World’s funniest Pinoy Alex Calleja shares his creative process

Gary Ann  Lastrilla

<img src='' alt='051917-AlexCalleja_PUSH.jpg' width='500' height='390' align='center' border='0'> Out of 88 comedians from different parts of the world, stand-up comedian and ABS-CBN comedy show writer Alex Calleja managed to finish first runner-up at Laugh Factory’s “Funniest Person in the World” contest which concluded in Finland last year. Now, Alex has his own stand-up comedy show titled Lakas Tawa which airs on ABS-CBN TV plus channel Cinemo.Being the writer for <a href='http://showtime.abs-cbn.com'>It’s Showtime</a>,<a href='http://goinbulilit.abs-cbn.com'> Goin’ Bulilit,</a> and former sitcoms of the Kapamilya network, not to mention a member of Comedy Manila, how does he manage to never run out of funny things to say? According to Alex, at 44 years old, he has gone through hardships in life which became useful for his career today. “Luckily, dumaan ako sa hirap, parang rollercoaster ride ang buhay. Lahat ‘yun akala ko walang tulong pero eventually, stock knowledge ko ‘yun. Napatira ako sa Malabon, sa Pasay, sa Malibay, sa Bangkal, sa Alabang. Napabarkada ako sa may kaya…” He also said that he used to be an IT programmer who went to a workshop for stand-up comedians. He was only doing hosting then. In 2007, he entered a group of comedians where he developed structure to his jokes. “Ang comedy is like set-up, punchline. So nagawa ko ‘yun kaya naging stand-up (comedian) ako.” He was later discovered and landed a job at ABS-CBN where he became a scriptwriter. He said he was writing about his experiences then. “So ang creative, sulat, sulat then mag-o-open mic,” he said, which he does at Comedy Manila. “Ang gagawin namin, ‘pag may naisip kaming ano, isusulat namin then itatry namin sa tao parang test. ‘Pag natawa sila, ibig sabihin okay ‘yun. ‘Pag di sila natawa, aayusin namin hanggang matawa. ‘Pag wala talaga, itatapon na namin. Hanggang makaipon kami ng certain minutes. I started with three minutes, I now have mga two to three hours na stand-up comedy set.” Alex added, “Some of my jokes I also have to rewrite kasi luma na ‘yun reference. ‘Di na uso o kaya kailangan ko ng i-update. ‘Yung iba naman, nanganganak ng nanganganak. ‘Yung iba naman, nagjojoke ako based on the current events. Meron naman akong jokes na seasonal. May pang-Pasko kaya paikot-ikot lang siya.”

According to Alex, at 44 years old, he has gone through hardships in life which became useful for his career today. “Luckily, dumaan ako sa hirap, parang rollercoaster ride ang buhay. Lahat ‘yun akala ko walang tulong pero eventually, stock knowledge ko ‘yun. Napatira ako sa Malabon, sa Pasay, sa Malibay, sa Bangkal, sa Alabang. Napabarkada ako sa may kaya…” He also said that he used to be an IT programmer who went to a workshop for stand-up comedians. He was only doing hosting then. In 2007, he entered a group of comedians where he developed structure to his jokes. “Ang comedy is like set-up, punchline. So nagawa ko ‘yun kaya naging stand-up (comedian) ako.” He was later discovered and landed a job at ABS-CBN where he became a scriptwriter. He said he was writing about his experiences then. “So ang creative, sulat, sulat then mag-o-open mic,” he said, which he does at Comedy Manila. “Ang gagawin namin, ‘pag may naisip kaming ano, isusulat namin then itatry namin sa tao parang test. ‘Pag natawa sila, ibig sabihin okay ‘yun. ‘Pag di sila natawa, aayusin namin hanggang matawa. ‘Pag wala talaga, itatapon na namin. Hanggang makaipon kami ng certain minutes. I started with three minutes, I now have mga two to three hours na stand-up comedy set.” Alex added, “Some of my jokes I also have to rewrite kasi luma na ‘yun reference. ‘Di na uso o kaya kailangan ko ng i-update. ‘Yung iba naman, nanganganak ng nanganganak. ‘Yung iba naman, nagjojoke ako based on the current events. Meron naman akong jokes na seasonal. May pang-Pasko kaya paikot-ikot lang siya.”

<img src='' alt='051917-AlexCalleja_PUSH.jpg' width='500' height='390' align='center' border='0'> Out of 88 comedians from different parts of the world, stand-up comedian and ABS-CBN comedy show writer Alex Calleja managed to finish first runner-up at Laugh Factory’s “Funniest Person in the World” contest which concluded in Finland last year. Now, Alex has his own stand-up comedy show titled Lakas Tawa which airs on ABS-CBN TV plus channel Cinemo.Being the writer for <a href='http://showtime.abs-cbn.com'>It’s Showtime</a>,<a href='http://goinbulilit.abs-cbn.com'> Goin’ Bulilit,</a> and former sitcoms of the Kapamilya network, not to mention a member of Comedy Manila, how does he manage to never run out of funny things to say?

Alex Calleja won first runner-up in Laugh Factory’s “Funniest Person in the World” contest.

World’s funniest Pinoy Alex Calleja shares his creative process | PUSH.COM.PH