When you think of improv or comedy in Manila, top of mind for the past decade has always been SPIT, or the Silly People’s Improv Theater. Founded by actor-comedian Gabe Mercado back in June 2002 (Gabe is best known for his stint with Yakult’s “Okay ka ba tiyan” campaign), the comedy troupe has delighted scores of audiences both locally and internationally, from their gigs at Mag:net Katipunan and the defunct Mag:net Bonifacio High Street, to their nowadays home at Quantum Café among other entertainment spots in the metro.
SPIT’s is the kind of comedy that is not so much Laffline, okray, “sinong nanay mo” but thoughtful, brassy MYMP (make yo’ mama proud). It’s intelligent inasmuch as it is willfully irreverent, classy, but nevertheless, in yo’ face and unpredictable. With lots of singing, give or take in key, sometimes dancing, rhyming, and a whole lot of quick thinking, you never know what to expect from watching their gigs, and neither do the actors.
Their shows remain unscripted and unrehearsed, and rely on the magic of spontaneity that can either play to their advantage or have a whole sketch go south. It’s happened at times. Crickets, tumbleweeds and all. But with the kind of bravado and gung-ho attitude that the troupe is known to bring to every occasion, whether they’re performing for as few as 10 people, or 3,000, representing the Philippines in Los Angeles, Hong Kong or some Indian wedding in Bali, or roughing it in some social experiment at the MRT station, you can expect nothing less than hearty laughter (and the consequential ab workout), fun, and good times from this comedic crew.
For their 10th anniversary and on the eve of the first-ever Manila Improv Festival happening from June 28 to July 1, Young STAR decided to put these comedians to the test by having them place their irreverent stamp of comedy on some of our favorite pop cultural fancies. From The Simpsons to Star Wars, and even Manila’s “It girls,” the folks at SPIT leave no stone unturned, and no good deed unpunished. Hey, it’s comedy after all. As the saying goes, “Ang pikon, talo!”
Gabe Mercado
Age: 39
Number of years in SPIT: 10
Formula: 50% Talino + 50% Tiyan
Most memorable SPIT moment: Performing in front of 3,000 screaming students in Cebu.
Best thing I learned from SPIT: To say “Yes… and…” to every curveball that life throws at you.
What Pinoys can learn from Improv: Improv teaches you to go with the flow as well as to take the initiative.
Dear SPIT, go forth and multiply. The Philippines needs more improv groups.
Chal Chang Lontoc-Del Rosario
Age: 20-ish
Number of years in SPIT: Three
Formula: Kills 99% Germs and 1% Dirrty. 101% pure freshness
Most memorable SPIT moment: The day my mom and dad watched. My mom passed away last November. She’s Taiwanese and can barely understand long dialogues but she understood every joke.
Best thing I learned from SPIT: To say “Yes… and…” Try it!
What Pinoys can learn from Improv: That “funny” does need to equate with “stupid.”
Dear SPIT, you are the sexiest thing on Earth! Let’s talk again when you’re legal and 18. In the meantime, Happy 10th!
Kenneth Keng
Age: 28
Number of years in SPIT: Six
Formula: 50% Fez and 50% Value
Most memorable SPIT moment: Taking the stage in Hong Kong.
Best thing I learned from SPIT: Calm down and listen to yourself.
What Pinoys can learn from Improv: To not be so “nega” with their comedy.
Dear SPIT, never stop challenging yourself.
Thea Yrastorza
Age: 25
Number of years in SPIT: One
Formula: 25% Breast milk. 25% Tito, Vic, and Joey. 25% Acting. 25% Tiwang.
Most memorable SPIT moment: At the end of my first gig, “And our newest SPIT member, Thea!”
Best thing I learned from SPIT: Keep calm and trust yourself.
What Pinoys can learn from Improv: Improvise in life.
Dear SPIT, thank you!
Dingdong Rosales
Age: 37
Number of years in SPIT: 10
Formula: 50% Butch, 50% Bitch
Most memorable SPIT moment: When we were flown to Bali, all expenses paid, to perform at an Indian wedding.
Best thing I learned from SPIT: “Yes… and…” is an improv principle I apply to my day-to-day life.
What Pinoys can learn from Improv: Working together as a team to achieve greatness.
Dear SPIT, keep growing, learning and improvising!
Happy Feraren
Age: 25
Number of years in SPIT: Five
Formula: 50% short + 50% shorts
Most memorable SPIT moment: HK Improv festival! Performing abroad and representing the country was something else. I cried and sang “Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo” on the streets of HK.
Best thing I learned from SPIT: Learning to laugh at myself.
What Pinoys can learn from Improv: That drama doesn’t have to be O.A. Truth can be performed in a subtle way without having to go all teleserye.
Dear SPIT, please don’t ever kick me out!
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The first-ever Philippine International Improv Festival will be held from June 28 to July 1 at the College of St. Benilde and at Quantum Café. The festival will feature Cebu’s Performing Arts Kolektib, Bacolod’s Kinengkoy Comedy Express, Los Angeles’ Farnan & Landry, Taiwan’s Taichung Improv, China’s Beijing Improv and Xiamen Improv, and Hong Kong’s People’s Liberation Improv. For more info, visit www.spitmanila.com, email manilaimprovfest@gmail.com or text 0915-2952033.