EXCLUSIVE: Comedian Jon Santos on doing live shows again: ‘The last two years have been so tough’

Rhea Manila Santos

<p>After more than two years of not being able to perform in live shows, comedian Jon Santos returns to the stage this month with his upcoming show Jon Santos: LiveScreaming. The veteran comic, whose career has already spanned more than three decades, said he is most excited about interacting with stand up fans again.</p><p>“I am most excited to be bonding face-to-face, finally, with my audiences... not just via streaming, but 'Live na Live', (and yes, Screaming... and Singing ... and Dancing). It's perhaps what the country needs most right now! We are lucky to be alive but we just want to scream, to let it all out! The last two years have been so tough, we deserve to be insane, to let loose, for one night! I will lead the screaming, they will do the laughing and the clapping and we will have a good time!,” he told PUSH in an exclusive interview. </p><blockquote class='instagram-media' data-instgrm-permalink='https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFcW5xrExA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading' data-instgrm-version='14' style=' background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);'><div style='padding:16px;'><div style=' display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;'><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;'> </div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;'> </div></div></div><div style='padding: 19% 0;'> </div><div style='display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFcW5xrExA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading' style=' background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;' target='_blank'><svg height='50px' version='1.1' viewbox='0 0 60 60' width='50px' xmlns='https://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'><g fill='none' fill-rule='evenodd' stroke='none' stroke-width='1'><g fill='#000000' transform='translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)'><g><path d='M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631'></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div><div style='padding-top: 8px;'><div style=' color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFcW5xrExA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading' style=' background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;' target='_blank'>View this post on Instagram</a></div></div><div style='padding: 12.5% 0;'> </div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;'><div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);'> </div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;'> </div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);'> </div></div><div style='margin-left: 8px;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)'> </div></div><div style='margin-left: auto;'><div style=' width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);'> </div></div></div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;'> </div></div><p style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFcW5xrExA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading' style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;' target='_blank'>A post shared by Resorts World Manila (@resortsworldmanila)</a></p></div></blockquote><script async src='//www.instagram.com/embed.js' type='text/javascript'></script><p>Jon said that performing comedy during this time has never been more needed in the country.</p><p>“Seriously, comedy is having a tough time. With the toxic online environment pre-election, everybody is getting angry so easily these days— All I can say is, lighten up! Laugh a little, give your angry hearts a rest and live to fight another day! In a way, LiveScreaming is a reset. I want to show the audiences where we left off in standup before the pandemic, and present them the shape of things to come,” he added. </p><p><a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2017/2/11/fresh-scoops/exclusive-jon-santos-shares-the-secret-to-his-last-54559' target='_self'><u><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Jon Santos shares the secret to his lasting marriage</strong></u></a></p><p>Jon revealed how he was able to keep his humor and maintain his mental health during the height of the pandemic.</p><p>“Through yoga, yoga and more yoga. I somehow regained my perspective through the pockets of 'MindfulTime'. I was able to fight hopelessness. Through artist friends, I was reminded that we do not have to fight this alone. I was reminded that Art will always find a way.</p><p>“Technology helped a lot, kasi nga face to face was next to impossible. I was lucky to have been invited to some really fulfilling theatrical collaborations that (I feel) brought comfort to our kababayans, either manning the frontlines or trying to heal at home.</p><p>“It was also through a couple of advocacies like PLDT, The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, and Theaterspace (Theater in Cyberspace, where we did real-time-Shakespeare with actors simultaneously playing roles in three countries!), we were able to connect through art,” he explained. </p><p>While doing virtual performances, the Jon Santos: LiveScreaming performer admitted he had to learn a lot about online culture.</p><p>“I had to learn (still learning) to navigate the 'Social Media Waters'. Everything, when put online is out of context. You are giving a joke out of love, but edited out of context, it may look like you are bashing someone. But comedy is all about context! That is why it is so difficult, and that is why a good comedy show is a miracle in itself. Watch the show and find out if I make it na walang nag-wi-Will-Smith sa akin!” he shared.</p><p>Jon Santos: LiveScreaming will also feature stellar performances from Alisah Bonaobra, Gian Magdangal, and OJ Mariano. The show, produced by Full House Theater Company and Resorts World Manila in cooperation with Ultimate Shows, Inc., is a collaborative project with Jon Santos’s conceptualizing and writing with Dingdong Novenario, Enrico Santos, and Joel Mercado with Jamie Wilson stage directing.</p><p>Jon Santos: LiveScreaming is on May 14, 8 pm at RWM’s Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are now available at all TicketWorld and SM Tickets outlets: P6,500 (Platinum), P5,500 (SVIP), P4,500 (VIP), P3,500 (Gold), P2,000 (Silver), and P1,000 (Bronze). For inquiries, contact Girah Manaligod (0917 872 8309), Kenneth Navoa (0917 807 9387), Neil Crisostomo (0917 658 9378) or call Ticketworld (02) 8891-9999, or SM Tickets (02) 8470-2222.</p>

</div></blockquote><script async src='//www.instagram.com/embed.js' type='text/javascript'></script><p>Jon said that performing comedy during this time has never been more needed in the country.<p>“Seriously, comedy is having a tough time. With the toxic online environment pre-election, everybody is getting angry so easily these days— All I can say is, lighten up! Laugh a little, give your angry hearts a rest and live to fight another day! In a way, LiveScreaming is a reset. I want to show the audiences where we left off in standup before the pandemic, and present them the shape of things to come,” he added. <p><a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2017/2/11/fresh-scoops/exclusive-jon-santos-shares-the-secret-to-his-last-54559' target='_self'><u><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Jon Santos shares the secret to his lasting marriage</strong></u></a><p>Jon revealed how he was able to keep his humor and maintain his mental health during the height of the pandemic.<p>“Through yoga, yoga and more yoga. I somehow regained my perspective through the pockets of 'MindfulTime'. I was able to fight hopelessness. Through artist friends, I was reminded that we do not have to fight this alone. I was reminded that Art will always find a way.<p>“Technology helped a lot, kasi nga face to face was next to impossible. I was lucky to have been invited to some really fulfilling theatrical collaborations that (I feel) brought comfort to our kababayans, either manning the frontlines or trying to heal at home.<p>“It was also through a couple of advocacies like PLDT, The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, and Theaterspace (Theater in Cyberspace, where we did real-time-Shakespeare with actors simultaneously playing roles in three countries!), we were able to connect through art,” he explained. <p>While doing virtual performances, the Jon Santos: LiveScreaming performer admitted he had to learn a lot about online culture.<p>“I had to learn (still learning) to navigate the 'Social Media Waters'. Everything, when put online is out of context. You are giving a joke out of love, but edited out of context, it may look like you are bashing someone. But comedy is all about context! That is why it is so difficult, and that is why a good comedy show is a miracle in itself. Watch the show and find out if I make it na walang nag-wi-Will-Smith sa akin!” he shared.<p>Jon Santos: LiveScreaming will also feature stellar performances from Alisah Bonaobra, Gian Magdangal, and OJ Mariano. The show, produced by Full House Theater Company and Resorts World Manila in cooperation with Ultimate Shows, Inc., is a collaborative project with Jon Santos’s conceptualizing and writing with Dingdong Novenario, Enrico Santos, and Joel Mercado with Jamie Wilson stage directing.<p>Jon Santos: LiveScreaming is on May 14, 8 pm at RWM’s Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are now available at all TicketWorld and SM Tickets outlets: P6,500 (Platinum), P5,500 (SVIP), P4,500 (VIP), P3,500 (Gold), P2,000 (Silver), and P1,000 (Bronze). For inquiries, contact Girah Manaligod (0917 872 8309), Kenneth Navoa (0917 807 9387), Neil Crisostomo (0917 658 9378) or call Ticketworld (02) 8891-9999, or SM Tickets (02) 8470-2222.

<p>After more than two years of not being able to perform in live shows, comedian Jon Santos returns to the stage this month with his upcoming show Jon Santos: LiveScreaming. The veteran comic, whose career has already spanned more than three decades, said he is most excited about interacting with stand up fans again.<p>“I am most excited to be bonding face-to-face, finally, with my audiences... not just via streaming, but 'Live na Live', (and yes, Screaming... and Singing ... and Dancing). It's perhaps what the country needs most right now! We are lucky to be alive but we just want to scream, to let it all out! The last two years have been so tough, we deserve to be insane, to let loose, for one night! I will lead the screaming, they will do the laughing and the clapping and we will have a good time!,” he told PUSH in an exclusive interview. <blockquote class='instagram-media' data-instgrm-permalink='https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFcW5xrExA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading' data-instgrm-version='14' style=' background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);'><div style='padding:16px;'><div style=' display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;'><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;'> </div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;'> </div></div></div><div style='padding: 19% 0;'> </div><div style='display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFcW5xrExA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading' style=' background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;' target='_blank'><svg height='50px' version='1.1' viewbox='0 0 60 60' width='50px' xmlns='https://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'><g fill='none' fill-rule='evenodd' stroke='none' stroke-width='1'><g fill='#000000' transform='translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)'><g><path d='M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631'></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div><div style='padding-top: 8px;'><div style=' color:#3897f0; 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border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)'> </div></div><div style='margin-left: auto;'><div style=' width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);'> </div></div></div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;'> </div></div><p style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFcW5xrExA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading' style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;' target='_blank'>A post shared by Resorts World Manila (@resortsworldmanila)</a>

Veteran comic Jon Santos returns on stage this month in ‘Jon Santos: LiveScreaming’ with guests Alisah Bonaobra, Gian Magdangal, and OJ Mariano.

EXCLUSIVE: Comedian Jon Santos on doing live shows again: ‘The last two years have been so tough’ | PUSH.COM.PH