After vlogging for more than 16 years now, Cong TV (real name Lincoln Velasquez) has grown as a content creator to become one of the most popular YouTube channels in the country. The 33 year-old is now known not just as an vlogger, but also as a businessman, brand ambassador, and social media influencer. During the Mega Prime Foods’ 50 Mega Years anniversary event, Cong TV shared some words of advice for those who aspire to have a career in vlogging as successful as his.
“Anong tips na pwede ko ibigay sa panahon ngayon, medyo cliché na pero siguro, just be you. Kailangan mo mag-evolve. Iba na yung audience ko ngayon compared sa 2015. Marami na ring may pamilya, so bilang tatay, kailangan ko rin mag-evolve sa mga bagay na ’yon, habang iniingatan pa rin yung essence ni Cong TV—yung fun sa loob,” he told PUSH ABs-CBN in an exclusive interview.
Unlike other content creators who eventually crossed over to showbiz, Cong TV admitted he is reluctant to join the industry despite getting offers.“Mahiyain po ako. ’Yun lang. Wala pong kahit na ano—nahihiya lang po talaga ako,” he admitted.
When asked if he would be open to his children joining showbiz, Cong said, “Bahala po siya. Kung ano yung gusto nilang gawin sa buhay, okay lang po sa’kin. Pero as of now, wala po sa isip namin ’yan. Magti-three years old pa lang si Kidlat, so ang priority namin ay makapagsimula na siyang mag-school.”
As a hands-on father to his two young kids Kidlat and Tokyo Athena, Cong admitted he would like to have more children in the future. “Hindi kasi caesarian si Viy. Gusto ko sana, ano eh, mga sampu sana kaso hindi puwede—may limit lang kasi caesarian,” he shared.
Cong said he and his wife are open to exposing their kids on their daily vlogs because it is also a kind of souvenir from childhood for them as well.
“Lumalabas naman sila from time to time—especially kay Viy. Si Viy kasi mahilig talaga—parang diary niya yung vlog. Kasi di ba tayo nung mga bata tayo, ’di ba, wini-wish natin meron tayong gano’n—yung may video tayo nung bata tayo para alam natin anong klaseng bata tayo noon. So, ngayon si Kidlat, irerecord namin pag gusto niya. Especially ako—marami akong nakatago for keeps lang. Hindi ko pinopost. Para sa kanya talaga. Para someday, mapapanood niya,” he explained.
When just at home, the Mega Sardines endorser said he plays the role of the bad cop when it comes to parenting their eldest child Kidlat.
“Ako yung bad cop, ako lagi yung masama. Sa’kin laging galit si Kidlat kasi ako yung sumusuway sa kanya. Yung nanay niya naman yung taga-'yes-yes'—parang sa lahat 'yes,' ako 'no-no.' For example, sa mga gamot—kasi yung mga bata, mahirap painumin ng gamot. So ako yung nagsasabi ng, 'Ano ba, gusto mo pa bang pumunta sa doctor o iinumin mo ’yan dito? Iinjectionan ka pa.' Tapos yung nanay niya naman: 'Hindi, hindi yan...' Iinumin na niya yung gamot. ’Yun yung dynamic naming good cop–bad cop. Gumagana naman siya,” he said.