When Mary Girlie met Jose Marie

Jose Marie “Vice Ganda” Viceral and Mary Girlie “Lai” Suarez-Reyes were high school classmates in Paris — Paris-tern University (Far Eastern University, batch 1992). 

“The last time I saw this bibo, skinny boy with a barber’s-cut ’do was during our graduation at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) 25 years ago,” says Lai.

Lai recounts, “There’s never a dull moment when you’re with Vice. I remember how he would bring the classroom down with his impromptu song numbers and witty jokes as we dreaded the arrival of our terror Math teacher. If only our teacher saw how he impersonated her or knew what he called her, he wouldn’t have gotten his clearance! Vice Ganda may not have been the best in class, but he shone the brightest!”

Read on as Vice Ganda converses with Lifestyle on his high school days in “Paris” and his lipstick line that promises #GandaForAll during a fun media gathering at Manila House.

Excerpts:

CHING ALANO: Lai showed me your class picture. Mukhang boy ka pa dun. 

VICE GANDA: Not really. In my looks, yes. But in my heart, girl ako. Effeminate na kumilos pero syempre lalaki yung looks.

CHING: Lakwatsero ka ba?

VICE: Hindi masyado.

LAI REYES: Anong gimmick mo?

VICE: I played volleyball.

LAI: Volleyball ang P.E. natin nung fourth year. After P.E., you would ask each one of us for P1 so you could buy a large Coke at McDo. Natatandaan mo?

VICE: (Laughs hard) I would possibly do that!

LAI: You did!

VICE: Well, that’s so me! Miss Friendship din kasi ako. Also, lawak ng barkada ko. Ka-grupo ko sila Girlie (Lai), tapos ka-grupo ko rin mga boys and badings — even from other sections. 

LAI: In fairness, you shared the drink naman.

VICE: Naaalala mo talaga! Nakakaloka ka! Tapos ’di tayo maselan noon. Lagok kung lagok!

CHING: What was your favorite subject?

VICE: English.

LAI: He was really good in English.

VICE: Alam mo, feeling ko dati, magaling ako mag-English. Ngayon parang hindi na.

CHING: Bakit?

VICE: Kasi sa comedy bar, meron kaming skit. There’s always a deliberate attempt na mag wrong grammar. Feeling ko na adopt ko na. Minsan, mali-mali na rin ang grammar ko.

LAI: Feeling mo lang yun!

VICE: Alam mo, ninenerbyos din ako pag iinterviewhin ako ng taga broadsheet or fashion magazines — ’yung matino — kasi I have to converse in straight English.

LAI: Did you cheat during  exams or ikaw ang nagpapa-kopya?

VICE: Both. I copied and let my seatmate copy my answers.

LAI: Which subjects?

VICE: Halos lahat, especially Math — kahit terror ang ating Math teacher. Ang hirap! I may not be the smartest in class, pero bibo naman ako. Lahat halos ng extra-curricular activities sinasalihan ko. I even joined singing contests in school.

LAI: That’s why sikat ka sa campus even before.

VICE: Makapal kasi mukha ko. (Laughs)

LAI: Were you crowned as the Prom Queen? Sorry I forgot na.

VICE: Hindi ako pwede maging Prom Queen kasi paminta pa ako nung high school tayo — pa-min!

LAI: Where did you hang out after class? Sa Pinky Pop or Mug and Chef?

VICE: Bawal pa tayo sa Mug and Chef noon kasi they served alcoholic drinks. Pero yung iba nating classmates nakakalusot. I didn’t go to Pinky Pop either kasi pang mayaman. Mahal!

LAI: So, saan ka kumakain/tumatambay?

VICE: Sa Nitz, yung eatery at the back of FEU Hospital.

LAI: I remember! Dun din tayo nagpapa-Xerox. I love their afritada.

VICE: ’Di ’ba? Ang mura. Kumakain din ako sa coop. (Laughs)

LAI: Did you also comb the streets of Recto for second-hand books?

VICE: Yeah! Sa paligid ng Morayta and Recto. Second-hand palagi gamit ko. Kasi yung mga kapatid ko taga “Paris” din. So ’yung mga pinaglumaan nila ’yun din ang gamit kong libro. Ngayon hindi na ma-recycle ang books kasi mostly workbooks na.

LAI: Where did you shop for clothes before? In Zurbaran or Cartimar?

VICE: Both. My lolo would also take me to Sta. Cruz. Sa Carriedo and Avenida.

CHING: Hindi ba hand-me-downs sinusuot mo from your siblings? How many siblings do you have?

VICE: Lima kaming babae — two by birth, three by choice (Laughs). Yung brother ko na bading din studied fashion design. So, updated sya when it comes to fashion. Ang daming fashion magazines sa bahay kasi that was where he would get design inspirations. Yung pinagliitan din nilang damit sinusuot ko. Some were sent by my lola from the US.

LAI: Kaya pala fashyon ka na even before. Favorite natin Esprit, Benetton, and Trets (Tretorn). You also wore Giordano and Guess — the “in” brands then.

VICE: Pinang-ipunan ko lahat ’yun. Lagi kaming pumupunta sa Cartimar and Zurbaran ng mga kaibigan kong well- off. Bumibili sila dun ng Esprit, Benetton, K-Swiss, Trets, and Guess. Natutuwa sa ’kin yung mga tindera kasi yung mga friends ko bumibili, ako puro sukat lang.

LAI: Paano ka nakabili finally?

VICE: Tinanong ko yung isang may-ari kung gusto niya magpabenta ng damit sa ’kin sa school. Iniwan ko ’yung school ID ko para pagkatiwalaan niya ako na dalhin ’yung mga items sa school. That time, a pair of Tretorn cost only P500, but I would sell it for P550 or P600 para may tubo ako. Dahil dun, nakaipon ako ng pambili ng Esprit shirt and Giordano Classics.

LAI: Enterprising ka na pala noon pa.

VICE: I had to. Kung hindi nga-nga!

LAI: Medyo gipit ka pala nung high school tayo. It didn’t show.

VICE: I’ve been a positive person ever since.

CHING: Sabi nila ang mga comedians daw masaya outside pero malungkot inside. Ano yung pinaka sad na nangyari sa buhay mo? 

VICE: Syempre, the death of my father.

CHING: Was it tragic?

VICE: My father died when I was 12. When I celebrated my 13th birthday, naka-burol sya. He was brutally killed, he was gunned down. After my father’s death, sunod-sunod na yung misfortunes sa buhay namin. My nanay had to leave us to look for a job in the US, so naulila ako ng husto and that time, ako yung nag-dadalaga. My siblings were all grown-ups then.

LAI: So you longed for love and attention?

VICE. Yes, which I got from my friends and their families. At times, I would spend Christmas in the homes of my friends. Lalo na yung latter part ng high school and college. Wala na yung nanay ko nun. So, kung saan-saan ako napupunta. Mahirap, malungkot.

THE UNKABOGABLE STAR RISES

LAI: Back then, did it ever cross your mind na you would be this big, this famous?

VICE: I planned to be like this. Because 20 years ago, it was very clear in my mind that the kind of life my family had wasn’t the kind of life I wanted. So, I couldn’t just wait for my life to change. I couldn’t just wait for someone to change my life. I had to do it myself. So, 20 years ago, I looked for a job and I’ve never stopped since then.

LAI: What was your first job?

VICE: I was a tele-marketer in Makati. Hindi pa uso kasi yung call center noon.

CHING: What did you do with your first salary?

VICE: Wala. May allowance lang, tapos you would get commission pag may napasok kang kliyente. Eh, wala akong ma-recruit. Yung unang kinita ko wala namang nangyari, pinamasahe ko lang sa MRT.

LAI: You also performed in comedy bars, ’di ba?

VICE: Yes. Doon mas malaki ang kita. My first comedy bar gig was at Raymond’s Bar in Mabini. Ang sweldo ko was P500, that time, ang minimum wage was P300+ lang. So, above-minimum na ko. Ang unang sweldo ko, pinangbayad ko sa utang ko sa kaibigan ko na bumili ng outfit ko. Yung first night ko kasi, wala akong outfit. So, yung bestfriend ko — enrollment nun — pinautang niya sa akin yung pang-tuition niya para makabili ako ng damit sa SM.? Sa comedy bar, nakaipon ako dahil sa tips. 

CHING: Friend mo pa sya until now?

VICE: Yes, sa ’kin sya nakatira. At binibilhan ko sya ng maraming damit!

LAI: What do you consider as your biggest break in showbiz?

VICE: When I became part of Showtime eight years ago. In fact, today, we are celebrating our eighth anniversary.

CHING: When did you earn your first million? What did you do with it?

VICE: I had my first million in my early 20s. Ni-raket ko lahat. Nagpunta akong Japan, Guam, Taiwan. Lahat ng pyesta inikot ko. Tapos nung nasa comedy bar ako, hindi na ako kumukuha ng sweldo. Pinaipon ko yung sweldo ko sa may-ari ng bar kasi ang inuuwi ko yung tips. Kasi hindi ko trip magpunta sa bangko maya’t-maya. Sasabihin na lang niya sa akin: “Kunin mo na yung sweldo mo kasi puno na yung drawer ko!”

LAI: Wow! Ang galing mo mag-ipon. Do you also manage your finances?

VICE: I know how to save, but I’m not good at managing my finances. I’m just so happy that I am surrounded by great people who help me with that. Ipon lang ako ng ipon. But my finance manager said that I wasted my money sa mahabang panahon kasi I didn’t invest in anything. Hindi kumita yung pera ko sa bangko.

LAI: So, Vice, ngayon kahit ilang McDonald’s franchise kaya mo na bilhin, ’no?

VICE: Oo! (Laughs) Dati ’di ba nanghihingi ako ng piso sa inyo para makabili ng Coke, but when FEU bagged the championship at the UAAP, pinakain ko ang buong FEU. 

CHING: Nag-treat ka ng McDo?

VICE: Hindi. Nagpa-lechon ako. Pinakain ko lahat ng tao sa campus.

CHING: Is there something in your life that you want to change?

VICE: There are regrets pero dinedma ko lang lahat. Kasi now, I’m so blessed. It’s all about being able to give your family a comfortable life, it’s being able to make sure that your family will not experience the same experiences you had in the past. Ngayon, I’m pretty sure na mabubuhay kami at mamamatay kami na komportable.

CHING: Now that you’re already on top, is there something else you want?

VICE: Time ... time to enjoy all these.

VICE’S LIPS ARE SEALED — WITH HIS OWN LIPSTICK LINE

CHING: Tell us about your lipstick line. We heard that the Vice Cosmetics website crashed on the day it was launched due to the “unkabogable” response from your fans. (According to his US partners based in LA, it crashed eight servers, with hundreds of thousands of traffic per second, which has never happened in the history of makeup.)

VICE: That day, when we launched the website (last Thursday), para akong manganganak. Nasa shooting ako, di ako maka focus sa movie. Wait lang, sabi ko sa direktor. Tinanong ko, nakikita ba kung ilan ’yung orders. Tapos nag crash na nga yung website because of too much volume. Na stress ako, pawis na pawis ang kamay ko, sabi ko ang sarap ng ganitong feeling.

Kasi niloko ko sila dati. Ang sabi ko, gusto ko ng online launch, mag online selling. Gusto ko ’yung nangyari kay Kylie (Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics). It was just a joke. Pero ang saya! Kaya dapat ibato mo sa universe, maririnig ka nya talaga, ibibigay sayo.

CHING: When did you start wearing lipstick?

VICE: When I was still in elementary. Pinapakialaman ko yung lipstick ng nanay ko. Ang shade pa non is ’yung pangmatandang orange, ’yung glossy. May amoy pa ’yung lipstick, may something!

LAI: I didn’t see you wear one in class.

VICE: Kasi nga paminta pa ’ko nung high school. I started using lipstick in college pero tinatanggal ko bago ako umuwi kasi baka mapagalitan ako sa bahay.

CHING: How did it feel when you came out in the open wearing lipstick?

VICE: When I was able to use lipstick na, it felt so liberating, parang lahat puede ko nang gawin. For me, lipstick is not just lipstick. Ang daming nabibigay sa pagkatao ng lipstick. It gives you freedom, self-esteem, confidence, it’s uplifting.

CHING: Why invest in makeup, particularly lipstick?

VICE: Una, makeup is associated with my gender. Bukod sa pagkain, makeup ang pinagkakagastusan ng mga babae, ang laki ng market, so mas malaki ang kita. For most women, it’s an indispensable part of dressing up. ’Yung labandera ko, hindi lumalabas ng bahay na hindi naka lipstick.

CHING: We heard you had a hand in the development of your lippies and even gave them fun names that are associated with you.

VICE: Sa lahat ng ginagawa ko, sobrang hands-on ako, magmula sa pangalan ng brand, pangalan ng mga shades, itsura, kung pano ima-mount, hanggang sa launch. I did not just allow my name to be used, I wanted to be a big part of this since it has my name.

It has to be me, akong-ako ’yan. Ayoko ’yung Vice Ganda brand pero mukhang Dawn Zulueta. Kailangan Vice Ganda lang. Ayokong maglagay ng shades na sosyal kasi hindi naman ko ’yon. Vice Ganda is Unkabogable. Vice Ganda is Tarush. Vice Ganda is Pak Ganern. Vice Ganda is Hayabayabayu.

CHING: Your lipsticks are so affordable (like the Phenomenal Lip Kit, which includes a liquid lipstick and a lip liner, costs only P295).

VICE: Yes, ’yon ang unang-una na ni-request ko. Vice Ganda is reachable. All this time, I thought Vice Ganda was only for the masses. Nagugulat ako na maraming mayayaman na nanunood ng Showtime. Vice Ganda is for everyone, walang pinipiling social or economic status, gender, age.

Kaya nga our tagline is “Ganda For All.” And I’m very happy that in my own way, I can make a difference in people’s lives. Before, I gave them a reason to smile. Now, I’m giving them a brighter, colorful smile. Ngayon, di ko lang sila papangitiin, papagandahin ko pa ang hugis at kulay ng lips nila.

CHING: And your lipsticks are matte and long-wearing. How long is long?

VICE: It’s matte, pero ’yung feeling hindi dry, kasi parang moisturized at hindi heavy. And yes, kahit ikain at iinom mo sya, it stays! I had a shoot from morning till night and I did not have to retouch every now and then, and we’re so happy about that.

But one time, nabiktima ako sa college, may pina-try ang mga kaibigan ko na lipstick. Pag nagli-lipstick ako sa school, binubura ko pagdating sa bahay kasi hindi pa nila alam na bading ako. Hindi ko matanggal ilang araw na kasi Magic Lipstick pala. Hindi ako makauwi. Ayoko namang ganon ka-lasting na lipstick, ’yung nag-i-stay na labag sa kalooban mo.

CHING: After lipstick, what’s next?

VICE: It’s going to be a complete line: powder, contouring maybe early next year. Filipinos natututo na ng contouring, oriented na sila about shading.

CHING: You’re in the middle of preparing for the grand launch of Vice Cosmetics. Tell us more about it.

VICE: Yes! I wanted it to be a concert/product launch, a star-studded event to fill up the 10,000-seat Araneta Coliseum. Gusto ko, maraming mararming tao because for me, lipstick is happiness, it’s life. How to get in? You just have to buy a lipstick and for every single receipt, you get one ticket.

CHING: So, mark the red-letter day — Oct. 22 — as Vice Ganda paints the town red — make that Tarush Red, Pak Ganern Red, Unkabogable Red.

* * *

LAI: Twenty-five years is such a long time so I wouldn’t have been surprised had Vice Ganda not recognized me at all. But when Rhoda Campos-Aldanese introduced me to him at the start of this fun gathering, he said he remembered me. I thought he was just being polite. 

The interview over, I ask Vice Ganda if I could have his autograph on the Lipstick Kit named Girly, a shade which I jokingly said was named after me.?“But your name isn’t spelled this way,” Vice Ganda tells me as he jots down the name Girlie.?

He does remember! And I’m over the moon as I walk out of Manila House into the starry night with Ching and STAR photographer Walter Bollozos.