The Manay side of Kakai

Kakai Brosas is a Waray like me. She comes from Borongan, Eastern Samar. Unlike me, she’s a talented comedienne and singer and has a style so hilarious you can faint laughing.

Kakai Brosas’ career is in full swing. Not only is she a hit in the live entertainment circuit, she has managed to cross over to television and has been quite visible lately with her shows on GMA 7.

Her singing comedy group, K and the Boxers (with Daniel Lardizabal and Cris Samonte) has also been a permanent fixture in some of the hottest nightspots in the city. Gladys Guevarra has gone solo but not quite as she returns to the group for special shows and by special request.

"Of course we felt really bad when Gladys had to quit the group. Nakakalungkot kasi mahaba-haba na rin naman yung panahon na pinagsamahan namin," shares Kakai or Kai for short.

But as they say, the show must go on, and life goes on for the trio. With the torch passed on to her, Kai is excited and nervous at the same time.

"I am excited because it’s a big challenge for all of us to make the group shine with this new set-up. I am nervous because you can’t stop people from thinking, ‘Can they survive without Gladys?’ Yes we will. With my co-members’ immense talent and our perseverance, the fun continues," she explains.

A seasoned sing-along master and soloist who has traveled and performed extensively all over Asia, Kai joined the country’s premier comedy band three years ago. Since then, she has been making beautiful music (and cracking bawdy jokes) with the group.

She is popular among live entertainment enthusiasts for her uncanny impersonation of Zsa Zsa Padilla, whom she counts as one of the best in Philippine entertainment, along with Jaya and Regine Velasquez.

Almost in all of their gigs, audiences would request Kakai to belt out Zsa Zsa’s hits, as well as the ’80s classic, Total Eclipse of the Heart.

"I think it’s because Bonnie Tyler (who originally recorded Total) and I have the same type of voice," Kakai surmises. "Husky and big."

"Constant reinvention," she points out. "That’s also one of the reasons why our audience keeps coming back to watch our shows. We always try to look different and sing different songs."

What makes them unique from other comedy groups is that all of the members can sing – as in really sing. But what endears them to their audience is their risque humor.

"In comedy, you shouldn’t force things," Kakai expounds. "You should try to be as natural and as spontaneous as possible. Otherwise, you wouldn’t hit it right."

She’s the first to admit it takes a lot to be a performer. It takes nerves of steel, amazing drive and determination. Comedy is serious business, she states.

"I really don’t get it," she quips. "It’s the trend now. Ten years ago, you couldn’t get away with deprecating the audience. Now, the audience really loves it when we make fun of them. I think that’s one of the reasons why they watch our shows. They really love it when we laugh at them and ourselves. It’s fun!"

And if that’s the way they want it, so be it.

Ingram-Austin Concert

One of the must-see concerts this Valentine season is the one featuring two of the world’s greatest balladeers – Grammy Award-winner James Ingram and Soul Diva Patti Austin – set Feb. 14 at the PICC Open Field.

Billed as James Ingram & Patti Austin "Heart-to-Heart" Live in Manila, the concert is the first time these two musical giants will perform together their monster hits How Do You Keep the Music Playing and Baby Come to Me.

Patti Austin will also perform her greatest hits like True Love, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, If I Believe, All Behind Us Now, In My Life and many more. James Ingram will make the ladies swoon with such romantic hits as One Hundred Ways, She Loves Me, Where Did My Heart Go, There’s No Easy Way, Somewhere Out There, Whatever We Imagine, among others.

Tickets to the concert are available at SM Ticketnet outlets. For details, call tel. no. 911-5555.