What do you do Iwona? How did you find me?

But you haven't been to my show, you haven't seen me perform?

Ah, okay, okay, okay. Yay! Alright, yeah, I love it. Thank you.

Hi, thank you so much for having me. My pleasure.

I think it was my passion for entertainment. I think I'm a very creative person and I've always wanted to be doing something entertainment-related, I just didn't know what it was. Like, because I couldn't sing, I couldn't act, I couldn't do other things. So I thought, let's try stand-up. But before that, I took three art classes of different art forms: stand-up, film acting, and stage monologue. But stand-up was the one that really drawn me the most to. So yeah, I ditched acting and stage monologue. I was drawn the most to stand-up, yeah.

Yes, but monologue in a sense that you're talking, mostly you're the one talking, right? The difference, however, with stage monologue is like, you know, they call this the fourth wall. Like you don't talk to the audience. You deliver a script, so you don't expect any response from the audience. They just watch you, they don't talk to you. Unlike stand-up, you talk to the crowd. So that's the difference.

So the first performance I did was not an open mic. It's like a showcase after the workshop that I took. So after five weeks of doing the class, we had to do a final performance in front of like 150 people.

It was really thrilling. It was exciting, but of course, it's very nerve-wracking. But the moment you get that first laugh, you just feel confident, you know?

I think I was the clown most of the time before I became a comedian. Like at work. So basically my family is very humorous. I think this is a Filipino thing. You know, humor is part of our life. Even at the time of disaster, calamities, we have to laugh first before looking for the solution. So I think I got my humor from my parents. So I think I was born with it. And then at work, before starting stand-up, I was always the one who entertained everybody during lunchtime. So I think it's with me even before stand-up, yeah.

That I'm actually shameless. Because to be really successful at what you do, especially stand-up, you have to be very vulnerable on stage. And to be vulnerable, that means you have to get rid of your, not shame, but you know, like, you have to be willing to take it. You know, either everything, the happiness, or the positive reaction or the bad reaction, or being humiliated in front of the people. So you have to be very, very... I want to use the term shameless, but obviously it's not.

Yeah. So you just have to be very true to yourself, you know, be very raw and vulnerable. And again, for you to be vulnerable, you have to remove that curtain of shame, something like that. Yes, yes.

At first, I was not... it was not... I don't even know how to answer this question because I'm still thinking like, wow, did... it was surprising and also it's unbelievable because like there are hundred, over hundred million Filipino people talented, influential and everything. But to be included in that top 100, I think something went wrong. Somebody made a mistake and put my name there. Or I replaced someone. No, it felt truly an honor to be recognized by my people, not just in the Middle East, but on the global scale. Because I was just an ordinary girl from my town, Cotabato City. And can I just say thank you, TOFA, for having me, for including me.

What kind of impact? I think I would say to be proud of who they are, of what they do. Because we are in the region where Filipinos are mostly recognized for their hard work, not for the shining moment. You know, that there's so many talented Filipinos here. I think whatever you do, as long as it's you're not stealing, you're not hurting people, you have to be proud of what you do. Celebrate it, even if the moment didn't come yet to be celebrated. Every day should be a proud day for you. Like whether you are a waitress, a nanny, a domestic worker, or a nurse, an engineer, you have to be very proud of what you do because you're not stealing money, you're not causing problems to people. You're actually contributing to the economy, be it small or big, you have to be proud. That's what I want to... the impact that they want to get from my work.

Not a responsibility, but a privilege, I would say. I am more privileged to be able to stand and slightly represent them because I for sure I don't represent my people because there are every person, every Filipino, or every human being has his own story. So my story is different from them. So I can't really say that I represent them fully. But I am one of those Filipinos who I would say that I'm very proud to be a Filipino, right? So I think people can resonate and relate to me, especially my people, and they see me as... if they think that I represent them. So thank you. I think I am more grateful and thankful.

Because I've been doing comedy most of the time... I've been doing comedy in the UAE, right? And we are in a country that promotes tolerance, respect. So thank goodness I haven't encountered that yet. But this is not me discounting the experience of fellow comics, female comics in other countries, right? Those comments exist even maybe even before I started comedy. Like it's always been there. People think, or majority men think that women are not funny. I don't think that's true. I think women did not have the opportunity to prove or show that they were funny. Because at the time when women were not really, you know, in the limelight or in the front, how do you say? Center stage. Yes. There was no chance for them to speak up, to talk, to showcase their talent. It's all about men, men, men, men. So I think it's not fair to say that we are not funny because in my... I mean I would say I'm funny. I make people laugh whether you are a man or a woman. You come to my show, you go home really entertained and enjoyed, you know. So it's not fair to say. I'm a woman so and I would say I attest to that, that we are funny. And I'm not the only female comic in the world or at least in Dubai. There's so many women who are really funny. So that's a crap if I can say. Sorry. That statement is a crap. Has to be removed now.

Yeah, so I have an example for that question. I want to answer that with my experience. So one day before I was performing, before I went to the stage, I was somebody tapped my shoulder and she asked for a bottle of water. She said, 'Can I... I'd like to order a bottle of water.' And I was like, 'Me too.' So...

Yes, for a waitress. Right. Which is again, absolutely nothing wrong with that. But however, it's a missed opportunity for non-Filipinos to put us in a box of that category. You know, if you think that all of us are just doing that, then it's a missed opportunity for you because there are so many talented Filipinos, creative Filipinos, and professionals, skilled Filipinos. But unfortunately most of the people, if they see Filipino right away, they just think that we only do these things, right? And again, there's nothing wrong with that. Somehow what's the problem is how people treat us when they see us. When they look at you right away that you don't matter. I'm sorry to say but that's the truth, you know?

And then when I headlined that show and she was like, 'Oh my god, I didn't know you're a performer, you're a comedian. I'm so sorry, I thought you work here.' And I was like, 'It's okay.'

Not anymore. Before in the beginning I did, but now I don't take it personal anymore because there's nothing wrong with this stereotype. They don't hurt me. So now I just laugh at it and I try to, you know, correct their behavior.

Yes, now they're my material.

Yeah, how do I do that? So when we are writing our material as comedians, it's important, first of all, our goal is to make people laugh, right? But now the job of a stand-up comedian is a little bit more difficult than it used to be like 20 years ago. Now you have to make people listen, you have to make people laugh, and you have to make them think. Because the audience now, audience members are very smart and they want substance. They don't just want come to comedy to laugh. They want to hear your point of view. They want to hear what do you have to tell us, you know? So it's not a must that you have a message to send across because there are comedians who don't care about messages, they just want to make you laugh. But for me, I saw the opportunity that this platform gives me an opportunity to, you know, say something, to create an awareness and maybe open people's mind towards Filipinos, especially in this region. Because again, this is the place where we're not really celebrated. You guys recognize our hard work, but that's it, you know. But to show you that there are more things that we can do more than, you know, in the service industry, right? So I want to make sure that when I'm writing, I make you laugh but towards the end, I'm going to make you think. So it's a matter of like inserting here and there, you know, subtle messages like that.

Yes, yes, exactly. And humor is a very good tool to address uncomfortable topics, you know. Because when you talk about something heavy, when you start laughing first, anything you say after that is easier to take.

The wow, yes. Oh my god, I performed... but I never said yet that I made it. Because to be honest with you, there was no laid out path for me as a comedian. There was no, okay, first year I should be this, second year I should be this. There was none. For me, I thought I was just having fun doing the things that I love and I get to make a living out of it. That's the only thing in my head. It never really said, 'Oh, I made it' because you know, nothing. For me, I celebrate every performance I do whether you're a big star or not. As long as I get a chance to perform, I celebrate that. And if I say to myself I made it, I made it what? Like what do you...

Yeah, what does it mean? So this is a continuous, this is an evolutionary process. So there's no stopping there, you know, in this journey. So when I say I made it, there's another thing that I have to do. So I think I would love to think that this is a journey and as long as I live, I'm going to celebrate it every time.

Yes, I have to be very, very noisy. Very loud. And I need to be like jumping, jumping. Because how I deal with my nerves, I need to be like really physically active to make me relax.

To get rid of adrenaline, I need to have adrenaline. I don't know how it works but for... I don't know how to explain, but I need... I cannot like sit to wait for my turn. No, no, I need to be walking and then jumping or squatting like that.

Yeah. Because you'll never get rid of the nerves. Throughout the years I just learned how to deal with the nerves. But it'll never go.

The good thing when you're doing it on screen, you have take one, take two, take three. If you don't like what you just said or what you just did, you can re-film, right? You can repeat. But live, it's like it's on the spot. I think it's more savage when you're performing live than being online. But again, online, you get a chance to make the next shoot better or the next take better and improve the script, you know, you have all these chances to do. But when you're performing live, it's... But I love more, I love live because I get to interact with people right away so.

At first, it was just come with the flow. But then slowly, I really like you know... The thing is, I want people, I want to make people happy, not just in this region but people everywhere if I can do that. But also you get paid more when you... let's just be real. This is my full-time job so I need to have money.

Yeah. I think next thing would be it would be good if I can do the world tour, if I can you know perform worldwide and and I think I'd be able to do that hopefully one day. I believe so.

Yeah my gosh thank you. Let's manifest.

Yeah, at first I used to just delete them, block them. But now I leave it there because you know it helps with the engagement. And then I feel like not everybody has the right to access my, to get my response. Not everybody has a privilege to get my response. So I just choose, if I respond to you that means you're worth my response. But I just ignore them you know like don't feed the trolls. Sometimes I read negative ones and obviously you're just a human being, it affects you. But that's very rare because I'm so good. I'm joking. It's very rare to get negative comments. I'm kidding. Whenever I get, I just, it's okay, you know it's your opinion, it is not the truth, you know. Everybody has freedom of let's them exercise your freedom of expression. However, your freedom ends when my right to block you begins.

So yeah.

I think in the first year, I had to like triple my effort because I'm Filipina, I'm a woman, I'm Muslim, and English is not my first language. So yeah, I think I tripled the effort. And then when I get that strong, what do you call this one? When I built that foundation that now people look at me and see me that you know 'oh it's Imah, okay let's you know some...', when I reached that point, now I'm just like whoever wants my, whoever consumes my work, they'll come to me anyway. I don't have to push myself anymore, I don't have to like insist to prove something because I've already gone through that phase. But I'll tell you, it's not easy because as you said this is a very male-dominated field. But the good thing about being in Dubai, because I have never experienced being discriminated because I'm a female or I'm a Filipina within the network. Everybody is very supportive. Male and female comics, very supportive whether you are a producer, an artist, or a venue partner. Everybody is supportive and I think it's because we're all scared to go to jail. Because if somebody gives you a problem, you can right away complain, you know. And I think there's no gender disparity here. Everybody is equally treated like men and male and female comics are equally underpaid so it's okay.

Yes, I think I was the first or second, whatever.

Yeah, first of all, I mean financial wise let's talk about it. Like it's not, at least now I don't have to renew every two years, every three years for my visa. And I don't have to rely on the mercy of my employer. If you don't... I will cancel you. No no, my former employers they're really good. But the fact that you have this 10 years, at least somehow it gives you peace of mind that okay, you don't break rules anyway so you're a good person, you're a good citizen... sorry you're a good resident so for sure this 10 year is good for me you know. Again it gives you peace of mind you don't have to think of 'what if I don't work', because again before I used to be employed right? So my visa is like...

Yeah, and if I lose my job then what happens right? So the Golden Visa really is very freeing for us, I mean especially for me. Second, I did not have plan to stay here in the beginning but then Dubai is a very progressive city and it's not perfect but it's home, you know. It's been I've been here for the last 18 years now, it's home. I would want to be here forever you know but it depends so if I if they still like me. If they don't like me anymore then I have to go somewhere else.

Okay I want to say when you want to make a decision, try not to think you're a woman. First think that what do you have, skills wise, resources wise. You can forget gender, especially if you are here in the Middle East, forget gender. Because again we... do you want me to address in general?

Okay I'm gonna say again both in general or in the Middle East. I would not... I would suggest not to consider your gender first. Because that will limit you. Oh I'm a woman, I'm a woman. And you're putting so much pressure on yourself again you have to triple your effort because you're a woman. Nobody cares. As long as you have something to offer, to bring to the table. Even if you don't have anything to bring to the table, sell the table, you know. Tell them 'I don't have nothing but I can sell your table, we'll make money'. You don't have to be a woman to be good at what you do, that's what I'm trying to say. However there are people, let's not deny also or discount the fact that there are women who are really worried because especially if you have if you are married, children, obligation and all this, how do you do these things, right? You won't know until you do it. So just do it. Just do it. Just do it. You'll never have you'll never get the answer if you don't.

Exactly try, do it you know.

And one day you die and then everything's over. No I'm joking but...

Yeah my gosh. For me, as long as I can laugh at something, I know I'm gonna get through things, you know. I laughter has... again it's part of my life. Forget that I'm Filipino or anything. No no, it's part of my life. I need... I can only solve my problems when I laugh at it first.

Yeah and how do I say? Because laughter is very important for me. I'll tell you... like during accident like even even if something happened, I would laugh at myself because let's say I trip right? I trip and the first thing I grab is my lipstick. Because I want to make sure like I'm telling you and I'm laughing in my head 'oh my god I I fell like that, where's my lipstick?' because in my head somebody comes to me I need to look pretty you know. And then I would laugh at myself like oh my god you're so...

No I just realized that I should not take myself seriously. You shouldn't take yourself seriously because nobody cares. Really nobody cares. Everybody just cares about themselves. That's it.

Dave Chappelle.

I forgot my joke.

People falling.

Uh the joke of Anthony Jeselnik. It's a one line joke and very dark I can't say it.

Yes exactly let's do that.

Okay. Uh... not raunchy I will not say raunchy. In three words. Okay. Adorable, savage, naughty.

Money.

That we all go to the washroom to poo-poo. So nobody's special.

And our poo-poo are smelly, so.

No, thank you for having me.

Yes, please. Thank you so much for having me. Don't forget to watch and support this podcast showcasing women who are empowering themselves. So thank you so much. This is very important for me to be able to express and share my stories. So thank you.

No, thank you darling. My gosh I'm so happy.