Vice Ganda rocks the color of the year, Mocha Mousse, wearing a coat and sheer top by Anthony Ramirez and boots by Balenciaga | Photography by Miguel Alomajan

In a teaser for the ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID, Vice Ganda looks straight into the camera, with a wide, sparkling smile, reminding us all: “It’s that time of the year again.” Of course, it’s Christmas, but it’s also the season for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). It's the film festival's 50th anniversary this year, so the movie lineup is extra special. 

Since 2014, when Star Cinema entered The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin with Vice as the main star, the Christmas season has become Vice Ganda’s season. But the past MMFF was Vice-free; this year is a big comeback for the Unkabogable Star with the drama/comedy And the Breadwinner Is…, a story of an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) breadwinner who returns home to find all their hopes and dreams have been derailed. 

In this Metro.Style exclusive, along with a high fashion editorial shoot, Vice Ganda sits down to chat about what she definitively calls “My best movie ever.”

Ready, set, shoot

If one were to assume that a fashion photo shoot with Vice Ganda would be like being on the set of It's Showtimeーthat is, rambunctious, unpredictable, and full of rollicking antics and non-stop banterーone would actually be wrong. The Metro team is gathered around a kitchen island in the studio when we are told that Vice has arrived on set, and with the chaos of a set still being built and food orders just arriving, our star has slipped in quietly and almost surreptitiously. We go to the makeup area to welcome her and while the hellos are warm and smiling, there isn't much small talk or chika.

When Vice emerges fully stylized and glamorized, she says, “Game!” and the shooting starts. She moves seamlessly from one pose to another and also monitors herself on the screen, aware of her angles, body lines, and expressions. Her dedication, focus, and legendary work ethic are in full motion, and it’s a hypnotic sight. She declares after a few poses, “I think we’ve got it. Let’s do the next outfit.”  

When asked to do a slinky floor pose or a cheeky, campy one with a tray full of croissants (a play on the “breadwinner” part of the film’s title), she gamely does it all. At one point, though, the irrepressible comic genius within emerges. Photographer Miguel Alomajan and creative director Eugene David exclaim in unison: “Gandaaaa!” And without breaking her pose nor losing her poise, Vice retorts, “Hindi ako naniniwala!”

The playlist consists of mostly old-school Rihanna and Beyoncé, and while Vice often mouths or lipsyncs the lyrics, she remains super calm and collected, and emotionally contained. All her energy goes into getting the poses and looks just right.

In conversation with the "Unkabogable Star"

When all the shooting is done, and we are about to begin the interview, Vice Ganda is shown a stately wing chair where she is supposed to sit for the interview proper and a glimmer of her more vivacious self emerges. She quips as she lowers herself into the edge of the seat, “During my reign…,” and she makes the motion of removing a crown, just like a beauty queen about to pass on the title.  Everyone on the set breaks into laughter until the camera starts rolling again.

“I’m very proud to be part of this MMFF with stars like Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach, Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual, and so on. Star Cinema has been pitching movies to me, and I couldn't find one that I liked,” Vice reveals. “Actually, when Wenn Deramas died, and I couldn't find a project that I wanted to do, Star Cinema even asked me if I wanted to go to New York and study directing. But of course, Tita Cory [Vidanes] said, ‘No, she can't leave Showtime!’ I didn’t want to do a fantasy character. I wanted something that everyone can relate to. And I thought, ’What is the common denominator for everyone?’ It’s our family. We would do everything for our family. And from that seed, came our movie.”

On Vice: Coat and top by Jot Losa and pants by Jaz Cerezo

On her own journey as a breadwinner, Vice admits she did not take on the usual path taken by many Filipino breadwinners. “My parents never required us to help the family. It was all purely voluntary. My mom did not stop working until I told her, ‘Ako na. Mag-rest at enjoy ka na.’ Because all my life, I never saw her rest or take time for herself. My dad died early so my mom did it all. So, I wanted to give that to her. She did not have to ask me, the same way she never asked any of my siblings to help her out.”  

The movie highlights what some social observers have deemed as “toxic Filipino family values,” namely the over-reliance of the entire family on a single breadwinner rather than emphasizing independence and increased sharing and collaboration. Asked if the movie is meant to change this particular point of view, Vice says realistically, “I want to say that [Filipino family dynamics] are changing but every day, I talk to people on Showtime, and I see people who are in the same situation [as my character]. So what  I want to do with this movie is open people’s eyes. Change doesn’t come just like that. People have to first see before they can change. For example, I grew up in Sta. Cruz, and I don’t want to say that it’s a sh*tty place to grow up [in], but everything stays the same, and people stay the same, and I knew that my dreams were not there, that my dreams couldn’t come true there.”

Vice declares early on in the interview, “This is my best movie ever.  I don’t think it’s disrespectful to the late Wenn Deramas to say that.” Much of the credit goes to the team, the camaraderie, and the shared purpose that was born on this movie’s set. “[My castmates] drama veterans sila. And they kept on wanting the best for me. They wanted this movie to be my chance to win an award. They kept on saying to me, ‘It’s time. It’s time na mananalo ka ng award.’ Actually, since they are all so good in drama, I was insecure going into this movie. Not the kind of insecurity that can get you down, but the kind that makes you want to do your very best. Imagine, Jhong Hilario, Joel Torre, Gladys Reyes, they’re all so good in drama and we were not competitive.”

Special mention must be made to co-star Eugene Domingo and film director Jun Lana. “Si Eugene, magkaibigan talaga kami. Yes, she's a comic genius. She played my mother in Petrang Kabayo and other cameos in my other movies. But this movie is the first that we are really together. Magkapatid kami dito na ’di magkasundo. The way we talk in this movie, it’s really how we talk. Ang daming nalabas.”

On Vice: Suit and vest by Blackcode Manila

Of the movie’s director, Vice says with obvious pride and joy, “I can say that in Direk Jun Lana, I have found a new partner [in filmmaking]. With other directors after Wenn Deramas, I wasn’t sure if they had seen my past movies. Jun Lana has seen all my past movies, and so aside from being a fan, in a way, we are both gay, we have so much in common. Kung nakahanap ako ng nanay kay Wenn, kay Jun, may bago akong kapatid.”

One particular scene stands out for Vice. It was a particular scene with no ad-libs allowed and only one camera shot. “Imagine, we started preparing around eight in the morning, rehearsing our blocking and lines, but we shot at night already. But I am so proud of that scene, it is Direk Jun Lana’s favorite scene in the whole movie and I can also say that it makes the movie.”

The winner takes it all

In the trailer for the movie, one line stands out. The main character exclaims and questions: “I’m the breadwinner, but I don’t feel like a winner.” So we wanted to know what makes Vice Ganda feel like a winner. With a beautiful smile and knowing wisdom that comes from having seen the full spectrum of life, she says, “There are so many things that make me feel like a winner. Especially after the pandemic, and all that happened to Showtime, the fact that we are still here, makes me feel like a winner. The fact that I have someone I love and who loves me dearly and we can be together every day makes me feel like a winner. The fact that I have a God, and every day, He saves me, makes me feel like a winner. I have a happy, smiling mom, who calls me every night. She calls me and when  I say, ‘O smile, smile,’ and walang teeth, she will smile at me. Not every day is perfect, but every day has those winning moments.”

As she exits the dressing room, Vice holds up her phone for everyone to see. Her nightly phone call from her mom has come, and she wants all of us to say good night to her mom. She tells her she has just shared that her mom flashes a big, wide, unashamedly, and unabashedly winning smile every night to end her day. The whole set waves back at Vice’s proud and happy nanay. There are hugs all around, and lots of thank yous and see you again.

Vice Ganda may have started out in comedy, but the road to fame and fortune is not a laughing matter. It may look glamorous and fun, but we got a quick peek into the dedication, resolve, and iron will it takes to make it to the top. Sharing and seeing that unstoppable energy sure made us feel like winners.

Check out the gallery below for more photos from our cover shoot with And the Breadwinner Is... star Vice Ganda:

Photography by Miguel Alomajan

Creative direction by Eugene David

Metro head: Christina N. Lopez

Editor-in-chief: Geolette Esguerra

Sittings editors: Grace Libero-Cruz and Randz Manucom

Fashion associate: Carla Buyo

Styling by Aaron Mangsat

Makeup by Emman Concepcion

Hairstyling by Buern Rodriguez

Set design by Arj Madz of Jagger Studios

Videography by PIF Creatives

Special thanks to Star Cinema