DOES "Paghilom, Bing!" ring a bell? If you enjoy watching vlogs, you might have come across the tandem of Florencio Carlo Domingo, also known as Bambu, and Bing, who never fail to make people laugh with their funny and relatable content on social media.
Their journey began on April 2, 2023, when they uploaded their first vlog, simply vlogging their everyday conversations that often turned into humorous moments, without expecting much.
"Bing is a very curious boy. He would ask me so many random questions under the sun, that sometimes it would irritate me. It was a humorous scene, and one of my friends suggested that Bing and I start vlogging our daily regular conversations," Bambu shared.
Little did they know that such a simple start would lead to a successful journey. After all, every success comes from humble beginnings.
Bing is the son of Bambu's caretaker in their banana plantation in Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
"Bing's family has been working for us for three generations already, and they are part of the Ata IP community," he said.
He added, "I have always been in awe of their family because they are one of the happiest communities I can describe. Mubisita ko sa ilahang gamay na payag, ug pirminte gyud, whenever I visit them, I can feel their contentment and happiness. Dali lang sila makuntento, and that is a virtue that I've always admired."
As someone who still doesn't have a family of his own, Bambu shared how Bing has inspired him and how he now sees him as family. Despite the success they have achieved together, Bing remains humble.
“Wala gyud nagbag-o ang iyang demeanor sa balay. He still does his chores without being asked and grabe magpangga si Bing, maong dili pud siya lisod panggaon ug ituring na mura na pud nako’g anak,” Bambu expressed.
Driven by his desire to help Bing and his family break free from the cycle of poverty, Bambu has already taken Bing under his care, having been granted legal guardianship with the approval of Bing's family.
Through vlogging, they were able to provide for Bing and his family's daily needs. Before, Bing's family could only afford to buy groceries every Saturday and lived in a house without a room, with all seven siblings and their parents. Now, they can afford to buy a sack of rice and are in the process of renovating their home.
On the other hand, Bambu's battle with addiction is no secret. He struggled a lot with vices and vlogging became one of his ways out of addiction.
"Vlogging changed our life for the better and it also helped me a lot in my personal growth," Bambu emphasized.
Through vlogging, Bambu and Bing have made a community online that people can come to not only for entertainment, but also for support and inspiration. By staying true to people and showing their reality, they have made a family of over 2.1 million followers, not only from Davao but across the country.
"We are extremely grateful to all our followers because we know that we would not be here without them," Bambu ended.