"It's Showtime" host Vice Ganda delivers a speech during the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Media and Communication (UP CMC) recognition rites, July 5, 2026. Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News
QUEZON CITY — Comedian, actor, television host, and media personality Vice Ganda challenged graduates of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Media and Communication (UP CMC) to use their education and platforms to fight misinformation, corruption, and injustice as she delivered her speech during the college’s recognition rites on Sunday.
A total of 181 students graduated from the College of Media and Communication (CMC or Maskom) for the Class of 2026, including 120 graduates who earned Latin honors.
Serving as the guest of honor, Vice Ganda—whose real name is Jose Marie Borja Viceral—anchored her speech on the ceremony’s theme, “Dagitab” (spark), urging graduates to become catalysts for meaningful change in society while reflecting on how hardship ignited her own drive to succeed.
She opened her speech with humor, then introduced herself in her trademark comedic style before greeting the graduates with the iconic "It's Showtime" intro, "Wazzup madlang iskolar!"
Despite the jokes, Vice Ganda admitted feeling intimidated speaking before graduates of the country’s premier state university. She said it was a privilege to speak before the graduating class, recalling her mother’s dream had always been for her to experience a college graduation.
“Simula't sapul, pangarap ng nanay ko na makaranas ako ng college graduation. Kaya naman Nay, heto na… I made it. I made it, Nay, at sa UP pa! Kapag nga naman naglaro ang tadhana, hindi ako nag-UPCAT, wala akong student number, pero tingnan mo nandito ako ngayon na parang ako pa ang summa cum laude. Pero hindi man ako ang cum laude, at least kasing yaman ko naman si Small Laude,” Vice said.
POVERTY BECAME THE SPARK
Vice Ganda said the defining “Dagitab” in her life came from poverty and hardship.
She recounted painful childhood experiences that fueled her determination to escape poverty, including being unable to contribute to school collections, being barred from examinations because of unpaid fees, skipping Christmas parties because she had no gift, and even jumping off public utility jeepneys to avoid paying fares.
She also shared one of the darkest moments in her family’s life: “Trigger warning, kwento ng karahasan. Naranasan niyo bang mapaslang ang tatay ninyo, pero hindi kayo nakakuha ng hustisya dahil wala kayong pamasahe sa paulit-ulit na pagpunta sa city hall kaya ipinagpasa-Diyos niyo na lang? Naranasan ko ’yun. Naranasan ng pamilya ko ’yun.”
Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, Vice Ganda said they became the catalyst for her success.
"In my case, these experiences did not break me. It started a spark inside of me. These experiences made me realize that I did not want to be poor. So I decided I would not continue to be poor. I know I needed to stand up, to step up, to hustle, to work very hard. Hindi ako sigurado kung saan at kung paano pero kailangan kong magsimula," she said.
She said every opportunity became a chance to succeed because she no longer wanted to experience humiliation or be denied justice simply because her family had nothing.
CRITICISM OF INEQUALITY AND GOVERNMENT
"It's Showtime" host Vice Ganda delivers a speech during the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Media and Communication (UP CMC) recognition rites, July 5, 2026. Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News
Vice Ganda also used her speech to criticize what she described as systemic inequality in the Philippines, saying poverty is made worse by failures in governance.
“Mahirap maging mahirap dahil simulat sapul tayo ay pinamumunuan ng pamahalaan na walang maayos na sistema kung mapagaan ang pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino. Sa bansang ito, wala kang ibang aasahan kundi ang sarili mo,” said Vice.
While acknowledging that hard work and luck helped her succeed, she said many Filipinos remain trapped in poverty despite their efforts.
"Napakapalad ko dahil ang kasipagan ko ay dinikitan ng swerte. Maraming Pilipino ang mahusay ngunit hindi makausad dahil mas malaki pa ang gastos kaysa sa sweldo. Six hundred plus, may kaltas pa—’yan ang kita ng pangkaraniwang manggagawa depende kung saang rehiyon ka. Pero humigit-kumulang P300,000 ang sweldo ng senador na hindi pumapasok araw-araw at nawawala," she added.
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The audience responded with applause before Vice Ganda asked, “Nasaan ang hustisya?”
She also criticized the country’s healthcare system, contrasting the conditions in Philippine hospitals with politicians seeking treatment overseas.
“Sa Pilipinas, nanganganib ang buhay mo kung ikaw ay magkakasakit at mapupunta ka sa ospital na walang kama, walang espasyo at walang aparato. Ang mga pulitiko? Gamit ang mga pera mula sa kinaltas sa buwis natin, sa Singapore tatakbo kapag may sakit dahil doon kumpleto ang serbisyo. Slay,” Vice said.
COMEDY WITH A PURPOSE
Vice Ganda said she deliberately incorporates social and political issues into comedy to encourage public discussion.
“Ilang beses man akong sabihan at pigilan, nakakatakot man pero pinilit kong ipaloob ang temang ito sa aking komedya. Ang tahasang magsalita sa aking programa, baka lumikha ito ng dagitab upang patapangin ang iba pang gising, at gisingin ang mga natutulog nang mahimbing at wakasan ang sistema at pamamayagpag ng mga nang-aabuso,” she said.
She cited satirical jokes she has made on television, saying comedy can subtly remind audiences about accountability and unresolved issues involving public officials.
Vice Ganda also reflected on the shutdown of ABS-CBN, saying it reinforced her belief that her voice carries responsibilities beyond entertaining audiences.
"Sa gitna ng ingay at kaguluhan, sa pagbaluktot ng mundong napapalibutan ng misinformation, ng mga lingkod-bayan na nagnanakaw sa taong-bayan, ng sistema na nagtanggal sa prangkisa ng aming network na kumitil sa napakaraming trabaho at kabuhayan, doon ko higit na naunawaan na ang aking saysay ay higit pa sa pagpapatawa, sapagkat ang aking mikropono na hawak ng aking kamay ay ang aking kapangyarihan," said Vice.
"At kaakibat nito ang pananagutan ko sa aking mga tagasubaybay, ang tamang paggamit sa aking boses at plataporma."
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She added that while she would continue making people laugh, she would also continue challenging the system: “Magpapatawa at papalakpakan, pero kakalampagin din ang sistema.”
CALL FOR GRADUATES TO BECOME AGENTS OF CHANGE
Addressing the graduating class, Vice Ganda reminded them that as graduates of the country’s premier university, they carry a responsibility to serve the nation with integrity.
“Much is expected of you because you are the product of the country’s premier university. You are expected to spark change, change not chaos. You are expected to share your education, not disinformation,” Vice said.
She urged them to reject corruption, lies, manipulation, and impunity: “Hindi kayo ang magsisimula ng korupsyon. Hindi kayo ang maghahasik ng kasinungalingan. Hindi kayo ang magliligaw at magmamanipula ng opinyon ng publiko. Hindi kayo ang magpapasimuno ng impunidad. Hindi kayo ang magtatakip sa mga dapat managot sa batas tulad ng ibang mga pulitiko na nagtapos sa unibersidad na ito gaya ni Senator…”
Vice Ganda stopped short of naming the senator, prompting laughter and applause from the audience before joking: “Basta alam niyo na ’yun. Sasabihin ko sana kaya parang may nakita akong pulang ilaw sa noo ko.”
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She concluded her speech by encouraging graduates to discover the “Dagitab” within themselves and use it to illuminate the future.
"Sa kaibuturan ng inyong mga puso at kaisipan, tuklasin ninyo ang nananahang diyan, tahimik ngunit makapangyarihan ninyong dagitab. Nawa’y ito ang magsisilbing liwanag na hindi lang kayo dadalhin sa tagumpay sa inyong mga karera kundi magbubukas ng mas maliwanag na kinabukasan para sa iba. Punuin ninyo ng dangal at husay ang bayan, ang mundo, at ang inyong henerasyon sa paraang alam at kaya ninyo," Vice said.