Besh, a 19-year-old student in Davao city, has more than 200,000 followers on Facebook.
His memes—Internet micro-content, usually an image with witty text or short video—have made him an online celebrity especially among followers of Bisdak humor.
The path to cyberfame for Megan Dale Son Romero, Besh’s real name, started at home when he uploaded a collage of profile photos of girls in various moods.
“It all started last semestral break. When I checked my newsfeed, I had this Facebook friend who changed her profile photo thrice a week. I was so bored and decided to upload the photos,” Romero told Cebu Daily News.
Some Facebook friends sent him messages asking for another collage. He followed up with profile photos of boys.
It’s been a viral adventure for Besh since then as he uploads amusing “selfies”, photos , messages and his own takes on life.
As a member of mugstoria.com, he flew to Cebu last Monday to join team members in the CDN-sponsored forum “Show and Tell: Out There is Micro Content, Memes and Millennials” at the Marcelo B. Fernan Press Center, the first forum opening of the Cebu Press Freedom Week.
The Freeman’s Jessa Agua, CDN’s Michelle Padayhag, and Sun.Star’s Justin Vestil, get a ‘groufie’ after Megan speaks at the forum: ‘Show and Tell: Out There is Micro Content, Memes, and Millenials. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
“At first it was really difficult to create (memes). It needed brainstorming but when you’re used to it, then the ideas come naturally,” Romero told CDN.
How do you make viral content?
“The audience should relate to your piece. Put emotions and life in your photos,” said the Psychology major from Holy Cross of Davao College.
Romero said he is also careful about uploading online content because he doesn’t want to offend anyone. But there will always be critics.
Asked at the forum how he responds to bashers, Romeo said, “I just delete them from the Facebook comments and sometimes block them. Let’s spread good vibes.”
Being recognized in public still takes getting used to, says Romero, who’s quite shy with strangers.
“Some people call out to me. I just smile back at them and say ‘hi.’ I was surprised when some would ask me to sign a baby powder container, a handkerchief and even cell phone cases,” he said.
“I am thankful to my parents because they support me in what I do. They keep telling me that it is fine as long as I focus on my studies, which I am doing,” he said.
Romero has visited Cebu twice to cook up creative projects with other mugstoria.com members and founder Jonji Gonzales. He said he’s been to the Cebu Zoo, Ayala Center and Pizza Republic.
“I hope I could explore more places in Cebu,” he said.