Q and A with Talibong1

Here's the Q and A of Starlife editor Allen Del Carmen with Talibong1, creator of the now famous Benjo and Tonton series on Youtube. This article is actually coming out on StarLife Sunday's Sept. 2 issue but I'm posting it ahead with his permission. Talibong1's videos can be accessed by clicking this link

Talibong1 Talks


A 19-year-old Ilonggo has gained wide following for his Tonton and Benjo adventure series via the Internet’s YouTube, a site that has made —since 2005— video sharing and blogging, and, lately, posting of comments, possible. The adventure series of the young Ilonggo, who assumes the name Talibong1, is apparently the most widely viewed locally-produced YouTube entries this side of the world.
Three of his most widely-viewed works are actually spoofs of the period films, Troy and 300. StarLife columnist Carlo Leonardia described Talibong’s videos, in his Come to Think of It item on Aug. 12, as ones “which have spread faster than cellphone sex scandals and have gained him a cult-like following among wired Ilonggos”.

A YouTube check showed that the final of the trilogy, Tonton ang Paghaharap, has registered 578,747 views as of Friday morning and the number continues to rise. Benjo kag Ang Batalyon Pitbull has 457,105 hits and Benjo Mangayo Ko Kwarta was viewed 353,053 times. While the hits should be waning by now, StarLife noted that the figures rose by about 14,000 for Mangayo Kwarta, about 23,000 for Batalyon Pitbull and 28,000 for Paghaharap in the past four days alone.
StarLife managed two weeks ago to know the whereabouts of Talibong1, who has requested his real name not mentioned – from a former high school classmate at Central Philippine University, where the YouTube sensation is presently a Nursing senior.

StarLife—in its attempt to find out the reasons of the series’ phenomenon – compiled three reasons based on viewers comments: the Tonton and Benjo series are short, thus does not demand so much of the viewers’ time, they use familiar language in the script– the Ilonggo dialect and expressions that are common (bords, pilo-pilo, clean cut, IR-or incident report —, a term used in Nursing classes when things go off the norm) yet given dimensions of humor and hilarity. Viewers also find appeal to the delivery of the script which is far from being studied or rehearsed.

The following is our email interview with Talibong1, who also sent us the photos (other than the YuTube screen reproductions) used in this article. He expressed appreciation for the Bacolod media’s interest in his story (he has been featured, too, in the current St. La Salle’s SPECTRUM magazine issue and acknowledged that grabe ang kagat sa Bacolod and acknowledging that the first interview requests came from the Bacolod media)

Why did you choose the name Talibong1?
Talibong is a place in Zarraga town where we had our Community Health Nursing duty. I thought it’s unique monicker -- one of a kind.

When did you start your Benjo and Tonton production?
Sometime in April or May.

How did the idea of producing Benjo and Tonton and other videos come about? Why those names?
My friends and I just thought of it when they slept over at my place one night. Benjo and Tonton – these guys are by band mates (laughs). I chose their names because they’re my friends. More names will be coming soon, (laughs).
Do these guys join you in your production?
I usually do it by myself. But sometimes Benjo, Tonton and a few others, like Myro – about five of us — are there for some ideas and effects, laughter especially laughs), XD (term for “smiley” or laughing face”).

Prior to your Benjo and Tonton series and other YouTube clips, what preoccupied your time?
My studies… computers and (laughs) sleep. I’ve been a computer fanatic since birth I think (laughs).

Since when did you get into YouTube?
Since it became operational.

What made you decide to put your videos on YouTube?
Trip trip lang na.

YouTube shows a lot of feedback from viewers. When did you start gaining wide following?
What wide following??? (laughs). Oh, the feedback comes from anywhere in the Philippines and from any free country in the world.

Like what countries?
Dubai, others in the Middle East, U.S.A. especially, all over, Africa included.
How many video shows have you made? Which is the most popular?
Ten. I really don’t know which is popular but the one with the most number of views is Tonton: Ang Paghaharap. Each viewer has his own favorite.

How often do you produce?
Everything comes on the spot actually.
Whose voices are those of the characters?
They’re mine. All mine, including the cat’s. (laughs).

Where did you get your video production skills?
I didn’t study anything on that. Everything is self-exploration (laughs). Piho ba.

Did it ever occur to you that you might have violated copyright laws? Did you seek any legal advise?
There is a violation I believe but in YouTube many are doing it. Tani wala lang eh (legal problem) kay pasadya man lang ni. No, I haven’t asked for any legal advise.

How are you doing in school?
I’m surviving. Kabit-kabit (laughs).

Has the production affected your studies?
Not really.

How would you describe yourself as a student?
Clean cut (this expression has become one of the most popular punchlines in his clip, apparently referring to soldiers who do not sport long beards).

Do people in the university know you as the mind behind Benjo and Tonton series?
I think some, other than my friends, know.

In one of your scripts, you mentioned your university as the school to go to. Any
feedback from school officials about your works? What do they say?
I was told some officials met and talked about it. I don’t know if it’s really true...pero wala naman to kuno…but, thanks, my teachers love my work!

Tell us about your family.
Tagu-on ko lng ni ah…haha (StarLife later learned his father works abroad).

How do you manage to protect your privacy? Will you ever show or introduce yourself as the maker of Tonton and Benjo?
Well, a few people know me by now. But I don’t mind it. Pabay-i da sila ah… Some know me. Now and then some get to know me.., but not always. The others know me long before I made the series.

Do you have a ‘fans’ club’ now?
I learned there’s a Benjo and Tonton Fans’ club in Friendster (an Internet friendship link). Whahahaha, Salamat sa nag-ubra (While he did not admit it, StarLife learned of plans for the holding last weekend of a Tonton and Benjo activity during the University Week celebration at CPU).

How long do you intend to keep the Benjo and Tonton series going?
As long as it kicks!

In your scripts, there appears recurring lines about education and going to school. Is this intentional to put across some values? Do you do a lot of brainstorming with your friends?
Because the production is on the spot, generally, the lines flow freely especially that they are not formally scripted. Wala na ko may mahambal nga daan..ti gaguluha lang na iya (laughs). Ga purutikul na lang ko nay a mag start na ko dub (laughs).

Online comments show plenty of positive feedback from your viewers. You get negative feedback too…?
Negative feedback? May ara gid na ya…damo (laughs).

What is the most touching feedback you ever got?
Honestly, the ones sent by viewers abroad telling me….nga dula ila mingaw kag enjoy gid sila.

Why do you think your series has become so popular?
It’s funny… I really don’t know why.
AVDelCarmen