Jo Koy gets serious about building futures
There are three things Jo Koy can’t live without while on tour: “really good coffee, really good food, and really good malls.”
Luckily for him, the Philippines has them all. That’s why the Filipino American comedian “feels like I’m in heaven,” whenever he comes to visit. “That’s exactly what’s happening here—everything that I love!”
Well, maybe except the maddening rush-hour traffic.
Jo Koy was in the middle of a busy day, juggling photo shoots and television appearances, when Lifestyle caught up with him in a Zoom interview last April 2. “Crazy” was the first word that came to his mind while stuck on Edsa with barely moving vehicles, driven by motorists who treat road markings as mere suggestions.
He could only imagine what it was like to be in the driver’s seat.
“Our schedule was tight, and we were trying to get to places on time. It was crazy. But our driver was amazing. We got to be where we had to be. That’s professional driving, if I’ve ever seen it!” he said.
While sitting through Manila’s traffic can be “anxiety-inducing,” those few hours were but a blip in the wonderful time he and his family had in the country.
“Overall, this really is a vacation with a bit of work thrown in,” said Jo Koy, who had spent a relaxing five days in Boracay prior. Also in his itinerary was a stop in El Nido, Palawan, where he shot a scene for the Philippine-set Hollywood film “The Last Resort,” starring Daisy Ridley. That explained the sunburn. “My whole shoulder is burnt, can you see that?” he said pulling down the neck of his shirt. “It’s killing me right now! It hurts so bad, I’m sorry!”
But more than anything, what made this trip truly meaningful, Jo Koy said, was “all the beautiful things” he did in Bacolod City—hometown of his adoptive younger sister and “partner in crime,” Gemma Herbert Simmons.
As a way of giving back, Jo Koy and Simmons—through the Jo Koy Foundation, which they run—had a library built for the R. Alunan Elementary School (Raes) in Brgy. Alangilan last year. In their recent visit, they donated 35 computers and distributed bags, books, and other supplies. They also promised further improvements to the school, where they received a rockstar welcome.
Mantra
“My sister attended that school when she was a kid, so she wanted to put up a library there. And it means a lot to me that I could help her do that. We also plan to install a better electricity system there,” Jo Koy said.
In a Facebook post, the Raes said the donated library has turned into a “vibrant learning hub” for the students. “Our students are benefiting greatly from these incredible resources. Your kindness has created a space where they can learn, grow, and dream big. Thank you for your transformative generosity!” the school said in a statement.
It was the first time Jo Koy and Simmons saw the library in person. And on the entrance plaque bearing their names are the words, “Goal. Educate. Manifest.”—a mantra the comedian believes everyone should live by.
“When kids look at that plaque, they will be like, ‘Hell, yeah. If you’ve got a goal, and if you want to accomplish it, you can make it happen,’” Jo Koy said.
If he were to add another word to that equation, it would be “dream.” “Stay dreaming, man,” said Jo Koy, before showing us a tattoo on his left wrist that read, “When you’re not dreaming, you’re not living.”
“I swear by that. You’ve got to dream. That’s what we’re here for,” said Jo Koy, who brought along his son, Joseph Jr., as he toured the small town. Also with them were Simmons’ husband and their kids.
Not too far away was the Alangilan National High School, to which Jo Koy had previously donated funds—reportedly about P2.7 million—to pave a road and build other facilities, including faculty rooms and basketball and volleyball courts. And he’s just getting started.
“Maybe next time, we will be helping four schools. Maybe we can build schools. We want to keep going … see what we can do to provide for the people and give them a better chance in life,” Jo Koy said. “We want to do whatever we can to put a smile on people’s faces … and just build futures.”
Lupus foundation
The Jo Koy Foundation was formed in 2009, inspired by his elder sister, Rowena Cook, who has been living with lupus for almost 30 years now. At first, the goal was to spread awareness about the illness and help raise money for people who suffer from it.
But through the years, the foundation grew. And so Jo Koy thought it was about time that he started bringing the group’s efforts to the Philippines. “We thought we could make a huge difference here,” he said. And he’s doing it not out of personal fulfillment, but out of his sense of responsibility as a Filipino.
“My mom is from here. My sister is from here … I lived here for five years when I was a kid. When you’re in a position where you can help, it becomes a responsibility. I see my mom and sister do it. I see other Filipinos do it,” he said. “I think that’s what’s beautiful about us as a people—we love to give.”
This couldn’t have been clearer than during his time in Bacolod. While visiting students and interacting with the locals, it struck him: Sometimes, it’s the people with the least to spare who give the most.
“For real, Bacolod is the ‘City of Smiles.’ There are people who don’t have a lot, but I swear they’re smiling. And they will offer whatever they’ve got—their last piece of fish, their last scoop of rice. There’s laughter and a feeling of comfort wherever you go. It’s a way of life that should be embraced by the world,” he said.
“I brought my family here—my son, nieces, nephews. And the things they see here I hope they can take with them back to the States. I think that’s a beautiful thing,” he added.
Of course, it would be remiss of Jo Koy not to acknowledge his Filipino mother, Josie Harrison, in all of this. After all, she single-handedly raised Jo Koy after his American father left them when he was 10. She fueled his comedy. And it was because of her that he now finds himself in a position to help others.
“I wouldn’t be talking to you here right now if it weren’t for her,” said Jo Koy, whose real name is Joseph Glenn Herbert.
But before he built roads and school facilities for other people on the other side of the world, Jo Koy bought his mother a home—one of his first big purchases as a comedian. “I was like, ‘I did it!’ I can live now, knowing that I was able to do that for my mother,” he said.
Just like his desire to help other people, the act of honoring his mother never stops. “That’s also a responsibility,” he pointed out. And for him, there’s no better way to pay her tribute than being a conduit for her voice, through the comedy specials he films and the shows he puts on around the world.
Beautiful gift
“When you live in the States, you struggle with identity, with being heard and being seen … because there’s not a lot of representation, especially when she first got there in 1971. I think my mom seeing her son do an impersonation of her—and hearing her voice through that—is a beautiful gift,” said Jo Koy, whose comedy draws inspiration from being raised by a Filipino mother in the United States, and all the hilarious quirks and punchlines that come with it.
“I’m in no way making fun of how I was raised. I’m proud of it. And the cool thing about it is that even non-Filipino moms are going up to us, telling us that they can relate. I think that’s my biggest gift to her, letting her be seen and appreciated by other moms out there,” he said.
Jo Koy is set to bring his new world tour, “Just Being Koy” (Live Nation Philippines) to the SM Mall of Asia (Moa) Arena on June 21. (Tickets are available at SM Tickets.) And while he couldn’t divulge exactly what his upcoming show will be all about, fans can expect new stories and material, he said. His son, for one, is turning 22, and is about to move out of the house. “There’s a lot about that I want to talk about!
“There will also be surprise guests coming in. And let’s just say you’re going to love them when you see them in person,” he added.
Once an aspiring stand-up comic at a small Las Vegas coffee shop, Jo Koy is now a household name in comedy, thanks to his slew of hit Netflix specials like “Live from Seattle” (2020), “Comin’ in Hot” (2019), and “In His Elements” (2020). He has also ventured into acting, starring in films like “Easter Sunday” in 2022. The following year, he made history by becoming the first Filipino American to host the Golden Globe Awards.
The 53-year-old comic has come a long way. But if only to remind himself of his humble beginnings, Jo Koy, unbeknownst to many, collects seats from the different arenas he has performed at, and puts them at a “little venue” he has in his home. Back in the day, Jo Koy used to wonder when he was going to make it, or if he would actually ever make it. The answer is in those chairs.
“That’s my way of saying, ‘If you think a small room like this can’t be your stepping stone to the future, just look around. It’s in a small room like this one where I also got my start,’” he said.
And in about three months’ time, he could very well add one of those red chairs from the Moa Arena to his growing collection. “I want one! I have to get one this time!”
