MANILA, Philippines – If you regularly watch videos on YouTube, chances are you know Petra Mahalimuyak, the English-speaking (with a heavy Filipino accent) comedienne and how-to guru.
Mahalimuyak, or Megan Ashley Rivera in real life, has done several funny how-to videos, from dancing in a club to being a conyo, which she defined as "people who seem to be high-class and vain or conscious about their social status and speak in Taglish."
For the latter, she gave these tips: use words like "parang" and "OMG," go to exclusive schools, have a chaperone and a driver, and buy overpriced clothes.
"Buy anything branded or expensive [because you're] allergic to fake stuff," Rivera said in the video.
The Filipino-American has become a huge hit, judging from the number of views, subscribers and passionate comments her videos have been getting.
In an interview on "Mornings@ANC" on Monday, Rivera said she never expected to become an Internet sensation.
"I was just really bored in Las Vegas. We moved there and I really don't know anyone. I didn't know what to do. I was just stuck there. So I said, let me just videotape myself inside the bathroom," she said.
About her "screen name," Petra Mahalimuyak, she said: "That's the situation. I'm from the Philippines, I moved there (United States), and I can't speak English that well."
Rivera is, in a way, similar to Filipino-Canadian Mikey Bustos, who became known for his "in-depth tutorials of the Filipino accent" on YouTube.
Like Bustos, Rivera switches to a thick Filipino accent in her videos. But in real life, she uses American English.
"I know I don't really talk like that. It's a show, it's a character. It's not me. I don't understand why people get mad at me when so many people do the fake accent, like Mikey Bustos," she said.
"But it's nice that other people understand what I'm doing. For all the haters out there, I don't really care. It's not my problem anymore," she added.
Mainstream TV, movies
Because of her steady audience and knack for making people laugh, Rivera was able to sign a deal with Viva Entertainment Inc., which also handles the careers of Anne Curtis and Sarah Geronimo.
This officially marks the start of her showbiz career, something that she has always dreamed of.
"This is my dream. For so many years, I've been trying to be in the showbiz industry, pero ayaw talaga eh. This is the right time talaga. I guess God wanted me to be a comedienne [first] to get into acting," she said.
Strangely, being a professional comedienne has never been part of her plan. "No [I never wanted to be a comedian]. 'Yung pagiging comedian naman, it's like a hobby on the side. Baliw-baliwan lang talaga," she said.
"I want to do drama, or horror, or action. Anything. I can try a lot of different stuff."
Asked about her dream leading man, Rivera said: "Xian Lim."
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