By Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America Bureau
Jan. 12, 2012
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – The virtual world knows Christine Gambito as “Happy Slip”, one of the most watched people on video networking site, YouTube. She maintains one of the most-subscribed channels on YouTube, with over 700,000 subscribers. All of her videos have been viewed over 92,000,000.
Gambito uploaded her first sketch video 6 years ago, hoping her comedy can make enough money to be a stay-at-home mom. Her plan worked. Youtube pays her to do what she loves.
She said: “I can’t really wrap my mind around it when people write me from other countries or whatever. I’ve heard a word of advice, ‘enjoy it, just don’t believe it’. I’m enjoying. I just don’t believe it.”
Gambito is one of the first Filipinos to make it big on Youtube. By poking fun of her Filipino relatives, she uses humor to help spread Filipino culture across the world.
She continues to be a one-gal band — writing, shooting, editing and starring in her mini-movies. She said, “You have to have love for all aspects of production.”
Besides being an internet star, Gambito became a Philippine Ambassador for the Department of Tourism in 2008.
She has also used her stardom to become an advocate for fellow Filipinas. She has worked with networking sites on controlling advertisers that promote suspected sex trafficking.
Her sketches also bring smiles in different ways. Some of her videos help raise funds for Operation Smile, the international medical organization that performs free surgeries for children born with deformed lips.
She has also toured by B Here campaign, a comedy and musical show that raise awareness on Hepatitis B and its impact on the Asian American community.
With a report from Henni Espinosa.
TFC and Balitang America are honoring successful kababayans in North America through its ongoing series called “The Filipino Champions: Mga Pinoy na Maipagmamalaki.” If you know anyone who deserves to be featured, e-mail us at balitangamerica@abs-cbni.com. Write The Filipino Champion in the subject line.
