Vice Ganda Urges Change as High MMFF Ticket Prices Keep Filipinos Out of Cinemas
VICE GANDA – Comedy icon Vice Ganda weighed in on the MMFF ticket price issue, emphasizing that the real problem lies not in the numbers on the ticket, but in the economic realities faced by many Filipinos.
Vice Ganda weighed in on the controversy surrounding the high ticket prices of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), pointing out that pricing alone should not be blamed for why many Filipinos were unable to watch films during the annual festival. Speaking on Wednesday, the actor-comedian explained that the concern is rooted in deeper economic conditions affecting everyday Filipinos.
Vice said conversations should focus more on unstable sources of income and the limited purchasing power of the public, which make movie tickets feel out of reach for many. “Ang malaking halaga ng ticket ay hindi sanhi, kundi epekto ito ng kawalan ng kakayahan ng mga Pilipino upang gumasta dahil ang kanilang kinikita ay suwerte na lamang kung ito ay sasapat sa pangangailangan,” he said.
The 2025 MMFF Best Actor shared these views while acting as a guest during a simulated press conference for students and campus journalists at the 27th Inkblots journalism conference held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Addressing questions about the rising cost of MMFF tickets, Vice stressed that the real issue lies in understanding why so many Filipinos struggle to afford basic leisure activities.
“Actually, hindi ‘yung presyo ng ticket ang dapat tanungin natin. Ang tanungin natin kung bakit mababa ang kakayahan ng Pilipino na bumili at gumasta,” he said, earning applause from several attendees. He added, “Kahit isanlibo pa ang presyo ng tiket pang-isang tao, kung may higit na kakayahan na gumasta o higit na kakayahan sa pananalapi, hindi magiging kwestiyon ‘yan.”
Vice also pointed to factors such as the peso’s low value, inadequate wages, and widespread unemployment as reasons moviegoing has become a luxury rather than a regular pastime. Figures released on January 6 showed MMFF earnings fell nearly P100 million short of last year’s total, with expensive tickets often cited as a reason for fewer moviegoers. In response, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the festival’s organizer, said it is open to discussing possible ticket price reductions in future MMFF editions.
Having starred in several MMFF box-office hits, Vice noted that artists and filmmakers have long advocated for lower ticket prices. “There was even a point na bago ako sumali [ng MMFF]… pinakiusapan ko sila na ‘Sige sasali na ako pero ibaba natin ang presyo ng ticket, na napagbigyan naman nila,’” he shared.
He expressed concern that the move would not continue in 2025, warning that ignoring affordability could further harm the film industry. “Kasi kung hindi, tuluyang mahihirapan ang manonood na bumalik sa sinehan… kung hindi siya panonoorin, tuluyan siyang mawawala.”
Vice ended the discussion by motivating campus journalists to remain passionate and steadfast in their craft. The Inkblots conference annually gathers student journalists from across the country to engage in talks on responsible journalism.
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