Willie Nepomuceno on Channel NewsAsia

MANILA, Philippines - Master impersonator Willie Nepomuceno will be featured as one of Asia’s foremost social commentators in the Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia. The one-on-one interview will tackle the subject: The Art of Asian Satire. The series airs every Monday night at 8:30.

Conversation With is Channel News- Asia’s signature interview series which aims to make a different and compel- ling conversation at a time. Back for a ninth season, it will deal with topics confronting a rising and rapidly changing Asia — from the role of satire and of women who wield neither economic power nor political clout, to the next big thing in health care, love and communication.

Discover the art of Asian satire in the works of Asia’s foremost come- dians, playwrights and impressionist as they delve into the role of humor in Asia and the constraints they face in making a craft out of parody and hilarity.

Willie Nep will be featured among Asia’s notable social satirists like Jo Kukathas, an actor, director, writer and founder-director of The Instant Cafe Theater Company set up in 1989. Instant Cafe uses political satire to lampoon everything from political patronage to corruption and throw a darkly funny gaze in Malaysian mores.

The other guests are Huzir Sulaiman and Claire Wong from Singapore, Zu- nar from Malaysia and Michelle Chong also of Singapore.

Maura Fogarty, a seasoned news presenter who has hosted a range of financial market programs, is now a part-time presenter with Channel NewsAsia hosting Conversation With.

CNA producer Maria Ronald said Willie Nep’s frighteningly accurate portrayal of politicians and pop stars which has entertained Filipinos for over three decades does more than amuse his audience. It gives them a voice. In the same interview, Willie said he believes his impersonations represent the common man’s fight against authority and that’s the reason why he considers comedy as a serious business.

It will be Willie’s fourth time to be featured in a MediaCorp television show. The first time was during the Asian Television Awards held in Singa- pore in 2000 where he was cited for his Highly Commended Performance by an Actor for his lead role on ABC 5’s ISPUP comedy show.

Next was in 2007 when he was in- terviewed by Suzanne Jung and Steven Chia over Primetime Morning while promoting a two-night performance at the famed and exclusive Raffles

Hotel in downtown Singapore. In 2010, he was again featured in an interview by CNA’s Philip- pine correspondent Christine Ong as a significant social com- mentator for the role he played in that year’s Presidential elections in the Philippines. His all seats taken Presidentiables’ Gut Talent series of political satire was an all-time box-office hit at the Music Museum staging several repeat performances. The only show that is staged every other six years when the nation gears up for the Presidential elections. It began in 1992 after the term of Pres. Cory Aquino with the original title of Willie Nep for President.

Willie Nep has just wrapped up his EPAL The Musicale production also at the Music Museum when the Conversa- tion With host Maura and producer Maria as well as the entire crew flew to Manila to do the exclusive interview.

Today’s episode is titled The Master Impersonator.