'Ako si Ramon Bautista'

I catch Ramon Bautista at the taping of "May Tamang Balita," a satirical news show that preys on media mishaps and current events. The show logo loops on the screens that fill the studio in anticipation. The crew prepares for another show of Ramon’s onscreen theatrics: finger pointing, camera brawling and jokes between takes. “Up next, Mon-ra." Ramon takes his place beside his leggy co-host Sheena Halili, holding a Superman stance, with his chest out and legs shoulder-width apart as the camera crane swings towards them. The show begins and he taunts the camera with the mock determination of stereotypical newscasters. “Costume ko lang ‘to," Ramon excuses himself as he stands on the platform wearing a full suit, foundation, and what the make-up artist calls hair ‘mouse’. While he looks handsome and put together, the suit feels slightly alien to the comedian. “Meron lang akong act na ginagawa." “Make-up ko dito sobrang kapal, pagka umuuwi ako kailangan kong maligo, hilamusan ng todo ‘yan, astringent—hindi naman ako nag gaganun, eh." He almost seems to apologize.

Ramon Bautista is a different kind of celebrity. The comedian may not have the face of Gerald Anderson, which is a name he’d like to be called if his name weren’t Ramon Bautista, but what he really does have is a huge following. “Ngayon, hot ’yata ako sa mga ganito. ‘Strike while the iron is hot’," he quips. Stardom is a strange thing for Ramon. While on this set he’s limited to the label of showbiz talent (“hindi pa ako ‘showbiz’," he clarifies), he helps adjust the camera lights on the set and knows to angle the camera away from his crotch. It turns out that he’s also a filmmaker, producer, and a UP film professor. Comedy is only a supplement to his life in spite of the fame it’s given him. Ramon didn’t read comics as a child. He read Time and Newsweek because this was what his parents mostly had at home. Growing up, he and his friend and fellow filmmaker RA Rivera’s ‘closet interests’ involved world trade, food security, and other big issues. “Hindi talaga kami gago," he explains in jest. “Nerd society barkada ako. Di naman ako tatalinong ganito kung hindi ako nag-‘nerdo-nerdo’ eh." Between takes, he loosens up and checks his phone. He gets about two hundred Formspring questions a day. ‘Para siyang video game eh, sagutin mo lang. Nakakatuwa. Parang may kausap.’ But the cameras inevitably roll again and his face is taut. He’s itching to make someone laugh. The next segment of the show involves a fake list of five Facebook changes read in the accent of a Fil-Am broadcaster, named-- “Huwag na sabihin ang pangalan, sabi ni direk," says the assistant director. Ramon relents. The show’s specialist writers give him little space for improvisation, which usually only surfaces in his trademark facial expressions. In other avenues, like in his Cinemalaya contender San Lazaro and in 89.9’s Boys Night Out gigs, he says whatever he wants. “Tingin ka doon, tingin ka doon, chuva, chuva," commands the assistant director. Ramon practices it again, without the name, saying“Ako si—“ and pauses to get used to the rhythm of the tweaked telemonitor. Ako si. That took me back. Before his comedic style became famous — subverting clichés and stereotypes with the tone of an innocent child telling a vulgar story, or a balikbayan with a broken Filipino accent — a lot of people first encountered Ramon in a Nescafe commercial years ago when he had a rap battle against Francis Magalona. Wearing an oversized red shirt and bling around his neck, he starts to rap: “Ako si Ramon Bautista, mukha akong artista—“ “Hindi pa naman ako mainstream , he admits. “Yung mga naghahanap sa akin mga strange ‘tsaka weird." In a number of videos following that, from YouTube clips to large commercials, he usually introduces himself first. These ‘cameos’ have made him a star even before he was one. But it’s not out of a deluded claim to stardom that he does this; as an academic and comedian, his surface-level antics are more informed than they appear, more a social commentary on Philippine culture and celebrity stardom than just gags. With Ramon’s guidebook to life on its way, a cooking show, upcoming films with RA Rivera, and a music video (“nakanta ko—ayos ba ?"), Ramon Bautista is introducing himself quite well. Ramon has no normal days, and while he shirks love (“yung mga kilig na ‘yan, may bayad ‘yan") and "sad clown" negativity, laughter is Ramon’s own medicine. “I just do my best and have fun delivering what I have to deliver to bring maximum enjoyment to our audience," he grins as the taping wraps up.“Cheesy ba sagot ko? Pero totoo naman eh." - GMA News