Filipino comedian and director Alex Calleja recently shared a hilarious yet sentimental story about how his wife’s mother initially disapproved of him, even calling him an “adik” (addict) when he was courting his now-wife, Danah.
During an interview with Tuesday Vargas and Buboy Villar on the online show ‘Your Honor’, Calleja recounted the challenges he faced when pursuing Danah, especially given their stark differences in social status.
“‘Yung asawa ko anak siya ng Heneral! Anak siya ng Heneral ‘di ba mahirap lang kami. ‘Tapos, Assumption siya e,” Calleja recalled, highlighting the socioeconomic gap between them.
At the time, Calleja was working in a fast-food restaurant while Danah was studying at the prestigious Assumption College. Their contrasting circumstances were further emphasized when Calleja shared how she would pick him up in her car to drive him home.
However, the most unforgettable moment for him was when Danah’s mother first saw him visiting their home.
“Nakita ako nu’ng nanay (ni Danah), sabi nu’ng nanay sa akin mukha raw akong addict. So, pagdalaw ko sabi niya, ‘Yoko na makita yang lalaki na yan mukha siyang addict,’” Calleja recounted.
Instead of backing down, Calleja humorously responded, “Grabe naman kayo! Far out, badtrip. Tapos tinapon ko ‘yung syrup parang nainis ako.”
This initial disapproval led to a secret relationship, but as Calleja humorously revealed, “Ang nangyari naging lihim, naging lihim (yung relasyon). Tapos may nangyari sa amin of course kapag may sex, may nabubuntis. Hanggang sa ‘yun ang pangalawang kita nila namamanhikan na kami.”
Despite these challenges, Calleja and Danah have been happily married for 27 years. Now, Calleja is making history in his own right as he gears up for his highly anticipated Netflix comedy special, ‘Tamang Panahon’, set to premiere on February 7, 2025.
While Alex Calleja is a trailblazer in Philippine stand-up comedy, it’s important to note that he is not the first Filipino comedian to have a Netflix special—Rhed Ollero holds that distinction. Calleja, however, follows in his footsteps, bringing another dose of Pinoy humor to the global stage.
“Tingin ko ito na ang tamang panahon na lumabas sa Netflix para mas lumawak pa ang reach ng Pinoy stand-up comedy at mas marami pang maka-appreciate ng ganitong art form,” Calleja said during the press conference for the special.
When asked about his approach to the material, he explained, “Mas gusto kong mag-focus sa mga topics na hindi nangti-trigger o maghahati ng crowd.”
‘Tamang Panahon’ will be released in Tagalog with subtitles and will be available in Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. Calleja believes that his themes of relationships and everyday experiences will resonate with Filipino audiences worldwide.
Following his Netflix debut, Calleja is set to embark on an international tour:
- USA: April 4 to April 13
- Canada: May 23 to June 8
- UAE, Australia, and New Zealand: Dates to be announced
- Singapore: This February with The Comedy Crew
