Vice Ganda on first ever MMFF Award – Tonight I'm finally seen!

For the first time, Vice Ganda won an award at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2024, marking a significant milestone in his career. He was honored with a Special Jury Citation for his outstanding performance in the movie And The Breadwinner Is.... Vice’s face clearly showed his surprise and joy when his name was called by the presenters, Dennis Trillo and Lorna Tolentino. It was undeniable that it was a memorable moment for Vice, as he didn’t expect such recognition from the MMFF jurors.

When Vice stepped onto the stage, he didn’t immediately give a speech. Instead, he began to share a story and even asked the movie’s director, Jun Lana, and his co-star, Eugene Domingo, what the award he received was for. He expressed that he was unsure if the Special Jury Citation was for being best dressed or for his performance. He admitted that he didn’t immediately understand whether the award was for his appearance or his acting.

At this point, Lorna Tolentino interjected and, together with Dennis, read the explanation of Vice’s award from their cue card. The detailed explanation was shared with the audience, clarifying that Vice’s outstanding performance in the film was what the MMFF jurors chose to recognize, and not just his style or presentation. Upon hearing this, Vice expressed his gratitude and shared his happiness in being able to talk about his experience working on the film.

Vice then thanked the jurors and admitted that this was his first time to win an award at MMFF, even though he had been the lead in several past film festivals. He shared that this was a significant achievement for him, as despite being a well-known and successful comedian, his talent as an actor was now being acknowledged by industry experts. Vice mentioned that this recognition meant a lot to him and inspired him to continue making films and showcasing his talent to the audience.

After expressing his thanks, Vice dedicated his award to those who worked on the film, especially the director, Jun Lana, who guided him throughout the making of the comedy-drama film. Vice also shared the award with Eugene Domingo, saying that she was deserving of a win or even a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her exceptional performance. He also thanked his co-stars Maris Racal, Gladys Reyes, and Malou Guzman for their contributions to the movie and for being a source of inspiration in every scene.

As a show of support and appreciation for those around him, Vice thanked ABS-CBN, the network that provided him with opportunities and supported his career in the film industry. Vice acknowledged that while the company was still facing challenges, especially with the issue of their franchise, nothing could stop him from being grateful for ABS-CBN’s continued support of his work. He also dedicated the award to his husband, Ion Perez, who, according to Vice, was the happiest for him. He expressed that Ion was always overjoyed whenever he achieved such success and that his husband’s support meant everything to him.

Vice did not forget to thank his mother, who he knew was always excited to see his trophies displayed in their home. He shared that he knew his mother would be proud once again and would put the award in a special place. Vice also took the opportunity to joke about the situation. He humorously said that winning the Special Jury Citation made him feel like he wouldn’t be receiving the Best Actor Award, jokingly calling it a “first runner-up” award.

In the end, Vice emphasized his gratitude to the jurors and his appreciation for their recognition of his performance. He said that although he didn’t win Best Actor, he was happy and proud of his first-ever award at MMFF. Winning the Special Jury Citation was proof that his acting talent was being acknowledged and supported, and it served as an inspiration to other aspiring actors.