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Life after Goin’ Bulilit: Dagul works as a tandem with daughter Jkhriez

Article (news)

Liezel dela Cruz

For fourteen years of being the main host and only adult in the kiddie gag show “<a href='https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit' target='_blank'>Goin’ Bulilit</a>,” Dagul was joined by cute child stars, whom he shared kulit moments with. When the show ended in 2019, Dagul went back to living an ordinary life as a husband, father, and a public servant now with his own ‘little star’ as companion, none other than his daughter Jkhriez.In the second episode of “Wer Na U,” which is part of <a href='https://www.youtube.com/user/ABSCBNOnline'>ABS-CBN’s Made For YouTube</a> programs, Dagul shares how life drastically changed following the start of the pandemic and the end of “<a href='https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit' target='_blank'>Goin’ Bulilit</a>” which he’s been a part of for 14 years.Scouted by Randy Santiago in 1998, Dagul’s job as a comedian paid better than his previous works as a contractor and vendor. Dagul, married and with four children, was able to build his own house using his earnings from showbiz.“<a href='https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit' target='_blank'>Goin’ Bulilit</a>” (2005-2019) was a highlight of his career. While the child stars in the show had to graduate as puberty begins, Dagul was the only constant. He served as the program’s main host and an actor in some gags, with his dwarfism as a big part of his brand of comedy, until the program bid goodbye a few months before the pandemic.The laughter faded for Dagul since. His life after “<a href='https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit' target='_blank'>Goin’ Bulilit</a>” is no joke, with the unpaid bills and other financial problems piling up. One of his biggest difficulties is paying for his kids’ tuition fees. On top of that, Dagul now struggles to walk and has his son carrying him to his new workplace.As the family’s breadwinner, 62-year-old Dagul currently works at their barangay’s command center. His earnings are not enough to cover all their expenses in household utilities and kids’ schooling, so he had to man their small sari-sari store that supports their daily needs.Dagul accepts any kind of ‘raket’ including out-of-town shows with his youngest child Jkhriez, who inherited his dwarfism condition. Together, they also make an effort to help their ‘kababayans’ such as in spearheading relief programs. They would solicit and then provide aid to those in need, as they did when Typhoon Ulysses struck.Admittedly, Dagul compares his career to a pair of old denim jeans – faded and irrelevant. But even now that he is no longer active in showbiz, Dagul will never stop playing the role he loves the most – being a family man that is full of hope and determination.“Lumiit man ang mundo ko para sa showbiz pero malaki pa rin ang pangarap ko na sana hindi pa ito ang huli,” Dagul said.

Dagul went back to living an ordinary life as a husband, father, and a public servant now with his own ‘little star’ as companion, none other than his daughter Jkhriez.