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Jan Milo Severo - Philstar.com
February 12, 2025 | 1:39pm
Alex Calleja, a multi-hyphenate artist, brings his stand-up comic persona to the global streaming platform Netflix via his show ‘Tamang Panahon.’ His ‘hilarious takes on gossip, gender and the differences between the rich and poor’ will surely send viewers in stitches. They will laugh at him and with him.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Stand-up comedian Alex Calleja defended himself against allegations that he copied his "carwash" joke.
On his Facebook account, Alex posted screenshots of the controversial joke, which he said he originally did back in 2011.
"Post ko lang dito ang carwash joke ko since 2011 na nagawa ko ng writer ako sa 'Usapang Lalake' at 'Goin' Bulilit.' Sa 'Goin' Bulilit' kasi, may topic ang bawat gags at carwash ang topic namin. Hindi ata ito nasama sa final draft kaya ginamit ko sa stand-up at pinost sa social media ng 2011. Check niyo po ang screenshots. Sorry po wala pa ako masyado followers niyan," Alex wrote.
"Lagi ko ito jino-joke kaya naging paborito ng isang writer din na si Raymond Dimayuga. Nagpapa-salamat ako sa pag-acknowledge niya sa akin ng 2015 at 2016. Search niyo po sa FB (Facebook), 'Alex Calleja' at 'carwash,'" he added.
Alex presented his carwash joke in his Netflix special "Tamang Panahon."
“Natuwa ako may bagong bukas na carwash. Katabi lang namin. Tuwang-tuwa ako kasi walking distance lang siya. Hindi ko na kailangan magdala ng kotse,” Alex said.
GMA-7 comedy writer Chito Francisco, however, said on Facebook that he was the first to have used the said carwash joke.
“Nanood ako ng Netflix special ng isang Pinoy stand-up comedian. Ginamit 'yung isang joke ko. Well, marami pa ako niyan brod. Madami ka pa puwede nakawin,” he said.
Alex, in turn, said that he should have been advised privately rather than posting on social media.
"Sa mundo po ng comedy writing, kapag may kaparehas o parallel joke ka sa isang comedian, may disenteng paraan po para magsabi ng parehas kayo. Ang tawag po dun ay pribadong usapan tulad ng cellphone at chat. Lahat po ay pwedeng pag-usapan ng pribado at hindi dinadaan sa social media. Hindi ko po alam ang intensyon para sabihan ako na 'nagnakaw ng jokes' pero ang nasa isip ko na lang ay ang kasabihang 'ang punong hitik sa bunga ay binabato.' O, hindi po ako ang original niyan," Alex said.
"Anyway, ingat po tayo sa salitang nakaw. May cyber libel po tayo at hindi 'yun joke. Remember, I have a friend," he added.
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