Good ad-Vice: Vice Ganda to entertain in Abu Dhabi

Filipino stand-up comedian and television host Vice Ganda will again bring entertainment, fun and laughter in the UAE when he performs in Abu Dhabi as part of his Vice Ganda: The Unkabogable Middle East Concert Tour tomorrow at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club.

Ganda has once before performed in the UAE, on an eventful visit to Dubai that nearly did not materialise. The experience, however, only fuelled the Filipino entertainer's eagerness to return to the UAE and perform before his adoring fans.

"I was initially denied the required permit and could not perform in Dubai," recalls Ganda of his unforgettable experience in the UAE, in an exclusive interview with tabloid!. "But I wanted to come back to the UAE because of the OFWs [Overseas Filipino Workers]. I love performing to Filipinos."

The comedian also added that his fascination with the UAE's retail landscape was another factor that made him come back to the UAE. "I also love the shopping malls here," hesaid.

Ganda is best known as one of the main hosts of ABS-CBN's noontime show It's Showtime and the host of his own Sunday talk show Gandang Gabi, Vice!

Before entering showbiz, Ganda — Jose Marie Viceral in real life — was a budding stand-up comedian who gained a wide following in popular comedy bars such as Punchline and The Library. His manager Andrew de Real gave him the screen name "Vice Ganda", and he spent several years honing his skills and building a loyal fan base in comedy clubs. His career in showbiz started to take off when he appeared on television shows and when he received rave reviews from showbiz columnists. He further gained popularity for his style of observational comedy on typical Filipino lifestyle and his use of situational irony and sarcasm when reacting to Filipino culture and behaviour..

After smaller film roles, in 2011 he starred with Derek Ramsay in The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, which became the first Filipino film to reach 300 million pesos (Dh25.40 million) in ticket sales and became the highest-grossing film in the Philippines to date. It's an area he's keen to explore.

"I don't feel any pressure in doing movies again," Ganda says when asked about life as a certified box-office artist. "This year, I have shows and a movie coming up. I also want to try a horror film if given a chance, aside from doing comedy films," he added.

Host and judge

If he were not an actor-comedian, Ganda thinks he would have been "a supermodel beauty queen" or an "IT girl". But destiny obviously had a different plan for him when he got his first big break in 2009 after he was made a regular host and judge of Showtime, a talent search television programme and the precursor of It's Showtime. His stint at Showtime served as the launch pad that opened once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be cast alongside top-billing film actors in various movies, setting off his career as a box-office artist.

As his career soared, so did the criticism and intrigues, which he has so far managed to handle quite well. He says half-joking, "I don't face criticisms and I don't handle intrigues. They handle me."

Ganda is also among the Philippine showbiz personalities who are very active in social media, particularly Twitter. His active presence in social media has also made him a prime target for critics who try to bash him online at every given opportunity. "My best friend [in social media] is the block button," he says when asked how he handles people who attack him online.

With comedians now becoming a dime a dozen in the industry, Ganda does not feel threatened, thanks to his comedy edge. "I just live by the day, just enjoy and never worry about the future," he says. He further said that his natural ability to entertain and make people laugh is what keeps him going in showbiz. "The punch lines all just come out naturally."

Quick fire with Vice

Love or money?
Both.

Career or family?
Family. 

My greatest pleasure is?
Performing.

My biggest fear is?
Sickness and death. 

One thing I can't live without is?
Air. 

When I'm alone in my room, I fantasise about?
The angry bird. 

What I like about myself?
My breath every morning. 

What I don't like about myself?
Nothing. 

What's your attire when sleeping (pyjamas, shorts, etc)?
Long gown.

When do you feel sexiest and when do you feel attractive?
During performances.

What have you invested in?
Real-estate and cars.

Don't miss it
The Unkabogable Vice Ganda performs at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club tomorrow. Tickets are Dh150s and Dh100. Call 050-3789002 or056-7941684.