Boy is not as crazy but remains hungry

As “timeless” as some artists describe themselves, King of Talk Boy Abunda perfectly deserves that adjective. No elaboration needed.

But after an illness that grounded him at the hospital for 16 days two years ago, Boy conceded that he has started to watch his “timetable” and thanks to his TechnoMarine (the latest model, Cruise Medusa) for reminding him that, “Hey, Boy! It’s time to slow down.”

It was the first time that Boy publicly admitted that he was sick.

“I realized that I am not invincible,” confessed Boy. “Before (my hospitalization), go lang ako nang go, sige lang ako nang sige. Thanks to my illness that made me aware of my mortality, I now know how to stop. I have cut down on my work load. I have to be healthy so that I can take good care of Nanay.”

Besides his weekend show Bottomline and his daily late-night showbiz show Tonight with Boy Abunda, both on ABS-CBN, Boy has limited himself to hosting choice events. But he’s still visible as product endorser for several products (Puregold, etc.), with the newly-opened Goodah (on Timog Avenue, Quezon City) as the latest.

“I am not as crazy but I remain hungry,” explained Boy who relies on his TechnoMarine to remind him that it’s time to sleep and to relax (all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, remember?). During this interview, Boy was wearing his Medusa Techno Marine (worth P100,000 more or less), his favorite among his collection.

“TechnoMarine feels like second skin to me,” said Boy. “I wear it all the time, even when I go to bed. I love this one because it fits any kind of outfit” (he was wearing a loose sweatshirt over denim pants, you know, the kind torn here and there). “TechnoMarine also fits me because I am a sea person. I grew up in Borongan City, Western Samar, which is facing the Pacific Ocean.”

Let’s hear it from the ‘beauty’ front

A. 3 Binibinis ready, willing and able

• 2016 Bb. Pilipinas (from left) Kylie Verzosa, Jennifer Ruth Hammond and Nicole Cordoves will all compete in their respective pageant assignments this month.

• Kylie is leaving today for the 56th Miss International pageant in Tokyo, with 64 contestants at the finals on Oct. 25 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. Reigning Miss International is Edymar Martinez of Venezuela.

• Jennifer left last Monday, Oct. 3, for the 45th Miss Intercontinental pageant set for Oct. 15 at the Stein Studios in Ratmanala, Sri Lanka, with 66 delegates. Russia’s Valentina Rasulová was last year’s winner.

• Nicole is also leaving today for the 4th Miss Grand International pageant in Las Vegas on Oct. 27 at the Westgate Resort & Casino, with 87 aspirants. Australia’s Claire Elizabeth Pearl Parker is 2015 titleholder. — Celso de Guzman Caparas

B. Will Albayana bring home 2nd Miss World crown?

The country is pinning its hope on newly-crowned Miss World Philippines Catriona Gray to bring home our second Miss World crown, after Megan Young did in 2013.

The best friend and provincemate of 2014 title-holder Valerie Weigmann (Daraga, Albay), Catriona (Oas, Albay) is the daughter of Normita Ragas Magnayon and Ian Gray (from Perth, Western Australia).

Catriona, who belongs to the Aces & Queens group, was at 5’10” the tallest among the candidates. She won five of the six special awards, including Best in Swimsuit, Best in Long Gown and Miss Manila Hotel. She will compete for the Miss World crown in December in Washington, D.C.

Two other candidates of Aces & Queens ended up as runners-up: Arienne Louise Calingo, a Georgetown University scholar was First Princess while Miss Photogenic Sandra Lemonon (who speaks six languages) was Fourth Princess.  — Gerry Diaz

C. Once a ‘she,’ now a ‘he’ is 2016 Mr. Gay World Phl

Four years ago, “she” was one of Manila’s Five Prettiest 40 hopefuls and won Miss Amity and Miss Ladlad special awards in the second annual gay search.

And now a “he,” John Raspado (center, with John Bench Ortiz, right, first runner-up; and Christian Khalil Vera Cruz, second runner-up) is 2016 Mr. Gay World Philippines who beat 34 openly gay aspirants for the right to represent the country in the 2017 Mr. Gay World early next year (venue to be advised). Raspado won special awards for Darling of the Press, Best in National Costume (designed by Patric Starr), Mr. Popularity, Best in Talent, Photographer’s Choice Award, Best in Formal Wear, Mr. Gay Body Beautiful, Mr. New Placenta, Mr. Gay Fairy White and Mr. Gay Hairegen.

An entrepreneur engaged in online marketing and was the first grand winner of ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime’s I Am Pogay in 2014, Raspado succeeded 2015 Mr. Gay World Philippines Christian Laxamana, his first runner-up in I am Pogay. — Celso de Guzman Caparas

D. Phl bet Jeslyn Santos is 2016 Miss United Continents

Jeslyn David Santos, who hails from Hagonoy, Bulacan, was crowned 2016 Miss United Continents by last year’s winner Nathalia Lago of Brazil, besting 27 other delegates at the Palacio de Cristal in Ecuador on Sept. 24. She is the first Filipino and Asian to win the crown of the four-year-old pageant.

The youngest of four children of Jesus Santos and the former Rosario David, Jeslyn is an AB Masscom (major in Broadcasting) from the Bulacan State University where she was Miss BSU in 2011, the same year she was Miss SCUAA Region 3. Other titles: 2013 Reyna ng Bulacan-World and 2015 Bb. Republika Filipina, and also competed at the 2014 and 2016 Bb. Pilipinas. Jeslyn was last year’s Philippine delegate to the inaugural Miss World Peace pageant in Hong Kong where she was one of the Top 10 finalists and was named Best in Evening Gown. — Celso de Guzman Caparas

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