How Super Tekla went from ground zero to TV star

CEBU, Philippines — Visayan comedian Romeo Librada, popularly known as Super Tekla, knows how elusive some dreams can be. Now that he’s getting the chance to prove himself in the limelight, he has learned to hold on tight, dead set on not letting go any time soon.

You may have heard of Super Tekla and his antics when he appeared in Willie Revillame’s GMA-7 game show “Wowowin.” Born in Mindanao, Romeo hails from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato. After boarding a boat to Manila as a high schooler just to get a glimpse of the big city, young Romeo one day decided to hang out with his newfound friends. Somewhere along the night, he found himself singing on stage at a comedy bar for the fun of it.

And that was how Super Tekla was born.

Starting out as a stand-up comedian in local bars, Super Tekla is now cracking jokes on a series aired on a primetime slot as a cast member in the GMA romantic comedy “Inday Will Always Love You” which aired its pilot last month.

The teleserye is based in Cebu and top-billed by Barbie Forteza as Happylou, a cheery lechonera who came to Cebu for work and to look for her estranged Cebuano father. Naturally, some mean souls namely – Erica portrayed by Kim Rodriguez, Charice and Charlotte Hermoso as her cronies, and her mom portrayed by Gladys Reyes – are out to get Happylou’s sunshine. In comes Super Tekla as Kimberlou, Happylou’s very loud and very gay best friend who goes out on a limb to make sure to paint a smile on everyone’s faces.

“Big, big break gyud ni. Hindi ko talaga in-expect, sobra,” Super Tekla, who got to live in Cebu in between his years in Mindanao and Manila, says in an interview alongside no less than Cebuana showbiz veteran Manilyn Reynes who had nothing but encouragement for the relative rookie.

“Kung baga, wala ko nagdahum nga muabot ko sa ingon ani,” Super Tekla stops short, showing us the goosebumps on his arms for just talking about his latest accomplishment.

The 36-year-old is extremely proud to be part of the series not only because he made it as an actor but also to show what talent outside of Manila looks like: speaking Bisaya in his scenes every now and then for more effect.

Super Tekla, who appeared in 2016’s “Alyas Robinhood,” “Dear Uge,” and “Tops,” knows that life can be challenging, and as a comedian, he wants to bring fun and positivity into the picture via “Inday Will Always Love You.”

“Usa na ko sa mga kaeksena sa artista, proud kaayo ko. Wala nako siya gi-expect gyud,” he quips, recalling how he used to see his co-stars from far away and being able to work with them now is mind-boggling, especially that he gets to act with his all-time idol Gladys Reyes.

Now that he’s moved up the scale, was getting this big break everything he thought it would be?

“Yes, dati extra ka lang. Bit player. Karon naa na kay sariling script, pagka oras ng call time mo – ‘Oh my gosh this is it.’ May sarili kang wardrobe,” he lists off how differently things work now that he plays a vital role in a show.

“Wala ra sad koy problema anang huwat-huwat. We’re the artista, ginabayran mi para maghulat.”

For his role as Kimberlou, Super Tekla mainly uses the skills he’s acquired throughout his stand-up comedy experience. Although he finds dramatic scenes quite difficult because he’s not the type to cry on cue, it’s pretty impressive for someone with no solid acting foundations to become part for this big production.

“Lisod kay kanang lahi ang mag-acting og dili tinuod. Nga you act like a gay, and ang pagka-gay dito, dili discreet. Very loud. Pero mao man ang i-portray, kailangan gampanan,” says Super Tekla, who identifies as a straight man, assuring his 10-year-old son from an ex-wife that Super Tekla persona is but, something he does for his kid’s future.

With the big hair, make-up and fun clothes, the comedian is Super Tekla. But without the wardrobe, he is Romeo. The actor says it’s definitely a change to work on pre-recorded shows with their scripts and their continuity from the spontaneity that he’s used to in live shows.

He admits that he’s pretty much a simple person who likes to keep to himself, but that doesn’t stop him from making other people laugh.

“Pinakaseryoso nga tao gyud, comedian. Ambot sad ngano. Basta magsul-ob og wig, stick to character ko. Pero sa normal life, ayoko ng maingay, seryoso ko, pikon ako. Kahibaw man ko unsa ang comedy. If you are a real comedian, mugawas ra gyud na siya [humor] bisag dili nimo siya hunahunaon. Pagdating sa situation, it comes naturally pero iba gyud ang live and spontaneous kay pagdating sa TV, naa may guide sa script,” he explains.

As the talent revels in this especially ecstatic time in his life, Super Tekla also couldn’t help but reflect on how different things had been. In 2017, he was allegedly fired from “Wowowin” by Revillame because of the former’s vices (something that Super Tekla denies).

However, he doesn’t deny how he hit rock bottom in 2014 when he was overcome with severe depression after calling it quits with his then wife, alongside succumbing to vices. It had come to the point where Romeo was sleeping along Roxas Boulevard.

“Nagkaroon ako ng mabigat na depression, hindi ko siya kinaya. Hindi ko namalayan, worst na pala, ground zero. Wala ako mapuntahan. Natulog na ako sa kalsada, I turned into a taong grasa. Then may isang tao na naniwala sa akin, siya yung kasama ko sa time na yon. When na-hook ka sa vices, iba na yung tingin pero na overcome ko.”

He is grateful for his current girlfriend for accepting him in his darkest.

For Super Tekla, getting back on his horse was a miracle if not for the one person who believed in him. From wandering the streets, he is now a signed GMA Artist Center talent who goes on mall and radio tours, acting beside veterans like Ricky Davao, Nova Villa, Manilyn Reynes and Tina Paner.

Manilyn tells him that comedy is his niche, but it seems he already knew that since that fateful night he sang at the bar.

“Naa ra na sa imo kaugalingon. No one can change you, bisag kinsa pa na. Naa sa sarili ra gyud na nimo,” Super Tekla insists.