Vice Ganda at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival's "Gabi Ng Parangal" | Photo from @teamviceph

And the winner of the Special Jury Citation award at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival is... Vice Ganda! The star of the Star Cinema drama-comedy film And the Breadwinner Is... was recognized at the film festival's "Gabi Ng Parangal."  

In true Vice Ganda fashion, the host and movie star delighted the guests with his signature humor, starting his acceptance speech by saying, "Pagtayo ko, tinatanong ko si Direk Jun [Lana] at si Uge [Eugene Domingo], 'Ano ba itong award na ito?' Special Jury Citation for what? For best dressed of the night? Special Jury Citation for best performance? Ganu'n ba 'yun? Ah okay. So, salamat po." Bursting into laughter, Vice, who was dressed in a custom metallic red gown by Valdrin Sahiti, added that he really didn't understand what the award was for. 

At that point, the award presenters, Lorna Tolentino and Dennis Trillo, read what the award meant: "The jury of the 50th MMFF awards Special Citation to a performer who has broken the ground and gone out of the familiar and comfort zone to prove his growth as an artist and tackle issues relevant to the contemporary society."  

After hearing about the award, Vice Ganda said in jest, jaws dropping, "Thank you very much. Oh my god. I have long been waiting for this. At last, finally, I am seen." Though he started out wearing his jokester persona hat in his acceptance speech, he soon turned serious and expressed his sincerest gratitude for the award through a lengthy message. 

Vice Ganda continued, thanking ABS-CBN for the opportunities they've been giving him, "Maraming, maraming salamat po sa pagkilala na 'yun. Thank you very much... I am seen with this movie, with this project. I am finally seen. I have been participating at the Metro Manila Film Festival for years. This is the first time na mayroon akong award. Maraming, maraming, maraming salamat sa pagkakataon na ibinigay pa rin sa'kin ng ABS-CBN. Sa mga panahon na hirap na hirap na 'yung kumpanyang kinabibilangan ko ay pinipilit pa rin nilang gumawa ng magagandang proyekto, magagandang mga contents. At nagpapasalamat ako dahil sa mga pagkakataong hindi na nila kayang gumawa ng maraming proyekto, maraming pelikula, maraming contents, isa ako sa mga napipili nilang gumawa ng mga pelikulang ilalabas nila bawat taon."

The And the Breadwinner Is... actor then turned the spotlight to his director, Jun Lana. In Vice Ganda's Metro.Style interview, he said he has found a new collaborator in Direk Jun. "Kung nakahanap ako ng nanay kay Wenn [Deramas], kay Jun, may bago akong kapatid," he shared. 

Vice Ganda used his acceptance speech as an opportunity to thank the director, saying, "Maraming salamat kay Direk Jun Lana at binigyan mo ako ng ganitong istorya. Binigyan mo ako ng ganitong istorya na inaantay na rin ng marami. Binigyan mo ako nitong pagkakataon na gumanap sa isang karakter na hindi lang magpapatawa, isang karakter na hindi lamang mang-aaliw sa mga manonood kundi tutusok sa mga puso at kaluluwa ng mga makakakita into, at makapagbibigay ng maraming realizations at maraming, maraming aral sa mga makakatunghay ng pelikulang ito. Maraming, maraming salamat sa paggabay mo."

Vice Ganda also dedicated his award to his co-stars in And the Breadwinner Is..., naming Eugene Domingo (who he said deserved to, at least, be nominated for Best Supporting Actress), Gladys Reyes, Maris Racal, and Malou de Guzman. 

He wrapped up his speech by thanking two of the most special people in his life, his Nanay Rosario and husband Ion Perez, and dedicating the award to the LGBTQIA+ community. "Maraming, maraming salamat po talaga. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng sasabihin ko pero gusto kong i-share ito sa nanay ko," he said. "Nanay, may award tayo. Mabigat na mabigat. Meron ka na namang idi-display at pupunasan at ipagmamalaki sa mga kasama mo sa simbahan habang ipinagrorosaryo niyo ako. At inaalay ko rin ito sa aking asawa, si Ion Perez; siya ang pinakamasaya dito. Maraming, maraming salamat at inaalay ko ito sa lahat ng bahagi ng LGBTQIA+ community. Para sa ating lahat 'to. Maraming salamat sa Metro Manila Film Festival at kinikilala niyo ako at ang kakayahan ko, isang baklang performer. Maraming, maraming salamat." 

Vice Ganda also shared the stage with director Jun Lana when they accepted the Gender Sensitivity Award at the 50th MMFF's "Gabi Ng Parangal." Upon accepting their trophy, Vice Ganda said, "Masayang masaya po ako at ang LGBTQIA+ community dahil nakapagpakita tayo ng isang mukha ng ating komunidad na makakapagbukas pa lalo ng pang-unawa at pagmamahal sa lipunan." 

And the Breadwinner Is... marks Vice Ganda's comeback to the MMFF. His last entry to the film festival was 2022's Partners in Crime. "It feels so good to be back in the Metro Manila Film Festival, especially since this is the 50th year of the festival," he told Metro.Style, adding that it's flattering to be part of this year's lineup alongside the movies of veteran actors like Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach, Judy Ann Santos, Piolo Pascual, and Vic Sotto. 

Giving himself a pat on the back for venturing into the drama genre for the first time, he shared, "During and after doing this movie, we all felt like we have created the best Vice Ganda movie so far."

Photos from @teamviceph