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Tao Pooh!
As Manny Poohcquiao, he packs a wallop. But this stand-up comic knocks ‘em out even off the boxing ring
At one point, he had to remind his inquisitors that he’s Pooh and not Poohcquiao.
Stand-up comic Pooh, whose impersonation of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao on “Wowowee” has made it on YouTube, packs a wallop.
But when he is simply being Pooh—naughty, flamboyant, unabashedly gay—he can still knock out his audience with zingy one-liners that seem to come from nowhere.
Asked why he’s working very hard, he quipped: “Yah, kailangan. Lumalaki na ang mga bata… mga batang 19 years old. Hindi naman ako ang nagluwal sa kanila!”
Born Reynold Lagrimas Garcia in Samar, this former STI Computer Science student quit school and applied as sing-along comic in a hole-in-the-wall calle Nota at Kuwela in Caloocan in 1998.
After learning the ropes, he moved to Musicbox, Jeff’s Café, and then THE LIBRARY—where he was noticed by ANDREW DE REAL, who became his mentor. “Sya ang humubog sa akin,” Manny says of de Real, whom the entire comedy industry calls Mamu.
Since Winnie the Pooh is his favorite Disney character, Manny assumed the stage name Pooh (he carries around a Winnie the Pooh compact mirror, which he uses to transform into Poohcquiao).
“My shows where entitled ‘Mano-Mano Pooh,’ ‘Manny and Manay Pooh.’ Pag Valentine, ‘In Lab Pooh Ako.’ Pag Halloween, ‘Tabi-Tabi Pooh!’” he enumerated.
His email address is pooh_nas@yahoo.com.
Now, Pooh’s headliner in such bars as Punchline, Laughline, Metro Bar, Sitcom Live and, of course, The Library.
Recently, he joined comedy comedy heavyweights Tessie Tomas, Jon Santon, Candy Pangilinan, John Lapus and Chokoleit in the political comedy revue “Rock Da Vote.” “Flattering na kasama ko sila sa stage pero nakaka-kaba pa rin,” Pooh admitted.
A Backroom talent, he appears regularly in ABS-CBN sitcom “John En Shirley” and the Studio 23 gag show “Wazzup, Wazzup.” On the latter, he is often tasked to imitate a rouges’ gallery of newsmakers.
Apart from Pacquiao, another celebrity he impersonates is El Shaddai’s Mike Velarde.
At the drop of a hat then, he assumed Velarde’s persona: “Amen! Nakakalakad na ako pero hindi naman ako makakita!”
He does thorough research for each character, he pointed out.
He started spoofing Pacquiao four years ago. “Ang concept ko noon, isang boksingero na gusting maging isang beauty queen.”
To perfect Pacquiao, he constantly read the sports section in newspapers, watch the boxer’s TV guestings and commercials and listened to and memorized his songs. “Nakatulong din na pareho kami ng mga kaibigan. Sina [novelty composer] Lito Camo and [show biz writer] Cristy Fermin,” he related.
Once, during Cristy’s birthday bash, Pooh bumped into the real Pacquiao at Metro Bar. Pooh introduced himself to Manny and asked for a snapshot.“Sabi niya, ‘Ikaw pala si Pooh,’” the comic recalled. “Tinanong ko si Kuya Lito kung ano ang comment ni Sir Manny. Sabi ni Kuya Lito, natatawa naman daw sya. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya na tinutulungan nya akong kumita. Para sa mga bata…”
The twin sister of Manny’s wife Jinkee caught Pooh’s show in Davao. “Tuwang-tuwa sya sa akin. Ang tawag nga ng mga anak nya sa akin, Uncle!”
Thus primed, he now conjured up the boxing champ, even without the penciled mustache and stiff wig.
Enter Manny Poohcquiao.
Who do you want to fight with next: Soto, Larios, Marquez?
Ah… medyo nahihirapan nga ako kasi sobrang dami nila na gusting makipaglaban sa akin. Parang gusto ko na lang si Solis. Lolit Solis. Hindi naman kailangan ng boxing gloves doon. Tsinelas lang pwede na. Kung ayaw niya sa akin, wala naman ako magagawa. Sino bang nawalan? E di ako!
Why are you running for Congress?
Sana irespeto nila kung ano ang trip ko dahil kung ano naman ang trip nila hindi ko pinakikialaman.
What’s your platform? Your plans?
Marami akong plataporma. Unang-una ang peace and order. Sa amin sa Gen. Santos, maayos naman ‘yung order ng mga fish. Marami ang umo-order ng tuna.
Pagkatapos ng congressman, senator naman. Tapos presidente na. Pag nagging presidente ako, marami akong babaguhin. Imbes na barong Tagalog ang gagawin kong national costume, boxer’s shorts na! Ang national anthem, “Extreme Magic Sing” na.
What about your show biz career? You might not have time for show biz.
Tatlo na ang gagawin ko: boxing, politics and show biz. Wala nang tulugan ito!
Do you have a new movie?
Ah meron, gagawa kami nila Julie Vega, Nida Blanca, Charito Solis, directed by Lino Brocka. Siguro ang magandang title, “Ikaw na Lang ang Hinihintay.”
And your singing career, do you have new albums?
Ah, meron! Marami akong album ngayon. Lalo na marami akong kuha doon sa huling boxing naming. Kinuhanan ako ng misis ko. Bale nalagay na nga sa photo album.
Ah, ‘yung kanta ba?
Wala pang bago kasi ‘yung unang album, hindi ko alam kung nag-silver o nag-bronze ba ‘yun?
Who punches harder? Jinkee or Solis?
Mas malakas si Jinkee… mahal ko ‘yan, nagpapasalamat nga ako sa kanya. Thank you, Jinkee, for always supporting me, every time I have a fight and you are there always. It’s so very relaxing and absolutely that, you know ah… you know and thanks God.
How has traveling abroad improved your English?
Ah… um… ahh… Um… ah… Thank you!
What’s the secret of your powerful punch?
Spinach! Popeye pala ito! Siyempre proper diet. Tapos exercise. Control lang sa lahat ng mga bisyo.
Wala akong bisyo…
What do you plan to do with your earnings?
Hinahati-hati ko sa orphanage, simbahan. Tapos meron din para sa mansion, sa convenience store, saka sa bar ko dito sa Roxas Boulevard. Tapos marami rin akong binigyan ng balato. Tapos meron rin napunta sa manok. Mahilig ako sa manok!
McDonald’s fried chicken?
Oo. ‘Yun nga ang pinang-sabong ko minsan, natalo ako!
How’s your private life? Do you still have time for yourself? For your family?
Well… private nga ‘yun, bakit mo pa tinatanong kung private?
Pag nanalo akong presidente, kasama ko na ang pamilya ko sa Malacañang. Parang si Madame GMA. Ayun, kasama niya lahat ng pamilya nya di ba? Mga kamag-anak, mga kapitbahay, ang dami nila doon sa Malacañang.
What’s your message to our country men?
Ah… ang mensahe ko lang sa mga kababayan ko na mahihirap: Mag-tiyaga lang. Ganyan naman ako dati e. Galing din ako diyan. Basta mag-sipag lang at mag-tiyaga. Mag-boxing na rin kayong lahat. Pati babae. Para marating n’yo rin ‘yung narating ko.
How are you related to Winnie the Pooh and Fernando Pooh?
Si Winnie the Pooh, pinsan buo ko ‘yun. Si Fernando Pooh, bale parang lolo ko yata ‘yun.
Do you know how to surf the Net? Do you know how to e-mail?
E-mail? ‘Yan ba yung envelope mail? Marunong akong mag-Internet. Mag-webcam. ‘Yung show me your face! Show me your pancreas! Your intestines!
We saw you on YouTube.
Dina-download nga ‘yun sa Greenhills P25! Sila lang ang kumikita, hindi ako!
How do you plan to solve our contry’s economic problems?
Ah… Sikrit! Hehehe.
What can you say about your title, Pambansang Kamao? Or do you have other body parts in mind?
Parang mas maganda, Pambansang Tattoo.
What can you say about brain drain? About doctors working as nurses abroad?
Mahirap talaga dahil maliit ang suweldo dito sa atin. Kaya nga gusto ko sa ibang bansa lumaban. Mas malaki kaysa dito. Kasama din pala ako sa brain drain!
Among the products that you endorse, which is your favorite?
Ah… Depende sa mood. Minsan nahihirapan ako eh, kasi sobrang dami nila. Sabay-sabay dumarating sa bahay. Nalilito nga ako kung paano gamitin.
Minsan ‘yung Motolite nagagawa kong mineral water. ‘Yung San Miguel Beer nagagawa kong shampoo. ‘Yung Datu Puti nagagawa kong lotion. Minsan nga sinubukan ko na sabay-sabay inumin ang Alaxan, Circulan, Motolite, San Miguel Beer, Datu Puti, saka kinain ko yung Magnolia Ice Cream. Sumakit lang ang tiyan ko. Gusto ko lang magpapansin. Hindi kasi ako kinukuha ng Diatabs!
‘Yon na lang ang hindi ko nae-endorse. ‘Yong barko, kay Sharon [Cuneta] na lang.
Are you really Visayan?
Ay oo, Bisaya talaga ako. Ubyus ba?
Critics say that you are being used by politicians. Care to comment?
Ah… hinid naman. Hindi naman nila ako magamit. Pa’no nila ako magamit, hindi naman ako na-attract sa kanila.
Publication: PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
Date Published: ARPIL 23, 2007
Article Title: Tao Pooh!
Article Page: G1 & G3
ARticle by: INQUIRER ENTERTAINMENT STAFF |
