COMEDIAN-SINGER POOH initially gained fame as a stand up comic in comedy bars.
But he became better known for his participation in the gag show “Banana Split” where he did hilarious impersonations of Manny Pacquiao.
He won the Aliw Award twice as best stand up comic and the Star Award as best comedian for “Banana Split”.
He also got to act in several soaps. When the pandemic came and ABS-CBN lost its franchise, he was jobless for a while but it’s good TV5 got him to do “Stay in Love” with them in 2020, “Nino NIna” in 2021 and “Oh My Korona” in 2022.
Some bashers chided him for having no “utang na loob” to ABS but he just ignored them.
“Para namang noong wala akong trabaho, napakain nila ako,” he says.
“E, hindi naman ako exclusive to any network. Free lancer ako.
"At hindi lang naman ako ang lumipat. Marami pang iba, di ba? Yung mga naging katrabaho ko nga sa TV5, about 80 percent sa kanila, galing din ng ABS.”
He is proud to call himself a survivor.
“Noong start ng pandemic, na-depress din ako pero nilabanan ko.
"Nalulungkot ako kapag naaalala ko ang mga ibang comedians na nawala recently, like si Chokoleit, very close ako sa kanya.
"Tapos sina Hans Mortel, Phillip Lazaro, Ogag Alde. Let’s pray for the repose of their souls. At tayong mga naiwan, tuloy lang ang laban.”
He is happy that some of his colleagues in “Banana Split” have continued their careers.
One of them, Angelica Panganiban, is now a mother.
“I’m so happy for her kasi alam kong pinagdaanan niyang heartbreaks pero hayan ngayon, masaya na siya with her Baby Amila.”
He’s now very close to Maja Salvador since they’re working together in “Oh My Korona” that will have its season finale on November 26.
“Matagal ko ng friend si Maja, since 2007 pa. In the series na ‘Pangarap na Bituin’ before, kasama niya sina Sarah Geronimo at Rica Peralejo at siya ang anak-anakan ko.
"Napakabait ng batang yan kaya ngayon, siya lang ang bukod tanging artistang mapapanood sa GMA, TV5 at ABS. Ang tawag ko nga sa kanya, the Star for All Networks.”
In “Oh My Korona”, he is not just a co-star of Maja but he is also a creative consultant who is part of the show’s conceptualization.
“The show has a good run at sana, mabigyan kami ng season 2.”
