Junjun: The Social Network Savvy Beggar. Photo from America Meet World website
MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino doctor went beyond his medicinal degree when he qualified as a finalist for a comedy video contest in the United States.
With his video about a social-media savvy beggar titled “Junjun: The Social Network Savvy Beggar,” Dr. Nathaniel Cruz is the lone Filipino finalist in the global comedy contest “America Meet World.”
In his satrical clip, Cruz was a hungry beggar who seemed more crazed about posting on Facebook than actually eating a food he received from a young passer-by
https://www.americameetworld.com/profiles/91
Cruz’s skit is the most watched among all the videos as of Wednesday at 7996 views. It is also the second most rated video at 99 percent funny.
Among the videos tagged as “satire,” Cruz’s video ranked as the most watched and highest rated.
In an e-mailed statement, Cruz said it is time that the Philippines is recognized in the field of comedy.
“Why else would we be dubbed the happiest nation in the midst of all the tragedies that continually come our way?” Cruz said, referring to the major disasters that hit the country in 2013, particularly super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).
In his description of the video, Cruz said his entry “does not mean to diminish the tragedy of Haiyan as it was shot early 2013.”
“In fact it shows the kindness of my fellow Filipinos and the entire world. Filipino spirit is waterproof!” Cruz said.
The world’s strongest typhoon to hit land has claimed over 6,000 lives when it hit Central Philippines in November 2013.
The finalist who garners the most number of votes gets a chance to meet the executives of the “Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
The other finalists are from South Africa, Malawi, India, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.