Michael V.

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For the Byzantine emperor of similar name, see Michael V.
Michael V.
Birth name Beethoven Bunagan
Born December 17, 1969 (1969-12-17) (age 38)
Origin Manila, Philippines
Genre(s) Pop, OPM Rap, Novelty, Parody
Occupation(s) Singer, actor, comedian

Michael V. (born December 17, 1969 Beethoven del Valle Bunagan), also known as "Bitoy" or "Toybits", is a Filipino comedian, actor, director, composer, singer and parodist, who appears in the GMA Network show Bubble Gang, and in his own TV show Bitoy's Funniest Videos. He is known for his "translations" and parodies of Filipino and foreign pop songs, and has made original songs, such as "Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko" (You Hurt My Heart), and "Hindi ako Bakla" (I'm Not Gay).

Contents

[edit] Life and career

Beethoven was born on December 17, 1969 in Pandacan, Manila, Philippines. His father named him after German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, not because they shared almost the same birth date (199 years later), but because his father saw a copy of Beethoven's LP in his boss's office and didn't know that "Beethoven" is a surname.

His nickname is not actually derived from his real name, as earlier speculated. It was taken from a TV character played by comedian Bentot. When Bentot guested in Iskul Bukol, the then high school pupil Beethoven saw it. The next day, he was mimicking Bentot's voice in school. His classmates then called him Bitoy. The nickname sticks up to this day.

In his younger days, he was a a very hopeful boy. Spending his days in rooftops of a tenement housing where lived for almost 20 years, he foresees himself making a difference any which way he can.

He joined a lot of contests on TV. In one contest at Eat Bulaga, judge Ogie Alcasid turned him down. Later, Beethoven became a co-host of Eat Bulaga and Ogie Alcasid become one of his close friends and co-star in the long-running Bubble Gang and the defunct Tropang Trumpo.

During the popularity of Andrew E., the song Humanap Ka Ng Panget became a monster hit. The then unsigned Beethoven composed a reply song entitled "Maganda Ang Piliin (Ayoko Ng Panget)". At that time, OctoArts was then inviting Beethoven's female friend and rapping partner, Dianne, to submit a demo tape. In that demo tape, Beethoven's Maganda Ang Piliin was accidentally included. He and Dianne got individual recording contract. Beethoven's song and its accompanying album became a hit.

Michael V.'s first movie appearance was in Regal Films' comedy flick, "Banana Split" topbilled by Joey Marquez. But his star shone more brightly when Octo Arts Films started to include him in several comedy flicks that cast him alongside Vic Sotto ("Ano ba Yan", "Ano ba Yan 2", "D' Sisters", "Lastikman"), Ogie Alcasid ("Ano ba Yan", "Ano ba Yan 2", "Manolo en Michelle", etc.), Francis M, and many more.

Michael is indeed an actor worth of admiration. Unlike his peers in the industry, this writer and actor has an academic degree on Mass Communications from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. He finished his secondary education in Manila Science High School.

He has won the Asian Television Awards for the Best Comedy Performance by an Actor for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006.

[edit] Music career

[edit] Discography

In 2006, Michael released his newest studio album, The Bubble G Anthology, which is a compilation of his song parodies from the TV show Bubble Gang under GMA Records. His new album can be described as "an audio-visual venture", with songs such as Mamaw, which is a parody of Kamikazee's song Narda, and DJ Bumbay, a comical take at the Indian merchants that are doing business in the Philippines. Some the songs in his album, like Wag N'yo Kaming Pansinin, poked fun at his gay colleague Diego, which is also a regular at Bubble Gang.

It was also said that he needed to re-master some of his song parody performances, since, because it was first played on TV, it came out as mono, and to make it distinguishable from pirated versions. Some of his songs can be heard over radio stations. Hindi Ako Bakla became hit over the radio stations in 2007.

Songs of this album:

[edit] As Composer

Aside from his new album, he is a composer of theme songs not for his show Bubble Gang but also in GMA shows. Notable song he composed is Alinlangan, sung by Jolina Magdangal for GMA telefantasya Super Twins.

[edit] Characters and Impersonations

Michael V. has called The Master of Disguise by his fans. These are some known characters and impesonations of Michael V. not only in Bubble Gang but also in his GMA shows and his commercials.

[edit] Characters

  • Lito (Dwarf Singer)
    • Lilo and Tito (identical twins of Lito)
  • Junee Lee
  • Evilyn Magpayo a.k.a. Ate Ebs
  • Didjay Vidjay
  • David Criss - a "street magician" character from Bitoy's Funniest Videos
  • Junior - a happy-go-lucky child
  • Jacob, Johnny and Julie (parody of Koreanovela characters)
    • This was also a commercial music video (Joy In My Heart) promo for Joy Ultra.
  • Don Miguel of Muchas Grasas
  • Etong, Betong and Bebang
  • Fredda Torra (in BEBOT or "Binibini ng Eat Bulaga on TV" segment of Eat Bulaga and parody of alien Predator in its series)

[edit] Impersonations (real life people and fictional characters)

He has been a member (or leader) of parody music bands:

[edit] Television Shows

  • Codename: Asero (GMA)
  • MariMar (Philippine TV Series) (GMA) - Pulgoso (vocal role)
  • Eat Bulaga's Holy Week Specials (GMA)
  • Eat Bulaga (GMA) - Himself (co-host)
  • Bitoy's Funniest Videos (GMA) - Himself (host)
  • Bubble Gang (GMA) - Various
  • Ooops!... - Director
  • Bitoy's Adventures In Bilibkaba! (GMA) - Himself (host)
  • Bilibitornat! (GMA) - Himself (host)
  • Bitoy's World (GMA) - Etong, Betong and Bebang
  • Ready, Text, Go! (GMA) - Himself (host)
  • Mikee (GMA) Various
  • Tropang Trumpo (ABC) - Various
  • Maalaala Mo Kaya? (ABS-CBN) - Various
  • Teysi Ng Tahanan: Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang (ABS-CBN) - Various
  • Ready, Get Set, Go! (ABS-CBN) - Himself

[edit] Filmography

  • Banana Split
  • O-ha! Ako pa?
  • Isko Adventures in Animasia
  • Si Ayala at si Zobel
  • Mama's Boys
  • Ang Tatay kong Nanay
  • Halik ng Bampira
  • Rubberman - Bitoy/Rubberman
  • Ano ba Yan
  • Ano ba Yan 2
  • Anting-anting
  • Bitoy Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin - Bitoy
  • Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko
  • D' Sisters: Nuns of the Above - Michael
  • Manolo en Michelle
  • Kwentong kayumanggi - Narrator
  • Bestman: 4 Better, Not 4 Worse - Joey
  • Lastikman - Junee Lee
  • Fantastic Man - Professor Manalo
  • Enteng Kabisote: Okay ka fairy, the legend - Itim
  • Enteng Kabisote 3: Okay ka fairy ko... The legend goes on and on and on - Kabayo (voice cast)
  • Paraiso: Tatlong Kuwento ng Pag-asa - Didoy
  • Urduja
  • Pwera Biro, Mahal Kita (D' Beachboys)

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • He first started out as a rap artist, whose first single was Maganda Ang Piliin (Ayoko Ng Panget), which was a reaction to the hugely popular rap song Humanap Ka Ng Panget. Although the song and its accompanying album became a hit, it, along with his rap career, became largely obscured by his current career as a comedian.
  • His first TV show was "Ready, Get Set, Go!", a defunct ABS-CBN Game Show where he raps segments of the show.
  • It was revealed in an interview with Sunday Inquirer Magazine that his stage name was derived from two performers that he admires: Michael Jackson and Gary V. It was also customary among Filipino male rappers during the early 1990s (see above) to reduce their stage surnames to a single initial, such as Francis M and Andrew E.
  • Michael V.'s first movie appearance was in Regal Films' comedy flick, "Banana Split" topbilled by Joey Marquez. But his star shone more brightly when Octo Arts Films started to include him in several comedy flicks that cast him alongside Vic Sotto ("Ano ba Yan", "Ano ba Yan 2", "D' Sisters", "Lastikman"), Ogie Alcasid ("Ano ba Yan", "Ano ba Yan 2", "Manolo en Michelle", etc.), Francis M, and many more. But he has yet to appear in a movie alongside legendary comedian Dolphy, since this has been his longtime dream.
  • Bitoy has also tried his hand in directing, when he was appointed as TV director for GMA Network's practical joke show "Ooops!" in 1999. The show was hosted by Bitoy's "Bubble Gang" co-stars Antonio Aquitania, Wendell Ramos and Jessa Zaragosa. "Ooops!" lasted for 2 seasons on the air.
  • It was said that he made a parody of the song My Humps entitled "Anghang" (which was a hit among Filipino internet users), although it wasn't likely that he made the said spoof, judging from the quality of the recording.
  • Michael V won three times in a row (2004-2006) in the Asian Television Awards bagging the Best Comedy Actor award.
  • Not too many people know that Bitoy is also adept at drama. His first dramatic stint on TV was in early '90s when he appeared in "Teysi ng Tahanan"'s segment "Kung Maibabalik ko Lang". He also started to appear in other drama anthologies like "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and "Mikee" until he concentrated on doing comedy shows starting with "Bubble Gang". When Bitoy became a regular "Eat Bulaga" member in 2003, he was included in the show's annual Lenten Drama Specials. He has played a range of dramatic roles that included being an angel, a retarded person, a gay parlorista and a neglected brother. Last Year, Bitoy made one dramatic movie, "Paraiso: Tatlong Kuwento ng Pag-asa", a trilogy that co-starred him with award-winning actors Cesar Montano and Maricel Soriano. If plans don't miscarry, he will also star in Unico Entertainment's remake of the famous Dolphy classic "Ang Tatay kong Nanay" where he will portray Dolphy's famous gay role who fathers a precocious kid (which was played by Nino Muhlach in the '80s).
  • It is said that when he recorded the now-popular ditty "Hindi Ako Bakla", Bitoy patterned his gay alter-ego Tom Yam after the controversial former Inquirer columnist and eventologist Tim Yap.
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