One thing that’s always on our radar is comedy. We love a good laugh and we love the people who make us laugh. So when we got the news that Victor Anastacio had a show coming up, we knew we wanted to talk to him and see what this funny man is all about. Before the interview, we put together our ideas, one of which was to have him wear something corporate or semi-formal for the shoot. When he came in for the interview, he opened up with a joke about his corporate clothes. He thanked us for inviting him to this entrepreneurial magazine. It was all uphill from there.
Victor Anastacio is a stand-up comedian and self-proclaimed attention seeker with Comedy Manila. He is also a freelance creative, working on projects for TV, movies, and various hosting gigs, including weddings and corporate events. At one point, he even interviewed basketball players despite knowing little about the game. However, his primary focus and where he places his bets is on his stand-up comedy – something that he calls his Ikigai.
Intellectwalwal
His journey into comedy began early in his childhood. Growing up as a class clown, he openly acknowledges his attention-seeking tendencies and penchant for creativity. He explored various artistic pursuits like playing musical instruments, writing, and even dabbling in spoken word. This continued until he found more structure in college. It was then that his friend, Ryan Puno, invited him to audition for a stand-up comedy contest. This experience proved to be enlightening for him; he relished the freedom it offered and found that it satisfied his craving for attention. During this contest, he connected with new friends who are now his fellow batchmates in comedy, including Red Ollero, GB Labrador, and James Caraan, all of whom now coincidentally participate in a comedy tour called The Absolute Mega Best of Comedy Manila.
Embracing his distinct style of comedy, which he calls Intellectwalwal, Victor blends smart jokes with a touch of randomness, aiming to entertain while occasionally slipping in drops of wisdom. His comedy touches on universal themes like rage, change, and politics, seeking to bring laughter and lightness to his audience — and perhaps a bit of insight along the way.
Successful Failures
Growing up, his initial idea of success was to become a sitcom star or a PBA player. When both pursuits proved unrealistic, he turned to stand-up comedy. He admits he didn’t ask his parents for permission to quit his job to pursue stand-up, but they supported him anyway. Victor jokingly says he reciprocated the love by treating them to unlimited rice occasionally with his comedy earnings.
It wasn’t easy when he quit his job – his stand-up comedy wasn’t paying the bills yet. It was more of a labor of love, so he relied on other creative work like writing and on-and-off-camera work in TV. When asked how he navigated the path of a freelance creative, he humorously jokes about following the money, but he also shares in a serious tone that he allowed his failures to redirect him to what he truly loves the most.
Calculated Authenticity
In the process of crafting his stand-up routine, he usually hangs out at open mics at venues like Wicked Dogs and Mows QC, meticulously recording each set to fine-tune his material over months. Breaking down topics and organizing his rants into groups, he’s on a mission to build a compelling one-hour set through a mix-and-match of road-tested jokes. He understands that online and stand-up comedy are two different beasts, believing that real stand-up happens in front of a live audience.
Looking back on his journey, he used to think he needed to play a character, only to realize that authenticity is key – sticking to his true voice and eliminating any fabricated facade. Now, he feels confident in the pacing of his humor. Referring to the concept of Ikigai, he identifies comedy as his true purpose.
Listen Loudly
With a show scheduled for August 17, he describes it as a no-holds-barred event with no ill intentions. Promising to offer context about his online content and a chance to witness new material, the show is guaranteed to be a fun night for everyone.
He has handpicked openers lined up, showcasing humor that ranges from the hood to fatherhood. This is a comedy special that you wouldn’t want to miss if you’re serious about comedy.
Follow Victor Anastacio on Instagram and Tiktok to know more about his brand of comedy.
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