Comedians with Apl.de.ap (partially hidden on left), Ted Benito and Jessica Sanchez. PHOTOS BY HIYASMIN QUIJANO
LOS ANGELES — Fil-Am comedians teamed up for a West Coast comedy tour that had a cool-looking L.A. crowd laughing at the hilarious facets of Filipino life in the U.S., and it’s all for charity.
The mostly Filipino audience jiggled love handles for each comedian the room that funnyman Joey Guila called a “bomb shelter in Cerritos.”
Some ladies held tight onto their bomb shelter seats after insult comedy pro Michael Quu asked, “Where are all the ladies at?! (four ladies scream) Alright! We got seven of ‘em!”
The venue called Shaky Town Live at 5010 Lankershim Blvd. Los Angeles was just right for a big “putok.”
The headliners included Ron Josol, Joey Guila, Keith Pedro, Michael Quu and Rembrandt Sabelis.
Before anyone in the audience could wonder, Rembrandt Sabelis declared, “I can assure you guys I am actually Filipino. My mother is from Cavite, OK? Do you guys ever go through your photo albums from like the ‘80s, you always see that one white guy in every family photo? Yeah, that’s my dad. That makes me mestizo right?”
The event suited for an 18-and-over crowd was a perfect time to bring up parenthood.
Joey Guila tickling the audience at Shaky Town Live.
Adobo oil glowed in the faces of parents in the audience as Sabelis asked: “Any of you have kids? (Some people in the audience shouted “Yes.”) Those little f—ing bastards! Any of you have teenagers? (Again, some in the audience said “Yes”) So you understand the ‘little f—ing bastard thing’ right!?”
Michael Quu complained, “All the girls in L.A. are insane! Every girl I know is on some ridiculous diet. Their like: I’m vegan, I’m gluten, I’m GMO, I’m non-dairy and I don’t even exhale anymore!” (Sucking in his cheeks and trying not to exhale.)
In contrast, Guila talked about being with friends who eat: “I had bubble tea boba. I didn’t know what that was before. It’s a drink with balls in it. I didn’t know how to drink it. I was like, man! I didn’t know how many balls was gonna come! It hit my throat and the straw was big! I was embarrassed to drink it in front of my friends.”
Guila probably ate somewhere most Filipinos in L.A. don’t live, as he explained, “I’m Filipino man and people don’t think I’m Filipino man. Every time I go to LA their like…’Hey! Are you from El Salvador? Are you speaking Spanish?’ And I’m like ‘open what door?”
By the end of the night all the seven ladies managed to keep their “fanties” on, coming out of the venue screaming, “Filipinos are punny!”
The tour is a fundraiser for the Apl.de.ap Foundation.
“I’ve known Ted (Benito) and Apl for a long time and it is something we wanted to do, to attach a Filipino charity to the show, and I’m just happy that shows sold out!” explained Sabelis.
Allan Pineda Lindo better known as ‘Apl.de.ap’ told INQUIRER.net, “I love comedy! It’s one of my favorite things to watch! Some of these proceeds will go to Tacloban and Zamboanga.”
The Apl.de.ap Foundation collaborates with various organizations and groups to build infrastructure and improve the lives and health of people in the Philippines through programs in arts and technology.
“We’re helping people back home, but also bringing enjoyment and laughter to supporters out here!” added Lindo.
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