A singer-comedienne named Kakai

She jokes that her real name makes people think she’s a tele-novela star from Latin America. Or a relentless beauty contestant from Dadiangas.

Maria Carmela Brosas. The name exudes elegance and femininity in every syllable. traits you’d hardly associate with her, admits cooky comic and sassy singer Kakai Brosas. Thus, the name change.

The club-hoppers who follow Kakai’s nightly gigs with Gladys and the Boxers With K (GBWK) know very well that she’s the K in GBWK.

A seasoned sing-along master and soloist who has traveled and performed extensively all over Asia, Kakai joined the country’s premier comedy band three years ago.

Since then, Kakai has been making beautiful music (and cracking ribald jokes) with GBWK veterans Gladys Guevara and Daniel Lardizabal, and most recently, with new recruit Cris Samonte in their regular shows in Soundstage, Kampo West, Ratsky’s Malate and Tomas Morato.

She is also popular among live-entertainment enthusiasts for her uncanny impersonation of Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla. Truth be told: Kakai counts ZsaZsa, along with Jaya and Regine Velasquez, as the local singers that she emulates.

As such, their followers always request Kakai to belt out her own rendition of ZsaZsa’s hits, as well as the ’80s classic, Total Eclipse of the Heart.

"I think it’s because Bonnie Tyler (who originally recorded Total) and I have the same type of voice," Kakai surmises. "Husky and big."

Indeed, this tall, big-voiced woman gives GBWK its oomph factor, believe it or not.

"When I feel like it, I dress like a sex goddess," Kakai chortles. "Sometimes I try the tomboyish look."

That’s the secret of GBWK’s success, she reveals. "Constant reinvention," she reiterates. "We always try to look different."

The same principle applies to their repertoire, it seems. "It’s a merry mixture," Kakai describes the GBWK sound. "Unlike other comedians, we can really sing, as in sing our lungs out. And we can tackle all sorts of songs."

Musical diversity goes hand-in-hand with GBWK’s other talent, Kakai clarifies, and main attraction: their raucous, risqué humor.

Kakai points out that "timing is of the essence" in a comedian’s trade. "It all depends on your timing," Kakai stresses. "No matter how funny your punchline is, if your timing is off, the joke won’t come out well."

Kakai also sees the importance of being an original, both musically and comically. "Like Rufa Mae. She has her own style," Kakai explains. "She’s very natural."

Comedy is serious business for Kakai.

"In comedy, you shouldn’t force things. You should try to be as natural and spontaneous as possible. Otherwise, you’d end up trying hard."

Nowadays, when stand-up comics are a dime-a-dozen and comedy clubs are mushrooming like 7-11s all over the metropolis, GBWK still stands out primarily because the guys in the band are originals, musically and comically.

"We’re the oldest in the scene," Kakai jests. "GBWK has been around since 1996. It was the first comedy band of its kind."

Being the pioneer, what’s the advice she can offer to other struggling performers out there?

"You shouldn’t rush things," Kakai counsels. "Take it slowly. No just because you’re gay or you look different, you’re funny na. Not just because you know how to insult or curse the audience, you’re funny na."

It takes a lot to be a performer, Kakai attests. It takes nerves of steel, amazing drive and determination.

Comedy is no laughing matter, she states. Kakai relates that they’ve had their share of hecklers in the past.

"In fairness naman to us, that seldom happens," she remarks. "If someone gets pikon, chika lang. It’s either we make dead-ma or we make patol. Either we ignore or we insult him all the more."

Kakai is really at a loss, confounded and bewildered as to why comedy bands like GBWK are all the rage now in the live entertainment scene.

"I really don’t get it," she quips. "It’s really the trend now. Ten years ago, you can’t get away with cursing the audience. Now, the audience really loves it when we make fun of them. I think that’s one of the reasons why they watch our shows. They really love it when we include them in our spiels."

As if they’re long-lost, longtime friends.

"We really treat our audience as if they are our barkada. And they really appreciate our rapport onstage."

As reward for all her hard work, Kakai is swiftly making a name for herself, not only in the city’s different nightspots, but also on the boob tube.

She is seen regularly on the GMA-7 sitcom Da Boy en Da Girl, which is headlined by big stars Rudy Fernandez and Rosanna Roces.

"I play Ming-Ming in the show," Kakai describes her TV alter ego. "I can’t understand her. She’s praning. Really crazy. Imagine, she’s supposed to be a maid and yet she pushes people around. Very bossy. She’s truly one-of-a-kind."

Just like Kakai.