Nelson Morales

Vice Ganda at the 27th Inkblots campus journalism fellowship at the University of Santo Tomas, January 13, 2026. Photo courtesy of Jasper Dominic Miranda

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Vice Ganda

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176837613855877ab2b73-2dfb-44ac-8ed6-cdf7745f7372.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="633" alt="Vice Ganda at the 27th Inkblots campus journalism fellowship at the University of Santo Tomas, January 13, 2026. Photo courtesy of Jasper Dominic Miranda"/>Vice Ganda at the 27th Inkblots campus journalism fellowship at the University of Santo Tomas, January 13, 2026. Photo courtesy of Jasper Dominic Miranda</div>MANILA — Comedy superstar Vice Ganda said Wednesday the cost of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) ticket prices should not be seen as the only cause for the many Filipinos’ inability to watch the annual movie season.Instead, he said, the spotlight should be focused on other factors that push movie tickets out of their reach, such as lack of livelihood and low purchasing power.“Ang malaking halaga ng ticket ay hindi sanhi, kundi epekto ito ng kawalan ng kakayahan ng mga Pilipino upang gumasta dahil ang kanilang kinikita ay suwerte na lamang kung ito ay sasapat sa pangangailangan,” he said.The 2025 MMFF Best Actor was the guest at a simulated press conference for students and campus journalists during the 27th Inkblots journalism event held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.When asked about the concerns on the cost of ticket prices during the MMFF, he said that ordinary people having the capability to afford these prices should be the main issue tackled instead.“Actually, hindi &#x27;yung presyo ng ticket ang dapat tanungin natin. Ang tanungin natin kung bakit mababa ang kakayahan ng Pilipino na bumili at gumasta,” he said, to applause from some in attendance.“Kahit isanlibo pa ang presyo ng tiket pang-isang tao, kung may higit na kakayahan na gumasta o higit na kakayahan sa pananalapi, hindi magiging kwestiyon ‘yan.”Vice cited the low value of the peso, inadequate living wages, and high unemployment as reasons for many being unable to afford cinema watching.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/1/6/mmda-to-discuss-lowering-movie-ticket-prices-for-mmff-2026-2137">READ: MMDA to discuss lowering movie ticket prices for MMFF 2026 </a></div>On January 6, the MMFF’s sales came nearly P100 million short compared to the gross receipts last year, with the high prices being seen as a factor in the low turnout of moviegoers.The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which organizes the festival, had said it will discuss lowering ticket prices for the next MMFF.Vice — whose movies have been top grossers in multiple past MMFFs — said they have long and continuously been pushing for cheaper ticket prices.“There was even a point na bago ako sumali [ng MMFF], pinakiusapan ko sila na sasali — kasi lagi nila akong iniimbitahan. Gusto nilang sumali ako lagi sa festival. Pero pinakiusapan ko sila na ‘Sige sasali na ako pero ibaba natin ang presyo ng ticket, na napagbigyan naman nila,’” he said.He added they were surprised the practice was discontinued in the 2025 festival and expressed hope ticket prices would be made more accessible again.“Kasi kung hindi, tuluyang mahihirapan ang manonood na bumalik sa sinehan at unti-unting mamamatay lalo ang industriya ng pelikula, kasi hindi na nga siya kumikita. “So kahit sinong artist — kahit ‘yong pinaka-artist pa man, ‘yong aktor at direktor — gusto niya gumawa ng magandang palabas, kung hindi siya panonoorin, tuluyan siyang mawawala.”Vice Ganda ended the press conference by encouraging the campus journalists to remain firm and inspired them to keep writing.The Inkblots annual conference gathers student journalists around the country for several talks and discussions on responsible journalism. RELATED VIDEO:<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NwY4XYbhrYc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Comedy superstar Vice Ganda said Wednesday the cost of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival ticket prices should not be seen as the cause for the many Filipinos’ inability to watch the annual movie season.

Comedy superstar Vice Ganda said Wednesday the cost of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival ticket prices should not be seen as the cause for the many Filipinos’ inability to watch the annual movie season.

Vice Ganda weighs in on high MMFF ticket prices

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Vice Ganda weighs in on high MMFF ticket prices

Genno Rabaya

Published January 14, 2026 04:11 PM PHT

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Updated January 14, 2026 07:29 PM PHT

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Metro Manila Film Festival

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