Not-so-private conversations

If there’s one personality who never ceases to amaze me, it’s Boy Abunda. He continues to excel as a talk show host, giving us high-caliber, in-depth interviews. Boy always does his home work, asks the right questions and has perfect rapport with his guests. He leaves no stone unturned by asking questions never before asked, and asks them in a tactful way. Boy’s entry into the world of TV has certainly raised the standards of showbiz talk shows.

Tonight, Boy Abunda marks another milestone, as he presents his list of this year’s 11 most interesting personalities in a two-hour special which will aired at 9:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Boy says: "This special means so much to me. It has been at the back of my mind for the longest time having been a rabid follower of the fabulous, fascinating interviews of Barbara Walters. I know she’s a tough act to follow, but what is life if you don’t at least try to do something only the brave and the reckless do?"

Here are excerpts from tonight’s 2001 Most Interesting Personalities with Boy Abunda. Let’s listen in, as Boy disarms celebrities with questions you’ve always wanted to ask.

RIO DIAZ

BOY: And for a while you lost your hair . . .

RIO: God has a wonderful sense of humor, you should see some of the cancer patients. Some of them lost (their hair) completely. They’ve straight hair before, now (it’s) kulot. Now (my hair) is even thicker. Thank you, Lord.

BOY: I know, isn’t it amazing?

RIO: You know, I’ve always wanted to use tonics to make my hair grow (thicker). I didn’t know it’s gonna be chemo . . .

ERNIE BARON

BOY: Ano po ang pinakamahirap na tanong na iti-nanong sa inyo?

ERNIE: Isa sa pinakamahirap na tanong na di ko masagot-sagot eh– ano ang telephone number ni Nora Aunor.

PIOLO PASCUAL

BOY: Piolo, when did you lose your virginity?

PIOLO: Ang bilis ha . . .

BOY: We’re talking about adventure.

PIOLO: Ang aga . . .Let me count . . . I was siguro 14 . . .

BOY: You were 14 . . .

PIOLO: Yeah.

VICTOR CORPUZ

BOY: You have (three) choices to be who you want to be. Tatlo lamang ang pagpipilian mo at bakit? Reincarnation po ito. Ping Lacson, Greg Honasan o si Erap?

VICTOR:Yan yata ang pinakamahirap na question.

MARTIN NIEVERA

MARTIN: You know, Gary and I had similar types ah . . .

BOY: Yes . . .

MARTIN: He and I courted the same girl . . . but I won.

BOY: You did? Who was the girl?

MARTIN: I married her.

SEN. RALPH RECTO

BOY: Tell me the first word that comes to your mind – Joker Arroyo.

RALPH: Idol ko.

BOY: Ping Lacson.

RALPH: Embattled.

BOY: Francis Pangilinan.

RALPH: Kaibigan.

BOY: Robert Jaworski.

RALPH: No comment.

GARY VALENCIANO

BOY: If you were married to Pops, would you have separated from her?

GARY: No.

BOY: Why?

GARY: Because I don’t think that’s an option. I would have fought for the marriage.

SEN. FRANCIS PANGILINAN

BOY: Tell me the first word that comes to your mind – Robert Jaworski.

FRANCIS: Pass.

AYEN MUNJI-LAUREL

BOY: Are you the first princess to have divorced a prince?

AYEN: I heard I am.

BOY: Talaga?

AYEN: They’re scared to do that.

BOY: Why weren’t you scared?

AYEN: Because I wanted to be happy.

EMILY ABRERA

BOY: When you became president of McCann, you could have stayed in Forbes.

EMILY: Oh yes, I could have.

BOY: Why didn’t you?

EMILY: It’s one of the things I have learned when I became president, that I had the power to make a change, to make a difference. And I thought, I didn’t want to put distance between myself and the rest of us. In fact, I keep trying to close the gap.

TESSA PRIETO-VALDEZ

TESSA: I go to mass in wigs. I go to funerals (wearing a) Santa hat. Somebody asked if I could be a ninang. I came wearing a wig and everything. So the priest goes, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen a true fairy godmother.’

BOY: Anong sabi mo sa priest?

TESSA: So I said, ‘Your wish is my command . . .’