Will the real Tessie please stand up?

She was unforgettable as the funny, upwardly mobile Meldita in the long-running, much-traveled what else? – Meldita. She laughed and cried for the whole world to see in A Dange-rous Life, which suddenly thrust her into the international scene as the colorful, controversial Imelda Marcos.

She was the seductive bold star Bonnie Buendia, the clumsy weather girl Amanda Pineda.

Whatever she is, trust Tessie Tomas to push herself so hard as if there’s no tomorrow. After all, she’s called The First Lady of Stand-Up Comedy.

She knows someone younger and talented can just snatch that stand-up comedy crown if she doesn’t watch out.

"So many talented comedians are cropping up. There’s no room to be lackadaisical. You’re only as good as your last performance, so you have to keep on improving your craft," she says.

But, how do you outdo Meldita? How do you surpass a shining showbiz career that spans two long decades?

Come up with a new series of stand-up shows called Teysi @ Tweynti (Oct. 12, 13, 26 and 27 at the Music Museum (presented by Kraft Cheez Whiz, Del Monte Tomato Sauce, YKL Fuji Films, Figaro, Rice Mix, Binalot, and Solon Prive, Crossover 105.1, Joey 92.3 and Angel Radyo), that is. Tessie’s last stand-up comedy act was four years ago, in a show called Tessie Tomas Unplugged at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Twenty years of performing have taught her that you can’t win ‘em all. During good days, people will be rolling down the aisles and giving you the standing ovation of their lives.

"That’s why you have to have gumption in this job," Tessie explains. When this happens, she just act as if nothing has happened and, like a trained trooper, move on.

There are more battlefields to conquer. More people to give the gift of laughter to.

"My biggest contribution," she now muses, "is to make people laugh." Comedy, hopes Tessie, will serve as an outlet for people, the way it had been for her all these years.

It is this cockeyed optimism that has seen Tessie through trials in her life, star ting off with her failed first marriage (it has since been annulled and she has remarried British national Roger Pullin.

"Being an expat’s wife with a husband who travels every three months has taught me to be strong," she says. "You have no one to turn to but yourself in times of crisis."

But when Roger is around, Tessie makes sure she is the ideal wife who works on her marriage. Unsurprisingly, she has even adopted the British drawl typical of Englishmen like Roger.

For Teysi@ Tweynti, she all too willing handed over production responsibilities to another outfit – Artist House – instead of producing the show herself, as she usually does.

Now that she doesn’t have to worry about other things like marketing and promotions, Tessie the talent can shine all the more All she need do is focus on her performance.

Credit it to a marriage that has had a calming effect on the hyper Tessie. "I’ve loosened up. And I hope to have fun in this show. In comedy, you’re much better when you’re having fun it makes for a balanced performance," she says. The way things go in comedy. Tessie’s jokes are should be taken with a grain of salt. They may hurt sensitive nerves sometimes, but, as she says, should never be taken seriously.

Miriam Defensor Santiago never took it seriously when Tessie spoofed her. In fact, the former senator loved Tessie’s show.

"Imelda – a fellow Waray – has yet to see my show. I don’t know why. This is why my greatest wish is for her to finally see her Meldita character in my upcoming show," states Tessie.

Seeing how the former First Lady will react to character sketches of her, this time in a Christina Aguilera- inspired outfit, browsing through the day’s headlines, should be interesting.

Twelve characters are up for spoofs, among them, Gloria Aray-Ko, who sits down for a private conversation with Boy Abunda, Rosebud, weather girl Amanda Pineda forecasting trouble again.

There are "Woman to Woman" confrontasi as Bonnie Buendia slugs it out with Ms. Tika, the Starlet of the New Millennium, Krissie faces Imee (otherwise known as the battle of presidential daughters); Vilma (played by Tessie’s protege Jon Santos) challenges Nora, Merriam slugs it out with Mareng Wendy (Jon Santos). "It’s the height of flattery when people spoof you," Tessie says of her wacky impersonations.

The show may not be raunchy, but parents, leave your children at home. It’s rated for adults only.

At this stage in her career, Tessie would rather let other comediennes crack the raunchy jokes.

That’s why she cannot see herself doing an Ai Ai de las Alas, whom Tessie admits "I admire from a distance." Candy Pangilinan is also good, while Mitch Valdes and Nanette Inventor are oh-so-friendly competitors.

The young uns at the Library (a cozy bar lounge at Malate) on the other hand, are so promising, they’re the types who can keep someone like Tessie on her toes.

"Competition actually makes you bloom," she observes. It is the stuff that propels her to work harder on her craft, never mind if she has proven herself over and over again.

"You may have the talent, but if you don’t couple this with dedication, you’re a goner," says Tessie.