6 Filipino American & Canadian Comedians to Watch

It’s no secret that funny Filipinos have been on the rise in recent years. A massive wave of Filipino Americans and Canadians are stepping forward and shedding light on the interesting and hilarious nuances that lie within our culture and how we as diaspora experience it. From the infamous Lola kiss, to the directional lip purse, people across the globe are coming to find that Filipinos are a whole lot more than just hard working and genuinely kind- we’re funny (!) . These 6 comedians are putting Filipinos on the map and bringing a ton of laughter with it. 

1. Keith Pedro

 Photo courtesy of Keith Pedro

Keith Pedro is a Filipino-Canadian comedian who likes to keep it real… and real funny. As an ethnic comedian, he is widely known for the points he makes on the culture that so many of us are familiar with. However, he is not your typical comic. 

“I kinda want to be the Filipino voice without an accent. I’m trying to rep for the non-nurses and the non-Tim Hortons Double Double givers,” he mentioned in an interview with Complex Canada. 

On the stage and behind the mic, Keith holds nothing back. In his comedy album, “TRILLIPINO”, he cracks jokes on topics like white privilege and other truths many wouldn’t dare mention. With this, his courage has caught the attention of people across the globe. Keith now regularly tours across the United States and Canada. 

Follow him on IG for updates on the latest and greatest!

2. Kevin Camia

Photo Courtesy of Kevin Camia Via instagram

Kevin Camia is a Filipino-American comedian who’s not one to shy away from the spotlight. He has opened on tour for Ali Wong, performed in a large number of festivals worldwide and made his network television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 

If you’ve ever been to one of his shows or even heard his albums, “Color” and “Kindness”, across any of the platforms they’re available on, you’ll know the power that Kevin holds over a crowd with his words. He often touches on racism, being bullied while growing up, relationships, sexuality and so much more. Kevin’s unique perspectives and interesting experiences have left people all over the world in tears.

Follow his Instagram on IG for updates on his upcoming shows! 

3. Aivy Cordova

Photo Courtesy of @jimmccambridge

Aivy Cordova is a Filipino-American comedian who is always on the move. With so many shows happening every week across the country, it’s safe to say that she’s making the world a better place one joke at a time. 

Aivy started out as a theater kid, doing sketch comedy in San Francisco. After participating in a workshop conducted by Kevin Camia in 2006, her eyes were opened to the world of comedy and all of the possibilities it held. She decided to pursue her passion in full force. 

Her jokes revolve largely around her son, fascinating real-life experiences and growing up in the Bay Area. If you have ever seen her in action, in person or online, you could definitely see how much effort she puts into her craft.

Stay up to date with where to catch her in action on her IG .

4. Andrew Orolfo 

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Orolfo

Andrew Orolfo is a Filipino-American comedian, who’s no stranger to the big screen. He has been seen on the Netflix is a Joke Fest, made a special appearance on Jo Koy: In His Elements on Netflix and had his first ever TV spot on The Late Late Show with James Corden. 

Andrew’s style is subtle but hard hitting. Throughout the years, he has built his name to be respected among the world of comedy and beyond, with jokes about his dad, life as a preschool teacher, racism and so much more. He has left rooms in shambles over his unique bits and hilarious words. 

Head on over to Instagram to see what he’s been up to! 

5. JR De Guzman

Photo Courtesy of JR De Guzman via Instagram

JR De Guzman is not your average Filipino-American comedian. He and his guitar have performed internationally in Japan, Indonesia, Amsterdam and across the globe. In addition to this, his achievements in the industry, such as winning the 2016 Stand-up NBC and being dubbed at Just for Laughs 2017 as a “New Face”, have allowed him to build his name even more and leave a major mark in the Asian community and beyond.

JR’s unique approach to comedy consists of a fusion of music and jokes. His work revolves heavily around Asian culture, the interesting traits of Filipinos, and just about anything and everything under the sun that fascinates him. JR is by far one of the most exciting to watch in the industry.

If you haven’t seen him in action on Netflix’s "The Comedy Lineup" or Comedy Central's Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City, you can check out his Instagram for bits of his hilarious sets.

6. Joey Guila

Photo Courtesy Of Joey Guila Via Instagram

Joey Guila is a Filipino-American comedian who almost instantly comes to mind when you think of funny Filipinos. At 23 years old, Joey found that he had cancer. During his treatment he would watch stand up comedy to feel good. “I thought to myself, someday, I’d like to heal people through comedy,” explained Joey in an interview with our Hustle with Purpose host, Romeo Marquez, Jr.

It was in losing his hair that he decided to do two things: go to cosmetology school to become a barber and pursue a career in comedy. Joey left San Francisco to be a licensed cosmetologist for Jose Eber Salon in Beverly Hills. He went on to branch out of his job as a hairdresser and venture into the world of comedy. In 2003, he won the regional "Kings of Comedy" competition. From this victory, Joey’s rise to stardom quickly went into action. He later found himself working in voice-overs and tv shows, hosting with renowned companies like VH1, HBO, Showtime and Myx TV, to name a few. You also may have seen him in the recently premiered Steven Spielberg film “Easter Sunday” alongside fellow Filipino-American comedian, Jokoy. 

In his career as a comedian, he has brought laughter to many, both on and off the stage. Joey enjoys being an escape to those in the audience and knowing that through his work, he is healing those around him. Follow Joey at https://www.instagram.com/joeyguilalive/ to stay up to date with what he has going on! 

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Written By Nico Belasco

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