The Bottomline: Boy Abunda is Boy Abunda

MANILA, Philippines - Whatever topic that needs to be discussed, expect Boy Abunda to talk kilometric without getting his listeners bored. He gives his opinions in a straightforward manner. His words are inspiring. His famous line, “Tara, usap tayo,” can easily persuade even the extremely secretive and cautious person to tell and bare all. But can Boy also answer directly every question thrown his way? How much of himself can he share to the public?

Turning the tables on the King of Talk is perhaps one Herculean task yet the production team behind ABS-CBN’s The Bottomline is determined to make it happen. Boy doesn’t disappoint. He agrees to take on the hot seat and be “grilled” by his celebrity guests. Among them are Jon Santos, Phil and James Younghusband, Rajo Laurel, Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo, Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, Camsur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, Ladlad’s Bemz Benedito, Boy So, Dr. Steve Marc Gan, Katrina Ponce Enrile, Nini Borja, Maritess Allen, Karen Davila, Mike Lopez, Xiao Chua and Bianca Lapuz.  

“Ang lakas ng loob ko mag-tanong kaya dapat malakas din ang loob ko sumagot sa mga tanong,” Boy says before taping starts for his two-part birthday special in The Bottomline. It will air in two parts (tonight and on Oct. 29).

Garbed in a formal suit paired with black sneakers, Boy seems ready to face the audience consisting of his students from the Philippine Women’s University and the Bottomliners by saying, “I’m ready anytime,” yet he can’t help but admit feeling jittery all over. “I’ll try to answer your questions pero pag di ko masagot sasabihin ko hindi ko kaya pasensya na po.”

In the birthday special, Boy deals with the most sensitive questions about love, career, family, politics and sex. His answers mirror his personality, intelligence and naughtiness.

Tonight’s episode will make your night extra hot when Boy talks “dirty” yet funny during the initial presentation of the show.

To give you an idea about tonight’s show and how the host beautifully survives a no-holds barred interview, here are some giveaways: Bottomliner Mike Lopez asks, “Since the title of the show is Bottomline, the question is, bottom or top?” Visibly amused, Boy responds, “Believe it or not, I just learned what top and bottom are a few years ago. My sexual pleasure is not dependent on being top or bottom. I am very simple, very conventional.”

Boy displays more naughtiness when he replies, “ah…that one,” when asked about his best body part. He prefers to be Lady Gaga if ever he becomes a woman. The audience shrieks and claps when he says that he is not changing his religion for the one he loves. “He should (laughs).”  

With the show’s production team

However, Boy turns serious on issues about his running for public office. With a straight face, the show host clears speculations that he is joining politics either in 2013 or 2016. “I’m the senior political adviser of Ladlad today, of the LGBT community. In the press conference (I said), syempre sa mundo ng pulitika lagi kang may pagdududa, bahagi ng diskurso ay pagdududa. Si Boy Abunda ay political adviser ng Ladlad dahil sya’y may ambisyon na maging nominado sa partylist. It was very difficult for me to say that I’m not interested so as part of my explanation sinabi ko, una, kung ako’y magiging nominee ng Ladlad Partylist, ‘wag nyo kami iboto in 2013. Pangalawa, kung ako ay magiging interesado tumakbo para sa isang elective post ako’y di pang kongreso. I am not cut for legislative work. Ang interes ko siguro kung papasukin ko ay executive. That’s when I said, ‘Kung ako’y tatakbo, ako’y tatakbo bilang gobernador ng Eastern Samar kung saan ako ay makakatulong.’ So dun nag-umpisa yun. I don’t close my doors. I rarely say ‘No’ to possibilities but (my answer) in 2013 (is) no. (For) 2016, I don’t know.”

He, too, shares how he handles negative criticisms to the extent of giving advice to Phil by saying, “Always remember two things: For as long as you are on the side of truth, you will survive anything. Second, do not allow anyone to steal your happiness.”

What makes Boy squirm is when he positively admits having kissed a woman when he was 18. “That was one of my biggest regrets because since I was born, I knew I was gay. I lost my virginity when I was 16 to another man.”

And if his life would be made into a movie, he’d like John Lloyd Cruz to portray him.

Having been successful in his career, is there anything more that Boy wishes to achieve?

“At this point in my life, my cup runneth over. There are things I’d like to have outside my bucket list but I’m not as crazy about achieving them as much as I would have 10 years ago. I’d like to be able to do an international show. I’d like to teach, to be able to finish my doctoral degree… but am I gonna die if I don’t achieve these dreams? No. For as long as my mom is well, I’m okay. I’m really okay.”

Discover more about Boy tonight as he wittily, intelligently and stirringly answers questions that reveal his true self. The Bottomline airs Saturday nights after Banana Split.