Wanlu the ventriloquist loves entertaining people

MANILA, Philippines - What, of all things, is a ventriloquist?

People didn’t know what to make of Wanlu’s introduction when he calls himself a ventriloquist.

Wanlu, short for his real name, Juancho Lunaria, originally from Bulacan, says he learned the art of ventriloquism from Ony Carcamo, whom he calls his mentor.

He has his own share of idols in ventriloquism: Edgar Bergen, Paul Winchell, Senor Wences, Terry Fator and Jeff Dunham.

Juancho was originally a magician, a craft he practiced for 20 years. Mentored in magic by Nap Fernandez, Danny Luchavez, Lou Hilario and Burik, Wanlu worked the private parties circuit until he heard of Talentadong Pinoy.

When he joined the contest in 2009, he decided to expand his range by showing an extra skill, ventriloquism. He was also now known by his stage name, Wanlu, and he can be reached via [email protected].

Wanlu is a popular name in the circle of private parties, company events and the like. “I make my living as an entertainer,” he says.

Wanlu used to host a twice-weekly segment on the TV5 morning show, Sapul, where he’d dish out political commentary spiked with humor.

He also appears in a segment on Wow Meganon on the same channel Tuesdays and Fridays.

Wanlu owes his career to his puppets, which are mostly imported from abroad and which he handles with care and affection that’s not unlike what he showers his eight children.

He toys with eight colorful characters in all, most of them hard puppets, which means they are made from either fiberglass or wood.

His puppets include six-year-old wisecrack kid Nicolo, his sister Angelina, Manny Pexman, Rep. Dominador of Lakas Loob Party, Mang Caloy of Amoy Pawis Partylist.

There are also Plus Kap, Ozham the mystic and a bunch of lovable animals including the very wacky Andhokzz the chicken, DD Gandang Ibon the Ostrich, and Santiago the parrot.

Wanlu also has in his collection a one-of-a-kind puppet named Gort, the alien, and Gonzo, the high technology animatronic monkey puppet.

A branch of puppetry, ventriloquism is defined as the production of the voice in such a way that the sound seems to come from a source other than the vocal organs of the speaker.

It requires great skill, demanding that the ventriloquist does not open his mouth while creating that special, unique sound.