Michael V got his name—and his heart and humor—from his father
One day in the late 1960s, Cesar Bunagan was summoned by his boss to the office at the construction site they worked at. There, he noticed a Beethoven vinyl record lying around—an image that sparked an idea.
That would be a nice name to give his future son, he thought, unaware that “Beethoven” was actually a last name—belonging to the legendary classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Right then and there, he scribbled the name on the back of an estampita, a small devotional card.
On Dec. 17, 1969, Beethoven Bunagan—or more popularly known as the comedy genius Michael V—was born. And as he grew up and came to realize the truth, he asked his father, “Did you know that Beethoven is actually a surname?”
“Ah, talaga? Too late,” was his father’s insouciant reply.
But through the years, it became increasingly clear that it wasn’t just his name that Michael V got from his late father—he inherited his work ethic and humor, too, qualities that helped shape him into the man and artist he is today.
Less talk, more action—that was Bunagan’s style, Michael V recalled. Without sermons or reminders, his father simply led by example.
“I was a happy-go-lucky child, but he taught me the importance of hard work and the value of education. He also didn’t hesitate to point out his own mistakes and booboos. ‘Huwag niyong ulitin at gayahin,’ he would say. I appreciated that,” Michael V told Lifestyle during a recent visit to the set of his long-running sitcom on GMA 7, “Pepito Manaloto.”
Everyday dad
Bunagan was an “everyday dad”—practical and very personable. “He was also great at pakikipag-kapwa tao,” Michael V said. “Sobrang chikador siya noon, so he had a lot of friends.”
His father was also quite the handyman—but don’t let him near live wires or anything electrical. “He was afraid of them. Nakuryente kasi siya,” the comedian recalled. “But I loved watching him work with tools, and I often offered to help.”
Curiously, many of the things he inherited from his dad—and many of their shared experiences (especially the silly ones)—have found their way into his character in “Pepito Manaloto,” which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.
“One of the recurring themes is that things at home always need repairing. And Pepito’s wife, Elsa (played by Manilyn Reynes), always asks him to fix them. Many of those are based on real-life experiences,” Michael V said of the Saturday evening show, whose premise revolves around the (mis)adventures of the Manaloto family after winning the lottery.
“Running into bad luck while traveling, broken appliances, unwanted guests dropping by just as you’re about to unwind—those things always happen at our own household,” he added.
Joy
As a son, one of Michael V’s proudest and most cherished moments was finally being able to bring his parents on trips abroad.
“I’ll never be able to repay them for all their sacrifices, but it’s my way of giving back,” he said.
Michael V will never forget the joy in his father’s eyes the first time he saw a real pine tree in person.
“It was our first Christmas together in our house in the United States. Just being able to touch the tree’s leaves and smell its scent was a big deal for him. Back in the day, he would put up all sorts of replicas at home,” said Michael V, who grew up in a modest tenement in Taguig City.
Bunagan was also fond of cruises. And in his final moments in 2019, it was the beautiful memories at sea that he and his son reminisced about.
“Even on his deathbed, we talked about the free-flowing coffee and hot chocolate while onboard. It made him smile. And he was smiling until he closed his eyes for good,” the 55-year-old actor said.
For Michael V, there’s perhaps no better way to honor his father’s legacy than by passing on the lessons he learned to his four children with his wife, Carol Bunagan.
“I can’t copy exactly the way my father raised me, but I can at least pattern my parenting after his. I keep all the good things,” he said.
Of course, life is more comfortable now, and he can’t help but spoil his kids, he admitted. But he and his wife try their best to keep Milo, Yanni, Migo, and Maypaul, grounded and self-aware by reminding them of their humble beginnings.
“I grew up in a tenement; my wife, in Tondo. Life was hard for both of us growing up, so we always tell our children that the life we live now isn’t the same for most people. We got fortunate. But it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to work hard,” Michael V said.
And as happy as he was giving his father generous gifts and gestures, Michael V is just as content with the little but thoughtful things he receives from his children.
“Seeing them finishing their studies, seeing them having fun with their hobbies and doing what they love—I’m all good. I love it when they remember special occasions, when they cook and bake for me, when they come home from a trip and bring me a souvenir,” he said.
“Seeing them happy makes me happy,” he added.
