Michael V’s staying power

 

“Proper timing is needed to become a good comedian,” said Michael.

Courtesy: GMA Network

Comedian-singer Michael V., also known as Bitoy is smiling ear to ear these days and there is one good reason why. He is grateful that their weekly gag show is still airing after more than two decades. Bubble Gang has become the longest-running gag show in the Philippines.

Michael related that he was introduced into the world of show business when he joined the rapping contest in Eat Bulaga many years back. Rap actually brought Bitoy to fame. It opened his doors to the movies and to television. His talent in comedy was tested through his previous stints in Tropang Trumpo, a former gag show on Channel 5.

Good Comedian

Proper timing is needed to become a good comedian, Michael said. “If it’s too early masasayang, if it’s too late hindi matatawa ang tao. Proper timing is needed to deliver the punchline plus, you need the right attitude after you deliver the line.”

How do you come up with your antics?

“I get my ideas from everyday life,” he shared. “Good sources are my community and surroundings. I observe people, I go around. I read books. I watch a lot of movies, TV shows, sitcoms, gag shows as much as I can, and other foreign shows. I watch cartoons a lot. Then, saka ko ini-implement sa foundation ko which is my environment. Na alam ko na pwede sa environment ko at magwo-work sa masa.”

Do you also watch yourself?

“I do, most of the time. I’m my worst critic, I would say. Every time I watch myself, doon ko nakikita ang sarili ko. Sometimes, I would say, ‘My timing was wrong. This line should have been delivered earlier or later. I should not have done this facial expression.’ Iniisip ko na lang palagi that there’s always the next time.”

How do you digest each character you portray?

“First, I have to read the script. So I would know the strength and weaknesses of the character. It would take around a week to have an idea of the character. Then another week para maging ako ang character.”

As a comedian, the oddest character he has done was portraying a lechon. The weirdest character was becoming a bird.  “So what I did was naglagay na lang ako ng tuka.”

Since he was a kid, it has been the dream of Bitoy to become a comedian someday. “’Yong movies ni Nino Muhlach at Dolphy hindi nakakalagpas sa akin,” he said. “But when I was four years old, I wanted to become a waiter. I was really fascinated with the bow tie. When I was able to watch Muhammad Ali on TV, I wanted to become a boxer. Pero that time pinagtatawanan ako kasi ang payat-payat ko. Later on, when I learned to draw, I wanted to become a painter. But then generic among kids to become a movie star someday.”

Michael V. related that his talent in cracking up jokes and making people laugh is inherent in him. No wonder, he remains to be at the top after all these years.

(Based on the article published in the old Mirror Weekly magazine by the same author)

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