POKWANG
Family Woman
In showbiz, she’s a dancer, choreographer, comedienne, TV host, and actress. In real life, Marietta Subong is the source of light for her family of 12 siblings and an empowered mother to her two daughters.
Text by: Bianca Geli
Photo by: Pokwang (IG)
Marietta Subong, more popularly known by her screen name Pokwang, has been in the showbiz industry since the ’90s, but prior to becoming a TV star, she was already a celebrity in her own right and a strong-willed woman that could rise above adversities.
Growing up in a household of 12 children, Pokwang knew early on that she would have big roles to do. Pokwang already knew the harsh realities of poverty at a young age. In her interview with GMANetwork.com, she describes her childhood as “magulo, pero masaya.”
“Pinanganak ako sa Pasig, 1972 and then 1980 lumipat na kami sa Antipolo hanggang ngayon,” she recalls “Pang-siyam ako, dose kami. Puwera pa sa apat na nakunan. ’Yung nanay ko mabato lang ng brief, buntis. Siyempe kahit hirap sa bahay kapag bata ka, laro laro ka lang. Hindi mo masyado nararamdaman ’yung hirap.”
Their hard up life in Antipolo had its highs and lows, which Pokwang had learned to appreciate as she was growing up.
“Kapag dating na ng mga pasukan o Pasko, iba ’yung sa amin. Siyempre kailangan mong huminto ng pagaaral minsan to give way dun sa mga mas bata. ’Yung gamit mo hindi kumpleto, ’pag Pasko wala kayong handa. Doon mo mararamdaman na mahirap pala talaga tayo.”
Pokwang had to work at the age of 9 to help her family make ends meet.
“At the age of nine nagtitinda na kami sa may simbahan, kung saan-saan na kami nakakarating. Kung anu-ano tinitinda namin, ticket ng Sweepstakes, sampaguita, kasi maraming dayo rito sa Antipolo. Nagtitinda kami para sa enrollment at pang-school, may pangtawid kami sa araw-araw.”
Pokwang learned to roll with the punches, but she did not let her family’s situation dictate how her life would be.
“Hindi kami lahat parehas ng kapalaran ng mga kapatid ko, ako ’yung medyo ika nga, sinuwerte so ako na ’yung bahala kay Mama,” Pokwang says, referring to her mother Gloria Subong.
Difficult Decisions
In her late teens, Pokwang took charge of her life. She flew to Japan to work as a group dancer. She recalls the first time she set foot in the foreign land. “Siyempe meron kang culture shock first time ko pumunta ng Japan at hindi ako marunong mag-Japanese. Dito pa lang sa Pilipinas meron namang basic Japanese training. Pero iyak ako nang iyak, bata pa lang ako OFW na ako.”
Her drive to earn in Japan was fueled by the fact that her father Antonio Subong lost his job. “Si Tatay kasi nag-retire sa trabaho niya, nag-apply siya as seaman. Ang nangyari, peke ’yung agency na napuntahan niya. Hindi siya nakaalis hanggang sa hindi na siya nakakuha ng trabaho.”
While working in Japan, her life took an unexpected turn. Pokwang got pregnant, and later on gave birth to her first child, Shin.
When Japan imposed stricter restrictions on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), Pokwang decided to move to Abu Dhabi where she could work as a domestic helper. “Noong 1998 ako nag-Abu Dhabi. Nung time na naghigpit sa Japan, nag-open naman ’yung Abu Dhabi.”
Working in Abu Dhabi while her son was in Japan was already a big struggle for Pokwang, who was then a first-time mom. But a bigger, more challenging hurdle came along: Shin passed away at the tender age of 5 due to a brain tumor. To make matters worse, Pokwang was not allowed by her employers to go back to Japan for her son.
She looks back on her son’s short yet meaningful life with fondness and with a touch of bittersweet longing.
“Hindi ako nag-se-celebrate ng death anniversary, sa akin lang, i-celebrate natin ’yung birthday niya, ’yung araw na ibinigay siya sa akin...don’t forget to celebrate. ’Pag birthday niya at ’pag Christmas hindi kami nawawalan ng food na paborito niya at syempre kapag araw ng mga patay at every day pinagpi-pray ko siya,” Pokwang shares. “Lahat ng nanay ang pinakamasayang memory is ’yung nabiyayaan ka ng isang anghel. Pinakamasaya ’yung unang yakap ko sa kanya, hindi mawawala ’yun as a nanay.”
She describes Shin as an intelligent young boy. “Matalinong bata ’yun, very smart siya, lahat na-appreciate niya kahit maliit na regalo lang. Maingat siya sa mga laruan niya.”
Pokwang gave her some time to grieve and heal, and when she was ready to continue on living, she chose to return to the Philippines, where she eventually found work as a choreographer. It was a difficult but necessary restart for a mother who just lost a child.
as a nanay.”
“Bago ako nag-comedy bar nag-choreographer muna ako, nag-Eezy Dancing ako noon sa ABC5. Choreographer din ako sa mga bumabyahe ng Japan, sa mga agency.”
Her choreographer friends eventually decided to make a career out of their natural wit and talent in comedy. This was around the time comedy bars were steadily gaining popularity in the late ’90s.
“Nagkakayayaan kami ng mga kaibigan ko, ito ’yung pasibol pa lang ang mga comedy bar. Natural na sa akin ’yung malakas mang-okray. Doon ako na-discover sa Funline sa Roxas Boulevard. Hanggang sa nakita ako ng manager ng Funline si Kuya Henry, sinabi niya kailangan nila ng female na host.
“Akala ko hindi ako ready kasi nakikita ko ’yung mga bakla makuda pero sabi niya kaya mong makipagsabayan sa kanila kahit babae ka, hanggang sa one day napa-oo niya ako. Nagtrabaho ako sa Funline tapos napunta ako sa Music Box sa comedy bar, isa ’yun sa mga pinakaunang comedy bar sa Pilipinas.”
It was during that time her iconic stage name was coined. Her co-performers in comedy bars gave her the nickname Pokwang, a catchy name that would eventually be her screen name in showbiz.
“Alam mo naman ang mga bading...sila ’yung pumili.”
Pokwang’s secret to being a good comedienne stems from her simple philosophy in life, her way of dealing with hardships. She’s learned to find humor in the toughest situations. “Basta nandoon na lang siya [sense of humor] ang comedy kasi hindi napagaaralan. ’Pag meron ka niyan, natural lalabas talaga ’yan. Siguro dahil laking kalye rin ako, batang kalye, sanay ako sa tao. Nahawa rin ako sa mga kakilala kong bading.”
Eventually, her growing fame in the stand-up comedy scene led her to audition for “Clown in a Million,” a reality talent show segment of an ABS-CBN variety show where she emerged as the grand winner. Among her prizes was a contract that assured Pokwang a steady stream of projects and income. “’Pag pirma ka ng kontrata dire-diretso na.”
While she's mostly known for comedy, Pokwang also dabbled in acting, proving that she could be a good actress that could flesh out emotionally-charged roles, too. “First drama ko was my life story, ako mismo ’yung gumanap. Siguro nahanapan ako ng potential sa drama, mabuti rin na hindi ako nakakahon.”
Pokwang’s foothold in showbiz became stronger. She was breaking stereotypes in stereotypical roles in comedy and local showbiz. “Hindi sila makapaniwala kasi kadalasan kapag sinasabing artista, maganda, tisay, tisoy”
she says matter-of-factly, “Hindi na uso ngayon ’yan, ang uso ngayon, talent.”
Even if she was already gaining a steady following, Pokwang didn’t forget to cherish her original fans: her mother and her family, who have been by her side since Day 1.
“Kahit noon pa kapag sumasali ako sa mga dance contest nanonood ’yan noon pati sa mga TV guesting. Nakakaproud kasi nakita nila lahat ng pinaghirapan ko, na-re-recognize ng mga tao.”
“Ang comedy kasi hindi napagaaralan. ’Pag meron ka niyan, natural lalabas talaga ’yan. Siguro dahil laking kalye rin ako, batang kalye, sanay ako sa tao.”
In Love, Finally
By 2015, Pokwang had built a name for herself as an actress, comedienne, a dutiful daughter, and a hardworking mother to daughter Mae. All that was missing was a love life, and it soon came knocking on her door when she worked with American actor Lee O'Brian for the 2014 comedy drama movie Edsa Woolworth.
Asked what made her realize Lee O'Brian was the right partner for her, she answers, “Unang una, ’yung respeto niya sa anak ko kahit hindi niya kadugo. Doon mo makikita kapag may respeto sa space ng anak mo. At ’yung pag-ti-tiyaga niya na pumunta siya rito kahit hindi niya alam ’yung kultura natin o naghihintay sa kaniya all because of love. ’Yung pagtiyaga niya na mag-adjust napakabuti niyang tao. Kahit nga Bisaya.”
In 2018, the pair welcomed their first child, Malia, a beautiful baby girl that they’ve been raising together in a house in Antipolo, with Pokwang’s elder daughter Mae.
After all her experiences with romance and motherhood, Pokwang has a lot of lessons she wants to share with women. “Mahalin mo muna ’yung sarili mo, buoin mo muna ’yung sarili mo. ’Wag kang aasa to the point na feeling mo na hindi ka mabubuhay kung wala sila.”
With conviction, she reiterates her point, “Never ever make them think na hindi mo kaya na wala sila. ’Wag mo sila bibigyan ng chance na ipakita sa kanila na mahina ka. As babae, tapusin na natin ’yung ganoong mindset na ‘Babae ka lang, sa bahay lang tayo,’ hindi pwedeng gano’n. Maging matapang ka, maging matatag ka pero nandoon ’yung lambot mo bilang nanay nandoon dapat.
“Ako tinapos ko na ’yung mga ganoong isip na dahil babae ako hindi ko kaya. Tapusin na natin ’yan. Magmahal ka, pero maging wise ka. Magmahal ka kung ’yan ang nagpapasaya sa’yo. Pero dahil nanay ka, babae ka, kapag mahina ka, paano na lang itong mga anak mo?”
This kind of mindset is what she wants her daughters to have in their lives. She’s been instilling in them the ability to choose their own path in life and to live from a place of strength.
“Ako naman kasi kung ano ’yung gusto nila sa buhay nila, hindi ko naman sila pipilitin, basta kaya nila dalhin ’yung buhay nila nang hindi sila nasasaktan o nakakapanakit.”
Pokwang continues to count her blessings. In 2021 she signed a contract with GMA Artist Center, a move that made her officially a Kapuso.
She provides a short backstory behind her decision to transfer to the Kapuso network. “Noong early 2019, marami na akong friends na nasa GMA. At marami rin kasing artista, hindi naman lahat ma-accommodate lagi.
“Pero in fairness, meron din naman silang mga ino-offer na mga work kaya lang nagkaproblema pa sa franchise, at nagka-pandemic pa. May mga projects na hindi na natuloy. Siyempre tayo bilang magulang kailangan natin gumalaw. Sa pandemic napakaswerte mo kapag may trabaho ka.”
Pokwang may still be feeling her way in her new home network, but she’s already brimming with gratitude. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA sa pagbukas nila ng pinto para sa akin. Alam ko ’yung mga followers ko na-mi-miss na rin nila ako at marami pa rin akong gustong ihandog.”
Pokwang is already looking forward to working with fellow Kapuso actors, including the ones she’s worked with before. “I’m looking forward na makasama sila muli, alam ko mangyayari ’yan. Maayos, maganda, exciting. Bagong kabanata ng buhay ko ito, mga bagong tao.”
Possibilities and opportunities are what excite her and inspire her to show up for work. And she knows that GMA can give her those and many more.
“Nagusap na kami ng Artist Center, alam nila kung ano ’yung mga gusto kong gawin, na-i-open ko naman na sa kanilang lahat. Nararamdaman ko rin naman na unti-unti natutupad, marami pa sila ni-re-ready lang. Ako kalma lang darating ’yan isa-isa.”
Before wrapping up the interview, Pokwang’s advice centers on remaining modest in the midst of the fame she has achieved and leading her daughters by the lessons she has learned from her own mother.
“Ang lahat ng meron tayo ngayon ay hiram lang sa Diyos kahit sabihin mong may bahay kang malaki, kotse, sikat ka, lahat ’yan binigay lang sa’yo at dapat gamitin mo sa tama. Hindi ’yung gagamitin mo para makapanakit ng ibang tao. Kapag masyadong mataas, ang tingin mo sa sarili mo ang dami mo na restrictions sa buhay. Marami kang hindi magagawa. Mabuhay ka nang normal lang.”
Pokwang strives not to be a perfect mother but to be the best mother that she can ever be for her kids.
“Kahit hindi ka perpektong nanay, dahil wala namang perpektong nanay, turuan mo lang ’yung mga anak mo na lumaki na may takot sa Diyos, tulungan mo silang maging mabait sa kapwa, hindi ’yung nangmamaliit ng mga nasa paligid. Bilang ina responsibilidad natin na turuan ang mga anak natin na maging makatao at hindi nangmamaliit.”
