Boy to speak before his graduating class

MANILA, Philippines - Only a few, if any, manage to march with his graduating class and stand before them as commencement speaker. Boy Abunda is one of them. Today, he’ll not only receive a doctoral degree for Social Development from the Philippine Women’s University. He’ll also go on stage to give his new colleagues words of inspiration as their commencement speaker. 

Boy is mum about how his speech will go, but he’s sure it will be different from the many inspirational talks he’s done before.

“I’ve done a lot of graduation speeches, and most of the time, the audience doesn’t even recall who their commencement speaker was,” notes Boy at the presscon of dietary supplement Tocoma (Total Colon Management), which he’s endorsing.

All Boy knows is that what he — and his co-graduates did — is hard work. They burned the proverbial midnight oil for a three-day comprehensive exam. Boy buried himself in books and did tons of research in-between his late-night show (Tonight with Boy Abunda), meetings and other activities.

Fellow graduates finished their doctoral studies in six months to a year. It took Boy two-and-a-half years to do so.

“I was working. I wasn’t a full-time student,” he explains.

But he wanted that diploma oh so badly. Boy had long dreamed of handing it over to his mother, Nanay Lesing.

“I value academic education. I really wanted to learn. Hindi ako nakakuha ng diploma nung ako’y nagkolehiyo.”

Boy longed to present a college diploma his mom can display in their home back in Borongan, Samar. But he couldn’t, because his dad passed away while he was in college at the Ateneo de Manila.

His doctoral degree is his way of making it up to them. 

“I admit I studied for Nanay and Tatay. And I’m happy. It’s worth every single moment.”

That happiness is hard-earned. Even for someone like him, who didn’t have it easy growing up, and fought — and survived — an illness that sent him to the hospital two years ago, the five-hour dissertation defense was daunting.

“I didn’t know when it will be over,” he grimaces.

His new degree is also Boy’s way of proving that nothing — least of all a heavy workload — is impossible for someone eager to learn.

“It’s not about being called a ‘doctor.’ It’s an academic achievement, a proof that you can do it even if you’re busy with work.”

Work is also no reason for Boy to neglect his health. He knows the agony of being trapped on a hospital bed, no thanks to liver abscess. The workaholic wanted to get going, but his weak body stopped him.

Nowadays, Boy is extra careful about everything he takes, including food supplements. That’s why he’s proud he discovered Tocoma and how this mix of fruits and vegetables cleans the colon.

Now, he can make more dreams come true, not only for himself, but for others. If his schedule permits, Boy doesn’t mind teaching again. He and his Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) staff continue to cheer up mothers in depressed areas. They’re also coming up with something dear to them: A cookbook.

“We’re only a small organization, but our advocacy is constant. We want to remind our kababayan that for us to have a better country, we have to make our nanay proud,” he points out.

Yes, this loving son will always make his Nanay proud.