Pokwang, a living legend, my favorite Philippine STAR

My most favorite artist in the Philippines is POKWANG for a number of reasons. I admire her comic appearance, she is straight to the point, but also sensitive and humble. Her struggle for life and her determination to achieve somebody and to be able to help her family makes me a great fan of hers. I hope to meet her in person one day.
Pokwang, whose real name is Marietta Subong, (born August 27, 1960) is the ninth in a poor family of 12 children. She is born and grew up in Antipolo City, and she still lives there. The family used to live in a humble hut.
“Our family would often go to sleep with empty stomachs; madalas kaming matulog na hindi kumakain.”

Growing up with a drunkard father, Pokwang witnessed how her mother struggled to raise 12 children with very limited resources. So as she was determined to help her family, Pokwang decided to leave for Japan when she was young to become a dancer and entertainer. She also went to Abu Dhabi and worked there as a domestic helper for some time.
She decided to come back in the Philippines after her divorce but later traveled back to Japan to resume her work, leaving her 2 children in the care of her mother. What could have been a chance to improve their lives all together turned into a tragedy when she learned that her son had died of brain tumor at age six. Pokwang came home for good and found herself back to square one, nearly penniless, because whatever she had saved she spent on the treatment of her son.

Everything took a drastic turn when Pokwang became one of the contestants for “Clown in a Million,” a segment on the gag show Yes! Yes! in 2004. This gave her an opportunity to display her comic powers through the different challenges that they have to surpass. And, fortunately, she won the grand prize. She got an exclusive artist contract from the ABS-CBN Kapamilya Network.

Christmas 2004, her first since she broke into showbiz after winning Clown in a Million, Pokwang was gathering orphans in her native Antipolo, Rizal, and treat them to perhaps their most memorable Christmas ever, complete with food and drinks, gift packs, games galore and other treats, with Pokwang herself leading the pack with her own style of ribtickling. She did it because so many Christmasses she has ‘celebrated’ going hungry.

The last thing you’ll ever think of Pokwang is a dramatic queen, but the truth is she can be what she wants to be. It seems like she’s definitely born to entertain. Pokwang sees to it that all her performances will be remarkable so that her avid viewers and fans will not feel shortchanged and that they, especially the kids, will always patronize her shows and projects. She’d rather make fun of herself than at other people’s expense.
Pokwang can be seen daily on noontime show “Wowowee” with her trademark grand costumes and characterization. She is also a member of the gag show Banana-split. She has been part of several movies and recently released an album with some beautiful songs.
Although I do not understand everything she is saying in the show, just the expression of her face and the intonation in her voice, mixed with a little understanding of Tagalog makes me laugh and understand.

In almost all her appearances on tv and in theater she is wearing amazing custumes and has a special hairdo. Sometimes with the strangest ornaments in her hair, and a remarkable make-up.

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Tags: actress, clown in a million, comedy star, dancer, marietta subong, pokwang, wowowee