Diego

This is Diego Llorico, a segment producer for one of the country's leading comedy shows, Bubble Gang. 

He is better known, however, as Diego, a gay social outcast who is, literally, the butt of jokes. He is often depicted as ugly yet ignorant of this fact (though his skin is relatively flawless compared to people suffering from acne). He is the character whose job is to accept the harsh, homophobic, and sexist jokes of the show.

It is fascinating how such a character was conceptualized and how Diego managed to endure well into the show's second decade on television. Perhaps, a study ought to be conducted on how the country's collective psyche has spawned such a character and how Diego has influenced society as well. 

For all of Diego's misplaced confidence in himself and his beauty, he is portrayed oftentimes as the victim, a beacon attracting harassment and discrimination from those around him. For all the contempt that is showered on him, he takes it in stride. There's no redemption for Diego as the camera rolls again for another scene. 

It is equally fascinating how the show's producers have made us laugh while watching Diego get bullied. It is probably because we cannot empathize easily with Diego, a homosexual with a "homely" face. As earlier mentioned, he is an outcast, deliberately left outside of our circles, one who we cannot identify with, let alone defend.

Then again, perhaps we'll grow old and see Diego for what he really is. Maybe then, the jokes won't be as funny anymore as we begin to be more critical. By then, we'll be left admitting that the joke was really on us.