LAUGH LINES

Filipino comedy is often tied to family tropes and accents, but VICTOR ANASTACIO satirizes modern- day social tensions instead.

- ANN GABRIELLE DOMINGO

Victor Anastacio had always been the class clown, naturally quick-witted and effortlessly funny among friends. It wasn't until his third year at Ateneo de Manila University, however, that he gave stand-up comedy a serious shot. Thanks to fellow comedian Ryan Puno, who invited him to audition for a contest. That moment sparked a passion that he nurtured on the side, even as he entered the corporate world, taking two roles after college.

But the more he read books by Robert Kiyosaki and other self-improvement authors, the more disillusioned he became with the idea of staying in a traditional 9-to-5 job for the rest of his life. The structure felt stifling, and the comedy bug never really left. Eventually, Anastacio took the leap, leaving his banking job to become a full-time comedian with Comedy Manila. To make ends meet and keep his creative momentum going, he also worked as a TV host for ABS-CBN and booked commercial gigs with GMA Network, steadily building a career on his own terms.