Chokoleit in Las Vegas (Ms. Yunibers)

(Video Failed!!!!) WAHHH!!! Here's the link, view it at YouTUBE. A friend actually asked me to view this file in YouTube and I died laughing watching it. I've seen Chokoleit in Laffline and Punchline before and he already did this skit. Still, whenever I watch it I can't help but be amazed how talented our (Filipino) stand-up comedians are. Cheers to you Chokoleit! =D Found this article in Manila Bulletin... And note that this was written back in 2005. :)

On the Rise
Walden Sadiri

Chokoleit: TV?s latest flavor of a comedian




It?s true that it does take time before anything or even anyone for that matter reaches its "full flavor" and maturity. Stand-up-comedian and sing-along master Chokoleit knows that fact by heart as his journey towards popularity has been long and winding. But it has its sweet rewards as he has become one of the more popular faces in ABS-CBN?s shows.


"It was really a long time," he said in Tagalog. "I started in 1993 and it was just last year that everything went right for me in showbiz."

He added that he had a hard time invading mainstream showbiz because he didn?t know how and he didn?t know who to approach. What he realized though was that showbiz was also about right timing, if it was his, it would happen, in due time.

"This is my passion and that is the reason I kept trying. I really want to make people laugh. And during my trying times, deep inside of me I always believed my time would come. I just knew that God gave me this talent for a purpose," he rationalized.

Every night he enjoyed performing to regulars and new spectators in music?comedy bars like Purple Edge, Punchline, Laffline and Musicbox. His passion in comedy was the reason he didn?t become impatient about making it big time in showbiz. For him, he?d rather that he go through hardships before hitting mainstream showbiz so he could enjoy its benefits maybe longer.

"Now that I?m reaping the fruits of my labor, I?m going to take care of my even more. I won?t waste it nor take it for granted," he declared.

Chokoleit, while he was doing his regular gigs at different music-comedy bars, has also appeared in a number of television shows like "Haybol Rambol" and "Brunch" from the year 1999 to 2000. Unfortunately, his career was quite bumpy, he would either find himself with some TV appearances or none at all. And often there was a long period in between the shows that he did. It was as a stand?up comedian that kept him busy.

According to Chokoleit, his biggest break came last year when he was cast by director Wen Deramas in "Marina" as Pearly Shell. It was a moment he would cherish for the rest of his life since it opened new doors for him in show business. It even opened a new market for him because of his fantasy characters ­ the children televiewers!

"Kids recognize me more as Pearly Shell. I?m very happy about it," he shared.

Right now, Chokoleit after "Marina" is in the shows "Kaya Mo Ba ?To?" of Carlos Agassi, the Sunday showbiz oriented news show "The Buzz" and "Bora," as a semi-regular member.

Among the shows mentioned above, the most challenging is "Kaya Mo Ba ?To?" A reality TV show on daring people, his segment is related to animals. Televiewers every Saturday afternoon would see him racing people against ostrich or spending time with gorillas or pigs in their respective cages or pigpens.

"In this show, I?m the one with the animal appeal," laughed Chokoleit about his ordeals in his new show. "If you?re new in the business you just have no choice. You just have to establish yourself first. What I do in the show is fine with me. I know that I would also be doing other things in the future."

Like anyone growing in popularity in tinseltown, Chokoleit has also his share of intrigues. His latest one painted a bad image of him when an alleged whorehouse for men was raided and his name surfaced as one of the customers.

"I was really affected when this came out. I hope everything is okay already?.it?s true that I?ve gone to that place. I usually met my gay friends there. That?s all."

Looking back to where he started, Chokoleit shared that things have changed in the realm of stand-up comedy.

"To think that instead of upgrading the quality of stand-up comedy, the influx of so?called stand-up comedians lessened it because everyone now can instantly become a stand-up comedian. If you just know how to impersonate talents, tell the same old joke, you?re gay and you ridicule people, you?re immediately a stand-up comedian."

What he meant was that people may have forgotten the real essence of a stand-up comedian. It has always been for him standing in front of an audience and making them laugh without the expense of other people. He recalled the times of Arnel Ignacio and Ai Ai delas Alas in Musicbox wherein they could stand by themselves and be funny. Rather than evolving, the offensiveness of some comedians have even brought the quality of stand-up comics down.

"Unfortunately, I also become ?malaswa? in my shows in those music-comedy bars because that is what my audience usually clamor for. But in corporate shows or out of time gigs, I make it a point to have a sanitized show. I just have to be responsible."

So what kept his dream alive in showbiz?

"When I was just a sing?along-master, I already dreamt of being in showbiz to be like Roderick Paulate. He inspired me. He made me realize that you can be an actor even if you are not very good looking as long as you have talent. I told him that. I really believe in his talents. You can bring him anywhere - acting, comedy, hosting and even singing. I hope I can achieve even half of what he has," he shared.

Roderick Paulate?s advice to him is simple ­ have the right attitude, get along with people well, be considerate with other people and be humble.

For those wondering why he was nicknamed Chokoleit, look at him again. He was named Chokoleit (because of his color) by his friends in high school which didn?t offend him. He was even called "cocoa" or "chocolate."

"I wasn?t hurt by their name?calling because I don?t easily get mad. I?m a very happy person and everything that happens to me I think of it as having a purpose. I always see things in a positive light. I even make fun of myself?I?m glad that I look like this and I?m gay. If I became a man and I look like this, I think I would have become a criminal by now. Or if I were a girl and I looked like this, I?d still be a virgin until now," laughed Chokoleit.

Well, all those who called him derogatory names before should now look at Chokoleit. He may not look like the regular matinee idol but he has become one of the sweetest sensations in television right now. And his fame has earned him opportunities for out of town shows and money to slowly build his dream house. And like what he has always said, everything in life has a purpose from God.

What he can only say about his rising career in ABS-CBN is "ang kapamilya hindi ka iiwanan, ang puso, puwede kang magkasakit, magkaka-heart attack ka."

Jonathan Garcia a.k.a. Chokoleit is one comedian ON THE RISE!