Comedian, TV host, and box-office star Vice Ganda was once again honored as one of Quezon City’s Top Taxpayers for 2024 in an awarding ceremony by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) held on March 4, 2025 at a mall in Quezon City.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Vice Ganda emphasized the significance of being a responsible taxpayer and how it contributes to nation-building.
“Maraming-maraming salamat po dito sa pagkilalang ito. Nakakatawa, nakakataba ng puso, nakakakilig pag narinig mo top taxpayer ka,” he said during his acceptance speech.
For Vice Ganda, paying taxes is not just a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility.
“Parang pag sinabing top taxpayer ka, parang may nagawa kang tama para sa bansang ito at mayroon kang naiambag sa lipunan,” he added.
While recognizing the duty of citizens to pay taxes, Vice Ganda also stressed the importance of government transparency in handling public funds.
“Obligado tayong magbayad ng buwis, at dapat natin gawin ‘yon,” he stated. “Pero pagkatapos nating magbayad, karapatan din nating obligahin ang mga hahawak ng perang ito. Kung inoobliga nila tayo, dapat talaga tayong tumupad, kasi obligasyon iyan.”
He underscored the everyday impact of taxation, explaining that taxes are embedded in almost every purchase people make.
“Kung inaakala natin na ‘hindi naman ako nagbabayad ng buwis,’ pag gumagamit ka ng shampoo, nagbabayad ka ng buwis. Pag kumakain ka, nagbabayad ka ng buwis. Sa bawat kilos natin, may buwis tayong binabayaran,” he said.
Vice also encouraged Filipinos to demand accountability from officials managing tax revenues, aligning with the BIR’s mission to use taxes for national development and improving the quality of life for Filipinos.
“Dahil nagbabayad tayo ng buwis, may karapatan tayong magtanong, ‘Nasaan ang ibinayad nating buwis?’ Kasi ang misyon ng BIR ay gamitin ang pera for nation-building and to uplift the lives of the Filipino people,” he explained.
Citing recent infrastructure issues, he raised questions about government spending.
“Nasaan na po ‘yung quality of life? Nasaan na po ‘yung projects? Bakit bumagsak ang tulay sa Isabela?” he asked, emphasizing that taxpayers have the right to demand transparency.
Aside from his recognition as a top taxpayer, Vice Ganda remains a dominant figure in Philippine entertainment. He continues to be a mainstay on ‘It’s Showtime’, and his recent Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2024 entry, ‘And The Breadwinner Is…’, topped the box office.
There are also ongoing speculations about the possible return of ‘Gandang Gabi Vice’ (GGV) on weekends, although no official announcement has been made.
