Mr. Shooli’s legacy, and the no-laughing state of satire today

B.B., October 25, 2023

GIFT OF HUMOR. Actor, satirist and advertising creative Manuel “Jun” Urbano Jr. or “Mr. Shooli” receives UP's Gawad Plaridel in a ceremony at the UP Cine Adarna, Oct. 11. (PHOTO COURTESY of DZUP)

A month before the awarding ceremony, University of the Philippines (UP) Gawad Plaridel recipient Jun Urbano told PhilSTAR Life he would skip the event. "I'll send Mr. Shooli in my stead," he quipped.

True to his punny remark, and perhaps to the surprise of many, Urbano's self-styled Mongolian character arrived.

Named after the revolutionary propagandist Marcelo H. Del Pilar, known for his pen name “Plaridel,” the UP Gawad Plaridel is the university system’s sole recognition given to outstanding practitioners renowned for their integrity and excellence in the ever-changing world of media.

This year’s awardee is the actor, advertising creative and satirist Manuel “Jun” Salazar Urbano Jr., who dedicated his lifelong work to speaking truth to power through humor.

Urbano's alter ego, "Mr. Shooli," from the 1990s TV classic Mongolian Barbeque, was a household name in the Philippines with his humorous take on national politics and Pinoy culture. During an existential period for democracy, the entertainment series served as a platform for raising public consciousness by providing critical insights into pressing issues through interviews with various political personalities.

“When I tell you your faults through comedy, tatawa ka. Iyan ang formula ko,” shared Urbano as the secret behind his brand of irreverent comedy. 

Beyond satire, he also directed iconic commercials in the late 1970s through the early 1980s, including the famous "isang platitong mani" tagline.

Having dabbled in distinct fields of legacy media — advertising, film and television, former UP regent Georgina Encanto said that “in the case of Urbano, the recognition is so meritorious.” She was astute in saying so because aside from being a versatile cultural figure, the award for the 84-year-old satirist also comes at a crucial time when the role of political parody has never been less clear. 

In the wake of fake news running amok on social media, the power of satire seemed to diminish.

A study on satirical fake news revealed that many of the false stories online, which many people bought into, came from satirical pages.

For instance, in 2016, Adobo Chronicles published a story claiming that due to their perceived differences, then-vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo pledged to resign if elected alongside Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a presidential candidate at the time.

The story gained significant traction across various Facebook groups and pages, sparking outrage among Duterte supporters online. However, many were unaware of the site’s satirical nature, and that nothing in the piece was real.

The substantial presence of satirical content online posed a dilemma for fact-checkers and journalists: whether to include satire in their efforts to police fake news.

Under the current socio-political climate, being original while getting laughs from both ends of the political spectrum without facing online hate became much harder for comic creatives. 

“Having a President that curses in public encourages constituents to curse as well. Politicians brought personal expression to this level,” said Leo Martinez, who portrayed Manhik Manaog in the defunct program Mongolian Barbecue, in an interview with Inquirer. 

“That’s why there’s so much hatred online. People no longer want parody. Everything’s head-on,” Martinez observed.

On one hand, the popularity of memes, which may be argued as a descendant of satire, could be seen as a silver lining. This means that not only can everyone appreciate a dash of satire, but also that the art form is not dead, just different.

A case in point is the International State College of the Philippines (ISCP), a viral school-themed meme page on Facebook.

Recently, the satirical page posted a 1947 map of Palestine, originally featured in a National Geographic Magazine sourced from the ISCP’s historical archive. The post, which garnered thousands of engagements, is a clear reference to the raging Israel-Palestine war, a highly contested crisis that is costing lives and livelihoods.

While the satirical page poking fun at colleges and universities makes viewers laugh, it also compels them to contemplate societal issues.

The subjects satire must confront today are more complex. The stakes are higher, too. The battle for information disorder is not waged with swords and shields but with data and creativity.

"If you want the patient to get better, but he's reluctant to take the bitter medicine, offer him a joke," Urbano recounted, sharing his father's wisdom. "Wait until he opens his mouth, and then administer the medicine."

With national politics that persists in sharing Filipinos’ affinity for Telenovelas, Urbano was right that only a good, heavy dose of profound satire is helpful now. 

“The future of this country is your future,” said Urbano, urging the Filipino youth to take action. “Then try to work on it. Use your knowledge to improve the country.”

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