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Imah Dumagay: The Filipina who made the Middle East laugh
Manila Bulletin
|October 22, 2025
The Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas glittered brighter SCAN than usual last Oct. 17 as Filipinos from around the world gathered for the TOFA Awards 2025 (The Outstanding Filipino Awards) an annual celebration of global Filipino excellence spearheaded by Elton Lugay with celebrity performers like The Voice USA Champion Sofronio Vasquez, Christian Bautista, Rachel Alejandro, Pops Fernandez, Jaya, Nonoy Zuñiga, and comedienne Aiai de Las Alas.
The event was hosted by no less than Dr.Boy Abunda, the country's King of Talk.
Among the night's biggest honors went to an extraordinary Filipina representing a region rarely seen on comedy's world map: Imah Dumagay, a Filipina stand-up comedian based in Dubai, recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the World.
I was able to interview the award-winning comedienne, and as a comedienne myself, I asked her to define humor, and she answered so brilliantly, like she was Emma Tiglao in Miss Grand International 2025.
This story is from the October 22, 2025 edition of Manila Bulletin.
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