Performing for a large crowd with tears in their eyes, Filipino comedian and SF State alumnus Rex Navarrete recently came back to the Bay Area to bring on the laughs and help raise money for this year's Filipino American studies graduation, while proving to everyone that Filipinos are a force to be reckoned with.

"It was amazing to see that everyone in the department had ties back to the Filipino community," Navarrete said. "They not only talked about the community, but they also came from events that affected the community."

Navarrete started his career as a comedian in 1989 when his Asian American studies professor, Dan Gonzales, told him he was wasting his talents and he should instead take his jokes to the stage.

"As Filipinos, we're proud, but we're protective. Once (Manny) Pacquiao wins the fight, we turn the TV off," Navarrete joked. "Man, we don't want our white friends to hear him talk. He's like that one cousin from the Philippines with the thick-ass accent that our moms make us take to the mall."

Through SF State's Asian American studies program, Navarrete found inspiration from his professors that would encourage him to spread the word about his heritage and contribute something back to his community.

His first five years as a comedian were rough, but after 20 years in the business, Navarrete, also known as the Filipino-American King of Comedy, has established a firm handle on the Filipino niche.

With other minority comics breaking into the comedy scene, he looks to stand out as a Filipino artist with jokes based on human and political observation from a Filipino's perspective.

"(Navarrete's) jokes reflect the Filipino culture and lifestyle, the good and the bad," SF State international relations major Michael Herrera, 19, said. "I can relate to him. All of his jokes reflected me in some way."

Herrera "literally fell out of his seat" when Navarrete told the crowd of his most recent trip back to the motherland, traveling with several "Balikbayan boxes" filled with gifts rather than the traditional suitcases and sitting in a airplane for two hours with no air conditioning while listening to the pilot talk overhead.

"That was exactly my life," he said.

Performing alongside other great comedians such as George Lopez, DL Hughley and Paul Mooney, Navarrete has since become a household name in Filipino American homes.

He has toured all over the country from colleges and universities, community events and comedy clubs. He has released three comedy CDs and three DVDs, the most recent, "Komik Organik," debuting earlier this year. Currently, he is touring all over North America cities including Montreal, New York, and Los Angeles.

Gathering all of his materials from what he calls "real Rex moments," Navarrete uses standup comedy as a vehicle for serious social and political issues that Filipinos face in America, including language barriers.

"I don't want to be that one brown guy who talks about being ethnic," he said. "Filipinos are a different class of Asians. We are the most westernized of all Asian groups."
"Comedic stand up will always have its hits and misses. Maybe some people don't want to listen, maybe some people don't care," Navarrete said. "The worst critics are other Filipinos. Just because they're Filipino doesn't mean they'll like my shit. They are afraid that I am making Filipinos look bad in front of Americans."

"It's encouraging to see Filipinos like (Navarrete) make it big in the American game," SF State Asian American studies major Jennifer De Leon, 22, said. "He's a great role model. He's living proof that they can actually make it big."

"It's not my job to make people laugh. My job is to stay true to my writing and my angle and not to half ass it. I'm going to take it to the end and be brave about it," Navarrete said. "If I write too many Filipino jokes, that's your problem. Is the world over saturated with Filipinos? I don't think so."

Navarrete looks to the younger generations to continue the progression of Filipino culture in mainstream America.

"Don't deny your heritage because there will be people to back you up. Become a voice for your people, no matter what uniform you chose," he said.

Navarrete continues his quest to give back to the Filipino community, especially to his SF State roots.

"If alumni don't inspire them, the current students and recent graduates of the department, it's not going to work," Navarrete said.

Navarrete will return to San Francisco, performing at Cobb's Comedy Club in North Beach from April 29 to May 2. "Komik Organik" is available in stores now.