Michael V. says humor, comedy help people cope amid pandemic

COVID-19 survivor Michael V. believes that humor and comedy can help people cope with stress amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“Isa sa mga paraan lalo ng mga Pinoy ay ’yung humor para mawala ’yung problema, mawala ’yung stress,” Bitoy said on “Quarantined with Howie Severino.”

“Kung nababawasan mo ’yung stress lalo roon sa mga nakaka-experience na noong virus, eh, malaki ang magagawa noon para sa kanila, para sa paggaling nila,” he added.

The “Bubble Gang” mainstay said everywhere around the world, people always found humor when things get serious.

“And I think hindi na natin maaalis talaga ’yun, eh. Hindi lang naman sa mga Pilipino kung ’di sa buong mundo, nakakahanap ng puwedeng pagtawanan out of anything na hindi normal o out of anything na nagko-cause ng problem,” he said.

When asked how they did spiels for “Bubble Gang” during these sensitive and trying times, Bitoy said they’re still looking for the perfect formula.

“Hinahanap pa rin ng creatives ng ‘Bubble Gang’ at saka ng ‘Pepito Manaloto’ kung papaano ’yung pinakamaayos na approach kasi alam mo, bukod doon sa physical na hirap noong pagshu-shoot kagaya ng sinabi ni Direk Joey Reyes, ’di ba, hindi sila makapag-shoot ng pelikula,” he said.

“So at this point, hinahanap pa namin ’yung tamang formula. We’re sticking to the old working formula na medyo safe ka but the presentation is updated na parang naka-Zoom lang kami at medyo no contact ’yung mga pinepresenta namin,” he explained.

With the surfacing technologies and new content creators on social media, Michael V. said Bubble Gang’s edge would be its 25-year experience.

“I believe it’s the experience, Howie, eh. Hindi na biro ’yung 25 years ng ‘Bubble Gang’ at ilang generations na rin ng humor ’yung na-encounter namin at pinagtagumpayan ng hindi lang ng casts kung ’di pati ng staff and crew,” he said.

‘So kung experience ang pagbabatayan, tingin ko talagang nandoon ang edge namin,” he added.

As someone who produces content for both television and social media, Bitoy said there’s a big difference between the two.

“It’s just a path na option ’yan, eh, na puwede mong i-take pero I have to explore it kasi since isa nga ’yan out of the many at this point, malay natin, ’di ba? Hindi natin alam,” he said.

The Kapuso comedian hopes to apply his learnings on producing internet content to mainstream television in the future.

Bitoy also said there’s a big number of creatives out there who had not yet been given the chance to shine.

“’Pag ’yang spotlight na ’yan naglibot-libot, siguradong may tatamaan diyan and at that time siguro ’pag nangyari ’yun, ako isa ako sa mga tatayo at papalakpak para dun sa mga tao na creative na mga tao na ’yun,” he said.

“And ’yun ’yung isang nakakatakot at nakakatuwa, very exciting na future dito sa ginagawa ko sa ngayon,” he added.

Despite recovering from COVID-19, Bitoy said he told his management he’s not yet ready to go out of his home and shoot for work.

“And ’yung mga ginagawa kong vlog ay parang preview noong mga puwede kong gawin dito sa bahay so kung sakaling mag-require sila ng mga segment, mga sketch galing sa akin, ay ito na ’yung parang sagot na, ‘oh ganito na lang muna ang gagawin ko. Ito muna ang i-expect n’yo,’” Bitoy said.

Bitoy said going to the studio to shoot for work was not worth the risk, expressing his concern not only for himself but also his teammates.

“Kasi ako hindi man para sa akin, para na rin doon sa mga kasamahan ko na makakatrabaho ako na para sa akin hindi worth ’yung risk, parang hindi siya pantay doon sa mage-gain mo out of going back to the job and shooting sa studio,” he said.

Michael V. tested positive for COVID-19 in July and recovered after almost 1 month. He detailed his experience on his vlog.

In his interview with Howie, Bitoy admitted that while he no longer had COVID-19 symptoms, his lungs were not yet at 100% capacity and he had yet to fully regain his sense of smell.

He also said he was waiting for 2 negative results before he could donate his plasma to COVID-19 patients. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News