

Vice Ganda instinctively felt that he was sexually disoriented as he grew older and started withdrawing from the pastimes that he once followed with fervor. At the same time, he tried his level best to conceal his actual identity that reflected his gay persona.

Vice was apprehensive that revealing his true identity would further widen the rift between and amongst his distressed family members. Vice had a very troubled childhood as Lito, the eldest amongst the siblings, left home to settle in the US following a series of bitter spats with his parents.

Vice Ganda was a witness to his father’s gruesome murder in 1991 when he was just one week short of his 15th birthday. The tragedy and the unexpected turn of events compelled his mother to take up an overseas job in order to provide for the family.

Vice Ganda began his professional career as a singer. However, he was selected to perform as a standup in ‘The Library’ and ‘Punchline’—well-known comedy clubs/bars in Manila, because of his histrionic skills. He performed alongside Manila’s celebrated singer-comedians, John Lapus, Pooh, and Chokoleit for many years, honing his satirical skills.

His accomplishments as a slapstick comedian paved the way for his entry into the world of small screen. He garnered eulogies, encomiums, and accolades for appearances as a host, actor, and judge in sitcoms, drama series, talk shows, and talent search events.

Vice hosted and made guest appearances in tele series, variety shows, and sitcoms including ‘Kokey’, ‘Ligaw na Bulaklak’, ‘Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbablik’, ‘Wowowee’ and ‘Comedy Central’. His shows were extremely popular with a section of audience because of his side-splitting wit matched with an immaculate sense of timing.

Vice’s moment of glory in his television career came in 2009 when he was picked up as a stand-in judge for ‘Showtime’—a ABS-CBN midday show that enjoyed high TRP ratings. His fans rallied on his behalf to make him a regular judge and they were successful in their endeavors.

Vice became a veritable tour-de-force completely dominating the television industry in Philippines, which earned him another epithet—‘The Unkabogable’ which means ‘The Unbeatable’. Offers for appearing in numerous television shows and programs kept on pouring in his lap enabling him to reach out to countless Filipino acolytes based in the country as well as abroad.

Vice Ganda started out on the silver screen as a supporting cast in films like ‘Hating Kapatid’, and ‘In My Life’ starring opposite Filipino celluloid superstars including Sarah Geronimo, Judy Ann Santos, and Vilma Santos. Much before he featured in mainstream films, he shared screen space with Coco Martin in an indie film ‘Condo’.

He got a major break in 2010 when he was offered the lead role in the movie ‘Petrang Kabayo’—a reconstruct of the original classic that was released in 1988. The film which was a huge box-office hit and it was followed by a string of blockbusters like ‘Tomboy’, ‘Sisterakas’, and ‘The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin’.

A film, ‘The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin’ in which Vice had a significant role to play went on to become the most successful Filipino movie ever netting over 450- million pesos in revenues. in 2011. Vice’s skilful depiction of four distinct personas in this movie, earned him a ‘Movie Actor of the Year’ award.

In 2012, Vice Ganda starred in a comedy film, ‘This Guy’s In Love with U Mare!’ promoted by Viva Films and Star Cinema. He made a brief appearance in a film, ‘Bromance: My Brother’s Romance’ in the year 2013.

He played the lead role in the action-oriented comedy movie, ’Beauty and the Bestie’ which was screened at Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) in 2015.