OFTEN newspapers and online news outlets carry the president’s careless remarks on national issues which the Palace then dismisses as a joke. Last year, impersonator and comedian Jon Santos expressed used these issues to perform political satire, and this year he’s at it again.
I Can DOTHIRTY! Da Jon Santos Thirtieth Anniversary Show, an original satirical live act which Mr. Santos co-wrote with Enrico Santos and Joel Mercado, and which is directed by Michael Williams, will be staged at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City on Feb. 13.
The show will feature Mr. Santos as “MacDonald Trump” and “Digong Duterthirty-hari.”
TRYING OUT DIGONG JOKES
Ditching his colorful costumes, Mr. Santos went onstage in an all-black casual outfit topped by a fedora hat during the press conference at the Newport Mall’s El Calle Food and Music Hall. He proceeded to perform a stand-up comedy spiel which ran for 23 minutes, a sampling of the voices of the personalities in government.
He recalled taking the risk of mounting a show of political satire about the current administration, Trumperte, with last year. It had performances in May and October.
“Tignan natin kung pwede akong mag-Digong jokes ng May 12. Kung sa 13 buhay pa ako, that means okay lang. (Let’s see if I could do Digong jokes on May 12. If I’m still alive on the 13th, then it’s okay). Let’s do this again,” Mr. Santos said during his spiel.
It took him two years after the 2016 elections to work up the courage to comment on the current political climate. “Ang confidence level ko to tackle these two very controversial characters leveled up. I had a feeling that the country was so divided,” he added, saying that when he does these shows, half of the theater is angered by jokes while other half is laughing. “Matindi ang pagka-opinionated ng both sides (both sides are so opinionated).”
For the Feb. 13 show, he will also do his impersonations of Mocha Uson, Senator Leila de Lima, and former First Lady Imelda Marcos in order to make funny commentaries on the Philippine political landscape.
Joining Mr. Santos are comedians Eric Nicolas and Marissa Sanchez who will do impersonations of popular entertainment figures and celebrate the lighter side of Pinoy pop culture.
The show is meant to be both entertaining and relatable since issues such as inflation, immigration, and peace and order resonate with the audience. “You will realize that there is something that unites us… [kahit] saan man panig ka (regardless which side you’re on), you have feelings about it,” said Mr. Santos.
“Doon lang lumakas ang loob ko nung na-realize ko na may common ground na tatawanan nating lahat (Only then did I work up the courage, when I realized that there is common ground that we can all laugh about).”
Tickets to I Can DOTHIRTY! are available at TicketWorld (www.ticketworld.com.ph) and the RWM Box Office at the Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila. For inquiries, call 908-8833. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

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