Ernesto Pimentel celebrates 30 years of his beloved character: “La Chola Chabuca saved me. “She is a hero”

Chabuca’s first appearance on TV was in 1994, in “Buenos Días Perú”. Pimentel Yesquén says that the then journalistic director, Miguel Ángel Calderón, after seeing his stand-up in a space called La casa de cardboard, in Barranco, offered him a sequence on the morning news program of Panamericana TV.

“When I finished my routine, Calderón approached me along with the presenters Roxana Canedo and Ángel Tacchino to ask me who wrote the scripts for me. I told them that I. So, he offered me a space, but since there was no budget, I was only a guest, then I continued waiting for the opportunity. Finally, they called me from Gisela’s program. Then came ‘Sinvergüenza’. She played several characters, but La Chola had the most impact”recalls the national artist.

The fun character did not go unnoticed. He quickly captured the attention of the public and producers, such as Guillermo Guille, who gave him a segment on the iconic comedy program “Risas y salsa.” One of the most tuned broadcasts of that space was the day in which Eusebio ‘Chato’ Grados and Chola Chabuca sealed their television love in style with luxury guests, such as the former soccer player Héctor Chumpitaz, the composer Augusto Polo Campos, the singer Creole Pepe Vásquez, among others.

“When I heard Guille tell the manager of Panamericana TV that he wanted to hire me, I couldn’t believe it. That’s how I started with ‘Aló Chabuca’, a kind of Susana Jiménez with Gisela Valcárcel. My first guest was Roberto Blades, who is my friend to this day. We have traveled the world together. Thanks to our friendship I met Gloria Estefan and other great stars. And Chabuca never stopped. He continued with ‘Chola de Wednesday’, ‘Más chola que siempre’, ‘Hola, Chola’, ‘Más Chola Latina’, ‘Recargados de Chola’… And thanks to the generosity of the public, in ‘El Reventonazo de la Chola’ (América TV) has been there for about eleven years,” he agrees.

Ernesto avoids giving details of Chabuca’s birth, as he assures that he will tell the details of it in his biographical film, which will be released in April of this year. However, he clarifies that he did not create a character. What he did, he explains, was give life to something that impacted him.

“I gave it a meaningful voice. Behind the costumes there is the fact that they never laugh at Chola Chabuca, but with her. I think that if she had really been a chola or a woman, she would not have had a space. 30 years ago saying ‘chola’ was an insult, but for me it was always a source of pride. That’s why my company is called Cholo Éxito. My success story is sustained by the creativity and generosity of the public, who were with me knowing the lining, seeing my torn pants, because they knew that my intentions were always good.”, he highlights.

Behind the imposing skirts of the Chola Chabuca there are years of stories, hundreds of applause, thousands of laughter, theaters and circus tents toured. Ernesto assures that it is the best version of him: the best and funniest side of him.

“He is someone who saved me from sadness. He brought me out of my grief. He helped me not to give up in difficult moments, when I faced health problems, my hip, etc. She is a heroine. She has her own way of solving things. I feel that she shows the best of me: my best abilities, feelings, and my total admiration for the woman of the Ande. He is not my alter ego. What we have is a creative coexistence. It’s like the work and the author, both have things to say”, he clarifies.

Their imposing costumes, inspired by the women of the Andes, initially did not have the glamor that they boast today. She bought her first skirt used and she got her shoes at a recycled products stand in Dos de Mayo.

“I adapted my first blouse from other clothes. My first belt was elastic, and my wig was a braid from another wig, in two different colors. He wore a hat so it wouldn’t be noticeable. And I achieved everything with great effort,” she says.

How many changing rooms do you have? Which is the most expensive? Throughout these 3 decades Ernesto accumulated hundreds of suits, which he preserves in a special environment in his home in Santiago de Surco. He lost the exact figure, but calmly – he maintains – they reached four digits. The one with the highest value exceeds 10 thousand soles.

“I design my costumes. When I went to Moquegua, I discovered that the clothes were incredibly beautiful, and I found out who the embroiderer was. I did the same in Cuzco, in Puno. I sent myself to make fabrics. I also work with designers. At one time, I worked with Aquilino Flores and Julio Cajas. In every place I found something that motivates me. Toño Márquez made my wedding dress and will help me make the dress for this February 14th. Dávid Dávila, professor at the Center for Higher Fashion Studies, also helps me with color interpretation. Likewise, Beto Pinedo, designer who made Janick Maceta’s typical costume. And I want to design my own jewelry because I can’t find the size or model that conveys everything I want to say. The same thing happens with shoes.”, he details.

The Chola Chabuca evolved over time. He turned more toward music than humor. “Although I look for humor, I look for it in a way that we all win, that does not appeal to spaces that we already know, but rather to play with yourself or with your colleagues”Ernesto clarifies.

And he is proud to promote the careers of artists from his platform, such as that of the winner of a silver seagull in Viña del Mar, Milena Warthon, whom – he points out – he had on his program, long before the singer appeared on “The Voice Peru”. Something similar happened with Lita Pezo.

New projects

As Chola Chabuca celebrates three decades, Ernesto hopes to return to stand up comedy, make music, write songs and sing. He wants to continue “building his story.”

“I’m composing. I got together with other people who are helping me. I’m in singing classes, going to the gym and nutritionist, losing weight. I don’t want to stay in what I was. I just sang with Mrs. Amanda Portales. I recorded with Marisol and Azucena Calvay. I’m going to release a new album. Why am I exposing myself? Because I am certain that I am making a proposal that I like. I’m not getting into a car that I don’t know, I’m not getting into a van that I don’t know where it’s going. I made a complete album with Armonía 10, which is still playing on Spotify. I also made a song with Rossy War (‘Forgive me my mistake’) that I want to record again.”, he comments enthusiastically. “I feel like a child,” he agrees.

Ernesto Pimentel will celebrate the 30 years of Chola Chabuca, with a show in the Exhibition Park, with national and international artists who are a fundamental part of its success story.

“I will remember the technocumbia. If God allows me I will have to Rossy War, Ruth Karina and Ada Chura. I spoke with some personalities who were part of my story. From an Olga Tañón to a Segundo Rosero. I don’t know how they are going to participate, but I would like them to be part of these 30 years. My friends from television will also accompany me. Maricarmen Marín will be there with her ‘Super Ada’, someone from ‘Luz de Luna. It could be the León of cumbia (André Silva), from ‘Al Fondo Hay Sitio’ and many others. It will be a quality show that those who go will not forget. I will have five wardrobe changes. Dressed as a bride, I will relive the wedding with the ‘Chato’ Grados. Everyone who buys their ticket has to enter their information authorizing being part of my film, which premieres in April, because some shots will be used“, he clarifies after remembering the close friendship he had with Pedro Suárez Vértiz, whom he hopes to honor with a show of the Cirque du Soleil recreates its iconic songs, as happened with “Seventh day”, in which tribute was paid to Soda Stereo.

“He adored and admired Pedro. We work together for a telephone brand. We toured Peru making presentations. We have had discussions about very funny and simple things. He was always a mischievous boy with an easy smile.”.

The 53-year-old artist’s main goal in life is to be happy, and he works on it every day. “And nothing gives me more joy than putting on these skirts, putting makeup on my face and leaving my heart and my desire to make people laugh exposed and naked. I want to do many things. I do not wanna lose my time. And this has nothing to do with death, but the day it comes I want it to catch me working, being happy,” she emphasizes.