Renee Hampshire (born March 10, 1981) better known by her stage name Ate Glow is a Filipino comedian and actress who is known for her impersonation of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Ate Glow | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1981 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Other names | Renee Hampshire |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian, impersonator |
| Years active | 2001–2017[1] |
| Notable work | Impersonation of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo under the stage name, "Ate Glow". |
Early life
editGlow was born on March 10, 1981. She was the third among the four children of the Facunla family. Presenting as gay (bakla) earlier in her life, Glow says that there was never any problem for her parents, including her police officer father, regarding her gender identity.[2] She began to learn about her gender identity when she was three or four years old realizing that she isn't a straight male. She was said by her father to be feminine but Glow has stated that she wasn't the "typical gay" during her childhood who likes to play Barbie dolls and prefers tumbang preso and luksong baka which she describes as games for boys.[3]
Glow was an honor student and joined extra-curricular activities during her elementary and high school years. She described herself as a flamboyant and talkative person who was involved in extracurricular school activities which involves teaching dance, singing and play-acting.[4] She attended the University of the Philippines where she graduated from college.[3]
Career
editHampshire is best known for her act as Ate Glow, a comedic impersonation of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She is also known for the catchphrase "Ang saya-saya, no" (transl. Isn't it so fun) which she usually use as part of her impersonation act.[5] Still presenting as a gay man at that time, Hampshire considered being an actor outside the Ate Glow persona, but she did not want "to be stereotyped as just a funny person" since gay actors in the Philippines are usually typecast as the comic relief or the sassy sidekick.[5]
Hampshire first act as Ate Glow was at a student variety show at the University of the Philippines in 2001, around the time the move to impeach President Joseph Estrada is in progress. Arroyo was still Vice President at that time who later became president after the Second EDSA Revolution.[5]
Hampshire's first television appearance was at Wazzup Wazzup as a street segment host. Her first film stint was in the 2003 film My First Romance where she appeared as the character "Yaya Glow".[3]
During the 2004 presidential elections, she performed as Ate Glow in between rallies and speeches although she did not formally supported President Arroyo's election bid.[3]
In 2005, Arroyo herself picked her as the ambassador of her administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign. Arroyo reportedly liked Glow's impersonation of her since the latter was described by the former as a smart person.[3] Despite this, Hampshire's own political beliefs came into conflict with her act as Ate Glow since she was impersonating a controversial politician. In university events, she often critique President Arroyo but in national media she had to tone down her act.[5]
Ate Glow with Barack Obama lookalike Ilham Anas featured in a 2008 television commercial by TBWA Santiago, Mangada and Puno for Motilium which has won major industry awards.[6][7][8]
Glow's fame gradually declined with the end of Arroyo's term as president in 2010 with her last movie appearance being in the 2012 film Moron 5 and the Crying Lady. She featured in an episode of GMA's documentary show Tunay na Buhay in 2014 where she shared her biography.[3]
Personal life
editAte Glow identifies herself as a straight transgender woman.[9] She had two serious relationships before her marriage; one with a Filipino and another with an Irish Caucasian man in Dublin.[9] In 2013, Glow met a British man who she would later marry while visiting a friend in London. On July 2, 2016 she married a British man at the Chelsea Registry Office. Her husband was aware of her gender identity when they got married.[10][11] Since her marriage, Glow reportedly goes by the name Renee Hampshire.[9]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | My First Romance | Yaya Glow | Film debut; Anthology: "One Love" |
| 2004 | Gagamboy | Ate Gloring | |
| 2012 | Moron 5 and the Crying Lady | Inmate in a wheelchair (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Wazzup Wazzup | Herself | Segment host |
| 2014 | Tunay na Buhay | Herself | Guest |
| 2015 | Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho[12] | Herself | Guest |
References
edit- ^ Olaguera, Chriselle (September 9, 2023). "6 Filipino celebrities now living in Europe". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Macapendeg, Mac (February 11, 2014). "Ang buhay at pag-ibig ni Rene Boy 'Ate Glow' Facunla" [The Life and Romance of Rene Boy 'Ate Glow' Facunla]. GMA News (in Filipino). Retrieved October 24, 2016.
Ayon kay Ate Glow, kailanman ay hindi naging problema ang pagiging bakla nito sa kaniyang pamilya at tanggap na siya ng kaniyang ama na isang pulis noong nabubuhay pa ito.[According to Ate Glow, the family never had problems regarding her being gay and he is accepted by his father who is a police officer when he was still alive.]
- ^ a b c d e f Macapendeg (2014)
- ^ Macapendeg (2014) "Napaka flamboyant ko as a person, maingay ako. Lahat ng mga extra-curricular sa school namin mula elementary sinalihan ko, ako 'yong nagturo ng sayaw, ako 'yong kumakanta, ako 'yong sa mga play, lahat," pahayag nito (ni Ate Glow).["I was flaboyant as a person, I was talkative. I joined all extra-curricular activity groups in school. As early as elementary I joined, I was the one who taught dancing, I was the one who sang, I was the one who got involved in the play", she (Ate Glow) said."
- ^ a b c d Santos, Romano (August 24, 2021). "What Happened to Filipino Political Impersonator Ate Glow?". Vice. Vice Media Group. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ "Obama in Manila". Adobo Magazine: 23. January–February 2009.
- ^ Pe, Roger (March 30, 2012). "Using humor to bring up product sales". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
- ^ "WATCH 'OBAMA' GET A TUMMYACHE IN MANILA". AdAge. December 29, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Ate Glow on Angelina Mead King: Love knows no gender". ABS-CBN News (in English and Tagalog). July 15, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo impersonator Ate Glow gets married". Rappler. July 4, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "Ate Glow marries British beau". The Philippine Star. July 5, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Franco, Bernie (July 14, 2016). "Ate Glow: "Pag nagmahal ka, walang kasarian yun."" [Ate Glow: "If you love, there is no gender"]. PEP.ph (in Tagalog and English). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved August 28, 2021.