Filipino magician shares life working on a cruise ship

Filipinos build communities everywhere they go, including on cruise ships that travel the world.

In an episode of GMA Pinoy TV's Pinoy at Sea, Junel Tauyan provides an inside look at his job on a cruise ship in Europe, which he has been doing for the past two years.

“Ako po ay isang bar waiter-magician. Kami po ang mga nagseserve ng mga drinks, mga cocktails. At the same time po, dahil po sa talent ko na ito, kaya po ako na-hire, ay nagmamagic po kami sa mga pasahero. Binibigyan po namin sila ng entertainment na maganda,” said Tauyan, whose dream was to become a seafarer. 

(I am a bar waiter-magician. We serve drinks and cocktails. At the same time, because of this talent I was hired for, we perform magic for passengers. We provide good entertainment for them.)

Tauyan works alongside a group of talented baristas and servers, some of whom have performed as singers and dancers. He was discovered by another Filipino bartender on social media and offered him an opportunity.

“Sa Pinas po, bago po ako sumampa, ako po ay isang party host-magician o performer po sa mga events. Dahil po ang aking pamilya ay pamilya rin po ng mga sirkero, in line na po talaga at talagang nasa dugo na namin ng pagiging performer po,” said Tauyan.

(In the Philippines, before I became a seaman, I was a party host-magician or performer for events. I was born into a family of circus performers, so performing is in our blood.)

Driven by his desire to give his children a better life, Tauyan values the opportunity to work abroad.

“’Yung ganitong trabaho po ay mabibigyan ko po ng magandang buhay yung aking mga anak… Mapag-aaral ko po sila ng maayos [at] mabibigyan ko po lahat ng pangangailangan nila,” he said.

(This job allows me to give my children a good life… I can send them to school [and] give them everything they need.)

“Kapag out-duty naman po tayo, kapag off-duty na po tayo, pinaka number one pong ginagawa ko ay yung makatawag po sa aking asawa, sa aking mga anak, yung kumustahin sila… kasi parang sila po yung aking battery charger na kapag nakausap ko na sila, yung lahat ng pagod ko, lungkot ko ay nawawala,” Tauyan said.

(Once I’m off-duty, the first thing I do is to call my wife and my children and ask them how they are doing… They are like my battery chargers; once I talk to them, it removes whatever fatigue and sadness I may be feeling.)  — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News