‘Pinoy Boy’ Mikey Bustos warms up cold winter for Filipinos in Canada

Filipino Canadian youtube sensation Mikey Bustos delights his fans during his Canada “I Wear Speedos” tour. INQUIRER/Jhong de la Cruz

EDMONTON, Alberta – Filipino Canadian youtube sensation Mikey Bustos returned to his home country for his “I Wear Speedos” tour.

The 36-year-old singer-songwriter delighted his fans in Edmonton City on February 16, his first stop upon his comeback.

The tour went on to the cities of Calgary still in Alberta, Winnipeg in Manitoba, Saskatoon in Saskatchewan and finally in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The show also featured known Filipino Canadian singers Annie Lux, a student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and multi-gold medalist at the 2107 World Championships for Performing Arts, Thea Cruz.

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The “I Wear Speedos” tour heated the winter for the Filipino community in Canada.

Mikey has a photo with a young fan. INQUIRER/Jhong de la Cruz

“Canada is my home country,” said Bustos in an email interview with INQUIRER.net. Bustos said Canada was a natural choice as the kick off for the tour. The tour is eyeing U.S. as its next destination.

“We will see if plans for bringing it to U.S. will push through,” he said.

The tour was titled after Bustos’ famous parody in 2017 of Despacito which now has garnered 36 million views. The parody trended worldwide and was played by radio stations including the Elvis Duran Show in the U.S.

“Hands down amazing,” Bustos said of Filipinos’ reception of his tour in Canada.

“Every city was awesome, with tons of people all having a good time, each city with its own personality and welcoming spirit,” he added.

Mikey regaling audience. INQUIRER/Jhong de la Cruz

Bustos recalls a Canadian kid who showed up at his Calgary show wearing only speedos when it was -25 degrees outside. “He won!” he said of his most memorable moment of the tour.

Filipino heart

The show highlighted not only Bustos’ comedic and singing skills, but also his passion for showcasing the Philippines and Filipino culture.

His parodies tackle unique traits and traditions in such as courtship, male circumcision, balikbayan box, Filipino time, adobo and halu-halo, Philippine mythical creatures, among others.

Bustos has been living in Manila in the Philippines for six years. He has had his fair share of the local show business, which surprised him for favoring fairer-skinned artists.

Twelve-year-old Justin Nelson was excited to meet his idol in Edmonton City, Alberta. INQUIRER/Jhong de la Cruz

In 2015, his youtube channel bagged the best youtube channel at the WebTV Asia Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Justin Nelson, 12, came from Red Deer with his family to see Bustos at his Edmonton show. Nelson, whose mother is a Filipina, has been an avid fan of Mikey’s youtube videos.

“He is so amazing! I have always wanted to see him!” said Nelson who bought a CD of the artist and had Bustos’ autograph.

When asked about his future plans, Bustos responded: “Secret! Just know that I am constantly working on cool things to keep you entertained!” The singer encouraged his fans to follow his vlogging channel. www.youtube.com/mikeybustos vlogs.

Proceeds from the “I Wear Speedos” show will go to the Appledrive Project, a campaign that promotes healthy lifestyle among children in rural and urban communities in the Philippines.

Mikey Bustos, or Michael John Tumanguil Pestano Bustos in real-life, first appeared on television in the first season of “Canadian Idol” in 2003 where he was a finalist.