Filipino-American stand-up comedian and actor Jo Koy and his family quietly slipped into Bacolod Friday, January 6, for the inauguration and blessing of a road he donated to a public school in the city.
Jo Koy’s six-hour visit to the city only became public when fans spotted him at a coffee shop Friday and started posting photos on social media.
He was accompanied by his son Joseph Herbert Jr., sister Gemma Herbert Simmons and other relatives.
The actor-comedian, whose real name is Joseph Glenn Herbert, and his family went to the Alangilan National High School for the blessing and inauguration of an about 412-meter paved road, at the school that he donated, Gemma’s cousin Veneranda Ortoño said.
The Jo Koy Foundation gave P1,593,000 for the road but it ended up only costing P1.2 million so they used the savings for water supply rehabilitation at the school and the building of a guard house, she said.
The project also provided employment to Alangilan residents, she added.
During Jo Koy’s visit Friday he also donated an additional P1.2 million for a basketball court, canteen and other projects that the school needs, Ortoño said.
Ortoño, former OIC principal of the Alangilan National High School, and Gemma’s brother Jerry Paril are teachers at the school.
They did not ask for the road, it was Gemma who saw the need when she previously visited the school to see the Gulayan Sa Paaralan project that her brother heads, Ortoño said.
She then raised the matter with Jo Koy and his foundation provided the funds.
Jo Koy’s visit to Bacolod on Friday was his first. He has roots in Cubao, Manila, and arrived in the Philippines for a family vacation on December 28.
“Jo Koy is a very nice person. He is humble, generous, kindhearted, down to earth, and very simple,” Ortoño said.
The teachers and students enjoyed his visit.
He told the students to study well and do good, and assured that more help would come for the school and community, teacher Gervie Jude Tolimao said.
Gemma had finished her grade one and two studies at the Rafael Alunan Elementary School in Alangilan where the Jo Koy Foundation has also donated funds for the construction of a library.
In a video posted on Facebook Friday, Jo Koy is heard saying “this is my sister’s hometown”.
Jo Koy, recently starred in Easter Sunday, a 2022 American comedy film, that also featured Negrense Lydia Gaston, who is an actress based in the United States.*