Wherever he may be now at the top, one thing about Vice Ganda is that he never forgets where he came from. He keeps returning to his roots — back to the streets of Tambunting, Tondo, Manila, and to the people who knew him before the superstar status.
That connection came to life in a special birthday segment on “It’s Showtime,” where Vice reunited with childhood friends and neighbors. The moment felt like a homecoming. Familiar faces filled the stage, including Melvin, his very first best friend, along with Paul, Wilbert, Ivan, and Jon-Jon. What followed was a mix of laughter, teasing, and stories that carried the weight of shared history.
Opening the reunion, Vice didn’t hide his excitement as he brought Melvin forward. “Excited talaga ako rito kasi bukod sa makakalaro sila at may chance silang manalo, ito yung moment na makikita ko ulit yung mga matatalik kong kaibigan na hindi ko na masyado nakikita. Kaya ni-request ko talaga, pwede ba? Kasi gusto ko talaga silang makita. Gusto kong ipakilala sa inyo yung kauna-unahan kong naging best friend sa buong buhay ko. Si Melvin! Ang best friend kong kauna-unahan. Kasi magkatabing-magkatabi ‘yung bahay namin, tapos magkaedad kami. Kumare ng nanay ko yung lola niya, tapos kaibigan, as in super close. ‘Yung mga kinukwento ko rito na nagpapalitan ng pagkain. Kami yun, yung pamilya namin,” Vice introduced his first-ever best friend to the audience and his co-hosts Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario.
Their bond, built in the simplicity of childhood, was grounded in real acts of kindness, something Melvin remembers clearly to this day. “Dahil magkababata nga talaga kami, napakabait na nito noon pa. Merong isang pagkakataon na nasira yung sapatos ko. So may extra shoes siya. Binigay niya sa akin yung sapatos niya. Yun ang ginamit ko. Makalaro lang ako. Binigay niya sa akin. Sinakripisyo niya,” Melvin shared how giving Vice has always been.
For Vice, those early relationships defined his understanding of friendship and shaped the person he would become.
“Kung meron man akong kinamulatan ng salitang pakikipagkaibigan at friendship, sa kanya yun kasi siya yung una kong kalaro. Mabait ‘yan. Kaya inaanak ko yung panganay niya,” Vice said about Melvin.
Looking back, Vice also reflected on how growing up in Tambunting gave him a deeper connection to everyday struggles and joys—experiences that continue to influence how he sees the world. “Siguro malaking bahagi rin ng pagkatao ko ang nauunawaan kung ano ’yung kalagayan ng pangkaraniwang mamamayan kasi naranasan naming lahat ‘yung nararanasan n’yo. Iniyakan namin lahat ng mga iniiyakan ninyo, itinawa rin namin ang mga ititinatawa ninyo,” said Vice.
He spoke with pride about the very community that raised him, recognizing its role in shaping his strength and perspective.
“Ipinagmamalaki ko talaga itong komunidad na ‘to,” said Vice Ganda. “Iba’t ibang uri ng tao ang nakasalamuha ko habang lumalaki ako, and that made me who I am right now—kung paano ako lumakas, ano ’yung laman ng utak ko. ’Yung mga unang kuwento ng pakikipagkaibigan, sa kanila ko natutunan.”
For Melvin, watching his childhood friend rise to national fame is something deeply personal. He has seen the journey from the very beginning. “Siyempre, nakakaproud para sa akin lalo kasi nga kababata ko siya. Lalo na sa lugar namin, talagang ipinagmamalaki siya ngayon na isang taga-Tambunting na galing sa mahirap na lugar. Iyan ang naabot niya ngayon, si Vice Ganda na ngayon siya. Dati Tutoy lang siya, ngayon, isa na siyang Vice Ganda,” Melvin proudly shared.
The celebration also included Vice’s partner, Ion Perez, who joined the jackpot round and successfully answered the ₱100,000 question for a contestant named Precy. Staying true to his generous nature, Vice capped off the reunion by giving ₱5,000 to each participant.
In the end, beyond the laughter and the prizes, the moment stood as a reminder that no matter how far life takes him, Vice Ganda remains connected to where it all began and to the people who were there from the start.
