Mikoy Morales’ unfiltered Cinemalaya hosting sparks laughs, discomfort, and applause

His roast-heavy spiels sparked laughs, discomfort and criticism, but some viewers praised his bold satire and social commentary.

Mikoy Morales may have taken home a Best Actor trophy before for “Tether” in Cinemalaya 2023, but this time, it was his hosting stint that had audiences talking.

Known for his satirical humor, Morales brought an intentionally unfiltered energy to the Cinemalaya stage, taking jabs at fellow host Betong Sumaya, the event setup, the board and jury, himself, and even his hosting talent fee. 

At one point, he likened the setup to a “parang mall show,” while openly revealing how much he was paid to host.

The jokes did not land equally for everyone. Some viewers called out remarks they perceived as ageist toward Sumaya and members of the board and jury, while others described the performance as “ultra secondhand embarrassment” and a difficult watch. 

One viewer likened his attempted roast-heavy style to awards-show hosts Nikki Glaser and Ricky Gervais, saying his spiels only seemed to “dig his own grave.”

Still, Morales had his share of supporters. Some appreciated his willingness to poke fun at himself and saw the awkwardness as part of the satire. Others felt that, beneath the chaotic delivery, his punches were consistent with the social commentary he has brought into his work.

One of his closing sentiments especially resonated with viewers, “Nawa’y patuloy tayong maliwanagan ng mga katotohanan na lumalabas sa ating sining… at sana, soon, sa ating Senado rin.” 

Whether intentional or not, Morales certainly made the hosting gig memorable, though perhaps not entirely for the reasons an awards-night host would hope.

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