Boy Abunda, Asia's King of Talk, relates his childhood and how, at an early age, he came to terms with being gay. He also opened up about his relationship with his long-time partner Bong Quintana.
The 58-year-old TV host was speaking with StarStudio magazine for its November 2013 issue, which features him on the cover.
Abunda revealed that at a young age, he already knew that he was gay despite having a father he described as "extremely macho."
"I also lived in a town that was extremely, extremely macho, including the women. Even Waray women are macho. Sabi nga nila, 'Bumangga ka na sa lalaking Waray, wag lang sa babae,'" he said.
Abunda spent his first seven years in Baruk, Eastern Samar, before moving to Borongan where he attended the now renamed, Eugenio Abunda Sr. Elementary School. Here, he admitted that he knew for sure that he was gay and driven by a child's innocence, wasn't afraid to show it.
"Grade 2, malinaw na... I was probably different but it was not something that made me sulk," he explained. "It was a fun childhood, nakikipaglaro ako sa mga lalaki ng karate, maya-maya I was curling the hair of my girl friends."
Abunda, however, said that he had one insecurity which he surmised was brought about by society's expectations.
"I played their games, but I didn't play basketball," he said, referring to his classmates in the seminary. "It was my biggest insecurity, kasi sa seminaryo at bayan, kapag hindi ka naglaro ng basketball, effeminate ka 'di ba? The stereotypes, maaga pa lang sa buhay ko, na-expose na ako doon."
Abunda also recounted being called names growing up.
"There was a street in my town, ang pangalan niya ay Royal, takot na takot ako na dumaan doon, kasi sinisigawan ka ng mga boses na 'do mo nakikita ng 'Bakla!' Or, 'Bayot, bayot!' Of course, I would pretend not to hear but I was afraid," he shared.
But Abunda said that the insults came sporadically because of his well-respected father and his confidence that he can stand up for himself.
"May dalawang dahilan, una, ang tatay ko iginagalang, pangalawa lalaban din ako kung ang kaharap ko, sasabihang akong, 'Bayot, bayot!"
Abunda, unlike in most cases, never felt the need to tell his parents or friends that he was gay.
"I never pretended to not be who I was, meaning I was not reprimanded because I was effeminate....I never came out to my mother or my father. They didn't sit me down, pull me aside and ask about my sexuality. Things just happened," he explained.
On Bong
In the interview, Abunda also talked about his 30-year relationship with long-time partner, Bong Quintana. Abunda revealed the difficulties, as well as the twists in their love story.
"Bong is just so loved by Nanay and by my family...It was more difficult sa side ni Bong because Papa was a proud police officer," he said. "The irony is that n'ung umpisa, I wouldn't go to Bong's house because I didn't want to put Bong in a predicament where he wouldn't know what to do kasi he was raised in an extremely macho, athletic family."
Abunda said that he decided to join Quintana's family for lunch one Sunday and it was there that he found out that "Papa," his partner's father, was his biggest fan.
"If my relationship with Papa at the start was very difficult, it turned out later to be the most beautiful relationship, as he turned out to be my biggest fan," he said.
When Abunda, known for his fearless line of questioning, was asked on the subject of sex, he responded, laughing, "Can I talk about it?"
"As a gay person, I take that seriously," he went on. "Wala talaga akong konsepto ng top or bottom. I should be honest kasi I ask questions, I should answer questions. I like the art of flirting, sa kiss masaya na ako, pero I don't go for top or bottom. I don't. I enjoy foreplay!"--Source: ABS-CBN News
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| Boy Abunda poses with partner Bong Quintana |
The 58-year-old TV host was speaking with StarStudio magazine for its November 2013 issue, which features him on the cover.
Abunda revealed that at a young age, he already knew that he was gay despite having a father he described as "extremely macho."
"I also lived in a town that was extremely, extremely macho, including the women. Even Waray women are macho. Sabi nga nila, 'Bumangga ka na sa lalaking Waray, wag lang sa babae,'" he said.
Abunda spent his first seven years in Baruk, Eastern Samar, before moving to Borongan where he attended the now renamed, Eugenio Abunda Sr. Elementary School. Here, he admitted that he knew for sure that he was gay and driven by a child's innocence, wasn't afraid to show it.
"Grade 2, malinaw na... I was probably different but it was not something that made me sulk," he explained. "It was a fun childhood, nakikipaglaro ako sa mga lalaki ng karate, maya-maya I was curling the hair of my girl friends."
Abunda, however, said that he had one insecurity which he surmised was brought about by society's expectations.
"I played their games, but I didn't play basketball," he said, referring to his classmates in the seminary. "It was my biggest insecurity, kasi sa seminaryo at bayan, kapag hindi ka naglaro ng basketball, effeminate ka 'di ba? The stereotypes, maaga pa lang sa buhay ko, na-expose na ako doon."
Abunda also recounted being called names growing up.
"There was a street in my town, ang pangalan niya ay Royal, takot na takot ako na dumaan doon, kasi sinisigawan ka ng mga boses na 'do mo nakikita ng 'Bakla!' Or, 'Bayot, bayot!' Of course, I would pretend not to hear but I was afraid," he shared.
But Abunda said that the insults came sporadically because of his well-respected father and his confidence that he can stand up for himself.
"May dalawang dahilan, una, ang tatay ko iginagalang, pangalawa lalaban din ako kung ang kaharap ko, sasabihang akong, 'Bayot, bayot!"
Abunda, unlike in most cases, never felt the need to tell his parents or friends that he was gay.
"I never pretended to not be who I was, meaning I was not reprimanded because I was effeminate....I never came out to my mother or my father. They didn't sit me down, pull me aside and ask about my sexuality. Things just happened," he explained.
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| Boy Abunda on the cover of StarStudio's November 2013 issue |
On Bong
In the interview, Abunda also talked about his 30-year relationship with long-time partner, Bong Quintana. Abunda revealed the difficulties, as well as the twists in their love story.
"Bong is just so loved by Nanay and by my family...It was more difficult sa side ni Bong because Papa was a proud police officer," he said. "The irony is that n'ung umpisa, I wouldn't go to Bong's house because I didn't want to put Bong in a predicament where he wouldn't know what to do kasi he was raised in an extremely macho, athletic family."
Abunda said that he decided to join Quintana's family for lunch one Sunday and it was there that he found out that "Papa," his partner's father, was his biggest fan.
"If my relationship with Papa at the start was very difficult, it turned out later to be the most beautiful relationship, as he turned out to be my biggest fan," he said.
When Abunda, known for his fearless line of questioning, was asked on the subject of sex, he responded, laughing, "Can I talk about it?"
"As a gay person, I take that seriously," he went on. "Wala talaga akong konsepto ng top or bottom. I should be honest kasi I ask questions, I should answer questions. I like the art of flirting, sa kiss masaya na ako, pero I don't go for top or bottom. I don't. I enjoy foreplay!"--Source: ABS-CBN News