Comedy superstar Vice Ganda said Wednesday that the high cost of tickets at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival should not be treated as the sole reason many Filipinos were unable to watch movies during the annual holiday event.
Speaking during a simulated press conference at the 27th Inkblots journalism fellowship held at the University of Santo Tomas, Vice stressed that the bigger issue lies in the country’s economic realities, particularly low income levels and limited purchasing power.
“Ang malaking halaga ng ticket ay hindi sanhi, kundi epekto ito ng kawalan ng kakayahan ng mga Pilipino upang gumasta dahil ang kanilang kinikita ay suwerte na lamang kung ito ay sasapat sa pangangailangan,” Vice said, drawing applause from some of the students and campus journalists in attendance.
Vice, who won Best Actor at the 2025 MMFF, said the conversation should shift from ticket prices to why many Filipinos struggle to afford basic leisure activities such as going to the cinema.
“Actually, hindi ‘yung presyo ng ticket ang dapat tanungin natin. Ang tanungin natin kung bakit mababa ang kakayahan ng Pilipino na bumili at gumasta,” the actor-host said.
“Kahit isanlibo pa ang presyo ng tiket pang-isang tao, kung may higit na kakayahan na gumasta o higit na kakayahan sa pananalapi, hindi magiging kwestiyon ‘yan,” he added.
Vice pointed to several economic factors that continue to affect ordinary Filipinos, including the low value of the peso, inadequate wages, and unemployment.
“Mababa ang halaga ng piso at mababa rin ang suweldo ng mga tao at maraming tao ang walang hanap buhay, walang pinagkakakitaan. Kaya nagiging mahirap para sa Pilipino ang gumasta,” he said.
Data released earlier showed that as of January 6, 2025, MMFF ticket sales were nearly ₱100 million lower compared to the previous year, with high ticket prices widely cited as a factor in the decline in moviegoers.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, which organizes the MMFF, has since said it will consider lowering ticket prices for future editions of the festival.
Vice, whose films have consistently ranked among the top-grossing MMFF entries in previous years, revealed that he has long pushed for more affordable ticket pricing.
“There was even a point na bago ako sumali [ng MMFF], pinakiusapan ko sila na sasali — kasi lagi nila akong iniimbitahan. Pero pinakiusapan ko sila na ‘Sige sasali na ako pero ibaba natin ang presyo ng ticket,’ na napagbigyan naman nila,” he said.
He expressed disappointment that the practice was no longer implemented during the 2025 festival and warned of its long-term impact on the local film industry.
“Kasi kung hindi, tuluyang mahihirapan ang manonood na bumalik sa sinehan at unti-unting mamamatay lalo ang industriya ng pelikula,” Vice said. “Kahit gaano kaganda ang palabas, kung hindi ito pinanonood, mawawala rin.”
Vice concluded the session by encouraging student journalists to remain steadfast in their craft, reminding them of the importance of responsible and courageous journalism.
The Inkblots annual conference gathers campus journalists from across the country for discussions and workshops on media ethics, press freedom, and responsible reporting.
