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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Music and Concerts devider GOSSIP GIRL: The OGs of Pinoy comedy take Dubai

GOSSIP GIRL: The OGs of Pinoy comedy take Dubai

Published Dec 2, 2025 09:32 am
Last Saturday night was one of those moments that reminded me why I fell in love with comedy in the first place. I am still overjoyed, overwhelmed, and honestly—speechless - because our humble comedy group filled up the World Trade Center in Dubai, despite every possible reason for people not to show up. Imagine this: Cup of Joe was performing on the same night at the huge Coca-Cola Arena. Number 2 - The UAE National Day long weekend — Eid Al Etihad — had just started, and people had four full days to travel, go on a staycation, rest, or spend time with family.
From left: Imah Dumagay, Tuesday Vargas, Giselle Sanchez, Alex Calleja, Ethel Booba, and K Brosas.
From left: Imah Dumagay, Tuesday Vargas, Giselle Sanchez, Alex Calleja, Ethel Booba, and K Brosas.
But instead, a thousand Pinoys and other nationals chose to spend their night with us - Alex Calleja, K Brosas, Ethel Booba, Tuesday Vargas, Imah Dumagay, and yours truly. Giselle Sánchez. People call us the OGs - The original gangsters of comedy.
Others call us the OGS - the old Goats (Greatest Of All Time) in comedy. So, filling up the Dubai World Trade Center, that alone tells me something powerful: comedy still thrives. People still crave laughter. They still look for that connection, that shared joy, that unfiltered, unpretentious, belly-aching comedy. I shared the stage with legends — my partners in crime — who proved exactly why Filipino comedy continues to dominate stages worldwide:
Alex Calleja, dubbed the new king of comedy, came out with brand-new jokes — yes, entirely different from his Netflix special. That alone is a flex. And the best part, it worked like magic - the whole world trade was filled with roaring laughter.
Tuesday Vargas lit up the venue with her trademark energy, her comedic grit, and of course, her hit song “Babae Po Ako.”
And then we had the belters — K Brosas and Ethel Booba — two powerhouses who can out-sing, out-joke, and out-sass anyone. When they performed the Pinoys’ favorite songs, the crowd didn’t just listen — they participated.
The entire event was flawlessly hosted by the UAE’s most sought-after Filipina comedian, Imah Dumagay, who is proudly based in Dubai. Her timing, wit, and stage presence tied the whole night together and made the show flow like magic.
As for me, the minute I stepped onstage, I felt like I was facing family. No matter how many concerts or parties were happening elsewhere, it was clear: Filipino comedy is here to stay.
Last Saturday night was not just a show — it was a statement. A statement that stand-up comedy is in demand all over the world because laughter is healing, and Pinoys—no matter where they are—will always look for that healing.
Comedy isn’t dying. It’s thriving. And as long as audiences are willing to laugh with us, cry with us, and celebrate life with us, the OGs will keep standing, keep performing, and keep reminding the world that humor is our superpower. Last Saturday night, we didn’t just fill a venue. We filled our hearts. And for a comedian, that is the most tremendous standing ovation of all.
I want to give special thanks to our producers, DXB Live, MidasEvents.ae, and the Comedy Mixtape Group. Thank you also to our sponsors @tag911ae @evalive.me @mkhaleejtimes @theglobalfilipinomagazine and @comedykix. I am so looking forward to a world tour for Pinoy Comedy Mixtape.
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