Comedian Wacky hailed as ‘greatest entertainer’

Comedian Wacky Kiray joined ABS-CBN’s talent-variety show I Can Do That as the only performer with no fan base and solid exposure on TV, but on Sunday night (June 4) in the show’s finale dubbed The Battle for Greatness, he proved that anyone can achieve anything when armed with heart and determination.

Wacky gave viewers the greatest performance of his life with his breath-taking wire balancing act, which also wowed judges Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo and Boy Abunda. He would then be hailed as the show’s first-ever Greatest Entertainer, winning P1M, after garnering a total score of 93.75 percent from the combined scores of the judges and public text votes.

Before the finale, he also accumulated the highest number of points among all the I Candidates from an 11 weeks’ worth of doing unique acts. In the finals, he beat fellow Great Finalists Cristine Reyes, Daniel Matsunaga and Gab Valenciano, who placed second, third and fourth, respectively.

“Winning gives me an odd feeling because I’ve never won anything in my life. But it is the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said.

Throughout the run of the show, Wacky gave it color and life with his funny antics. However, his emotional side would sometimes get the best of him whenever an I Candidate would get eliminated or whenever an act turned out to be too demanding.

He would also occasionally get teary when he spoke about how his fellow I Candidates welcomed him with open arms. He shared, “We were together for so long, it didn’t feel like a competition. We were like a family here. We enjoyed the things we did.”

Previously known as I Can Do That’s only funny man, now he has proven himself as an entertainer who cannot not only make viewers laugh, but also thrilled and moved.

Some of his acts included an emotional wheelchair dance, magical flow art, hip-hop dance, aerial silk dance, cube and staff spinning as well as foot puppetry, unicycling and pole balancing.

“What I learned from the show is to never give up, just fight. Whatever challenge is given to you, just take it and fight,” he said.

His mother Elizabeth can also attest to how Wacky’s stint in the show changed him and how he poured his heart into every act he performed.

“He used to be just all laughs. Maybe God really gave this to him because he loves his family and other people. We’re very proud of him because we did not expect him to go this far and win. We thank the Lord because he made it through safe from any accident,” she said.

Wacky also revealed that he will use his cash prize to buy a house and lot for his parents — a long-time dream that will finally come true.

He also thanked comedy superstar and his “No. 1 supporter” Vice Ganda, and his colleagues at comedy bars Punchline and Laffline.

As of now, Wacky is just thankful for his win in I Can Do That. How it will help or affect his career is yet out of his mind, but he is sure about just one thing: “I have already achieved something in life.”