From Mayor to Meme Queen: Filipinos Have the Funniest Takes on Who Alice Guo Is

“Your Honor, hindi ko na po maalala (I cannot remember anymore).”

Like a line straight out of a movie, these now iconic words from Alice Guo are everything the internet talks about. If you've been on social media lately, you may have already come across a plethora of memes featuring the Bamban mayor. Over at Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit, Filipinos have found a new favorite subject to poke fun at. And honestly, some of these memes are so witty and creative, it's impossible not to crack a smile.

But behind all the laughs and memes is a serious issue at play: the question of whether Guo is actually Filipino. 

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The mayor of Bamban, Tarlac has recently found herself under the intense spotlight of a Senate committee hearing. The reason? Her alleged involvement with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) companies in her town, and the bigger question about her nationality. Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros didn’t hold back, pressing Guo about her background to confirm whether she’s a Filipino or a Chinese national.

In a country where political drama often unfolds like a telenovela, it didn’t take long for netizens to turn this controversial issue into a comedic goldmine. 

Who is Alice Guo, you ask? From Meteor Garden’s Shan Cai to My Amnesia Girl’s Irene, the internet has these funniest answers.

Shan Cai, Meteor Garden

Netizens could not help but notice the uncanny resemblance between Guo and the iconic character of Shan Cai from Meteor Garden (2001).

This video, garnering thousands of reactions online, features the original F4 members singing one of the tracks from the Taiwanese drama, while Guo’s photos are shown in the background.

“Kung naabutan mo pa ‘yung original Meteor Garden sa ABS-CBN with Dao Ming [Si] and chinita girl, eh, oras na para mag-asawa (If you’ve watched the original Meteor Garden on ABS-CBN with Dao Ming Si and [this] chinita girl, it’s about time you get married),” Facebook page Philippinesball joked in its caption. (Shoutout, '90s kids!)

Another entry on X appears to be a remake of that one scene between F4’s Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai, except it’s Senator Risa Hontiveros and Guo. Hontiveros is seen giving the “red card” to the Bamban mayor. (FYI, the red card was what F4 used to bully other students in the show.)

X users, however, are divided on the photo, saying it could make Hontiveros look like the “bad” one. The senator, as mentioned, is at the forefront of the investigation into Guo’s identity.

If Guo is Shan Cai, then who’s her F4? 

You know what they say, birds of the same feather flock together. So, this user just went on pairing Guo with four other controversial personalities: former president Rodrigo Duterte, Senators Bato Dela Rosa and Bong Go, and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Bong Go’s family

If one thinks Go could pass as part of Guo’s F4, another netizen begs to disagree. X user @nabunturanguy, poking fun at the senator, says Go might be a relative of the Bamban mayor, noting their rhyming surnames. Users in the comment section jokingly concurred. 

“Baka magkamag-anak si Alice Guo at si Bong G(u)o? (Maybe Alice Guo and Bong Go are relatives?)” the tweet, which currently has more than 4,200 likes, said.

While Guo's lack of birth and school records have raised questions about how she was elected into office, it has also become a widely running joke, with some memes suggesting she appeared out of thin air or was dropped by a Chinese spaceship. 

'Super-POGO'

Guo's alleged involvement with gambling companies had netizens imagining her running a secret POGO empire from her office.

One particularly hilarious meme showed Guo in this superhero costume, ready to leap into action, with the caption, “Ready, Set, POGO with Alice Guo!" Indeed, a clever jab at the accusations and the mystery surrounding her.

Irene, My Amnesia Girl

Remember that Filipino movie where Irene, played by actress Toni Gonzaga, lost all her memories of her lover, Apollo (John Lloyd Cruz), due to amnesia? Well, if we’re talking real life, there’s no person best suited for the character other than Guo, as seen in this viral photo from user Ben Ritche Layos. The post now has close to 100,000 reactions.

“My Amnesia Girl [Senate Hearing Edition]," read the caption.

More memes making rounds online

Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) commissioner Rowena Guanzon joins in the fun in a post that is earning the laughter of Facebook users. Guanzon used Guo’s famous line to answer the question on when President Bongbong Marcos could fulfill his campaign promise about bringing down the cost of rice to P20 per kilogram.

“Matutupad pa kaya ang bente pesos na bigas?” said Guanzon. (To which Guo in the meme answers: Your Honor, I don’t know anymore.)

While Guo's true citizenship remains unclear, this Reddit user suggests one definitive test to find out: make her pronounce “nakakapagpabagabag.” (So Filipino!)

But as one tweet points out, Guo’s name already “says it all.” With reference to actress and comedian Ruffa Mae Quinto’s trademark line, X user @jtartsea said the best thing would be for the Bamban mayor, allegedly non-Filipino, to just leave the country.

“Alice ka rito sa Philippines. Guo, Guo, Guo!”

With the investigation still ongoing, Guo faces the possibility of perjury if proven not to be a Filipino citizen. The Senate panel's findings could have significant implications for her career, as well as the political landscape of Bamban. In the meantime, the memes serve as a constant reminder of the public’s watchful eye and the power of humor in political discourse.

Gerald Grana contributed to this story.