Vice Ganda urged graduating students of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Media and Communication (UP CMC) to use their knowledge responsibly while staying true to their values.
“Much is expected of you because you are the product of the country’s premier university," said Vice, who served as the guest of honor in the college's commencement ceremony on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at the UP Film Center in Quezon City.
"You are expected to spark change, not chaos. You are expected to share your education, not disinformation."
He reminded them sternly: “Hindi kayo ang magsisimula ng korapsyon. 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…”
CRAWLING OUT OF POVERTY
Vice, whose real name is Jose Marie Viceral, shared stories about the hardships he experienced growing up in a poor family—from missing exams due to unpaid school fees to skipping Christmas parties because he could not afford to buy presents—and how these experiences fueled his determination to change the course of his life.
He also recalled the painful experience of his family giving up their pursuit of justice for his slain father because they could not afford the frequent trips to city hall to seek assistance.
"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," stressed Vice.
"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."
Vice criticized the country's broken system, saying years of incompetence and corruption have deprived the public of even the most basic services.
“Mahirap maging mahirap dahil simula’t sapul, tayo ay pinamumunuan ng pamahalaan na walang maayos na sistema kung paano mapagaan ang pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino. Sa bansang ito, wala kang ibang aasahan kundi ang sarili mo,” lamented the It's Showtime host.
"Napakapalad ko dahil ang kasipagan ko ay dinikitan ng suwerte. Maraming Pilipino ang mahusay ngunit hindi makausad dahil mas malaki pa ang gastos kaysa sa suweldo," he remarked.
"Six hundred plus, may kaltas pa, iyan ang kita ng pangkaraniwang manggagawa depende kung saang rehiyon ka.
"Pero humigit-kumulang PHP300,000 ang sweldo ng senador na hindi pumapasok araw-araw at nawawala."
Vice added, this time touching on the country's challenging healthcare system: “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."
USING HER PLATFORM TO INFORM
Vice has been known to comment on social and political issues, often incorporating them in his jokes.
For Vice, being a celebrity goes beyond entertaining audiences.
He believes it also comes with the responsibility to inform the public and hold those in authority accountable for their shortcomings.
Read: Vice Ganda reflects on comedy, politics, and cancel culture
The shutdown of his home network, ABS-CBN, at the height of the pandemic strengthened Vice's resolve to speak out more openly against the country's social ills.
"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," Vice said.
"At kaakibat nito ang pananagutan ko sa aking mga tagasubaybay, ang tamang paggamit sa aking boses at plataporma."