Comedy Manila’s KoolPals find new home in hotel bar
With its low ceiling, arched doorways and mood lighting, the Cellar at Century Park Hotel Manila looks like a good place for a jazz bar. For many years it was used by the hotel as storage but now it’s the venue for a group of stand-up comedians from Comedy Manila who identify themselves as the KoolPals.
James Caraan, one of the five members, told Lifestyle they all agreed to open an actual place because it would be outfitted with a studio where the group could record their live podcasts. The current setup is a far cry from what they are used to working with. They recounted how they used to record the podcast in Caraan’s bedroom in Quezon City when they started five years ago.
“It was the pandemic and all in-person events were canceled,” GB Labrador recalled. When restrictions were relaxed, they began meeting and recording their conversations about current events and whatever else interested them. Later, they were joined by Muman Reyes, Ryan Rems, and Nonong Balinan.
In the years that followed, the podcast gained traction among listeners based in the Philippines as well as homesick kababayans who would tune in and laugh along. The KoolPals’ freewheeling conversations reminded a lot of listeners of their own late-night, sometimes drunken talks with their barkada.
The podcasts were also a way for the KoolPals to announce any upcoming live events.
“When we found out that a lot of people were tuning in, we began monitoring our stats. We wanted to find out how we were doing when it came to the number of listeners who would stay on for the entire duration of the podcast,” Balinan said.
‘Best Comedy Podcast’
They realized eventually that they needn’t have worried or been so concerned, that they should just continue what they were doing because they enjoyed it and derived pleasure from it. That’s when their popularity increased, earning them the award for “Best Comedy Podcast in the Philippines” in 2024 from Spotify after over 750 episodes.
“Now, our listeners refer to themselves as KoolPals and we’re stoked about that,” Labrador said. “When we’re out on our own, security guards or sometimes even a company president will come up and tell us, ‘KoolPals din ako.’” We enjoy these encounters because it shows that our podcast, our humor appeals to many.”
The Century Park’s Cellar has since been renamed The KoolPals Bar and is being marketed as “the go-to destination for comedy fans looking for an exciting blend of live performances and interactive podcasts.” Key to its creation was JJ Tan, the hotel’s managing director who also identifies as a KoolPal.
Lifestyle was given a peek inside the recording studio at the back that is dominated by a large table where the KoolPals record their podcasts. They sometimes invite guests to chew the fat with them but they’re just as happy to talk among themselves because they can be free to be as irreverent as they want.
All jokes
Aren’t they wary about offending people with their podcast topics or when they do stand-up? “When we’re recording the podcast, we have more control because if one of us says something particularly foul, the others can react to it and then we can tell the crew to edit that portion out. It’s different when we’re live onstage,” Labrador said.
“But again, we remind people that these are all jokes,” Caraan was quick to add.
Many times, jokes can fall flat when they’re made in front of a live audience. When that happens, there’s nothing left to do but tell another and hope that one lands.
During the launch, all five members came out one at a time for their 10-minute spiels on the tiny stage. The place was packed with media as well as friends of the members—all of them were there to be entertained.
“Ever since we started our group, we have always dreamed of having our own bar,” Caraan said in a statement. “The podcast played a huge role in promoting stand-up comedy, and it’s amazing to see how it has helped us achieve this dream. Now, we have a venue where we can expand our reach and share our humor with even more people.”
In fact, they’re gearing up for a nationwide tour that will bring their live shows across the country including Pampanga, Baguio, Batangas, Tacloban, and Cebu.
The KoolPals record their podcast on Sundays at 4 p.m. which is then broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube. “Whatever show you come to watch at The KoolPals Bar, whether it’s a live podcast recording or a stand-up show, it will always be funnier than the last one,” Labrador promised.
