“Itong baklang 'to ang magbibigay ng karangalan sa pangalan at apelyido niyo!” This line was delivered by Benjamin “Benjie” Santos VIII (Vice Ganda) in the 2011 Star Cinema comedy film The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin directed by the late Wenn V. Deramas.
In the film, the Santos family is known for its long history of serving the country. Their ancestors fought in major conflicts and wars in the Philippines, including the Battle of Mactan, the Philippine Revolution, and the Second World War.
Benjie lives a different life from his ancestors. He works as a dance instructor and lives with his parents Benjamin “Ben” VII (Jimmy Santos) and Lilibeth (Malou De Guzman) along with his sisters, Jesamine (Anja Aguilar) and Anjamine (Abby Bautista). His grandfather General Benjamin “Bino” VI (Eddie Garcia), unaware that Benjie is gay, expects him to continue the family’s military tradition after Ben decided to live a simpler life and pursue becoming a scientist and inventor instead of a soldier.
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One day, Benjie’s relatives secretly invited his family to Bino’s 75th birthday celebration. Although he was hesitant, his father decided to attend because he wanted to finally repair their strained relationship with the family.
At the party, Bino was happy to reunite with his son. Benjie also prepared a surprise performance for his grandfather by presenting a traditional tinikling dance while wearing a golden outfit and tiara.
However, the celebration quickly turned tense after Bino discovered that Benjie is gay.
Angered by the revelation, Bino punched Benjie and called him a disgrace to the family. He declared that his grandson no longer had the right to use the “Benjamin Santos” name. Benjie’s uncles also rejected him, saying that he damaged their reputation because of his sexuality.
The family was then told to leave and never return.
Instead of remaining silent, Benjie confronted his relatives. Hurt by their rejection, he pointed out that while they were ashamed of him, he, too, was ashamed of their violence and homophobia.
This was when he delivered the line: “Itong baklang 'to ang magbibigay ng karangalan sa pangalan at apelyido niyo!”
True to his line, Benjie eventually fulfilled his promise to be the pride of his family.
After being rejected and disowned, a terrorist organization launches coordinated attacks across the country.
Despite lacking military experience, Benjie enlisted in the army in place of his ailing father. At training camp, he struggled and performed poorly compared to other recruits. Still, he remained determined and showed that he would do everything to make his father proud.
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When Benjie and his friends accidentally discovered the terrorists’ base while traveling through a wooded area, they rushed back to inform the troops. However, their warning was dismissed. Determined to help and rescue his grandfather, who had been kidnapped, Benjie and his friends decided to act on their own using the inventions created by his father.
In the end, Benjie was able to save Bino, although he was shot by one of the terrorists during the rescue. The movie then takes an emotional turn as Benjie finds himself in the afterlife, where he meets his ancestors. Instead of rejecting him, they expressed pride in him for saving his grandfather.
Benjie eventually returned to life and from then on, his grandfather finally accepted him.
His line became a defining moment in the film and one of the reasons Benjie became a sensation among viewers.
At a time when many gay characters in mainstream films were often limited to comic roles, Benjie stood out because he was given a fuller story. He was humorous, but he also showed how someone can fight for acceptance and prove his worth.
Even after being disowned and humiliated, he did not allow that to define him. Benjie became a symbol of courage because he showed that being gay was never a weakness or something that should stop someone from earning respect.
Because of this, many viewers continue to regard The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin as accepting and progressive, with some even saying it was ahead of its time.
“napaka-accepting and progressive ng parents niya. kahit pelikula lang 'to, nakakataba ng puso,” one wrote in the comment section of the movie in ABS-CBN Star Cinema’s official YouTube channel.
“Hindi lang sa pagiging sundalo, kahit ano pa mang trabaho, o kung anong posisyon man iyan, nasaan ka mang sitwasyon, hindi dapat hadlang ang kasarian. Kudos sa line na ‘yan, ang ganda talaga,” another added.
The film’s message continues to resonate today, especially during Pride Month.
Beyond the laughs and action scenes, The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin highlighted themes of acceptance, identity, and family. Many saw Vice Ganda’s portrayal as an important representation of the queer community because the character was not defined solely by jokes or stereotypes. Benjie was shown as someone capable of sacrifice, heroism, and love for family despite facing discrimination.
The film also made history as the first Filipino movie to break the ₱300 million mark at the box office. Its success led to the sequel The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, which earned more than ₱400 million during the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Following The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, Vice Ganda became a staple of the Christmas movie season, with several films breaking records and becoming favorites among Filipino audiences. Just last year, Vice Ganda earned his first Best Actor award for Call Me Mother, as he continues to represent the different stories and experiences of Filipinos.