Vice Ganda is left speechless for the first time when his name was announced as Best Actor, while Krystel Go is equally stunned by her Best Actress win. Both emerge as top acting winners at Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 Gabi ng Parangal.
PHOTO/S: Screen Grab from MMFF livestream
Krystel Go and Vice Ganda’s victories at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal are monumental.
Krystel made history as the first Best Actress winner with Down syndrome.
Vice, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, became the first openly gay recipient of the Best Actor trophy—an honor that came after 10 MMFF entries.
In 2024, he received a Special Jury Citation for his performance in the drama And the Breadwinner Is…, where he famously declared, “I am finally seen.”
This year, he truly shone.
“It’s really 2025 and it is really possible and it is real. Queer people can be best actors. A queer person in gown can be a best actor. It’s 2025. It’s about damn time,” he said.
VICE GANDA’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
Vice Ganda was caught in a moment of pure surprise when he was announced as the Best Actor winner for Call Me Mother.
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He won over this year’s other nominees: Piolo Pascual for Manila’s Finest, Zanjoe Marudo for UnMarry, Carlo Aquino for Bar Boys: After School, Will Ashley for Love You So Bad, and Earl Amaba for I’mPerfect.
He began by thanking his co-stars and the entire team behind the film.
“Maraming maraming salamat po. Maraming, maraming, maraming, maraming salamat.
“At last! Direk Jun Lana, thank you very much. Nadine Lustre, thank you very much. My son Lucas, thank you very much.
“My producers, ABS-CBN Star Cinema, thank you very very much. Viva Films and IdeaFirst, thank you so so much.
“To all my co-actors, thank you very much.”
Vice Ganda, Metro Manila Film Festival 2025: Gabi ng Parangal Best Actor
Photo/s: Screen Grab from MMFF livestream
Vice Ganda admitted that this was a first for him and that he had grown used to not expecting to win.
“Hindi ko alam. Bago ho sa akin itong pakiramdam na ito hong karanasan na ito. Hindi ko alam… Usually, alam kong magaling akong magsalita, e.
“Hindi ko alam anong sasabihin ko kasi I don’t usually prepare my speeches, especially ngayon.
“At sa Film Festival, pag na-nominate ako ng ganitong award, di ako talaga nagpi-prepare kasi hindi naman akong nag-e-expect.
“Mas ine-expect kong hindi nananalo. Mas ine-expect kong hindi nakikita.
“Mas ine-expect ko yung nagugustuhan, pero hindi pinipili. O mas nasasanay ako dun sa napipili, pero hindi maaari.
“But tonight, maaari na.”
Vice Ganda thanked the jury for granting him this recognition and for creating both space and opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng jury, sa lahat ng jurors. Maraming-maraming salamat po.
“Kanina nga, noong sinasabi ang mga pangalan nung jurors, sabi ko, ‘Ay!’ Sabi ni Direk, ‘Bakit?’ ‘Kinabahan ako…’ ‘Bakit?’ ‘Puro lalaki yung jurors tapos may pari.’
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“Pero salamat po, nakita niyo po ako. Salamat po, kinilala niyo po ako. Maraming-maraming salamat po.”
Vice Ganda did not forget the producers and writers of the film for entrusting him with a character that sheds light on the struggles of LGBTQIA+ individuals who dream of building their own families but often face societal barriers.
In his words: “Maraming-maraming salamat sa… mga producers ko at sa writers ko at sa Metro Manila Film Festival for allowing us to tell a wonderful story.
“Maraming-maraming salamat sa aking direktor na hinayaan mo akong isabuhay ang isang karakter. Isang karakter na realidad ng napakaraming individual lalung-lalo na bahagi ng LGBTQIA+ community.
“Binigyan niyo po akong ng pagkakataon sa pelikulang ito na ikuwento at isiwalat ang isa sa pinakamabibigat naming takot.
“Hindi yung takot na maaaring hindi kami… Maaaring wala kaming kakayahan, kundi yung takot namin na baka hindi kami payagan.
“Sa istoryang ito na ginampanan ko sa Call Me Mother, ginampanan ko po yung isang taong may sapat na kakayahan, may sapat na laki ng puso, at kalusugan para magmahal, pero takot na takot dahil baka hindi payagan.
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“At maraming-maraming salamat din sa pagkakataon ito.
“Sa pelikulang yun, nasambit ko yung linyang, ‘Kami mga bakla, maaaring hindi kami magdalantao, magbuntis, at manganak. Pero nanay kami. Nanay kami ng sarili at mga pinipili naming pamilya. Nanay kami, magulang kami at tahanan kami.’
“Salamat po talaga dito.”
Midway through his speech, Vice Ganda grew emotional as he thanked his family.
He also expressed gratitude to his mother figures in the showbiz industry who helped guide him throughout his journey, shaping him both as an artist and as a person.
Vice Ganda said: “I also wanna share this awards sa lahat ng mga magulang, sa lahat ng piniling maging magulang.
“Sa nanay ko, maraming-maraming salamat sa nanay ko na minsan lumisan para panindigan ang pangako niya na bubuhayin kaming mga anak niya, sa nanay kong umalis para magsakripisyo, para malungkot, para mag-isa, para may kainin kami at huminga.
“Sa kapatid ko, kay Tabug, na araw-araw pinipilit mong subukang magpakaina.
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“At sa isa ko pang kapatid, ang Ate Tina ko, na naging nanay ko nung umalis ang nanay ko.
“Sa kapatid kong si Babot, na naging nanay ko rin at pinalaki akong takot sa pamamagitan ng tingin niya kaya pinipilit kong maging magaling para hindi ako mapagalitan niya.
“Sa mga nanay ko sa industriya, kay Tita Cory [Vidanes], kay Wenn Deramas, na nanay ko. Maraming-maraming salamat.”
He also dedicated his award to his It’s Showtime co-host Ryan Bang, whom he considers his own son, as well as to his husband, Ion Perez.
“Inaalay ko din itong award kay Ryan Bang, na kauna-unahan kong anak.
“At lalo’t higit, pinasasalamatan ko at inaalay ko itong parangal na ito to my baby, to my partner, my husband, my soulmate, my best friend, Ion. This is also for you.”
Vice Ganda ended his speech by sharing his deepest wish—to one day become a parent to a child he and Ion can call their own.
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“Sabi nila, ‘Bakit daw damang-dama mo?’ Sabi ni Sir Carlo [Katigbak] sa akin, ‘Bakit hugot na hugot ka doon sa pelikula sa Call Me Mother? Parang nanay na nanay ka talaga?’
“Kasi damang-dama ko talaga. Kaya gusto kong mag-sorry kay Ion dahil taun-taon pinaplano naming magkaanak, pero dahil sa dami ng iniisip ko at obligasyon ko at trabaho ko at napakaraming gusto ko pang gawin, taun-taon, hindi rin namin naitutuloy yung plano namin.
“Kaya parang taun-taon, namamatayan din kami ng anak. Kaya sana magkaroon pa ako ng mahaba pang buhay para… at sana makapagdesisyon na rin ako para maibigay ko na yun sa pamilya namin.
“Kasi gusto ko na talagang maging nanay, kasi gusto ko na magmahal ng bata na sarili ko, na akin, na puwedeng-puwede dahil nanay talaga ako. Maraming-maraming salamat po. Salamat.”
KRYSTEL GO’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
I’mPerfect is the movie debut of Krystel.
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She bested the other Best Actress nominees: Angelica Panganiban for UnMarry, Nadine Lustre for Call Me Mother, and Bianca de Vera for Love You So Bad.
The 28-year-old actress with Down’s syndrome delivered a short but sweet speech, dedicating her first acting award to her parents.
She said: “MMFF at sa lahat ng judges, maraming salamat po sa award na ito. Di po ako makapaniwala, nanalo po ako.
“Mommy and Daddy, para sa inyo ito. Best Actress na po ako.”
Krystel Go wins Best Actress at Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 Gabi ng Parangal. Also in photo: Sylvia Sanchez
Photo/s: Screen Grab from MMFF livestream
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She also gave the director a special mention.
“Direk Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, maraming salamat po sa pagkakataon na ito para mabigyan kami ng boses at mapakita namin na kaya rin naming umarte—a person with Down’s Syndrome—ang tapang ninyo po.
“Salamat po sa pagmamahal, at mahal ka po namin, Direk.”
Them she acknowledged the production team and producers—most especially Sylvia Sanchez—for taking good care of the cast members, most of them are newbie actors.
She continued: “Sa buong production team na sila Ma’am Dot, Mang Chok, Assistant Director Ninay, Direk Boy, Kuya PJ, Kuya Ronald, mahal po namin kayo lahat.
“Maraming salamat sa pag-guide sa ami sa pag-arte.
“Sa mga producers, VLTF, CMB Film Service, Kuya Jim Balthazar at sa Nathan Studios, kay Ate Ria.
“At kay Mamang Nanay Sylvia na pinagkatiwalaan niyo po kaming mga person with Down’s syndrome na kaya rin po naming umarte.
“Salamat sa pag-aaaruga, pagmamahal, at sa pagturing ninyo po sa amin parang mga… tunay niyo pong anak.
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“Ang tapang ninyo din po para gamitin ang movie na ito. Mahal na mahal po kita, namin pong lahat, Nanay.”
Krystel thanked her castmates individually for their kindness on set, and she closed her speech by thanking God for fulfilling her dream—and the dreams of others like her—to become an actor.
“Sa lahat ng cast, Tita Lorna, Tita Janice, Tatay Joey, Tito Tonton, Zaijian, Tito Joel, Tito Mike, Tita Rebecca, ang babait ninyo po lahat. Mahal po namin kayo lahat.
“Higit sa lahat, Lord, tinupad mo po pangarap ko, namin lahat na maging artista. Maraming-maraming salamat po,” she ended up in tears.
