MANILA, Philippines - There was a lot of talk surrounding it, but today, Oct. 29, is Boy Abunda’s actual birthday. Nobody knows how old he really is, but during our one-on-one interview, which happened in the hallowed halls of the Bandila set, he candidly shared so much with us that we forgot about the age issue. If wisdom is the marker of age, then Boy Abunda, for me, is immortal.
An hour before they went on air, Boy was in a closed door meeting, one of several appointments he managed to pack within his day before he went on to deliver the newscast and get to the bottomline of things on whoever was the newsmaker of the moment. The other day, it was a back-to-back with David Foster and Charice. Today, it was Lauren Dyogi, the director of Pinoy Big Brother.
I stepped onto the set with our crew ready for action. Boy arrived in a brown suit paired with an Hermes tie. Dapper and distinguished, but with a very distinct warmth about him, Boy gave me a tight hug — a hug that was a mark of friendship, one that has spanned a few years and counting. You see, Boy was my first industry mentor. When I wanted to cross over to mainstream television, it was Boy who I contacted and met with. Even when times weren’t perfect, when I needed him for advice, moral support or just a shoulder to cry on, Boy was there for me, quietly.
So many people want to be the next Boy Abunda. “Nobody can be you, because nobody is like you. Each of us is beautiful in our own way,” he expounded on getting inspiration from people we look up to. Talking to Boy, each soundbyte is an inspiration sandwich. He quotes Maya Angelou, as he spews his own quotable quotes. “I am not afraid of any question. If I have the gall to ask people questions, then I have to be brave enough to answer anything that is thrown my way.”
Boy’s ‘Bandila’
That Boy Abunda wears a tie for his nightly Bandila newscast is a welcome change. He wore V neck sweaters for Home Boy, sported casual suits for SNN and continues to don avant-garde designer gear for The Buzz. In an industry that celebrates the random, Boy Abunda’s putting so much thought and 101% effort into anything he sinks his teeth into is something worth emulating. His staying power stems from his intelligence, willingness to share his wisdom with others, not to mention his compassion for people and his passion for his craft. Yes, I am a fan. That he calls me a friend as well is an immense honor.
It was a couple of years back when we last had our one-on-one with his Private Conversations show. He asked the toughest questions, but he asked it in a way that was probing, yet respectful, curious, but not nosy. He made you learn things as you went along. It was a two-way street. He knew how to listen. Again, in a world where it’s all about “Me, myself and I,” people like Boy are quite rare, one-of-a-kind. Ikaw na, birthday Boy!
I was in Escolta the other day revisiting Binondo with a couple of friends and we went to Savory Restaurant to recall the good ol’ days of my childhood, and there they were. The whole resto was attuned to Boy Abunda exchanging pleasantries with co-anchors Karen Davila, Ces Orena and Julius Babao. Some may argue about the show’s content, but I talked to Paul Henson of their news department and agreed to the conclusion that the news is changing right in front of us. And Boy Abunda is always in front of us.
What lies ahead? Well, we can count on Boy to tell us what it is, or he’ll probe deeper to give us the answers to today’s pressing question, with or without a tie.
From all of us here at Philippine STAR Supreme, a big, bald and bold happy birthday to you, my friend.
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(For an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at my one-on-one interview with the King of Talk, check out twitter.com/officialTIMYAP. Yes, I got my twitter back! Yahoo! Check out my new online show by clicking on my Twitter link.)