Beks Battalion returns to live comedy with 'Beks to Beks to Beks' concert

MANILA -- Even the most talented entertainers needed to pivot this pandemic in order to stay relevant and consistently up to date. The popular trio, Beks Battalion, has successfully done that.

Thanks to their YouTube followers, Beks Battalion – Chad Kinis, MC Calaquian and Lassy Marquez – never left the the performing scene, even if it was only online.

In 2020, Beks Battalion started living together in one house that became easier for them to do their online shows.

“That was at the height of the pandemic and we really needed some friends who became our support system,” Kinis explained. “It was really nice to have each other’s back.

“Doon naiiwasan ang boredom, depression, anxiety, especially kung hindi ka nakakalabas ng bahay. Kami-kami sa loob ng bahay, masaya. We have our own world and we’re very happy. Plus, nakaka-vlog kami. Nakaka-shoot kami ng content.

“Nakaka-brainstorm kami. Ang mahirap lang talaga sa bahay, hindi kami makapag-kalat. OC [obsessive compulsive] kasi si MC.”

Calaquian countered: “Hindi ko kayang umalis ng bahay na hindi maayos ang buong paligid. Hindi ko naman sila inoobligahan na maglinis. Kahit ako lang at kasama ko ang kasambahay, okay naman sa akin.”

• With comedy bars shut, 3 stand-up comics find success on YouTube with Beks Battalion

It was Marquez who earlier suggested that they get a house and live together. “Si Lassy ang nagsabi na magsama-sama kami para hindi kami lumalabas at safe kami. Initially, ayoko kasi first time kong tumira sa isang bahay na hindi kamag-anak ang kasama.

“Si Lassy ganun din. We gave it a try kasi nga pandemic. Mas naging healthy sa amin kasi ‘yung mental health, sobrang laking tulong kung magkakasama kami sa isang bahay.

“Especially kung hindi ka makatulog, isang katok mo lang sa kwarto nila, magci-chikahan na kami or manood kami ng movies. Kahit madaling araw, magme-merienda kami. Then ‘pag may naisip kaming vlog, ginagaa na agad namin.”

Admirably, Beks Battalion learned to adjust to the challenges of living together in one house. “Because we have different personalities, we had to go through adjustments sa bawat isa,” Kinis said.

“Mag-meet kayo halfway kung ano ang gusto at ayaw ng bawat isa. Huwag gagawin kung ano ikakagalit ng isa. Dapat alamin din niyo kung paano siya mapapasaya kung malungkot siya.”

The two-year period that they have been living together is no longer a short time for them. “We have been friends for more than 10 years, pero hindi kami nagkasama sa iisang bahay,” Kinis said. “Doon namin naunawaan ang ugali ng bawat isa.”

“‘Yung pinaghuhugutan minsan kung ano nagpapalungkot, kung ano ang nagpapasaya. Living together became a revelation to us.”

Calaquian emphasized: “Mahirap gawin ang isang house na maging isang home. Kailangan may respetuhan at hindi pwedeng magdala ng kahit sinong lalake sa bahay unless ka-relasyon mo. ‘Yun lang ang pwede. Para maging home.”

Marquez attested it became easier for them to share one abode. He is the funniest among the three and even the two others agreed to that. “Siya ang pinakamakulit, energetic,” Kinis said. “Hindi ka mahihirapan sa kanya.”

“Si Lassy ang pinaka-daring sa atin,” Calaquian added. “Kaya niyang lusubin ang lahat, makapag-patawa lang.”

While they never came to the point of breaking up the group, they admitted to having the usual petty fights and misunderstanding, especially between long-time friends and housemates.

“Iba-iba ang utak namin, ang moods namin,” Calaquian explained. “Hindi naman bawat gising namin, good mood kami always. Nagkakagalit kami, pero hindi dumating na maghihiwalay.”

“There’s this rule na pwedeng mag-away, pero bawal maghiwalay,” Kinis disclosed “Nag-aaway kami, pero pag may pagtatalo kami, sinasabi namin, ‘O, pahinga muna tayo.’ Magpapalamig lang. Punta lang sa aircon. Then mag-uusap na kami.”

“Inabot tayo ng three days dati. Pero mabilis lang ‘yun. Nagkagalit kami. It came to the point na blocked ako sa Facebook, Instagram, sa phone, para hindi ko siya ma-contact. Siyempre, alam ko naman ang number niya. So bumili lang ako ng ibang SIM card.

“Then nag-text ako sa kanya. I said, ‘Sorry na.’ Ang pagkakamali lang, ako ang naiwan sa Beks Battalion. Siya nasa condo, mag-isa lang. Tapos umuwi siya sa house namin, nag-sorry na ako ulit sa kanya. Sa pintuan pa lang, nagyakan na kami.

“Once in a blue moon, meron talaga kaming mga away. ‘Di naman natin mai-iwasan ‘yun. Kasi parang pamilya naman kami, hindi lang kaibigan. Lahat nasasabi namin sa isa’t-isa. Kapag nag-usap kami, no-holds barred. Hindi na kailangan ng sugar coating.”

“Umiinit lang ang ulo ko kapag makalat sila,” Calaquian maintained. “’Yun lang talaga.”

Last year, Beks Battalion staged a successful online concert, “Beksinated.” They cannot be any happier that finally, they can now perform live for their followers. “Beks 2 Beks 2 Beks” goes onstage August 26 at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.

The title is a spin-off of the term back-to-back-to- back and that means the audience can expect continuous performances of comic and musical numbers one after another. Director GB Sampedro is at the helm.

The concert will last for “two days, three nights, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear three,” joked Calaquian.

Seriously, the show will not be less than two hours. “Siksik po talaga ang show, we made sure of that,” he added.

They have a total of 11 guests, all of whom are close to them since everyone is their friend. Vice Ganda, a long-time friend and mentor of Beks Battalion, leads the line-up of guests.

Also joining the show are comedian Ate Gay, YouTube sensation Zeinab Harake, Buboy Villar, Jelai Andres, Katrina Velarde, Tonton Soriano and Divine Tetay, Bugoy Drilon, Daryl Ong and Michael Pangilinan.

“Bawat invite namin sa kanila, ‘pag nag-confirm sila, na-excite kami agad,” Kinis said.

Popular YouTuber Zeinab Haraque is joining them onstage. “Hindi siya artista,” Calaquian said. “YouTuber siya. Maraming nasasabik na mga tao na makita ang isang YouTuber na part ng concert namin.

“In turn, by the time nag-solo concert naman si Zeinab, we also agreed to support her.”

Most of the guests will not have solo spots, but will perform with the three of them. “Sa script pa lang, kasama na ang guests,” Calaquian informed. “Opening lang kami sa show. Papasasok lang kami para tawagin ang mga guests.” (Laughed)

“We were thinking na hindi na ‘Beks 2 Beks 2 Beks’ ang title,” Kinis said. “’Guest Guest Show’ na. Hosts lang kami. We were thinking, kung mapapahaba man siya, we will make sure na sulit ang haba ng oras na nanonood ang mga tao.”

“Si Ate Gay, when he learned na magko-concert kami, nag-volunteer siya,” Calaquian said. “He said, ‘Hindi ko palalampasin ‘yan. Kailangan mag-guest ako diyan.’ Gusto niyang tumanaw ng utang na loob.

“Noong time ng pandemic, isa ang Beks Battalion sa mga tumulong sa kanya. Mga 2008 when we last worked together. Ngayon lang kami ulit magsasama onstage.”

Vice Ganda likewise did not think twice about supporting Beks Battalion in their forthcoming live concert. “Nilgawan namin siya,” Calaquian said.

“Then binigyan namin ng chocolates and flowers,” Marquez added. “Nakuha namin, one night lang.”

Calaquian explained Vice Ganda’s schedule was heavily loaded. “'It’s Showtime' is now on free TV na,” he pointed out. “Before we did his US concert, may pahapyaw na kami na sinasabihan na namin about our show.

“Last year, when Vice did an online concert, naimbitahan na namin siya. So he asked us, ‘Iimbitahin niyo ba ako ulit or gusto niyo manood na lang ako? When we did our US tour last June, doon kami nag-confirm sa kanya na gusto namin siya mag-guest sa concert.”

Marquez added, “Pero papabilin pa rin namin siya ng tickets. Then nag yes siya agad. Wala daw kaming pag-uusapan. Hindi kami nahirapan sa kanya. Tumayming lang kami.”

Beks Battalion undoubtedly has been preparing overtime for the show. “Even if nag-vlog halos araw-araw, we made sure that this pandemic, marami pa kaming hindi nailalabas for this show,” Marquez said.

“Iba ang comedy online,” Chad Kinis granted. “Iba sa vlog. Wala kasing reaction ang tao online. Vlog is different from a comedy show. Kaya may reserba pa kami sa sarili. May mga bagong concepts. May mga concept kaming bago. Pinaghahandaan namin talaga.

“As time goes by, may nai-isip pa kaming bagong concept, tapos bangko lang namin para at the right moment, doon namin siya ilalabas. Feeling namin, itong ‘Beks 2 Beks 2 Beks,’ will be the right moment para mailalabas na namin.”

“Nakaka-miss ‘yung marinig ang tawanan ng mga tao na totoong na-miss natin talaga,” Marquez offered. “Mas naging happy ako noong face-to-face na ang shows.”

Chad Kinis maintained: “Ang pinakamahirap kasing gawin na comedy show. ‘yung online. Hindi mo naririnig ang audience. Unlike ‘pag live naman, alam mo agad ang reaction ng mga tao. Mas gagalingan mo at mas gaganahan ka.

“Naririnig mo agad ang palakpakan nila. It will fuel you up. Mas magiging spontaneous ka dahil mas makaka-isip ka agad kung ano gagawin mo, kasi nararamdaman mo agad na masaya ang mga tao.”

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