Vice Ganda detoured to meet viral macaque Punch.
ABS-CBN superstar Vice Ganda feels for Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque, and fulfills her goal to meet him in person.
Punch is a seven-month-old Japanese macaque and has become an emotional support icon after his story went viral. The baby monkey has captured hearts around the world after videos of him being bullied by other monkeys and rejected by his mother surfaced online.
Punch was born last July at Ichikawa Zoo and is well-known for having a stuffed orangutan toy after he was abandoned by his mother. The specific stuffed toy had sold out globally due to the story of Punch and how he turned to the toy for comfort and safety.
As Vice Ganda headed to Japan for the Philippines-Japan Film Festival 2026, she made sure to take a detour to see Punch personally. She and her partner, Ion Perez, dropped by Ichikawa City Zoo to see Punch after being moved by videos online. They went there two days ahead to see the viral monkey.
Based on her post, Punch seems to be doing well, as he is finally being accepted by the other monkeys in the enclosure.
Vice wrote, “Success!!!! Nakita ko na si Punch!!! He looks ok. Niyayakap na sya ng malalaking jungoya. So happy!!!”
Meanwhile, Vice is in Japan for the Philippines-Japan Film Festival 2026 where two of her films, “And the Breadwinner is…” and “Call Me Mother,” will be screened.
“Na-surprise ako; hindi ko alam na dalawa. Akala ko ‘Call Me Mother’ lang. Kasama din pala ‘And the Breadwinner,’ saka ang isa pa ni direk [Jun Robles Lana] na ‘About Us But Not About Us.’ Jun Robles Lana festival pala,” she said on Wednesday in an interview.
The Philippines-Japan Film Festival 2026 is the inaugural edition and a commemorative project for the 2026 Philippines-Japan Friendship Year. She sees this as a beautiful opportunity for the foreigners to know and learn our culture and for our local movies to finally earn global attention.
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