TV Host Boy Abunda pursues teaching

Television host-talent manager Boy Abunda is bent on finishing the master's degree he's taking up at the Philippine Women University.

He's now in the process of doing research for his thesis. But the amiable TV host is also kept busy teaching Communication Arts students at PWU despite his busy schedule. On his first trimester, Kuya Boy (as he is fondly called in the showbiz circle) taught Radio and Television Principles and Practices. Now that he's on his second trimester, he's handling the subject introduction to Radio and Television.

Aside from The Buzz every Sunday, he's seen every night on SNN (Showbiz News Ngayon) with Bianca Gonzales as his new co-host. On Saturday nights, he hosts "Bottomline."

Kuya Boy says he's trying to make the most of his available time. Whenever he goes to school for his Masteral class, a part of his time for that day is allotted for his teaching load at PWU. If he gets enough time, he hopes he'd be through with his thesis by next month. He's looking forward to receiving his master's degree before the year ends and he is setting his sights on getting his doctorate next year.

His thesis has something to do with the entertainment industry but he says he's not supposed to reveal it.

Kuya Boy says he enjoys teaching so much. "Whenever I go to school, I seem to have this feeling that I am tired but once I face my students, I seem to come alive," he said when we got to talk to him at the studio of SNN last week. "It's like when I am doing a show, I seem to be listless before facing the camera. But once I'm on the air, I am ready to project and do my thing."

"I enjoy it because it gives me a different feeling. But I tell my students that I don't know everything and I am here to learn with them. I listen to my students.. So nakikinig ako sa mga estudyante ko. Gusto ko yung mga estudyante na nakikipagdebate. May mga discoveries din sila na hindi ko alam. Pag courses na may kinalaman sa TV, ang sarap magturo. Marami kang matutunan," said Kuya Boy.

At first, he got this feeling that teaching is a stressful job but when he finally got the hang of it, he learned to enjoy it. He is amused when his students ask him to pose with them for photo opportunities.

"I have high expectations with my students because I don't come to my class unprepared. I don't come to class empty-handed. I'm not the type of teacher who'd wing it. I really come prepared. I even invite resource persons to my class to speak before my students. Or I invite them over to the SNN studio so they'd see how things go in an actual TV production. After that, I give my lecture," he relates.

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For the first time in its 36-year history, the MMFF will start a week before Christmas this year. Five new films by new producers will be selected and launched in a series of special, limited premiere night screenings from December 16-20 that will serve as a prelude to the MMFF.

The thrust of this joint initiative by the new MMDA under Chairman Francis Tolentino and the Philippine Independent Filmmakers Multi-purpose Cooperative (IFC) is two-fold: to welcome new producers to the industry and to provide a venue and a platform from which they can promote their works to a much wider local audience.

A jury of practitioners and film afficionados will select the lineup based not on a strict set of criteria but the following basic guiding principle: that the works offer something new and that they can, and want to, engage Filipino audiences.

The selected films will have two premiere night screenings in Metro Manila between December 16 and 20. Their promotional trailers will air in cinemas throughout the MMFF. Each film will also be honored with a special citation at the 2010 MMFF awards show.

Eligible to join are full-length feature films by independent Filipino producers, produced this year and never yet shown commercially or in festivals here and abroad.

Submit your film, together with your contact info, to the Philippine Independent Filmmakers Multi-purpose Cooperative (IFC) at the Lower Ground Floor of the Mowelfund Plaza, 66 Rosario Drive corner Ilang Ilang St., Cubao, Quezon City no later than October 24, 2010.  

Submissions will be accepted only in DVD format, three copies. A rough cut, sans final color grading, sound, and music, is acceptable.

Contact telephone number 387-02-97 or cellphone number 0922-808-9576 for inquiries.

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Balikbayan Josh Ocampo is a Filipino-Spanish looker who dreams of making a name in showbiz the old fashioned way. That is, through discipline, hard work, and focus.

Only two years since returning from the US where he stayed for six years, Josh has been making a good impression on people not only because of what they see in him, but more on what they sense in him. Many give Josh the second look the moment they see him, but it is when he opens his mouth that people are won over.

One of his passions is acting. While others enter showbiz for the fame or the money, Josh simply aims to please. He says he loves entertaining people and that applause is music to his ears.

"It's like being told, 'Good job, Josh," he says.

The 5'10" Capricorn won't stop at anything to achieve his dreams. These days, Josh is hard at work training his body; making it even buffer than it already is in preparation for the kind of roles he wants to get in the near future particularly in the drama and action genres. Aside from taking care of his looks, Josh has been undergoing singing and dance lessons.

He will not shrink from sexy and gay roles if these will hone him further into becoming a better actor. He is ready for intrigues that people might hurl at him-better yet, he resolves not to give them a reason to do so.

"I will only take on projects and do things that will make my lolo and lola proud," he says.

It was his grandparents who advised him to try out showbiz. Initially, Josh wanted to become a professional basketball player until they told him that he is better off trying his luck in showbiz as he possesses qualities that give him advantages over other aspirants (his looks, height, drive, natural talent in acting, build, the right age, et cetera).

Some of the actors that Josh admires are Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Zac Efron and Robert de Niro. Given the chance, he'd like to work with Cristine Reyes and Andi Eigenmann.

When not hard at work, Josh relaxes by playing computer and engaging in sports such as basketball, running, swimming, football and golf.

Josh is currently a 4th year student at St. Joseph's College. He has appeared on several TV shows and commercials.