Article
Slipping into happiness with Happy Slip
By Cheekie Albay

Last February 7 and 8, Mag:net Café in Bonifacio High Street was filled with fans, bloggers, media people, students, employees, and people of various shapes, sizes, occupations, and educational attainments, all giddy at the prospect of getting up close and personal with a person with whom their only previous encounter consisted of watching online videos accessed through YouTube. They missed school or work or whatever worthwhile activity they could have been doing that very moment just to catch a glimpse of Christine “Happy Slip” Gambito, the Internet celebrity who made online viewers around the world laugh with her cute, tongue-in-cheek comedy, particularly her irreverent depictions of immigrant Filipinos speaking (or at least trying to speak) in English.

Happy Slip’s happy trip to her homeland was quite a ride, if the enthusiastic reception of her Pinoy fans at Mag:net Café during those two days is any indication.

Christine, who shot to fame through her video blogs found on YouTube and on www.happyslip.com, was recently invited by the Department of Tourism (DoT) to the Philippines to enjoy the many sights that riddle the archipelago. During her stay, she visited Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, and Taal Volcano, among others. She made a number of TV guestings on our local channels, most notably on ABS-CBN’s noontime show Wowowee, where she gamely danced to “Sayaw Darling” like many balikbayans who grace the show. And despite her packed itinerary, she industriously blogged about her vacation experiences to keep her fans all over the world in the loop.

But a trip to the Philippines wouldn’t be complete without interacting with the Pinas-based fans who’ve been following her success from across the seas.

For this reason, Yehey!, in cooperation with the DoT, Mag:net Café, and Euro RSCG Manila, organized a meet and greet for Happy Slip. What was originally an exclusive one-day affair for press people and a hundred fans became a two-part event when Christine and the organizers were floored by the Pinoy fans’ enthusiastic response to the original meet and greet.

The first day of the back-to-back event was reserved for media folk and the one hundred fans and bloggers who pre-registered through Yehey!. They enjoyed a musical performance by Josh Verdes, who provides some of the original music on Christine’s videos, and who is, incidentally, Christine’s cousin. Josh recently released his first album, a collection of Jack Johnson-esque tunes that includes the tracks featured in Happy Slip’s videos. His album is available on CD and on iTunes.

Christine answered questions from the guests, from the insightful (“Do you believe that we can use our blogs to inspire people?”), the sweet (“If you could bring anything from the Philippines back home with you, what would it be?”), and the downright wacky (“Aren’t you afraid that your triglycerides and VLDL will shoot up from eating too much chicharon?”).

After the Q&A, guests got to approach Christine for a one-on-one chat. Meanwhile, Yehey! gave away dozens of raffle items, including a gigantic Happy Slip customized stuffed bear made expressly by one of Christine’s local fans.

The second day saw Christine entertaining more fans and giving more media interviews (apparently, in her few days in the Philippines she has become quite newsworthy). Those who weren’t able to get in the exclusive meet and greet the previous day were welcome to drop by on February 8. Even some people who had already seen Christine at the February 7 event came by the following day. Talk about fandom.

Christine graciously sat through another afternoon of chatting, photo-taking, and autograph-signing without showing the slightest hint of irritation. She was perpetually brimming with energy and the warm smile on her face didn’t falter for an instant.

Josh Verdes again performed his swoon-worthy songs, drawing loud cheers from the giddy kolehiyalas in the audience.

The second meet and greet was webcast live on azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com, care of blogger Azrael Coladilla.

The many fans who skipped school, ditched work, or traveled all the way from Batangas, Cavite, Japan, Chicago, and London (no kidding!) just to see Christine certainly didn’t go home disappointed. Christine made the encounter worth their while; not only did she sign autographs and pose for photos with fans, she talked to them and even gave them all a parting hug. Awww.

And it wasn’t just the fans who went home with warm and fuzzy memories of the meet and greet. Christine was so touched by her Pinoy fans’ dedication that she promised to be back soon. We’ll be waiting for you, Christine! And you can bet there’ll be more of us the next time you’re here.