Vice Ganda’s spin on the popular “Jet2Holiday” meme drew laughter and criticism after it poked fun at former President Rodrigo Duterte’s previous statement about riding a jet ski to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and planting a Philippine flag there as a campaign joke.
The skit was performed during Vice Ganda and Regine Velasquez’ two-day concert, “Super Divas,” last week at the Araneta Coliseum. In an amusing reference, the comedian recalled the WPS and the former president Duterte’s ICC detention.
“Nothing beats a jet ski holiday, right now from Manila to the West Philippine Sea via jet ski,” the skit began. “Get unlimited water bombing from Chinese vessels and a free trip to The Hague by the ICC.”
“Promo applies to DDS (diehard Duterte supporters) only. 'Pinklawans' and 'BBMs' are prohibited,” it added.
The skit was quickly shared by fan accounts, angering former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque. In a video shared on Roque’s Facebook page on Sunday, August 10, he questioned what Duterte had done to the comedian.
Roque’s criticism
“Kapag ang isang tao ay nakadapa na, hindi na sinisipa Vice Ganda. Ang ginawa mo, nasa sahig na si Tatay Digong, naandoon na nakakulong na, 80-anyos, mamamatay na ata sa kulungan, sinisipa-sipa mo pa,” Roque expressed.
“Anong kaligayahan ang nakukuha mo sa ganyang gawain? Hindi ba dapat eh kung hindi mo siya pwede sabihan ng hindi maganda, ay tumahimik ka na lang. Ang gusto mo pa talaga ay tirisin yung tao na nakakulong na at 80 years old,” he added.
To his dismay, Roque said that the public would not be happy with the skit, emphasizing that the elder Duterte and his supporters are now lying face down.
“Huwag mong kakalimutan, bilog ang daigdig. At pag ‘yan ay bumalik sayo ay sana maalala naman ng mga supporters ni Tatay Digong na may puso sila, na kapag ikaw ay nakadarapa, hindi ka namin sisipain,” Roque said, stating that the last thing that the former president needs is to be dragged down.
“Kung kaligayahan mo ‘yan, okay lang naman siguro, bahala ka, bahala tayo, kanya-kanyang kaligayahan,” he added. “Sa amin lang, that was in utter bad taste. Well, of course, hindi ka [Vice Ganda] naman talaga icon of good taste dahil iyan ang iyong brand of humor, pero sana ilagay naman sa tama.”
Despite this, Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña backed Vice Ganda, highlighting that the “truth hits the hardest when it makes people laugh.”
Cendaña’s defense
Amid the backlash from Duterte supporters and the Davao City local government’s call to declare the comedian persona non grata, Cendaña stood with the latter.
"Speaking truth to power is most potent when it makes people laugh. Ibig sabihin tagos na tagos at tusok na tusok. Laughter is not only the best medicine, it [is] also the best wake-up call,” he said in a statement on Monday, August 11.
"At kung sakaling ma-persona non grata ka, keri lang yan. Dahil sa aming puso, Meme, ikaw ay persona bonggang-bongga," he added.
For the lawmaker, Vice Ganda’s brand of comedy is principled and thought-provoking.
"Mabuhay ka Meme Vice! Maraming salamat sa pagpapatawa nang may pagmumulat at paninindigan." his statement ended.
The jetski joke was a reference to Duterte’s response to a question about China’s continuous harassment of Filipino fisherfolk sailing within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). According to the former president, he would ask the Navy to bring him to the nearest boundary along Scarborough Shoal.
“Bababa ako, sasakay ako ng jet ski, dala-dala ko yung flag ng Pilipino, at pupunta ako dun sa airport nila, tapos itanim ko. Then I would say this is ours, and do what you want with me. Bahala na kayo,” he said, adding that his ambition is to be a hero.
However, in 2021, Duterte clarified that the promise he made during the election season was a campaign joke, describing those who believed him as “stupid.”
