MANILA, Philippines – The circus that is Philippine politics easily lends itself to comedy and online memes, and quite naturally, translates to more content for the many witty and brave Filipino satirists.
With the ongoing probe of the flood control projects and the likes of the Discayas making the news rounds, there’s no doubting that all eyes are on the government as the drama and dismay unfold.
Longtime comedian Michael V. quickly latched onto it, with his enduring gag show Bubble Gang unveiling a new character in Ciala Dismaya.
So no matter which side you sit, Filipinos unite under comic relief through impersonations, skits, and social media memes.
Here’s a look back at the moments in local pop culture history when veteran and emerging Filipino satirists took center stage.
Willie Nep: From Marcos to Noynoy
Willie Nepomuceno as Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the 36th anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Impersonating someone is one way of picking apart social issues, and perhaps no one does it better in the Philippines than the late Willie Nepomuceno, who deemed himself as an “impressionist” of many public figures in politics and pop culture.
An alumnus of the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman, he first started out by imitating the voices of the Reycard Duet and Queen of Kundiman singer Sylvia La Torre for his classmates.
He rose to fame as an impersonator when he started dressing himself up as Ferdinand Marcos Sr. during the surge of the First Quarter Storm in the late president’s term. A known activist, Nepomuceno used his artistic talents in rallies by dressing up in costumes and imitating voices in order for the people to listen.
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Utilizing comedy, his acting methods and theatrics made such strong impact during these rallies in the 1970s that the government personally asked him to stop impersonating Marcos Sr. In February 2022, “Willie Nep” participated in the 36th anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution dressed as the late president.
Nepomuceno also drew a lot of chuckles every time he lampooned legendary actors like Fernando Poe Jr. and Dolphy, as well as many other political figures, including former presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Noynoy Aquino.
The iconic Willie Nepomuceno. Photo from his Facebook page
“They say comedy is just a twist from reality… I think mas nakakatawa ’yung original, ’yung mga totoong nangyayari (the original is funnier, the ones actually happening), their statements,” Nepomuceno said in a 2018 interview with Inquirer.
Nepomuceno died in 2023 at 75 due to a head injury, but unquestionably, inspired many other Filipino comedians to use impersonations as a means to advocate political and social awareness.
The ’80s with Mr. Shooli and ‘Sic O’ Clock News‘
Jun Urbano as the irrepressible Mr. Shooli. Photo from the UP College of Mass Communication
“Isang platitong mani (A plate of peanuts),” is just one of the memorable phrases that’s familiar to Filipinos in the ’80s and ’90s, all because of Mongolian Barbecue star Mr. Shooli — the genius who kept everyone in stitches amid the uncertain political times.
Manuel “Jun” Urbano Jr. was a comedian, filmmaker, actor, and director who created the well known television character of Mr. Shooli, a Mongolian national with a Chinese accent who commentates on the state of Philippine politics.
As Mr. Shooli, Urbano managed to toe the line between serious discussion and playful yet non-offensive banter between him and the guests that he invited.
HIs gags, often guised as somewhat innocent statements on Philippine politics, caught the likes of former presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo off guard with his charm. At at one point, Urbano also had former presidential son and now Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. guest in the show.
Still of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with Mr. Shooli in Mongolian Barbecue. Courtesy of WordPress user cbholganza.
Just months before his death in December 2023, Urbano was honored in August with the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award for his contributions to Philippine cinema.
In October of the same year, the 84-year-old Urbano was bestowed with the Gawad Plaridel award from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication. His famed alter ego Mr. Shooli gave the acceptance speech, and of course, wouldn’t be without a quip:
“Noong araw, ‘pag ikaw may problema, sisigaw ka, ‘Tulong, pulis! Tulong, pulis!’ Ngayon ‘pag may problema ka, ikaw sisigaw, ‘Tulong, may pulis, may pulis!’” he joked, drawing laughs from the crowd.
(Back in the day, when you had a problem, you would shout, ‘Police, help! Police, help!’ Now, if you have a problem, you would instead shout, ‘Help, there’s a cop, there’s a cop!)
You’d think that the Cory Aquino administration would be safe from social commentary as she’s the first female president who inspired a people’s revolution, but well, there was Sic O’Clock News on television.
Sic O’Clock News was a political satire show that ran from January 1987 to September 1990 via the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).
Directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, the show featured an ensemble cast led by Jaime Fabregas, Ces Quesada, and Manny Castañeda and discussed pressing issues during Aquino’s term.
Long before social media memes about politicians, the show was already dishing them, with other actors joining the mix like Junix Inocian, Joji Isla, Hero Bautista, Rene Requiestas, Wilson Go, Jon Achaval, Celeste Bueno, Dina Padilla, Errol Dionisio, Ching Arellano, Khryss Adalia, Nonoy Oplas, Nonie Buencamino, and Domeng Landicho.
Unfortunately, IBC was sequestered by the government, which led to the demise of the show in 1990.
‘Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata’ on ’90s TV
With the rise of ABS-CBN as one of the more prominent broadcasting companies in the country, many telenovelas made the network popular among viewers, but the satirical Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata held its own.
Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata aired from January 1991 to June 1997 with a star-studded cast led by Noel Trinidad, Tessie Tomas, Nova Villa, Roderick Paulate, Freddie Webb, and Nanette Inventor.
The plot revolves around the day to day lives of the three families: Tengco, Delos Santos, and Lagmay. They cross each other’s paths multiple times in the series’ run, with the characters expressing their disappointment on various social and political issues.
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Abangan had Johnny Manahan as director and Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes, the current president of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, as writer, as well as actors Anjo Yllana, Carmi Martin, Sammy Lagmay, Winnie Cordero, Joji Isla, Jennifer Sevilla, Jolina Magdangal, Ina Raymundo, and Carmina Villaroel.
The ’90s classic also had a sequel, Eto Na Ang Susunod na Kabanata, with the cast reprising their roles. It ran from April to September 2001.
Michael V, Jon Santos headline the 2000s
As one of the longest running gag shows in the Philippines, Bubble Gang first premiered in October 1995 with Uro dela Cruz serving as the show’s director. Originally, the cast featured Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid, along with Antonio Aquitania, Sunshine Cruz, Jackie de Guzman, Assunta de Rossi, Eric Fructuoso, Susan Lozada, Aiko Melendez, and Wendell Ramos.
Since then, an assortment of old and new faces came and went, but the show’s original pillar remained: Michael V.
The enduring Michael V. Photo from GMA
As the longest staying cast member, Michael V. has given comedic performances that sent Filipino audiences crying with laughter as his creativity and imagination truly shine.
He’s known for writing and spoofing many OPM songs like “Waiting Here sa Pila” as Lola Kanor, a parody on “Raining in Manila” by Lola Amour; to “Salarin, Salarin” with castmates turned girl group BINI-b10 as their take on the nation’s girl group BINI hit, “Salamin, Salamin.”
But Michael V. also never fails to parody the big shots in the government. The renowned comedian recreated the look of pre-neck brace former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (amusingly renamed as Gloria Makapal-Arroyo) in “Cabinet Meeting,” aired in February 2001. He even matches the placement of the mole on her face.
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He also stars in skits that tackle political and social issues, like the nepo babies flaunting their luxurious lifestyle and the rampancy of political dynasties that the country faces every election.
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And Michael V.’s most recent? Contractor Sarah Discaya, who, along with her husband Curlee, got entangled in controversial flood control government projects.
Meet Ciala Dismaya.
Coming from the Filipino words shala, slang for sosyal (fancy) and dismaya (disappointment), Ciala Dismaya will debut in the Michael V. universe as Bubble Gang teases the character on social media.
On August 18, Michael V. renewed his contract with GMA, with the networks’ top brass present led by president and chief executive officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., underlining the veteran comedian’s value in the industry.
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Jon Santos is a longtime comedian, theater actor, and performer known for his own impersonations of public figures and pop culture icons — from Governor Vi to Paris Over-the-Hill to Senator Meeryam Defensive Defender.
Not lost, too, are his spoofs on beauty queens 2013 Miss World Philippines Megan Young and 2018 Miss Universe winner Catriona Gray; and several post-Marcos presidents, from Kuring to Sherap.
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In late 2024, Rappler had the privilege to talk to the veteran comedian in a Rappler Talk episode, where he invited viewers to his comeback standup comedy show entitled Naughty and Nice.
With guest stars drag queen Vinas Deluxe, singer Ice Seguerra and band Apo Hiking Society, it was set for a one-night only performance, but unfortunately, it was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
The seasoned impersonator, though, is still very much around, and he’s also part of the rotating judges of Drag Race Philippines for the past three seasons in the show hosted by Paolo Ballesteros.
A still of Renee’s spot on impersonation of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
And who could forget Ate Glow completely recreating former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?
Renee Hampshire is a comedian famous in the early 2000s. Her impersonation of the former president started at a variety show at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she was then pursuing her studies.
Notably, this was around the time when the impeachment trial of then president Joseph Ejercito “Erap” Estrada was ongoing. Arroyo was the vice president, who then succeeded Estrada after the EDSA II in January 2001.
With the impersonations and rally performances came the problem of her morals clashing with her political beliefs. It wasn’t a hidden fact that she had criticized Arroyo in some events.
“Where do I draw the line? There were times I couldn’t tell if I was thinking as Renee or Ate Glow. It was like I became her,” she said in an interview with VICE.
When Arroyo’s presidency ended, she also bid goodbye to her character. She got married to her British boyfriend in 2016.
Mae Paner as ‘Pork Barrel’ during the Million People March in 2013. Photo from The Guidon
Activist and actress Mae Paner also turns to her alter ego Juana Change in her monologues during rallies and peaceful protests.
Paner was a Psychology graduate of the University of Santo Tomas. Debuting in theater during the ’70s while pursuing her studies, she started taking production assistant and small-time actress roles in the industry.
In August 2013, she took part in the Million People March. It was a mass protest against the pork barrel scam held at Luneta Park and the Quirino Grandstand. Juana Change donned a blonde wig with a mask that resembled a pig, and she wore a barrel with the words “Scrap Pork Barrel.” She was seen wearing a red one-piece suit and a necklace to match.
Previously, she has spoken up about the extrajudicial killings in Tao Po, an interactive monologue held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in August 2019. She also appeared as matriarch Imelda Marcos during the 36th EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary.
‘Vice President’ Inday Tasha, post-pandemic
@indaytasha23 ♬ original sound – lanzkietalandronp
Coming out of the pandemic, millennials and Gen Zs started speaking their minds again on the Philippine political climate.
Inday Tasha, a former food market server in the Katipunan area of Quezon City, grew in popularity on social media due to her similarities to Vice President Sara Duterte.
She started acknowledging this new persona through her social media posts that make lighthearted fun of the scandals and controversies that the Vice President is facing.
With the fame of being the lookalike of a politician comes the comments, both positive and negative, from Filipino netizens. In an interview with ABS-CBN News, “Vee Pee Sara” said:
“Meron pong mga negative, kokonti lang po, mas marami pa rin po ‘yung positive side na nagsu-support sa akin at natutuwa, ‘yung mga negative comments po hindi ko po siya tinatake for me kasi wala naman po akong ginagawang masama, wala rin naman po akong ginagawang mali, as long as hindi po ako nagtatapak ng tao and hindi ko rin po siya sinsiraan, hindi ko siya minumura, hindi ko siya ginagawan ng masamang video and hindi ako nagbibigay ng maling information.”
(There are negative comments. There are more comments on the positive side who support me and are amused, rather than the negative side. I don’t take the negative comments to heart because I’m not doing anything bad, and I’m not doing anything wrong either. I’m not destroying her reputation, cussing her out, or making videos with bad intentions about her. I also don’t give out incorrect information about her.)
Inday Tasha as VP Sara Duterte with the real Senator Bam Aquino.
From Willie Nepomuceno’s bold impersonations to Inday Tasha’s viral parodies, Filipinos have long turned to comedy in order to process and ascertain the country’s pressing current issues and events.
Political satire may have evolved from stage performances to online forum posting, but the purpose of humor remains the same — to challenge power through humor.
Whether in rallies, on TV, or online, Filipinos use comedy to make sense of politics, turning laughter into a tool for awareness and critique. – Rappler.com
Juliana Chloe Gonzales is a Rappler intern studying AB Communication Arts at De La Salle University.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.rappler.com ’
