Vice Ganda opens up on struggles in his success journey with Angkas CEO’s ‘PasaHero’ pilot episode
George Royeca, Chief Executive Officer of ride-hailing app Angkas, started his new online show PasaHero’s episode by posing the questions, “Paano ba yumaman? ‘Yung ordinaryong tao, kaya bang maging milyonaryo? Sapat ba ang sipag para maabot ang pangarap?” He began to describe his guest Vice Ganda as “a true hero, hero sa mga Pilipinong nauubusan na ng pag-asang makaahon pa sa kahirapan, hero sa milyun-milyong Madlang Pipol at isa sa pinakakilalang tao sa Pilipinas, one of the richest and most influential celebrities in the country.”
When asked how rich he is, Vice laughingly replied, expressing on the side that the question is very difficult to answer. “Depende siguro kung saan mo sinusukat ang yaman. Hindi ko na masukat ‘yung yaman ko ngayon. ‘Yung yaman na tinutukoy ko ay yaman na pananalapi, yaman na kaligayahan sa puso, yaman na naabot na mga pangarap, yaman ng mga taong nakapaligid sa akin. Kung susumahin, hindi ko na alam gaano siya kalaki. Pero alam kong mayaman na ako,” he said. Vice later shared that he achieved things beyond his dreams and recalled just having the pursuit for excellence ever since he was a kid. “Lahat ng gagawin ko, ginagalingan ko talaga,” he enthused.
The program sets out to shine a spotlight on tales of valor, diligence, and the achievement of aspirations from diverse accomplished individuals, offering viewers valuable takeaways that they can incorporate into their own quests for achievement.
Vice recounted his humble origins in entertainment. In 1998, he embarked on his journey in the comedy scene, eventually rising to prominence as a stand-up comedian of note.
When probed about the point at which he attained widespread recognition, Vice candidly disclosed that it took him a substantial 14 years to reach such a milestone. He openly acknowledged moments when he felt overshadowed by his comedy bar peers, such as Ethel Booba, Chokoleit, and Pooh, who achieved fame ahead of him.
He elucidated, saying, “Hindi ko na siya kinarir maging star sa mainstream.” Vice came clean about nearly giving up on his aspiration of becoming a television personality as his fellow comedians basked in the glory of teleseryes, recording contracts, and other opportunities, relegating him to the background.
Despite the formidable hurdles, Vice Ganda clung to hope and determination. He made a conscious choice to elevate his comedy bar career, ensuring that his performances transcended mere routine gigs, evolving into full-fledged spectacles replete with multiple costume changes and his own live band. He even seamlessly infused acoustic music into his comedic repertoire to remain pertinent in the industry.
Vice underscored his approach, treating his work in the comedy bar as a business, demanding excellence and adaptability to ever-changing trends and demands. He reminisced about a juncture in his career when he thought, “Sabi ko, ‘maybe it wasn’t for me.” He resigned himself to the notion that mainstream success might be beyond his grasp and was okay with being the Queen of Comedy Bars.
Nevertheless, Vice’s unswerving yearning for triumph and recognition as the pinnacle performer in his field fueled his tenacity. He affectionately crowned himself the ‘Queen of Comedy Bars’ and remained steadfast in his quest to push the boundaries of his craft.
His odyssey eventually led him to television stardom, stepping into the role of a substitute judge on the noontime show ‘It’s Showtime’ in 2009. He went on to secure a permanent spot as a judge and host on the program, earning the illustrious title of ‘The Unkabogable Star.’
Towards the end of the show, Vice said something that really made a mark. “I never settled for less. ‘Pag bibigyan ako ng opportunity, gagalingan ko ‘yung opportunity na ‘yun. Tapos gagawin ko ito kasi meron akong plano sa sarili ko,” he related. He went on to share that after doing things solely for himself, he realized how much of an impact he has on others. Vice later realized that his success is shared with others. “‘Yung success ko, naging kapangyarihan ko siya. At naging kapangyarihan siya ng mga taong nirerepresent ko,” he said.
