Vice Ganda built a career on loud, unapologetic comedy — the kind packed with punchlines, outrageous characters, and instantly quotable lines that became part of Filipino pop culture. But in recent years, the comedian-host has also stepped into more dramatic territory, earning praise and even awards for projects that showed a different side of his acting range.
Ironically, just as Vice began embracing more emotionally grounded roles, audiences started longing for the exact brand of chaotic comedy they once seemed to have gotten tired of. And now, with clips from “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” flooding TikTok timelines again, fans are reviving one of Vice’s most iconic characters: Girly.
“Goodness gracious! Ikaw ‘yung nag-shoplift. You were the one caught stealing on CCTV. Oh my God! No way! I cannot take this anymore. No way! My twin brother is a criminal,” Girly declares in one of the film’s now-viral scenes.
The character’s return spawned a series of memes, videos, and online edits, with younger viewers (Gen Z) discovering the 2013 comedy while longtime fans rewatch it with fresh appreciation.
For Vice, though, the renewed love comes with a bit of amusement.
The actor recalled how critics and viewers once complained that his movies all felt the same, with many pushing him to prove he could do more than slapstick comedy. But when he eventually shifted into drama-heavy performances, the response changed almost overnight.
“‘Paulit-ulit na lang. Sana makita naman range nya as an actor.’ Noong nag-drama ako, ‘namimiss namin ‘yung all-out patawa lang. ‘Yung campy-campy lang. Parang g*go ‘tong audience na ‘to,” Vice said with a laugh while recalling fans’ reactions.
While “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” remains one of his most recognizable comedy films, Vice shared that his personal tastes have also evolved over time. The comedian said the movie used to be his top favorite, but he now has a deeper appreciation for “Call Me Mother,” directed by Jun Robles Lana.
According to Vice, the film originally contained several comedic scenes that the team eventually decided to remove to avoid disrupting the emotional weight of the story. Though some moments were difficult to let go of, he understood the creative decision behind the cuts.
Asked whether he fought to keep any of the scenes, Vice made it clear he trusted the director completely.
“I will not argue with Jun Lana,” he said. “I super trust him.”
