For subscribers
Letter from Manila
He’s been called ‘online beggar’, but TikTok creator goes live to support family after losing job
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Filipino content creator Efren Palines, known as Tatay Peng, performs his signature "Ice cream yummy" dance move.
ST PHOTO: MARA CEPEDA
Follow topic:
MANILA – If you come across 54-year-old Efren Palines on the street, you’d think he was your typical tough guy – tattooed biceps, a basketball cap worn backwards, and a face that has seen its share of hard times.
But put him in front of a phone camera, and you get Philippine TikTok’s most unlikely live-streaming star. His “Ice cream yummy” dance – where he sways his hips with his hands clasped behind his neck as he blurts out catchy phrases – has turned this macho man into a viral sensation.
