Michael V.

Beethoven Del Valle Bunagan (born December 17, 1969), known professionally as Michael V. and nicknamed Bitoy, is a Filipino actor, comedian, director, and musician who earned acclaim for his comedy, parodies, and impersonations in film and television. He first gained public exposure in a rap contest on the variety show Eat Bulaga! in the late 1980s, and later signed a contract with a label company after presenting his song "Maganda Ang Pillin (Ayoko Ng Panget)", a response comedy track to Andrew E.'s "Humanap Ka ng Panget!". His career expanded further, and he became more widely known after joining the original cast of the sketch comedy show Bubble Gang (1996–present) and taking on the lead role in the sitcom series Pepito Manaloto (2010–present) where he also served as director in 2022.

In addition to his work in comedy, he achieved critical recognition for his original composition "Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko" (1997), which received an Awit Awards in 1998. In 2017, he diversified into a digital content career on YouTube and accomplished his first directorial feature film debut in 2019 with the drama Family History, in which he also performed the lead role.

Michael V. was born as Beethoven Del Valle Bunagan on December 17, 1969, at Clinica dela Rosa in Pandacan, Manila to Cesar Felix Bunagan and Melba Balonzo del Valle.^[1] His father named him after German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, upon seeing a copy of Beethoven's LP in his boss' office, not knowing that "Beethoven" is a surname.^[2]

The nickname "Bitoy" was taken from a children's show character played by comedian Bentot. When Bentot, as Bitoy, guested in Iskul Bukol, then-high school student Beethoven saw it and began mimicking Bentot's voice in school. His classmates then called him "Bitoy", to which the nickname stuck to this day.^[2] He finished his secondary education in Manila Science High School. Michael V. later earned a degree in mass communications from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.^[2]

Michael V. regularly watched comedians Gary Bautista and Willie Nepomuceno, developing a strong interest in their methods of constructing and impersonating voices and visual personas. Through experimenting with a tape recorder, he learned that he could monitor his own voice and refine it repeatedly until he achieved the desired result, with an elderly man's voice becoming his preferred characterization. He adds that when he portrayed an old man in a grade school play, the positive audience response made him recognize the potential of this ability as a professional avenue.^[2] Michael V. participated in several competitions, including a Boy George sing-alike contest on Student Canteen and a Menudo sing-alike contest on Big Bold Channel, as well as various other contests, but he notes that he never won any of them.^[2]

Michael V. began his career through the Eat Bulaga! rap contest Check 2000 with fellow rapper Lady Dianne, where actor and judge Ogie Alcasid gave him the lowest score, resulting in his loss.^[3][4] After their defeat in the grand finals, he recalls saying, "Sabi ko I will never rap again!" Lady Dianne received a contract from record label OctoArts despite their loss, while he did not. She later heard "Maganda Ang Pillin (Ayoko Ng Panget)", his response to Andrew E.'s "Humanap Ka ng Panget!", and asked for his demo tape. By chance, his tape was included in the batch submitted to OctoArts, who heard his song and signed him soon afterward. When he entered the entertainment industry, he and his manager Orly Ilacad needed to establish a marketable screen name appropriate for his emerging career as a rapper, during a period when Francis Magalona and Andrew E. were the leading figures in the genre. Ilacad asked him to name his favorite artists, to which he replied that internationally he admired Michael Jackson and locally he looked up to Gary Valenciano. He explains that these references were combined to form his screen name, noting, "So they merged that, and I became Michael V.".^[2]

In 1992, Michael V. made his television debut on the ABS-CBN Network through Ready, Get Set, Go!.^[5]

In 1994, Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid joined the segment Battle of the Brainless on the television sketch comedy show Tropang Trumpo, alongside Earl Ignacio, Gelli De Belen, and Carmina Villarroel. The segment was a parody of the game show Battle of the Brains. In mid-1995, the two left the show to join the sketch comedy program Bubble Gang, which aired on GMA Network.^[6] In this program, Michael V. gained recognition for his character impersonations, parodic sketches,^[7] and literal translations of songs from prominent local and international artists, including "Bumalik Na Sa Akin Ngayon", a comedic rendition of Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back To Me Now", "Kama Ni Rossana", derived from Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses", and "May Isa Na Namang Kumagat Sa Alikabok", adapted from Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust".^[8]

In 1997, Michael V. launched his own comedy hosting television program, Bitoy's Adventures in Bilibka!, where his impersonation skills further developed, and he became known for his expertise in disguise.^[9] Michael V. released his first song "Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko", which became a hit and surpassed Jessa Zaragoza's "Bakit Pa" at the Awit Awards in 1998, during which he and her was part of the record label OctoArts family.^[10] Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid both starred in the comedy film Bestman: 4 Better, Not 4 Worse in 2002.^[11] Michael V. later co-starred with Vic Sotto in Lastikman (2003)^[12] and Enteng Kabisote: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! The Legend (2004). Michael V. received the Asian Television Award for Best Comedy Performance by an Actor in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Michael V. hosted Bitoy's Funniest Videos from 2004 until its conclusion in 2009.^[13] In 2007, he participated in the drama series Marimar, providing the voice for the titular character's pet dog, Fulgoso.^[14] He played a supporting role in the drama series Codename: Asero.^[15] On August 23, 2008, Michael V. was officially informed that he will grace the front cover of Reader's Digest fifth Annual Humor Special, September issue. Making him the second Filipino whoever landed on the covers of Reader's Digest next to former Philippine President Corazon Aquino.^[16]

From 2009 to 2010, Michael V. hosted the game show Hole in the Wall^[17] with Ogie Alcasid and hosted Bitoy's Showwwtime^[18] on his own. In September 2009, Michael V. and Alcasid starred in the comedy film Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie, which was a spin-off of the Ang Spoiled segment from the television sketch comedy Bubble Gang.^[19] Michael V. also won as a Celebrity Inductee to the Eastwood City Walk Of Fame Philippines in the same year. In 2010, Michael V. headlined his first television comedy program, playing the lead role in Pepito Manaloto alongside Manilyn Reynes.^[20] In the same year, Michael V. became Nestle Philippines' Laki sa Gatas advocate for Bear Brand Milk. In 2012, Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid hosted the comedy musical talk show Pare & Pare.^[21] In the same year, Michael V. and Alcasid starred in the comedy film Boy Pick-Up: The Movie alongside Solenn Heussaff and Dennis Trillo, which was adapted from the Pickup Lines segment of Bubble Gang.^[22] Michael V. co-hosted the reality competition Lip Sync Battle Philippines with Iya Villania in 2016. In the same year, he conceptualized the sitcom series Tsuperhero along with Caesar Cosme.^[23] Also in 2016, Michael V. leaves Eat bulaga! as a co-host.^[24]

Michael V. started his YouTube career in 2017.^[25] In 2019, he returns to film and make also his directorial debut film Family History produced by GMA Pictures and Michael V.'s Mic Test Entertainment.^[26] Following the passing of former director Bert de Leon in 2021, Michael V. temporarily took charge of the directorial duties for Pepito Manaloto: Tuloy ang Kuwento in June 2022.^[27]

Michael V. and his wife Carol have 4 children. In August 2013, he was hospitalized^[28] for dengue fever, according to actor Ogie Alcasid tweet. Both Alcasid and Michael V. solicited prayers and platelet donations.^[29] The following days, Michael V tweeted about his recovery and thanked his fans for prayers and support.^[30]

On July 20, 2020, Michael V. announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 on his vlog^[31] and by August 11, he confirmed his recovery.^[32]

• Michael V. at IMDb