If you listen to the Wow, Ang Showbiz! program of Ogie “Miss O” Diaz and Fernan “Miss F” de Guzman on DZXL Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, you should know what fun it is, especially with their occasional co-hosts Tiya Pusit and Vice Ganda whose wit and humor includes poking fun at himself or, more specifically, as he himself admits it, his resemblance to a horse (an exaggeration, really).
The same “horsey” humor is evident in Vice Ganda’s stand-up acts (at Punchline on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and at Laffline on Tuesdays and Fridays; with a lagare at Metro Comedy Bar on certain days). You see, he also works like, ehem, a horse. In fact on April 11 (Friday), starting at 9 p.m., Vice Ganda topbills his own solo show (directed by Ogie Diaz who also co-produces it), Ang Ganda Ko...Joke! (title courtesy of direk Wenn Deramas), at Metro Comedy Bar (West Avenue, Quezon City), with DJ Durano, Ronnie Liang, Toni Gonzaga, John Lapus and Chocoleit as guest performers. Vice Ganda will wear gowns by the likes of Frederick Peralta, Totoy Madriaga and Bing Cristobal. Bongga!
Vice Ganda (real name: Jose Marie Viceral) wasn’t wearing a “designer” gown but a mini-skirt last Black Saturday when he and his friends were in Puerto Galera in Mindoro for the Lenten break. That was where Vice Ganda “roughed up” a six-foot-plus basketball player (who was with his barkada) from a Manila university who “tormented” him with a dirty finger.
Related Vice Ganda, “He stared at me and, without any provocation, gave me the dirty finger. At first, I didn’t mind him. But I was bothered. Why would I allow anybody, of whatever gender, to do that to me nang hindi ko naman sila inaano?”
So Vice Ganda confronted his “tormentor” who, when asked, said that “wala lang,” he was just having fun. “At my expense!?!” Vice Ganda flared up. There and then, Vice Ganda gave the guy a resounding slap (Ouch!!!). He was hit so hard that he actually fell on his back. Hadn’t the guy run away, Vice Ganda could have given him some more.
To make a long story short, the cops were summoned and Vice Ganda gave his “tormentor” a few more pieces of his mind before he and his barkada left, head bowed maybe in shame.
So the next time you see Vice Ganda (take a close look at his photo on Page D1), don’t try to give him a dirty finger or any insulting comment, even if he’s wearing a mini-skirt.
A Political Science graduate from FEU, Vice Ganda, 31 (last March 31), is a no-nonsense person. He broke into showbiz by joining the O, Diva! search of Eat, Bulaga!, but dropped out when he lost his voice for three months, prompting him to shift to comedy. He was already a regular then at The Library (alma mater of many of today’s young comedians).
How did he become Vice Ganda?
“During my early years at Laffline and Punchline, the customers would usually approach me and say, ‘Ang ganda ng show mo!’ Ang ganda mo!’ The word ‘ganda’ stuck. So I decided to use it as my showbiz name. Looks better on the marquee, kaysa naman sa real name ko na masyadong mahaba. I just thought of adding the word ‘Vice’ because ‘Ganda’ naman is too short.”
In local showbiz where making fun of physical “defects” is an integral part of the humor, being called “mukhang kabayo” doesn’t offend Vice Ganda. He has even incorporated it into his act.
“I would say after my show, ‘O, sige, babay na. Matutulog ako ng maaga dahil may karera pa ako bukas ng umaga sa Sta. Ana.’ I mean., the racetrack.”
Vice Ganda’s idol is Allan K.
“He always reminds me to save. Like me, Allan came from humble beginnings at ayaw na niyang balikan ang hirap na pinagdaanan niya. I’ve been to his beautiful house at dream ko rin magkaroon ng ganoon.”
(Note: Tickets to Ang Ganda Ko...Joke! is P500 per. For inquiries, call Metro Bar at 0922-8398878.)
Pretty TV host thrown out of pad by landlord
If you see her on TV, you wouldn’t think that a pretty TV host could be, well, troublesome.
Ask the owner of the condo unit that she and her boyfriend (member of a band) are renting and the landlord will tell you a different story.
“The couple has been constantly fighting,” the landlord told Funfare. “These past few weeks, their fighting has become more violent.”
A few nights ago, the TV host came home in the wee hours of the morning and threw a gigantic tantrum. Her boyfriend didn’t open the door at once, so she started rapping at the door, rousing the whole neighborhood. And then, she got a fire extinguisher and smashed the door with it, destroying the narra door.
“Once inside,” the landlord said, “she continued her rampage.”
The exasperated landlord had no choice but to call the police.
“I will terminate their lease then throw them out of my place,” the landlord said.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)