MANILA, Philippines – Vice Ganda is back in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and this time, he’s teaming up with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Teen King Daniel Padilla in Star Cinema’s Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad. (READ: Vice Ganda is making his superhero dreams a reality)

Directed by Joyce Bernal, the movie revolves around Emy (Vice), who is protective of his younger brother Chino (Daniel). As evil forces start invading Earth, Emy remembers he’s Gandarra, thanks to his friends. Chino’s powers are also activated as he turns 21, giving him super speed and earning him the name Rapiddo. The fun and conflict start when another superhero, Kweenie (Pia), enters their lives.

Here are a few things to know about the movie.

1. The inspiration for the costumes. According to Vice, he wanted his costume in the movie to be very colorful.

“Gusto ko ‘yung visually [appealing] siya sa mga bata, visually entertaining….’Yung matutuwa ‘yung mga bata, ‘yung gusto nila magpabili ng gano’n sa nanay nila,” he said.

(I want it to be visually appealing to the kids, visually entertaining. I want the kids to love it and have their moms buy it for them.)

“Tapos inisip ko agad mascot. Gusto ko ‘yung mascot na gagawin na Gandarra, kaya first ‘yung colors ang kinonsider namin, ano ‘yung magaganda sa mga mata… matitingkad na pagsasamahin, ‘yung mga powers na manggagaling sa damit,” he added.

(I immediately thought of a mascot. I wanted a Gandarra mascot, that’s why we took into consideration the colors, what would look visually appealing…what vibrant colors would look good together, and the powers that would come from the costume.)

When they were coming up with the concept, Vice said EverWing was the in thing, so he made sure to incorporate some of it into the costume as well as a touch of Sailor Moon. 

As for Daniel’s costume, director Joyce Bernal said they made sure that his costume would reflect his manly character as well as his power of speed.

For Pia, the only requirement Joyce wanted was for it to be in gold, suiting her as a former Miss Universe titleholder. 

2. Daniel gets to work with his mom Karla Estrada. Daniel’s mother, actress Karla Estrada, is also in the movie. She plays Barna, one of Gandarra’s good friends.

“Nagkaroon kami ng mga eksena na magkakasama kaming lahat at medyo mahirap siya dahil masyadong riot sa set ‘pag magkakasama sila ermat (mom), sina Vice. Pero masaya na nakita mo ‘yung ermat mo, kasama mo sa trabaho mo,” Daniel said.

(We have some scenes together and it was quite hard because it’s always a riot on the set when my mom, Vice, and everyone else are together. But it was fun being with my mom at work.)

Daniel also said he welcomed his new superhero role since he’s been busy taping his soap La Luna Sangre with Kathryn Bernardo, who he confirmed will make a cameo in the movie.

3. This is Pia Wurtzbach’s first starring role in a movie. Although she has been in showbiz for many years and has appeared on several television shows, this is Pia’s first major film role.

For Pia, there were many firsts for her in the movie.

“First time ko maging starring role sa pelikula and first time ko makasama sila, ‘yung ganitong karaming eksena, ganitong karaming lines pero masaya. Ang saya no’ng feeling na binigay sa iyong responsibility na kailangan mo pangalagaan at patunayan na you deserve ‘yung spot na iyon,” she said.

(This is my first time in a starring role and my first time to work with them, the first time to have many scenes and lines, but it was fun. It just feels good that they gave me this responsibility that I have to cherish and I have to prove I deserve this role.)

“So tinake ko siya as a challenge and nag-enjoy ako, nag-enjoy talaga ako sa movie na ito at habang palapit na ‘yung showing, talagang nagiging excited na ako na mapanood ‘yung outcome ng pelikula, mapanood ng buong-buo,” she added.

(So I took it as a challenge and I really enjoyed it, I enjoyed doing this film and as the showing approaches, I’m getting excited to see how the movie turned out, to watch it in full.)

4. Vice Ganda’s affection for children. Just like in last year’s movie with Coco Martin, Vice got to work with kids again. According to him, he never thought he would have affection for children.

“Dati hindi ako masyadong mahilig sa bata. Pero dahil nakapag-host na po ako ng It’s Showtime, may mga segments kami na pangbata, napalapit sila sa akin,” he said.

(I wasn’t too fond of children before. But after hosting It’s Showtime segments geared toward children, I’ve grown fond of them.)

Does he have plans to adopt? Vice said he’s not keen on the idea of adopting a child just for someone to take care of him.

“Ang dami kasi nagsasabi na paano iyan, ‘pag tumanda ka, walang mag-aalaga sa iyo. I just found it so selfish na iyon ‘yung dahilan kaya mag-aanak ka, na gusto mo may mag-alaga sa iyo. Para sa akin, gusto mo magkaanak dahil gusto mo maging magulang, hindi para may mag-alaga sa iyo,” he explained.

(Many have told me that no one would take care of me when I get old. I just found it so selfish that you would want to have a child only so someone would take care of you. For me, you should want to have a child because you want to be a parent, not to have someone who would take care of you.)

Vice also said he would not want to put the child in a situation where he or she would be asked about having a gay parent.

“Pakiwari ko ay hindi pa handa ang lipunan sa Pilipinas para doon,” he added. (I don’t think Philippine society is ready for that.)

5. Vice finds a “mom” in director Joyce Bernal. This is the second time Vice is working with Joyce, after she directed his 2016 movie The Super Parental Guardians.

Asked about their working relationship, Vice said: “Sobra na akong kampante kasi may umanak na rin sa akin, may umampon sa akin.” (I’m at ease now because she took me in as one of her children, like someone adopted me.)

“Masaya ako at masaya din si Direk Wenn for sure na nagkatagpo kami ni Direk Joyce,” he said of director Wenn Deramas, who died in 2016. (I’m happy and for sure Direk Wenn is also happy that Direk Joyce and I found each other.)

Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad also stars Loisa Andallo, MC Mwah, Lassy, Wacky Kiray, and JJ Quilantang. The movie hits theaters on December 25. – Rappler.com