So you may ask why comedy in the first place, and how does it relate to your visual art? As a mental health advocate, Stand up for Mental Health seemed to be the perfect vehicle to say what I need to say and that is a large part of my creative outputs. Whether it is radio, writing, or painting the core of who I genuinely want to be is the same, sometimes the medium needs to fit the context of where you are. I had always envisioned that my art on someone’s wall would say something. Eventhough a hanging art piece is visually static, I would hope that it would be representative of a current state of my mind everytime someone looks at it. Each new experience I go through I share and so I wanted to feel like I was having a conversation, even though I am not physically there. I want my art to be positive and to tell a story, so why not throw in a few jokes in the process?

So while my official comedy career is over for the moment, I’ll be continuing to tell stories, you’ll have to search out which form I will now be telling them in.

Either way there will be a punchline that is designed for impact.

Dave K

Josh Zed

Dave K

Dave K

What does that look like specifically? Whether growing up in my youth and teens or even as an adult, exclusion has always something I have had to deal with. In the playground or the soccer pitch, the words ‘Chink, ‘Hindu’ and ‘Paki’ were common place.  What’s ridiculous is that I am neither of those ethnic backgrounds.  So you could say I was excluded even in derogatory terminology!  In addition, there were no Filipinos that were within driving distance of our house, so I was like the sole asian contestant on my own survivor reality show.  In addition I grew up consuming Western Anglo Saxon media, whilst sporting a Coppertone exterior.  I am a Filipino Cultural loner; I couldn’t even relate to the people of my own dermatological pigmentation.

Add to the mix my mental health condition and you have me; a chocolate coconut bobble head doll, a little unstable, brown on the exterior with white contents.  My Psychiatrist calls it a double whammy. I tried to look that up on the DSM, so far it doesn’t exist, really its just a matter of time.

However, comedy for me was a form of self protection, navigation, acceptance and physical survival.  It was a tool that I used subconsciously to gain support and respect.  By hanging around tall white males who laughed at my jokes was like having my own security force; white and giggly, analogous to a gang of Pillsbury Dough boys.  In addition, I needed the nimbleness of thought to avoid an incoming snowball, or random use of violence against me.  So was it something that either I naturally had or a skill that I had to develop?  Either way its gotten me to this point, and lately it hasn’t been bad at all.

So, thank you to David Granier for this incredible opportunity.  I have met some amazingly talented, beautiful and supportive people on this journey.  As much as I have struggled through my mental health issues and the biological and psycho-social side effects, I don’t know if I would ever change a thing.  I am honoured to be in such company and part of your vision to change the world and how they view individuals with Mental Health concerns.  Everyone has potential, however it takes individuals like David Granier to see it and bring it to those who aren’t able to see it.

J Peachy

PS – Our program needs support, we ask we have your vote for the Pepsi Refresh Grant so we can expand the program to 1 Million Student Across Canada.

http://www.refresheverything.ca/smhdaysoncampuscomedytour

Tickets are $20 Available at www.theyale.ca or tickets@standupformentalhealth.com or call 604.707.0483 Limited Seating. No Minors!

Watch the URBAN RUSH interview with Mike and David on SHAW TV Sept. 15