On the September 11 episode of It’s Showtime, Vice Ganda delivered a forceful and emotionally charged denunciation of corruption in the Philippines, transforming a routine segment into a moment of civic reckoning.
The remarks were made during Laro Laro Pick, in conversation with Ronron, a contestant who works as a vegetable dealer. Vice Ganda used Ronron’s livelihood as a poignant example of the ordinary Filipino whose dignity and future are compromised by systemic corruption.
“Ayan oh, ’yan yung mga ninanakawan natin,” Vice declared, gesturing toward Ronron. He continued with a sweeping indictment: “Ang korapsyon ay hindi lamang pagnanakaw ng salapi ng bayan. Ito’y pagnanakaw ng pag-asa. Ito’y pagnanakaw ng magandang posibilidad.”
Vice Ganda’s statement underscored the multifaceted consequences of corruption, extending beyond financial loss to encompass the erosion of public trust, the deprivation of essential services, and the destruction of lives. He cited specific examples—parents unable to seek medical care for their children, elderly citizens denied timely treatment, homes collapsing due to substandard infrastructure, and families torn apart by poverty—all as direct outcomes of misappropriated public funds.
“Kaya hindi lang pera ang ninanakaw nyo,” he emphasized. “Buhay.”
The studio audience responded with fervent vocal support, their cheers and screams signaling collective agreement and emotional resonance. The atmosphere shifted palpably, as Vice Ganda’s words transcended entertainment and entered the realm of public advocacy.
He concluded with a call to civic action, urging viewers to hold corrupt officials accountable through speech, responsible voting, and sustained resistance. “Balikan mo ang mga nagnakaw sayo,” he said, addressing Ronron and the broader public. “Mababalikan natin sila sa anong pamamaraan?—sa pagsasalita, sa pagboto nang tama, sa hindi pagpayag na patuloy nila itong gawin sa atin. At sa hindi pagpayag na gawin nila ito nang ganon-ganon lang!”
Vice Ganda’s intervention marked a rare moment of political candor on mainstream Philippine television. By centering the lived experience of a working-class Filipino, he reframed corruption not as an abstract policy failure but as a daily assault on human dignity and possibility.
Whether this moment catalyzes broader civic engagement remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Vice Ganda’s words stand as a powerful reminder that public platforms can
