Comedy Mission: Accomplished!

.:Comedy Mission Accomplished:.

A few weeks ago, I had my first ever headliner set in standup comedy. I hit the stage for about three quarters of an hour, and somehow managed to hold the crowd's attention for that long, peppering the night with a lot of laughs along the way.

And it wasn't easy, I have to admit. I came in with a lot of mental and actual preparation. Unlike a lot of the veterans out there, I don't see myself just hitting the stage and randomly delivering a twenty-minute set or more without some serious prep time. None of this comedy ever came naturally to me, because I'm not a naturally funny guy.

But seeing a room full of people with different sensibilities, different things that they think is funny, all laughing in unison does instill a sense of accomplishment in a comedian. Top it off with a bunch of people who were just outside Barley that night, yet apparently still paying close attention to my set, and I realized the reason why entertainers do what they do, and why they have a place in the world, even while other people pursue more seemingly worthwhile things, like landing a spacecraft on a comet while wearing a tacky shirt.

It doesn't matter if what we do doesn't revolutionize the world as we know it. If I were selling taho, I'd probably be selling the best damned taho of all time. Or something. I don't know, really, but I'd just want to think that even the most menial of things can be made meaningful somehow. And maybe we don't see it as we feel stuck, but we owe it to ourselves to see it through.

It was a genuine surprise to me that I managed to pull it off, in all honesty. Almost a half-hour of standup comedy, punctuated by 15 minutes of my magic and mentalism. It was something

So another day another dollar for this comedy mentalist. Tonight, I'm performing again, and someone else will be headlining it. It doesn't matter. I will keep on keeping on, because after doing standup comedy for five years, I realize all too well that I really, really enjoy entertaining people, and that's a noble endeavor in and by itself, no doubt.

Thank you to every single person that night who went to support me. From my fellow magicians to my improv groupmates to the fine people of the Comedy Cartel to my friends from Geekfight to even one of my M:TG teammates, it was a night where I really felt that the five years I put into standup comedy were more than worth it. I felt a kind of affirmation that spurs me to push it forward. And so I will.

Comedy: Serious Business

.:The Serious World Of Comedy:.

First, let me get the shameless self-promotion out of the way: this coming Monday, I'm headlining at Barley Gastropub in Sct. Bayoran corner Sgt. Esguerra, in Quezon City. I would really appreciate if you guys could catch me perform there around 9-ish, because it's the first time I'm headlining a comedy show, and I'm both nervous and stoked about it at the same time.

I never thought about it until recently, but I've actually already spent half a decade as a standup comedian. While magic and mentalism is really my primary competency, I have to admit that I really am glad to be doing what I do in standup, and the opportunities I've been given over the years.

Don't call it a comeback. We never left.

Nonetheless, the Philippine standup comedy scene is definitely a growing scene, and the Herculean task of establishing the scene set up by the Alan Manalo's and Tim Tayag's and Mike Unson's of the country has paved the way for many comics to really thrive. Whether it's Alex Calleja or GB Labrador of Comedy Manila, or the newly-crowned Komikazee winner Chip Balbuena of the Comedy Cartel, there's room for everyone to be better and to grow, and healthy competition certainly makes for better comedians.

They're not marching to Malacanang.

And while all this is happening, growing with it side by side has been improv comedy. From Bacolod's Kinenkoy to SPIT and now Switch Improv, there's something to be said about how much the improv scene continues to thrive as well, despite the apparent lack of marketing drive it has in contrast to the standup comedy scene. Why is that, though?

Loud noises!

I don't want to speculate, but I think the answer is that improv answers a completely different demand from standup, even if both of them usually end up in comedy, one way or another. Standup comedy is an entirely different skillset from improv, and it's hard to succeed in one or the other while carrying exactly the same attitude towards both crafts.

I've only been actively doing improv since 2012, which is three years after I started with standup. I've always had a healthy fear of improv, because while I could memorize jokes, there was something about being challenged to be funny at the drop of a hat in improv that frightened me.

Except the more I looked into improv, the more I realized it's not about trying to be funny that makes it funny. And the reason it's funny to people is also the reason it gets raised eyebrows from pure standup comics: the laughter comes from the truth, not from the punchline. We always say “it's funny because it's true,” but it's never been truer anywhere else than it is in improv. People laugh their heads off and give applause breaks for improv performances that did not contain a single punchline because reasons, and that's the magic of it all.

Yet, to say that it's better or inferior to standup comedy, to even compare the two on that level, is to do an injustice to both art forms. True, both have the same goal: to entertain people. However, the way they take it can be ridiculously different from each other, more often than not. Standup has a rhythm and method all its own that makes it work for what it is. Improv has a rhythm and method all its own that makes it work for what it is. And as vague as it may seem, those two are as different as can be when you pick up on all the nuances and small things they choose differently. For starters, one is a showcase of an individual's humor and point of view. The other is a group effort of people who build on the concept of “yes, and” with fanatical devotion. If you tried coming into an improv scene with a bunch of pre-planned jokes, you might be thrown for a looop when your partner decides to do something else.

Which one you prefer may very well be a matter of taste. But to say which one is better is ultimately a fool's errand. And to the practitioners of these art forms, there's absolutely no doubt that comedy is serious business.

So yeah. See you Monday, y'all!

Project 52 2014 (20/52): The Entertainer

.:Project 52 2014 (20/52): The Entertainer:.

Oh, look! I found a workaround to having to do lyrics every single time I write one of these things by picking a song with no lyrics! Ain't that a hoot?

Well, the past weekend has been all about being the Entertainer. As a member of Switch Improv, I've been part of a new and dynamic improv troupe that has been doing its own thing for the past year or so. It's definitely been fun, and something I've genuinely enjoyed doing, and our performance in Plantation Bar last weekend was one of our best shows to date, as we performed for an audience that was almost completely uninitiated to improv. We were there as a team, and we definitely delivered as a team, as we had a crowd that started off wondering to themselves what in the world those guys onstage were up to, and singing along and clapping along with us by the end of the night.

Switch isn't exactly trying to reinvent the wheel, though. There's no need to fix something that isn't broken. In fact, we want to call what we do "honoring the guard," because those that came before us, such as S.P.I.T., Philippine Playhouse, Big Bang Cheery, Kinenkoy, or even Whose Line Is It Anyway definitely paved the opportunity for a ragtag group of improv enthusiasts with mostly no theater experience to just have the chance to entertain people.

I relish that opportunity, and as does the rest of us in Switch. That night, we really had a great time, and we were on an emotional high that really kept us going all the way 'til Mother's Day the next day, when I ended up having an impromptu demonstration of levitation during lunch for my grandmother's 40th day. My mom was amused.

I guess that's what keeps me going. I like making people think when I write. Or when I perform. I like opening their mind to possibilities and to ideas. But at the core of it all, I perform to entertain, and that is my only drug: the rush of knowing people appreciate what we do and what we bring to the table. It's a kind of validation that comes with the hard work we put in, and definitely something I could never take for granted.

Unscripted, unrehearsed, a show from the top of our heads, Switch Improv brings you the high-energy art of improvisation that makes you, the audience, an active participant in the creation of entertainment. That's really the beauty of improv, isn't it? There's always something very special about seeing performers who follow their feet, and simply push themselves to a masterful performance without any actual idea where they're headed.

Every weekend for the rest of the month, Plantation Bar in Makati will be a hub for comedy. This Saturday, the one and only Ony Carcamo will be performing comedy ventriloquism as standup comedians strut their stuff as well, and the Saturday after that, May 24, Switch Improv will be back to do more improv comedy, as we continue to honor our roots and influences by entertaining people and spreading the cheer that improv brings.

The Comedy Cartel has always been known as the pioneer group of Pinoy point of view observational standup comedy locally, but as they welcome other comedy performance styles like ventriloquism and improv, they show that this ironically serious world of comedy can get bigger and better by dissolving boundaries. It's hard to argue with that kind of openness.

So here's hoping we get to see you guys at Plantation Bar this May 24. We're aiming to put a smile on your face.

Let's join us!

Comedy, Comedy, More Comedy...

.:Overdosing On The Best Medicine!:.

Tuesday nights, Tomato Kick has open mic nights in Katipunan.

Thursday nights, I get to catch SPIT in Quantum.

Friday nights, Chihuahua has open mic nights in Makati Avenue.

This Saturday, I open for Mike Unson in Gweilo's in Makati. Is this awesome or what? It's a week of comedy overload, and I'm not complaining at all!

Stoked

.:Pretty Exciting Week, Really:.

Here, we get autobiographical again...

For the most part, this week has been pretty crazy, especially since I'm meeting up with old friends over the weekend, and hosting a wedding, as well as another cosplay event. It's been great, although honestly, things could be better.

Nonetheless, one of the highlights of my last week was when Carlos and I met up with a lovely couple for Australia who wanted to see some of the things Metro Manila could offer that you probably wouldn't get from a Lonely Planet guidebook.

We ended up taking them to Dampa in Home Depot that night, and needless to say, it was splendid. As always, the see food diet won out, and we had prawns, scallops, crabs, tuna, snapper, and then some. It was good to know that they enjoyed the sumptuous meal, because swapping stories with them really felt like a genuine cultural exchange all the same. As they would love to say, we totally smashed it that night.

Afterwards, I managed to take them to Tomato Kick, where they were treated to a mostly translated night of standup comedy courtesy of GB, James, Abe, Carlo, Jeps, Ryan, Richie, and yours truly. Practically everyone killed that night, by my estimate, so everyone had a pretty great time all around.

Had it not been for the fact that Steve Jobs passed away this week, this would've been as close to a perfect week as could be for me. Ah, well.

Here's to the rest of the weekend, then. :D

Geekfighting + Itchyworms, Oh My!

.:Monday Night: A Very Special Geekfight!:.

No ifs, ands, ors, but a lot of butts...

Last Monday, my team, the Explorers of Uranus, came together to deliver Classic Geekfight in lieu of Paolo, who was enjoying himself in Bangkok since it was, after all, a long weekend. A total of six teams showed up, and after eight rounds of non-stop action plus a special round filled with butt-related stuff that Lolita Complex actually managed to win, it was Waado that was victorious, having also won back-to-back Geekfights much in the same way that the Explorers did.

I'm mighty happy about how well-received my Fighting Game round was, by the way, and much gratitude to my comedian friends like Richie, Noel, GB, Raffy, Chino, and Jeps for making it to B-Side to take part in the Geekfight, even if they heckled the Hades out of me, and made a running joke out of West Sudan.

We are such professionals...

Needless to say, everyone from the Explorers was overjoyed at how successful our first foray into running a Geekfight was, and we actually hope to do it again, as we discussed amongst ourselves over a late but well-deserved dinner at Sinangag Express.

We will do this again soon. Rest assured.

.:Tuesday Night: A Decade Of Little Monsters Under Your Bed:.

It's peering into your soul.

Tuesday night was punctuated by an awesome night spent in 70's Bistro, as I caught the Itchyworms as they played their first major label album in its entirety, which made me realize how awesome their English songs actually are, despite the fact that their next two albums were almost exclusively in Filipino.

It was really an awesome time all around, and I even saw some Japanese fans of the 'Worms, which took me by surprise because they didn't seem to even so much as know a single Filipino word, yet they took to the music like bees to honey. I should've tried striking up conversation with them after the show, but alas, they left too soon.

This was a great night of music, not to mention everyone was laughing their heads off when Moymoy Palaboy took the stage for a bit. That was epic as well.

It's a bit amusing for me to note that despite having known the band for about two years or so already, I still have yet to have a picture with all four of Jugs, Chino, Jazz, and Kel. I think I should remedy that soon.

Here's to the 10th Anniversary of "Noontime Show" in 2016! I'm counting on you guys!

Housekeeping

.:Back On The POC!:.

So, after a brief interval, I'm back with a couple of new articles on The POC.

First, I wished "Get Well Soon!" to GMA.

Then, I played an old childhood game: One Of These Is Not Like The Other. I'm sure Jacque Bermejo, Christopher Lao, and Migz Zubiri would all be proud.

As I go along and do more and more of this stuff, I realize that I want to be known as a multi-faceted person, given how I'm in radio, magic, comedy, mentalism, political commentary, philosophy, and showbiz commentary, among other things. It's something I've been cultivating for years because being one-dimensional is just too bland for my tastes.

.:Speaking Of Comedy...:.

I won't be there tonight most likely, but the Comedy Cartel will be having its regular open mic comedy show in Tomato Kick Katipunan at 10PM. It's a free show, so there's no reason to miss it if you're in the area.

This coming Saturday, Mike Unson and yours truly will be hitting the stage of Capone's in Makati's A Venue at 10PM to deliver nothing but the best comedy you can shake a stick at. And yup, it's free, too!

And of course, on August 24, Rex freaking Navarette will be in town, and you can catch his show in Resorts World! Mike Unson will also be opening for the man.

August 26, you'll see us again at Capone's!

Then on August 27, you have this...

A blast, no doubt.

This will be my first time performing in Grillery, so I'm pretty excited about it. Things are cooking, and it's going to be one hellaciously awesome ride.

A Killer Night!

.:A Return To Form (I Hope):.

I look up to this guy. Literally.

So I have decided for the past few weeks to not do magic during open mic nights in order to force myself to get better at my standup comedy. It's a bit of tough love, but hey, I think it's worked out well.

Last night, in Tomato Kick, it was GB Labrador's post-birthday celebration, and I was the opening set. I was pretty proud of how I did my set that night as I took the audience into a journey inside my psyche, and hearing some very meaningful feedback from some of the comics that night really made me realize that it was a good idea to really let magic take a backseat to standup comedy. I kinda stagnated for a long spell because I didn't hit the stage often enough, and when I did, I still did magic, so the change of pace has proven beneficial, especially now that I'm starting to find my voice in comedy.

I was genuinely surprised that the whole "Too Nice" bit went over well with the audience last night, and considering I opened that night, I was really happy I didn't bomb, but I sure didn't envy the birthday boy as the other comics one by one started using his material before he was going up, forcing him to reach deep and find the rest of his material the other comics didn't touch. It was a pretty funny way to roast GB, but he managed to turn it around by still having an excellent set despite the fact, which was testament to how much he stepped his game up.

I have so many friends in the comedy world, and I must say that GB is certainly one of the people I admire the most for his sheer work ethic and his passion for the art form. On his post-birthday show, I couldn't have been prouder of how skilled he was to pull off a great set despite the other comics doing a "best of GB" bit during their own sets, forcing him to not use those bits during his own set.

Considering how he was one of the people who suggested relying solely on my standup for open mics, it was great to know that he practices what he preaches, and the parallelisms were interesting, to say the least.

Thanks, GB, and congratulations! It was a killer night of comedy for Tomato Kick, and it was a great way to celebrate your birthday!

Film Review: Transformers 3

.:But First, A Gig Update!:.

On Monday, I'll be performing in Manila Pen, where I'll be hosting and doing my magic and mentalism, and it will be in conjunction with the comedy of the inimitable Mike Unson.

On Tuesday, as always, it's open mic night in Tomato Kick, from 9:30 onwards, where I will perform alongside some great comics from the Comedy Cartel, particularly birthday boy GB Labrador himself.

Ahh, it's such a good time to be a magician in the Philippines right now. Or a mentalist, for that matter.

.:Film Review: Transformers 3:.

This picture. So relevant to the movie!

Transformers 3: The Dark Of The Moon
Things went boom. Were you expecting high art?

Epitomizing popcorn blockbuster flicks everywhere, Transformers 3 was, without a doubt, a tour-de-force of all things awesome and bad about Michael Bay, all at the same time.

Big explosions? Check. Big action scenes? Check. Big-chested women? Check, check, check. Bad story? Check. Insipid dialogue? Check. Bad acting? Check, check, check.

But you know what? I enjoyed the Hades out of the movie, regardless.
This review will be relatively spoiler-free, so don’t worry about it.

Last Wednesday, I actually had the opportunity to watch this film because Nuffnang screened it for the members. As usual, I hosted the proceedings, and it was pretty enjoyable to do that, considering the Ozawa references I got away with, among other things. Still, it’s always extra delectable to watch a movie that the Nuffnang team actually worked on themselves.

The third Transformers film pulls out all the stops by explaining how the war on Cybertron was meant to be ended had a previous prime, Sentinel, not gotten shipwrecked on the moon en route to helping the Autobots turn the tide. When all of this is uncovered as of the NASA moon landings, its impact carries over to the present day, as the Autobots and the Decepticons are on a race to access whatever technology Sentinel Prime had that would turn the tide of battle for either side, once and for all.

For the most part, this film really felt like a fitting way to close off a trilogy. The conventional rules of thumb to trilogy enders apply here, particularly the fact that there are no more rules when the series is intended to end after the third film. While the new girl who replaced Megan Fox was less distracting, she was also just as skilled as Megan Fox at this whole acting business, which is to say, not at all. It becomes no surprise why people who like this movie tend to just gloss over her or most of the actors in the film, for that matter, except perhaps John Torturro, who really steals the scenes with his lines and inane character.

Would I recommend you to watch the film? Definitely. This is a movie that does so well on eye candy, light, comedic moments, and action. It won’t be making you contemplate the deeper meaning of life, but nobody can deny that Transformers 3 is definitely a strong film when it focuses on the things it does well, and it does these things very, very well.

Quite honestly, I don’t get why there’s so much hatred going Michael Bay’s way. His movies are generally entertaining, and while they may seem to appeal mostly to pre-pubescent fanboys when it comes to the smattering of sex and violence overall, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the sex and violence isn’t enjoyable at all. Nobody will ever expect a heart-wrenching film from the man, so it’s good that he sticks to his strengths and produces the best work within his skillset rather than overextending himself into areas where he wouldn’t be nearly as competent.

This flick is definitely worth a watch if you want some awesome visuals and high-octane action. It’s a bit on the long side, though, so ironically, you might find the film a bit dragging at certain points, which is quite a shame.

As you can tell, the Nuffies love photo booths.

Fun Evaluation: A+
Critical Evaluation: C-

What A Week, What A Week...

.:Historical?:.

Last Tuesday night, King DJ Logan went up onstage in Tomato Kick and performed his first ever standup comedy set. I'd have uploaded the video I took of it, but under pain of death, Mr. KDL has given me a very compelling reason not to.

Having said that, Tuesday night was really awesome, what with all the people who were there watching the show, as well as all the new blood that night brought together. I think that was officially the most number of open mic'ers I've ever met in one night, not including the Comedy Cartel vets themselves.

That really just rocks, y'all!

.:Quite A Rut...:.

Been trying to find inspiration to write for the POC in recent days, but other than the RH Bill and Noynoy Aquino and the still-stagnant Maguindanao Massacre trial, is there anything actually worth writing about in the world of politics at this point? These topics have been covered ad nauseam, and anything I could say would probably just be a retread of some other's pundit, even in the realm of satire or plain snark.

I'm trying to recharge my batteries for now, and I hope that something in the world of politics turns up that doesn't retread these rather tired topics at this point. I might sooner find it in me to write a showbiz article than a political one at this point, what with all this news about Mo Twister and Rhian Ramos, among other things.

.:My Good Deed For A Day...:.

Tried to surprise a friend by dropping by her office with half a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. Sometimes, I suppose it would be great just to spread some happiness all around...

Here's hoping she actually likes donuts, though. Heh.

.:Ready For The Rapture?:.

With all the rapture and end-of-the-world jokes running around thanks to Harold Camping, I suppose it's rather amusing to think how many people could possibly get laid for the first time ever just for believing this kind of tripe, particularly coming from a guy who got it wrong seventeen years ago.

See, it doesn't really matter if you believe in God or not. The end of the world for anyone comes at the moment that they die. That's the end of your world, while the rest of the world goes on. It's a bit of a buzzkill that you won't be forming a Tribulation Force or something by Sunday, but let's face it: May 21 would likely find more free comic books given out than people mysteriously disappearing as man and God meet each other halfway across the sky.

Why fret over the end of the world when you could do something to help prevent someone's world from ending? I think that if you were to do good for someone on May 21, Rapture or no Rapture, you wouldn't really have anything to regret by doing the right thing when the next day comes.

And then you do it the day after that. And after.

By the end of it, you've done your part to make your world that much of a better place. And you can be pretty much sure that by the time your world ends, people won't be happy to see you go, but will live on through you by your example.

I guess I know how I'm going to spend my time on this (hypothetically) last day of Earth, then. Suddenly, getting laid doesn't seem like such a top priority. Although I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if that was the only Second Coming to be had tomorrow...

That being said, here's a question for the commenters: what song would you sing at the end of the world?

Me? I'm totally Rickrolling everyone 'til oblivion, like a sick version of Nero watching Rome burn. With Rick Astley blaring from his fiddle.

Bits And Pieces...

.:Getting The Groove Back:.

This past week has been all about getting back into the groove of performing, and what a time it has been!

Monday kicked things off with the Comedy Cartel dropping in on the Disenchanted Kingdom. That was a pretty fun time as everyone really chipped in to make an entertaining show, overall, and it was a taste of what was to come in Tomato Kick the very next night.

What made Tuesday night awesome was the fact that despite the chaos going on in the station, we still had a pretty good show brought about by talking about standup comedy for a second straight day. Overall, it was a pretty great time for everyone involved, and then when the open mic night at Tomato Kick happened, things just got even more awesome from thereon. The new guy, Muman, performed his first ever set, and he pretty much knocked it right out of the park.

Wednesday saw yet another standup comedy night, this time happening in Merk’s Place, along Pasay Road. This pretty much felt like a homecoming to me, since my first ever professional show happened in Merk’s Greenbelt around five years ago. I made note of this on the microphone, then proceeded to demonstrate the Shanghai Shackles for their entertainment.

I had everyone’s attention on lock with my amazingly bad puns!

That felt exceptionally good, really. It was full circle for me to be back in Merk’s after all these years, and I jokingly said, “look how far I’ve come. I’m *still* a magician,” to a lot of laughs. With all the comics that night, and of course, with none other than the legen… wait for it… dary Jacqui Magno capping off the night, things were just awesome all throughout. I still have a very soft spot in my heart for Merk’s, even if it has moved places.

Then, come Saturday, it was time to up the ante, as I performed in Ayala Heights for a very interesting Star Wars party. I hosted and debuted a couple of new routines, but overall, it was a very entertaining time for everyone involved. I had to do a lot of improvising on the spot, though, as I didn’t really have much of a program to work with, but thankfully, Darth Vader jived well with Mister Vader that day…

Other than the heavy breathing and force-choking people to death, he was pretty cool.

With things slowly picking right back up, I’m pretty happy, no question about it. Nonetheless, here’s to more developments like these in the near future!

And, oh, did I mention that I actually spent time with Jazminne and Jemina last Sunday during the con?

It was madness, I tell you! Madness!

.:Geekfight!!!:.

So I decided to drop in last Friday night on Quantum Bar, where they had Geek Fight night.

On a Friday the 13th, no less!

I eased up a bit when I ran into Ren Aguila from Ateneo, and ended up being adopted by his team by default. We did pretty poorly, though, what with having (apparently) little knowledge about the Sweet Valley Universe as well as casual games on Facebook. We surprisingly did well during the Girl Band, Superstition, and Mythbusters rounds, though. One of the scorekeepers even expressed her perplexpication (I just made a word up! Woooo!) over the fact that the only two people who got the answer to the Wondergirls question was a bunch of girls who were one or two years removed from college, and myself alone in my team.

It was great meeting new people, and of course, meeting old people like Karen De Vera or Mark Poa, and a host of other people I used to hang around with in Ateneo Debate Society. I even ran into fellow mentalist Cakit, which took both of us by surprise.

In the end, our team, Sir Lorem of Ipsum, ended up with 6th Place, out of 12 teams. The sad part is, we were supposedly the defending champions. So much for a defense, apparently. We then capped our night off by going to Mercato Centrale and eating to our heart’s content, and it turns out, a lot of the Geekfighter went there, too.

The next one’s happening in Gweilo, on May 26, a Thursday night. I fully expect to be there.

Backblogging But It's Worth It!

.:DK Hilarity:.

All things considered, this week has been a watershed week for the Disenchanted Kingdom, from gaining about three thousand or more viewers on the website to Marf’s very interesting disappearing act for most of the past week, there are a lot of things inquiring minds would like to know.

Couple that with finally getting a chance to do some comedy again after a month-long layoff by doing open mic in Tomato Kick, and you can tell that things are nothing short of insanely building up to better things for the wacky crew.

Of course, last Thursday was filled with amusing craziness, too, because while on air, the gang decided to hype up the lie that I actually had some crazy nude photos of certain celebrities like Angel Locsin or Ellen Adarna or Kim Chiu and even those of a couple of friends of mine who shall remain unnamed in my new iPad. I played along, and when we uploaded the pictures on the DK website, well, here's what they saw...

Too hot to handle, apparently.

.:Itching For Some Itchyworms:.

And then there was darkness, like five seconds afterwards…

About a week ago, I actually caught a pretty fun show in 70’s Bistro with the Itchyworms. It was a great time to catch up with my favourite band, as they performed some of their best hits, besting even an untimely power outage with excellent music and showmanship.

Talking to them after the show was even more amusing, what with this particular person who insisted on singing us a song or two and then promptly shying away afterwards. True, she probably wasn’t all there and everything, but that doesn’t stop it from being quite strange to me. I also finally got to meet the great Dong Abay during the same night, so there’s that, too.

The night was just fun overall, but what really made it was the fact that after the whole thing, Kel (As in the band member, not yours truly.) told me the next day that he got jealous because I stole the Jazz and Kel duo from underneath his nose. That’s what I get for having the same nickname. LOL.

That's okay, though. Seeing as how I was applying in JAM 88.3 before, the fact that Kel is on that station means I'm not gonna end up in JAM anytime soon, since they already have their own Kel. He gets JAM, I get Jazz.

Still Alive, But I'm Barely Breathing...

.:Establishing Comedy:.

Great show brought on by the Comedy Cartel last night in Establishment, as Noel Gascon, Richie Fernandez, Marlon Olivan, GB Labrador, and the Tim Tayag came out full-force in The Fort to bring on the laughs to an audience that couldn’t have been more appreciative and awkward if they tried.

I went to catch them on their maiden voyage in the venue, and boy, did they deliver that night. Tim’s riffing and new material really worked splendidly, and Marlon making Angelo Reyes jokes (Too soon! Too soon!) definitely brought about an interesting night, and the remaining comedians did a solid job, as always.

With the Cartel coming back next Tuesday for more fun, the Establishment is indeed the place to be on Tuesday nights. Best thing about it? Entrance is absolutely free!

.:The POC Yet Again!:.

In light of yesterday’s unfortunate passing, I ended up covering a very volatile subject: Let Tweeting Dogs Die. I don’t really want to talk about the topic anymore today, so I would much rather just let the article stand for my sentiments and my thoughts on the matter.

It may be satire, but the true message is anything but a joke.

On Weddings And Votre

.:My Friends Are Getting Married Left And Right...:.

So, around December last year, a longtime friend of mine, Louanne, finally tied the knot with Erl. It was a very simple civil ceremony we weren’t even able to see because we weren’t witnesses, but the reception was nearby, and we were just so pleased to see the newlywed couple so happy and full of life. This wedding has been a long time coming, although all things considered, ever since, it hardly feels like anything changed, as Louanne and Erl have been practically married for years already, with how they absolutely adore each other.

Yay!

Met a lot of old friends who are part of the cosplay community there, including Kel and Retsu and even Alodia. It was pretty quiet for a wedding reception, but what stood out to me was this seemed to be a chain of weddings among friends that I’ve been privy to.

Just last weekend, blogger and makeup artist extraordinaire Bambi finally got married to Lee, and it was stunning how beautiful the wedding was. It happened in Fernbrook in Alabang, where although we got lost en route to it, our collective jaws just dropped at how enchanting the whole place looked. It really felt like you were right in the middle of a fairy tale, to say the least, and I couldn’t contain how happy I was for Bambi finally getting married, as I’ve shared a ton of adventures and misadventures with her and other blogger friends over the years, and seeing her this happy really does the heart good.

Careful, Lee! It’s a trap! J/K. Picture courtesy of Mike Yu.

Within the rest of 2011, I know a few other friends of mine are getting married, so all in all, it’s been pretty exciting to see them so full of love and happy. The hopeless romantic in me can’t help but wish them all the best, and hope that indeed, their respective love stories will resonate in the hallowed halls of the greatest loves of them all. You can’t really ask for anything more than that from some of your dearest friends as they embark on a lifelong journey of love and togetherness.

Yours truly with Fritz Tentativa.

Coming from less than an exemplary model of a family, I can’t help but project what I would’ve wished for myself upon my friends. Then again, nothing stops me from breaking the pattern of annulments, divorces, and general mishaps when it’s my turn, is there? This is, of course, assuming that I will get married, 12/12/12 notwithstanding.

But yeah, let’s not get in the way of a heartfelt congratulations to Louanne and Erl, as well as Bambi and Lee!

.:Another Awesome Votre Night!:.

Last Wednesday night, all the comics came out and performed for a red-hot crowd who was just raring to laugh to get over hump-day Wednesday.

From the opener of Chino Liao to the amazing comedy and magic of Andres, to the finale of one Alex Calleja, this was definitely a night to remember as everyone really brought their A-Game in anticipation of a lot of people haven’t ever seen us at work before. I even tried out some of my one-liner gags about music, and I was surprised that some of them actually worked pretty well.

Too bad I won’t be there next week, though... because I’m gonna be in Camarines Sur, bay-buh!

Interesting moment of Zen, though...

Man. Mig. Tight?

Post-Wednesday Quick Bites

.:Loaded Wednesday:.

A night of radio hilarity, followed by good standup comedy performed for audiences expecting to have a great time. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

Hanging out with the Disenchanted Kingdom and trading barbs with them has become quite the pastime, to say the least. It’s even more amusing to know that Alodia was listening yet again, and they actually asked me on the air why I’m not trying to hit on her, and I had to go all showbiz on them just to dodge that pretty awkward question. Heh.

‘Sides, someone else was listening, and I didn’t need to stress her out over it... heh.

On top of that, I'm extremely grateful to Anna because she gave me a nice post-Christmas present...

Overall, there were a lot of laughs to be had, and when coupled with the awesome standup comedy night we had where I tried some of my new material to some measure of success, I must say I’m pretty happy that Wednesdays have been my refuge from the insanity and hurly-burly of the work week. It’s been great, no question about it.

Y’know, it actually feels nice to be able to do these super-short but autobiographical blogposts every now and then. It only means there isn’t much stressing me, and I’m just taking bits and pieces of time to write what’s up with me.

.:Another Article On The POC!:.

This time, I cover show business, as I write: What Is Essential Is Invisible To The Ai. Hope you jabronis like it!

Wednesday Night Kickbacks!

.:More Articles On The POC!:.

Got published again on the POC, this time about our officials who have decided to make some new year resolutions to start 2011 off right. Me? I don't have any resolutions - except maybe to finally collect on some longstanding debts owed to me.

.:Hitting The Route:.

I swung by Route 196 last night with a couple of officemates, but I met a few other friends as well from other sectors. As usual, I didn't really take pictures, but Sugarfree, Cambio, and Peryodiko were all playing that night, so there was a lot of fun to be had.

.:The Wednesday Night Routine:.

Every Wednesday night, I make it a point to drop by 99.5 RT on the Disenchanted Kingdom, from 6-10 PM. Then, I head off to Votre Bar in the ABS-CBN area to perform with the Comedy Cartel on their open mic nights. All this stuff is free, so I definitely implore you guys to come on down and catch us in Votre, or just tune in to 99.5RT tonight. Forget Sam YG, Slick Rick, and Tony Tony for now, and just enjoy your time with King DJ Logan and the rest of the Kingdom.

It's On Tonight In Votre! See You There!

It's happening, and it's all for a good cause! Hope to see you guys there! :)

Giddiness Galore

.:Giddiness Galore:.

So...

Last Tuesday, I performed with my friends from the Comedy Cartel for a comedienne’s birthday in 77 Cafe. Now, this was a blast, and our open mic the next day was more of the same, but something about Tuesday night really stood out, and I can’t help but think about it with utter giddiness.

See, I was introduced to the comedienne’s friends as Kel, and one of them, upon finding out that I was a comedy magician, asked me if I knew a Marcelle Fabie. I looked at her, blinked, and said meekly that I was Marcelle. She didn’t recognize me, and neither did I recognize her.

That was, until she started jogging my memory. First, she reminded me that I was the aunt of a friend of mine. Unfortunately, I had three friends with the same name, so I was still drawing a blank. Then, she told me she was the mom of someone I knew very well, because this girl was someone I was very smitten by the first and only time I met her.

As the rest of the night unfolded, things just went unbelievably well, and while nothing is set in stone, hey, I definitely broke into a genuine smile for once in a long time.

I’m giddy. And I deserve to be.

.:My Idea Of A Perfect Christmas Show!:.

We're baaaaack!

Kel and Jay are back for their annual fundraiser show, and like always, we're pulling out all the stops as we conquer Votre Bar along with Comedy Cartel's Richie Fernandez and GB Labrador, and world-class ventriloquist and Talentadong Pinoy's second hall of famer, Wanlu and his puppets! Yet another night of laughs and gasps, as can be expected only from an ensemble cast like this!

It's happening this December 3, 8:30PM, in Votre Bar, corner ABS-CBN, right beside East of St. Louis. For the benefit of the Real Life Foundation, tickets are only 200 each, inclusive of a consumable drink.

No question about it: this is My Idea Of A Perfect Christmas Show. Now, if we could only get Jose Mari Chan to perform...

Clearing The Backblogging...

.:Laughing It Out:.

Let the good times roll!

Last Saturday was a night for the ages as Comedy Cartel and Take-Out Comedy came together to bring an amazing show that I was thankfully witness to. With sixteen comics in one night, it was more comics than you could ever hope for, and each and every one of them delivered that night.

Meeting some of the comics from Hong Kong for the first time has been very entertaining, and performing for them after their sets, doing psychokinesis for them, has left quite an impression on them, and two more forks from Votre Bar aren’t ever coming back, after everything’s been said and done. Heh.

Doing shows for a cause has always been something I’ve been a big fan of, so I’m still hoping to have one of my own before the year ends, particularly with Mr. Jay Mata, as we try to deliver yet another Kel and Jay night for the ages, albeit most likely in a smaller venue, like, say, Votre Bar as well.

Belated happy birthday to Caca and much thanks for making this awesome event possible. I’d love to say more, but it was just an exhilarating event that you had to be there to fully appreciate. It certainly didn’t hurt that I made the acquaintance of one Chrisha that night, as well...

Pictures borrowed from Anna.

.:Ehra, Ehra, Ehra, Hey, Hey, Hey...:.

Talk about perfect timing.

One of the few times I decide to go to 99.5 RT, and I discover that the Madrigal sisters were promoting their latest FHM issue.

I’m at a loss for words, really. This was an awesome episode.

.:Twitter, Wat?:.

Really? You think I’d be the kind of person who’d care about what Tim Yap has to say?

Guhh...