Filipino comedian Augie Tulba says technology is destroying human interaction and keeping people in isolated Internet bubbles. “People don’t sit down and have conversations anymore,” he laughed. “Now they can go on YouTube and express themselves.” Augie T, as he’s
Filipino comedian Augie Tulba says technology is destroying human interaction and keeping people in isolated Internet bubbles.
“People don’t sit down and have conversations anymore,” he laughed. “Now they can go on YouTube and express themselves.”
Augie T, as he’s known by fans, wants you to put down the computer, get out of the house and join him for a night of clean, face-to-face comedy in celebration of all those beautiful mothers out there. He promises you’ll feel better if you do.
Augie T’s annual Mother’s Day Show begins at 8 tonight at the Aston Aloha Beach Hotel, in Wailua.
“Truthful, very clean and 100 percent local comedy,” he said of his work. “You can bring your friends. You can bring your family.”
When Tulba first started stand-up in the early ‘90s, he wanted to be “the Eddie Murphy of Hawai‘i” — profanities included. That is until his father came to one of his shows and heard the filthy language coming from his son’s mouth.
“He snapped,” Tulba remembered. “Ever since then there’s a side of me that’s afraid my dad will walk on stage.”
Today, Tulba takes pride in keeping it appropriate. However, he’s not afraid to take it to the edge.
“It’s harder,” he said of his chosen style, “because, you know, I think a lot of us are demented in our heads. It’s easy to do the swearing.”
In addition to his father, Tulba said living on an island keeps him on the straight and narrow with his act.
“I cannot just run and hide,” he joked. “Everybody sees me at the mall.”
With the simple goal of making people laugh, Augie views himself as a “treat” for people, taking them from day-to-day struggles.
“If I can get you away for an hour-and-a-half, to laugh two or three times per year, that’s a great escape.”
So far, this decorated comedian said the island of Kaua‘i has embraced him, and he looks forward to making routine visits from his home in Ewa Beach, O‘ahu.
“Kaua‘i is one of the islands I love doing shows at, I think because people can relate to a lot of things I’m talking about.”
Tulba is a two-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award recipient and was recognized as one of Hawai‘i’s Top 100 Influential Filipinos with an exhibit at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.
Tickets for Augie T’s annual Mother’s Day Show are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. The event will include a performance by Hawaiian singer and musician Sean Na‘auao.
Proceeds will be donated to the 35th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, which begins at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Historic County Building in Lihu‘e.
Visit www.astonalohabeachhotel.com for details.
