‘Intertainment’ to go from Michael Angelo

Michael Angelo Lobrin has zest for life that energy drink companies could only dream of bottling. “Pag gising ko sa umaga, una pa akong ngumiti kesa dumilat,” he said in an interview. “Ang pagiging masayahin (ay) desisyon at wala sa sitwasyon. Nasa disposisyon mo ang lahat.”

Filipinos will get a daily dose of Michael’s words of wisdom starting today on his GMA News TV show “#MichaelAngelo Show.” Said to be a cross between “The Tonight Show” and “Saturday Night Live,” every episode of “#MichaelAngelo Show” is a collection of wits, gags and irreverent interviews with top celebrities and politicians, including his friends Ai Ai delas Alas and possibly Vice President Jojo Binay.

“What we’re doing is ‘intertainment,’ bale inspirational entertainment,” Michael explained. “Nanood ka ng nakakatawa pero na-inspire ka rin. Sobrang gaan ng loob mo after watching the show.”

He breaks down the core message of his jokes into three: Everyone is innately good, life is good no matter what, and God is good and that we should put our trust in Him. Sounds good. “I know these things for sure dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ko sa buhay,” he said. “There was a time battered child ako, namalimos ako, nagtinda ako ng basahan sa kalsada. But through it all, I neither lost hope nor became bitter. Alam ko that amid difficulties, there’s opportunity, and that crisis moments are defining ones in disguise.”

Michael’s star is on the rise. Aside from “#MichaelAngelo” at the 3 p.m. timeslot, he has two other TV shows. He will soon be seen on “Pari ’Koy” and do yet another project with Dingdong Dantes. He recently signed as endorser of Chooks-to-Go.

“Dati pa lang, gusto ko ng magartista. Mahilig ako mag-audition, sinasamahan ako ng lola ko . Sinubukan ko sa ‘Ang TV’ pero masyado raw akong maliit,” he said, smiling at the recollection.

He remains an inspirational speaker; something, he said, he will never give up.

“Masarap makihalubilo sa tao, to reach out to them,” he said. “Meron akong libro at tumataba ang puso ko when someone tells me na kung ’di daw niya nabasa ’yon, muntik na siyang magpakamatay. Ang nangyari ay namatay siya kakatawa.”

He posts his personal phone number on his shows. He wants people to text him, to share stories with him. Michael has practical advice to anyone who seeks him out for solutions to problems.

“Kung may pinagdadaanan kang problema, daanan mo lang.’Wag mong tambayan,” he quipped, adding, “One smile a day will make worries go away.”

He has an acute sense of effective branding and positioning, with his kind of comedy as prime example.

“Ano ’yung take home nu’ng tao ’pag nakinig sa ’kin? Look, I have nothing against comedy bar humor. Kaya ka nga pumupunta sa comedy bars, para mag-enjoy. Natawa ka do’n – pero pa’no mo maa-apply sa buhay mo? Gusto ko natawa ka na, na-apply mo pa sa buhay mo. That way, babalikan mo ako.”

Michael knows he’s been given a special gift and that bringing “intertainment” to people is his purpose in life. His positive outlook has rewarded him many times over, and, more, he believes people could have the good life, too, following the same path.

“Hinanda ako ng Diyos dito kaya magaan ang lahat sa akin,” he said.

At 32, Michael remains single and, perhaps, it’s better that way for now. He wants to travel more, he said, with Rome as one of his favorite destinations. A former sacristan then seminarian, he goes there whenever “big things” happen to him so he could thank his favorite saint. He also collects replicas of papal rings.

“Ang tendency ng tao ’pag may problema, nagtatanong, ‘Lord, bakit ko ba nararanasan ’to?’” he said. “Pero in my case, kung ’di ko lahat naranansan ang paghihirap, ano ang iku-kwento ko sa inyo ngayon? Saan ako huhugot ng humor? My so-called bad memories have become my material.”

In parting, Michael told us, “Isa lang ang buhay mo. Mag-enjoy ka pero nang walang nasasagasaang tao at walang bisyo.”

Amen and amen.