I’m a Shy Filipino Magician with Stage Fright… What Could Go Wrong?

Caught in the act… of mentally preparing to be an extrovert for 18 minutes

I grew up in the ‘80s—an era of cassette tapes, Saturday morning cartoons, and trying to tape only the songs you liked off the radio without the DJ talking over the intro (spoiler: never worked). While other kids were rocking out to New Kids on the Block or breakdancing in parachute pants, I was the shy Filipino kid hiding behind a deck of cards.

I wasn’t the loudest. I wasn’t the class clown. Heck, I could barely raise my hand in class without turning red. My hands used to shake furiously anytime I even thought about performing a magic trick. From boyhood to young adulthood, I battled nerves so intense, you’d think I was trying to defuse a bomb every time I picked up a coin.

But then something clicked.

Not overnight. Not even over a month. It took time, trial, and about 1,000 shows in random living rooms, backyards, and birthday parties with screaming toddlers hopped up on Capri Suns. One piece of advice I received early on that changed everything (but took years to actually believe):

Perform as much as you can.

I remember thinking, “That’s it? No magic wand or ‘confidence pill’? Just do it more?”

Yep. That’s the secret sauce—and it’s slow cooking.

But eventually… it worked.

There was one more tip that became a game-changer:

Love your audience.

Not just “tolerate them while you get through your script.” I mean actually love them. Be intentional. Make eye contact. Listen. Connect.

Because magic, when done right, is not just about tricks—it’s about people.

Even now, I still get nervous before taking the stage. But the second I’m up there—it’s like a flip switches. I’m home.

I get to be me—the silly, corny, high-energy Filipino kid who grew up loving lumpia, ‘80s cartoons, and making people laugh.

Off stage? Still shy. Still quiet. Still the guy who might need a moment before jumping into a conversation.

But onstage? That’s my safe place. That’s where the magic lives.

Magic didn’t just help me find my voice. It became my voice.

It’s my superpower. My way to connect. To inspire. To bring joy in a world that desperately needs more of it.

So let me ask you…

What’s your superpower?

Maybe it’s making people laugh. Listening without judgment. Fixing things. Making the best lumpia. Whatever it is—own it. Share it. Don’t wait for perfect. Just start showing up.

Because you never know who needs your magic today.