Viral impersonator Cristopher Diwata finds second wave of fame
“What hafen, Vella?” You’ve seen him. You’ve heard him. More than a decade after his 2013 impersonation of Twilight’s Jacob Black on It’s Showtime’s “Kalokalike” segment, Cristopher Diwata is once again taking the spotlight
The 35-year-old from Orion, Bataan became an online sensation after TikTok users unearthed his hilariously earnest delivery of lines like, “What hafen, Vella? Why you cryin’ again? I know, vampire, right?” The clip, which originally aired on It’s Showtime, quickly gained traction, with even celebrities like SB19’s Pablo joining the trend.
Diwata, who improvised the now-iconic monologue after a quick YouTube search, never expected the resurgence.
“I didn’t imagine that something I did back then would boom now,” he said in an interview with GMA News.
After his brief fame in 2013, Diwata left college to chase showbiz dreams but soon faced financial hardship. He recalled sleeping hungry in Manila and digging through trash for food. He later worked as a fish dealer but had to stop after falling into debt.
The meme’s comeback brought unexpected relief. Brand deals followed, including ad spots and social media partnerships that helped him pay off loans and support his wife and two children. He now earns from personalized video shoutouts and remains grateful.
“Even if it’s small, I’ll grab it. It’s better to have something than nothing,” Cristopher added.
While he dreams of pursuing acting, he said he’s just thankful for the second chance and plans to keep the laughs coming, one shoutout at a time.