For celebrities, being pushed out of the limelight by the pandemic isn’t the end of the line — just ask Jimmy Santos.
While the pandemic has knocked down several celebrities off the spotlight for good, there are some who tried to make the most of what they earned after years in front of the camera. Some have gone off to ply their trade in another industry or launch their own business, which is what comedian and TV host Jimmy Santos did when tried his hand at a meat stall inside a wet market in Pampanga.
On one of his recent vlogs posted last June 12, the former Eat Bulaga host, who goes by the moniker Jimmy Saints on his YouTube channel, spent a day to know what it’s like to be a meat vendor.
Disclosing the details of his day-to-day as a meat vendor on his YouTube Channel, Santos bounced from supplier to supplier to complete his stock while also taking the time to get to know who he’s buying from.
Towards the end of the video, we see the iconic comedian in action inside his own meat stall inside Angeles City’s Pampang Public Market, mingling with one Tita Remy, a fellow vendor, while simultaneously selling his goods and providing free-minded fun to his patrons.
The video proved to be his best one yet, garnering over 697 thousand views in just under two weeks.
Listening to the legendary TV icon, one would assume he was in his own gag show, interviewing passersby about their stories of survival amid the pandemic and attracting a crowd of onlookers who would recognize his charm and wit from a mile away.
“Tiyaga lang ang kailangan,” Santos says to the camera while tending to buyers inside the wet market.
Himself a victim of the pandemic, Santos was driven out of his job as a host in the longest-running noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga, due to being a senior citizen, forcing him to look into his options.
Luckily, the popular 90s star was able to swiftly bounce back, capitalizing on his love for food by serving as a cook in their restaurant as well as starting his own food business.
Of course, he couldn’t leave the comforts of standing in front of a camera. Launching his own YouTube channel last month, Santos became the cheery Jimmy Saints and quickly grew a fanbase that’s now 250 thousand strong. As of writing, Santos has only a little over a handful of videos on his channel, but whenever he puts out content, it’s always swamped by supportive comments, most of which applaud the comedian for his genuine, light-hearted humor.
