The comedy night concluded with amazingly hilarious sets by Gary Jackson, an American, professional comedian from Hong Kong, who did a great job of relating real life stories while taking them to a funnier level, and Ony Carcamo, a professional ventriloquist and comedian, who showed the audience a different flavour of Pinoy comedy altogether.
Hong Kong’s Gary Jackson
Only he shared that he drew inspiration from Manual Conde (popularly known as Mr. Shooli in the comedy series Mongolian Barbecue), who happened to be his boss back then in an advertising firm. To him, ventriloquism is an art, a medium to send a message across, and its integration with comedy is an interesting mix especially to the Filipino audience who got used to Pinoy stand-up comedy in gay comedy bars. It took him 14 years to master the art. His aim is to transform the comedy platform in the Philippines with a seemingly dying art of ventriloquism. However, he becomes optimistic about it as he is saying there is a come-back in the entertainment – a gradual reborn, so to say.
With professional ventriloquist and comedian Ony Carcamo
After his set, it is interesting to note a couple of his characters. He has a puppet named Mr. Parley, a drunkard neighbor, and Sampaguita, a pet piglet both of which were part of his childhood. He reiterated that his acts and characters are part of himself and his life. They are all reflective of him. He has done a great and stellar performance with ventriloquism as his medium while integrating comedy as the content. Now, that is entertainment skill that is irreplaceable.
The 3rd leg of the competition will have their last 2 shows at The Plantation Bar + Bistro on May 24th with comedy improvisation and on May 31st with the open mic showdown again with special guest Tim Tayag.
—
While getting good comedy shows, it is good to try out The Plantation Bar + Bistro’s best sellers.
The Chicken Parmigiano would have to be the best to try. The subtle taste of spice, the tender chicken fillet, on a bed of mashed potato, and topped with parmesan cheese just made everything perfect for the comedy night.
The Spicy Spare Ribs were definitely perfect for the finger food treats while getting a good laugh of the entire show.
The Seafood Putanesca just smooths out anybody’s taste buds with the subtle and tangy taste, mixed with a good seafood touch. It was mouth-watering enough.
The ambiance was just perfect for any comedy night show.
—
Final Thoughts…
Pinoy comedy, though seemingly defined within the confines of gay comedy bars, has something more to showcase. There is something essential in every Filipino humour. It’s yet to be explored. What is interesting is that comedy need not be a form of ridicule among a select few in the audience. It can be a reflection of the comedian’s life experience and story, which becomes relatable to the audience. Pinoy comedy is an art with a given diverse cultural set-up. To laugh out loud is just a good means to relax and at the same time explore possibilities never seen before.Â
—
Â
