Have you registered to the Michael V. Comedy Writing Workshop?

Almost 2 decades ago, I was stupid enough not to pursue a career as a gag writer. Ang gago ko lang talaga.



I was shortlisted to be a contributor to a show on ABC 5 (TV5 now) called Tropang Trumpo (probably only of you knows this classic). Well, I did had a few months experience in writing scripts and coming up of original jokes which were also used in the show ISPUP when Tropa guys Ogie Alcasid and Michael V. became Kapuso and created what is now known the epic Bubble Gang. Friday nights were never the same again.

I was a struggling radio news writer for DWWW 774 then when I decided to apply as a copywriter for the Viva Entertainment Group. To make the story short, I chose doing ad copies over making amusing scripts.

Now, my wife is the one suffering because she's the one who receives my corny jokes instead of the  viewers of the comedy shows where I might been working now. But I still have this blog and my work as an editor for a business magazine. Nosebleed nga lang ako sa pagsusulat ng serious English topic now.  Ang gago ko lang talaga.

Today, an opportunity opens again for aspiring comedy writer? Here’s your chance to get lessons from the best comedy writers of GMA 7 led by the very talented Ace comedian Michael V. Imagine, you'll be able to learn from THE Bitoy and a chance to work with him in future projects.

Now, be ready with your pen and paper because I'll be writing the mechanics only once, okay?



Mechanics:
>Complete the registration form HERE.

>Submit your photo (2" x 2" photo, JPG, not more than 100KB)

>Submit a writing piece in English, Tagalog, or Taglish with the theme: My funny experience. Format should be: single space, Courier font, size 12, maximum of 500 words in length.

>Registration is from August 24, 2015 to August 31, 2015.

Qualifications:
>Workshop is open to all Philippine residents aged 18 to 35 years old
>At least high school graduate
>Male or Female
>May or may not be currently employed 
>With a flexible schedule
>With writing experience academically or professionally
Willing to go through interview and diagnostic tests

Important:
>All submitted entries will be reviewed by a panel.

>Twenty (20) participants will be selected to join the workshop. Chosen participants will be contacted by a GMA representative through the declared contact/mobile number.

>All participants must agree to sign a Participation Agreement, full details of which will be disclosed once qualified.

Hindi naman halatang ni-copy paste ko lang yun mecahnics no? Anyways, good luck to those who will register. And in case you need some jokes, just contact me because this 37-year old Daddy has some funny bones left.

Miracle in Cell No. 7: For all the great fathers

Few weeks ago, I was not able to hold on my tears from falling as I try to snort in the most silent way I can while on a plane back to Manila after a business trip.  No, I did not left my heart in San Francisco or in Kuala Lumpur where I stayed for a week. It’s not even because of the feeling of excitement of seeing my wife and son after nights and days of exchanging I love U over Viber.

I was crying my heart out while watching, in my book, the most moving and touching movie about fatherhood that I have seen in recent years. Another remarkable thing about the experience of watching the 2013 Korean comedy/ melodrama is that I don’t understand a single word the actors said and relied only with the English subtitle and fine acting job of the cast to fully embraced the beauty and lessons of the film.  

 

The story is about Lee Yong-gu, a mentally challenged man wrongfully imprisoned for murder who then left behind a 6-year old street-smart daughter named Ye-sung roaming in search for her father. With her wit and charm and help of hardened criminals that Leng Yong-gu befriended in prison, Ye-sung found herself in an unusual situation of secretly living inside the cell with his dad.

At first, I thought I was just watching a Asian version of Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning’s 2001 Hollywood hit I am Sam that also deals about the dilemma of raising a daughter for a father with a developmental disability . However, as I begin to relate to some of the fatherhood stuff in the film, I began to let myself ride in the roller coaster adventures and misadventures of Lee Yong-gu.  

Ye-sung and her father lead a happy life while he makes a living by working as a parking attendant at a local supermarket. But one tragic day, a young girl whom Lee Yong-gu followed to ask where he can buy a similar Sailor Moon backpack for her daughter died in a freak accident. He was falsely accused and sentenced to death for abduction, sexual assault, and murder of a minor. Everything happened so fast as it was revealed that the young girl happens to be the daughter of a high-ranking police official. (So, if there is someone who should be in out jail, it should be Sailor Moon… hmp!)

While waiting for the confirmation of Lee Yong-gu’s death sentence, the father and daughter made use of their remaining time together inside the prison. As silly and impossible this storyline may seems, viewers will laugh, cheer and cry with the characters as everyone, except the jail guards and police commissioners, do everything they can so Lee Yong-gu can escape out of jail.  

Some of the best sequences to watched out for happened inside the prison--- the time they sneak Ye-sung inside Cell no. 7; how the little girl touched the lives of each thug; the making of the improvised balloon and the memorable escape scene; the last goodbye… and the… and the… wait, I’m getting emotional now. Give me a few minutes to calm my self.  

(After five minutes... although I'm still sniffing)

If there is a perfect time to watch this, I recommend all daddies to gather their kids in the living room on his birthday. If you plan to prepare food and drinks, make sure to allot a space on the table for at least a box or two of tissue paper. Believe me, even the heart of stone will soften especially during Ye-sung’s last farewell to his “Pa.”

Based on Korean box-office reports, Miracle on Cell No. 7 took more than US$30 million in its first two weeks on the back of strong word-of-mouth. This was especially notable since the film had only Park Shin-Hye (grown up Ye-sung) that can be considered a big star, and a modest budget en route to being the third highest grossing Korean film of all time.

As the end credits rolled up in the screen, I was asking myself what was the miracle that the film tries to imply. Was it the validation of innocence of a wrongfully accused man who was once against all odds? Or was it the moment heartless criminals changed how they see life after being touched by an angelic and innocent child? 

In my opinion, the real miracle is how the movie reminded me and every father who watched it that fatherhood is not just about having a child and raising them to be the best they can be. Fatherhood is the miracle itself. It brings out a certain magic to a man. It soften his heart, it makes him sing and dance. It’s the happiness only a father will feel and understand.   

Nasan na nga ba si Tange?

Time: Yesterday afternoon.  After hours of serious mode in the printing press where I supervised the lay-out of our organization's monthly magazine, this very disturbing question hit me: "Asan na nga ba si Tange?"

Tange, for those who don't know the guy, is a Filipino comedian during the time that almost every movie has a corresponding "text version."  The text version that I am referring to is a set of game card that you toss and flip to win and amass all that your friends own.  The cards made of cheap brown carton probably a little thicker than an Oslo paper brings the bragging rights to those who has 'em.  We usually stack them per "dangkal."  Bragging rights to those who owns the most.  Sometimes, you can also use them to pay for rent for your Richie Rich neighbor who owns a Game and Watch.

If you still can't understand what I am talking about, look for somebody who is around mid-30's and ask you to be introduced to terms like panabla, pamato and tsob and kak.

Anyways, back with Tange.  He is one comedian who doesn't talk too much on screen.  All he'll do is to open his mouth like a kid waiting for Barney the purple dino's mantra "Let sing our favorite song!"  Then you'll burst into laughter.  Mukha talagang tange but you know he is just acting.

His big and stout and wears kinky long hair.  I tried to Google him but I was not able to find a photo of him.  So if anybody has file photo of this unsung pop hero which I consider is the one responsible in making the phrase "Ay, tange!" spread like crazy during our era, please send me an email or drop a link in this post.

Asteeg, pang-T shirt ang mukha niya on whote or black background diba?!  By the way, I found a short reference about him from this SITE.

And you might be asking what about the photo of Barok doing above this post?  Well, it;s one of those movie where Tange starred as Barok's silly yet amusing friendly friends.  Incidentally, I have an mp3 file of the Tarzan and Barok by Yoyoy Villame (Why do I have those music file.  Just want to have another taste of the music that I grew up listening since my Tatay is a fan of novelty music).  Yoyoy, if you also don't know, is the one who popularized the songs Mag-exercise tayo and Buchike. 

Oh, for the curious soul who's asking why all of a sudden Tange was a subject of our conversation.  It just happen that someone sent me a photo that is as big as a thumbnail.  The only visible part of his face is his mouth semi-wide open.

Hello, Tange.  Ikaw ba yan!?