It’s a homecoming, of sorts, for Jo Koy, who is one of the hottest standup comedians in recent years. The Filipino American’s next Netflix special will be in the Philippines celebrating his mother’s home country.
Even though he was born Joseph Glenn Herbert in Tacoma, Wash., Koy’s ties with the Filipino American community and the Philippines was nurtured by his mother. Much of his standup act is derived from growing up in a Filipino American family, headed by a single mother, Josie.
“My mom was able to expose myself and my siblings to a culture that a typical kid in the US does not get,” he said to Smart Parenting. “I am grateful to be able to call two very different countries home,” Koy said.
“My mom is naturally funny. The stories I get to tell are just a bonus.It’s from my heart. It’s what I lived growing up so that’s all I can talk about.” He used social media to announce Friday (May 14) that his third Netflix special will be staged in the Philippines. Releasing the special, “In His Elements,” on June 12, the Philippines’ Independence Day, is no accident.
“It’s a very special moment for me. This is that one special where I was like I need to go back home, the Philippines,” he said on his Instagram video.
“I need to show the people where my mom is from. I had this crazy idea; I was like let me bring a bunch of my friends that are Filipino that live in America that haven’t even been back to the Philippines.
“Let’s show how beautiful the country is, let’s show how beautiful the people are and lets just do a show. It’s called Jo Koy: In His Elements.”
According to Deadline, among Koy’s Filipino American friends accompanying him to Manila include famed breakdancer Ronnie, Grammy-winning producer !llmind, singer/songwriter Inigo Pascual, and comedians Andrew Lopez, Joey Guila and Andrew Orolfo.
Its not the first time Koy is visiting the Philippines. He often visits relatives in the Philippines. “I made some of my most memorable childhood experiences in the Philippines,” Koy shared, adding that he lived here for six years.
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