Chokoleit: TV's latest flavor of a comedian
The Hunks Online
Walden Sadiri
It's true that it does take time before anything or even anyone for
that matter reaches its "full flavor" and maturity. Stand-up-comedian
and sing-along master Chokoleit knows that fact by heart as his journey
towards popularity has been long and winding. But it has its sweet
rewards as he has become one of the more popular faces in ABS-CBN's
shows.
"It was really a long time," he said in Tagalog. "I started in 1993 and
it was just last year that everything went right for me in showbiz."
He added that he had a hard time invading mainstream showbiz because he
didn't know how and he didn't know who to approach. What he
realized though was that showbiz was also about right timing, if it was
his, it would happen, in due time.
"This is my passion and that is the reason I kept trying. I really want
to make people laugh. And during my trying times, deep inside of me I
always believed my time would come. I just knew that God gave me this
talent for a purpose," he rationalized.
Every night he enjoyed performing to regulars and new spectators in
music-comedy bars like Purple Edge, Punchline, Laffline and Musicbox.
His passion in comedy was the reason he didn't become impatient about
making it big time in showbiz. For him, he'd rather that he go
through hardships before hitting mainstream showbiz so he could enjoy
its benefits maybe longer.
"Now that I'm reaping the fruits of my labor, I'm going to take
care of my even more. I won't waste it nor take it for granted," he
declared.
Chokoleit, while he was doing his regular gigs at different
music-comedy bars, has also appeared in a number of television shows
like "Haybol Rambol" and "Brunch" from the year 1999 to 2000.
Unfortunately, his career was quite bumpy, he would either find himself
with some TV appearances or none at all. And often there was a long
period in between the shows that he did. It was as a stand-up
comedian that kept him busy.
According to Chokoleit, his biggest break came last year when he was
cast by director Wen Deramas in "Marina" as Pearly Shell. It was a
moment he would cherish for the rest of his life since it opened new
doors for him in show business. It even opened a new market for him
because of his fantasy characters the children televiewers!
"Kids recognize me more as Pearly Shell. I'm very happy about it," he
shared.
Right now, Chokoleit after "Marina" is in the shows "Kaya Mo Ba 'To?"
of Carlos Agassi, the Sunday showbiz oriented news show "The Buzz" and
"Bora," as a semi-regular member.
Among the shows mentioned above, the most challenging is "Kaya Mo Ba
'To?" A reality TV show on daring people, his segment is related to
animals. Televiewers every Saturday afternoon would see him racing
people against ostrich or spending time with gorillas or pigs in their
respective cages or pigpens.
"In this show, I'm the one with the animal appeal," laughed Chokoleit
about his ordeals in his new show. "If you're new in the business you
just have no choice. You just have to establish yourself first. What I
do in the show is fine with me. I know that I would also be doing other
things in the future."
Like anyone growing in popularity in tinseltown, Chokoleit has also his
share of intrigues. His latest one painted a bad image of him when an
alleged whorehouse for men was raided and his name surfaced as one of
the customers.
"I was really affected when this came out. I hope everything is okay
already....it's true that I've gone to that place. I usually met my
gay friends there. That's all."
Looking back to where he started, Chokoleit shared that things have
changed in the realm of stand-up comedy.
"To think that instead of upgrading the quality of stand-up comedy, the
influx of so-called stand-up comedians lessened it because everyone
now can instantly become a stand-up comedian. If you just know how to
impersonate talents, tell the same old joke, you're gay and you
ridicule people, you're immediately a stand-up comedian."
What he meant was that people may have forgotten the real essence of a
stand-up comedian. It has always been for him standing in front of an
audience and making them laugh without the expense of other people. He
recalled the times of Arnel Ignacio and Ai Ai delas Alas in Musicbox
wherein they could stand by themselves and be funny. Rather than
evolving, the offensiveness of some comedians have even brought the
quality of stand-up comics down.
"Unfortunately, I also become 'malaswa' in my shows in those
music-comedy bars because that is what my audience usually clamor for.
But in corporate shows or out of time gigs, I make it a point to have a
sanitized show. I just have to be responsible."
So what kept his dream alive in showbiz?
"When I was just a sing-along-master, I already dreamt of being in
showbiz to be like Roderick Paulate. He inspired me. He made me realize
that you can be an actor even if you are not very good looking as long
as you have talent. I told him that. I really believe in his talents.
You can bring him anywhere - acting, comedy, hosting and even singing.
I hope I can achieve even half of what he has," he shared.
Roderick Paulate's advice to him is simple have the right
attitude, get along with people well, be considerate with other people
and be humble.
For those wondering why he was nicknamed Chokoleit, look at him again.
He was named Chokoleit (because of his color) by his friends in high
school which didn't offend him. He was even called "cocoa" or
"chocolate."
"I wasn't hurt by their name-calling because I don't easily get
mad. I'm a very happy person and everything that happens to me I
think of it as having a purpose. I always see things in a positive
light. I even make fun of myself...I'm glad that I look like this and
I'm gay. If I became a man and I look like this, I think I would have
become a criminal by now. Or if I were a girl and I looked like this,
I'd still be a virgin until now," laughed Chokoleit.
Well, all those who called him derogatory names before should now look
at Chokoleit. He may not look like the regular matinee idol but he has
become one of the sweetest sensations in television right now. And his
fame has earned him opportunities for out of town shows and money to
slowly build his dream house. And like what he has always said,
everything in life has a purpose from God.
What he can only say about his rising career in ABS-CBN is "ang
kapamilya hindi ka iiwanan, ang puso, puwede kang magkasakit,
magkaka-heart attack ka."
Jonathan Garcia a.k.a. Chokoleit is one comedian ON THE RISE!