GOSSIP GIRL: Why Alex Calleja is the new king of Netflix
Published Apr 27, 2026 10:05 am
TOKYO, Japan - Just spoke to comedian Alex Calleja before he boarded his flight back to Manila after a string of back-to-back shows in Nagoya, Gotemba, and Saitama.
Don’t worry—you don’t need to fly to the Land of the Rising Sun to catch his set. If you haven’t checked your Netflix lately, you’re missing out on a major Pinoy pride moment. Our very own Alex Calleja has once again hit the No. 1 spot with his new stand-up special, "Past Is Past."
Note that his first Netflix special, "Tamang Panahon," also reached No. 1 for nine consecutive days and stayed in the Top 10 for more than a month.
As a fellow performer, I’ve seen Alex grind it out in small comedy bars for years, and even had the chance to share the stage with him at the World Trade Center in Dubai, where we performed for around 3,000 Filipinos. Seeing him now conquer the global stage genuinely makes my heart swell—I know firsthand how hard he works on his material.
But why is he No. 1? It’s simple: Alex doesn’t just tell jokes—he tells our stories. He captures the hilarious irony of being Filipino with such sharp precision that you can’t help but feel seen.
Let’s take a look at two of his bits that are currently going viral:
Exhibit A: The Filipino directions bit.
“Sa Pilipinas, walang metro-metro ang layo. Kapag nagtanong ka kung malayo pa, ang sasabihin sa iyo: 'Diyan lang sa tabi, paglampas mo ng puno ng mangga na may bungo ng baka, kumanan ka sa tapat ng bahay na kulay 'dirty green' pero mukhang tae.'”
My take on this joke? This is comedy gold because it captures a universal Filipino experience. Alex uses hyper-local imagery—the very specific “dirty green” house—to trigger a vivid sensory memory. We’ve all gotten lost because of these “vague yet oddly specific” directions. He turns our lack of urban planning into a shared cultural bond.
Here’s another joke from Alex I can’t forget—the “Pirma ng Tatay,” or daddy’s signature.
“Ang mga tatay natin, ang titigas ng mukha pero ang pirma, parang sinumpong ng arthritis. Isang mabilis na 'slash' lang na parang kinalos na bigas, tapos 'yun na 'yun. Pero subukan mong gayahin nung high school ka para sa excuse letter, biglang magiging Da Vinci Code ang hirap gayahin!”
In this joke, Alex taps into nostalgic relatability. He contrasts the simplicity of the signature with the high stakes faced by a “mischievous” student. By highlighting the father figure—a cornerstone of many Pinoy homes—he ensures the joke resonates across generations. It’s funny because it’s true!
Alex’s success proves that Pinoy humor isn’t just about slapstick or poking fun at people’s looks anymore. It’s about wit, timing, and the courage to laugh at our own quirks.
So, to my dear friend Alex—congratulations! You’ve proven that the loudest laughs come from the most honest places. If you haven’t watched it yet, naku, don’t be the last to know. Stream it now and let’s keep our local talents at the top!
