Angel Rivero shares how embracing the lighter side of life can make a lot of difference
Text by Lucci C. Coral
HER laugh is contagious and her witty comments can easily place smiles on her audience’s faces. Gaining her fame from playing the role “Erning” in the comedy reality show “Strangebrew” of UN37, Angel Rivero has become an icon of fun and beauty, as she juggles her busy lifestyle in the world of television and radio production.
How busy is your lifestyle?
Nowadays, extremely busy. I’m juggling more than three jobs at the same time. I have radio, which is Monday-Thursday, 9 p.m. to 12 midnight, entitled Brewrats. I have this TV show, “Good Times with Mo, Mojo, Grace and Andi9”, airing every Tuesday, 11 p.m, at Studio 23. I’m the executive producer for that so it entails a lot of work and the schedule is really crazy. I also teach a production class at the Asia Pacific Film Institute. Then on the side, when there are events, I, Tado and Ramon Bautista do hosting gigs. We’re even looking at producing a new show. If it pushes through, that’s a total of four jobs plus the rackets, it’s fun. So I won’t be doing it if I’m miserable doing it. It’s still fun to do.
Do you consider Brewrats as your fun time?
Honestly I do. Because since we’re stripped off our night life practically, even dinners with friends and loved ones are gone except on Fridays, which is usually a shooting day. I, Tado, and Ramon Bautista, we just hang out, and make loko loko lang on air (make fun on air,) it’s nothing serious. It’s relaxing to make people laugh. So it is like our mini gimmick, ginagawa namin kasi masaya (we do it because it’s fun.)
When did you discover that you can make people laugh?
I guess even when I was young, I’ve always had the preference for the lighter side of things, comedy movies and stuff; but I did not see myself as someone who will crack the jokes. But then ever since we did the Strangebrew show which is wasak at kalokohan lang, (just full of wacky things) I had no choice but to go with the flow. So parang nahukay dun yung weird side, yung parang wasak at gago na side, so siguro nahawa na ko kina RA Rivera, Ramon Baustista. (It revealed my wacky and funny side.) So now, even when I’m just watching a play or a program, may nakikita na akong punchline (I immediately get the punchlines). It became automatic.
How did you land the Strangebrew stint?
I had a schoolmate in high school, who is Direk RA Rivera and one of the first jobs that he landed was NU107, right about the time when they were putting up UNTV37 and they were producing a lot of shows. Direk RA’s flagship show was Strangebrew. And originally, the part of Erning was supposed to be for a man—a man na nagbabago-bago ng anyo na minsan parang nagiging aso siya— ganun ka-wild. (a man who changes his appearance who sometimes becomes a dog—that wild.) But then, for some reason, he asked me to come to the audition for that role, and one thing led to another, there was a change, hindi na kailangan lalaki si Erning, (Erning doesn’t have to be a man.) Naging babae na kasi mas awkward pag babae, na parang slave ni Tado na mukhang tanga, na aanga-anga pero deep inside parang malalim pala mag-isip saka matalino. (Erning’s role became a girl because it was more awkward like Tado’s stupid-looking slave, who is really intelligent).
How do you get away with being a female comedian and still look cute at the same time?
Guys can always get away with being funny. If girls do it, especially in the Philippines, you’re subject to criticisms. My laugh on air, many people find it contagious daw, but on a posh place, some may find it rude. That part is natural. I think it’s the overall philosophy. I don’t like being pretentious, so if I dress casual most of the time, that’s the way I am. Maybe for an occasion I would really dress up but I’m more of a naturalist, this is the way I am. So kung kasama na din dun ‘yung pagiging not so ladylike by making patawa (if that includes not being so ladylike by joking a lot) and laughing this way, then I think it’s still cool. It’s not jologs, or kadiri or being not classy to make patawa (make jokes) in a girl, I think.
What can you say about people who take life too seriously?
Huwag maging masyadong seryoso sa buhay (Don’t be too serious with life). Life is to be enjoyed. The reason we work is get money to buy the things that make us happy. What you’re really going for is the satisfaction. Pero wag din naman sana masyado maging worldly (But don’t be too worldly). I think it really boils down to one perspective and one attitude. What I have been doing is to look at things in the positive way and having that mindset that good things are to come.
How effective is laughter with one’s wellness?
Many of our audience are those who come home late at night and who want to unwind. They listen to no-brainer topics, little funny nothings because it unwinds them, it gets them ready for bed, kasi nawala na nga yung tension sa kanilang katawan. (Because they relieved themselves of tension). And I think you should find time to spend time with your loved one because happiness is to be shared.
We also have a lot of listeners who are either handicapped or sick in the hospital. I know this because they e-mail us and thank us for helping them through their day.
Angel’s equation to wellness
1. Your diet—you can’t really eat too much junk food. I’m really not so fond of junk food but sometimes, it is the only thing available. But as much as possible, I would not eat it. I’d rather eat healthy food such as whole grain. I prefer to eat my breakfast of oatmeal, or stuff with flaxseed. Once you get your diet straight, it will give you more energy, it will make your skin look nicer, and basically, you just have that glow. I really believe in that.
2. You need to have regular exercise. Five years ago, I used to exercise everyday and my idea of a gimmick would be trekking or mountain climbing. But since I was trapped in the world of production na hanggang gabi ay nagtatrabaho (where I have to work until nighttime), I have to exert effort in getting my exercise done. My rule is that the earliest time that I have a window of free time, I go and exercise. Don’t wait, because sooner or later, something will come up. For me, when I don’t exercise, I become sluggish, my back and my head hurt, and I feel so stiff. It’s stereotype and it’s what everybody says, but it’s the truth. People just like to deceive themselves
3. You get enough sleep. That one’s hard but in the final analysis you just really have to choose. I realize this about two years ago. That okay, you’re puyat (don’t get enough sleep) all the time, you want to get promoted. But in the end, a few years from now, tatanda ka lang (you’ll eventually get old) and you’re going to get unhealthy. If you’re sick, you’re gonna go to the hospital. If you’re illness is reversible, you’re gonna spend the rest of your life spending hard-earned money you saved up while you’re nagpupuyat (staying up late at night) and giving your whole soul to your company. In the end, you’re going to pay the doctors to cure you. It’s all about balance. There’s always a way if you want it.
4. Surround yourself with happy people. If you surround yourself with miserable people, their aura is so negative. Since misery loves company, they would want to pull you down, consciously or unconsciously. Whereas, if you surround yourself with happy people, even if you’re down, it’s uplifting. You choose your friends, you choose the people you expose yourself to, you choose the programs you listen to, you choose the books you read. It’s how you choose to see it. There’s always a positive and a negative side, your choice to be happy or not depends on you. Even if you have everything, but you’re never contented, you will never be happy.
5. Your attitude, the way you react to things. Whether it’s a problem or a happy thing, if you have a positive outlook to things, I guess it will also produce positive chemicals which are like natural antioxidants. So if you’re making people happy, you emit that positive energy to people around you, then you influence them with your positive, instead of making everything a problem. You’ll get ugly and fat.
