Talent manager-host Boy Abunda takes his role as National Arts Month ambassador to heart.
Boy Abunda (Photos by Faith Yangyang)
Taken to the task by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Boy told Bulletin Entertainment in an exclusive interview that he wants to encourage people to pay more attention to our culture and expose themselves to art as much as they can for our own good.
"I don't think we can move forward as aggressively as we should if we are not proud of our culture," he noted.
For him, culture is the design of our way of life embedded in our history so we should be proud of it.
"We want to reinforce our love for who we are. I don't think we can love anyone if we don't love who we are."
He is glad to be associated again with NCCA. Note that in 2011, Boy was named by the same organization as representative of the Philippine International Art Festival (PIAF).
Asked to define art, he said it is doing an extraordinary version of ordinary.
Projects
As manager, Boy looked after the career of Ariel Rivera, Eric Santos, Mariel Rodriguez, and Drew Arellano, to name a few.
He heads the Asian Artists Agency, Inc. (AAAI) which aims to develop and market Pinoybtalents Asia-wide.
What is X factor? And how does he spot it?
"Well, we are in the business where there is no formula," he said. "Wala talaga 'yung porket gwapo pwede ng mag artista. It's really a combination of many (things). Importante 'yung talent pero importante din 'yung intangible o tinatawag nating charisma, appeal. At itong mga bagay na 'to hindi naman nabibili."
Executives of NCCA with some of the performers
He shared that whenever he looks for talent, he is not always certain as "minsan tama ako, minsan hindi."
Boy recalled that when Piolo Pascual was still young, the singer-actor came to him for management and yet the manager said no.
"I was wrong. I mean hindi mo talaga masasabi kasi now he is one of the biggest stars in the industry," he said.
He does everything with love.
"I'm very passionate about showbiz business. I'm very passionate about my job as a host, as talent manager. I'm very passionate in my academics. I have my PhD in Social Development. I'm very passionate as child of my mother simply because I don't do anything halfheartedly," he revealed.
As a matter of fact, afte launching his series of original short films on his official Facebook fan page, Boy is once again set to share another collection of exclusive heartwarming LGBT stories. He commenced the project in the June last year, pride month.
His first three originals were "Lipstick," "Yellow Bell" and "Zumba." As of writing the short films already garnered 3.2, 1.9 and 2.5 million views, respectively.
This year, he is collaborating with Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte to produce three more films.
One is about young love, then a tale of a person who is in a relationship with HIV positive, and lastly unrequited love between a mentor and a young boy.
Joey Ayala
" Sa lahat ng pagmamahal pare-pareho 'yun. Itong mga short films na 'to is my advocacy that in the end, we are really all equal," he said.
Art month
As the nation celebrates NAM this month, he shared it will all about creativity and the arts.
NCCA Chairman and National Artist Virgilio S. Almario spearheads numerous events and activities to commemorate the seven arts with the theme “Ani ng Sining, Alab ng Sining (Harvest of the Arts, Flame of Art." It emphasizes the bounty of artistic endeavors in the Philippines and the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers.
Fourth Impact
The Subcommission on the Arts’s seven national committees — Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Dramatic Arts and Visual Arts — will each have flagship projects headlining NAM events that will transpire all over the country.
According toVirgilio they will offer a wide array of programs to show the diversity and richness of Filipino creative expressions.
He hopes a lot of young peope would participate "para mapakita ng kabataan ang kanilang talino at potential as member of the country."
Some of the talents who showed their support for the event were Fourth Impact, Joey Ayala, Ony Carcamo, Juan Miguel Severo, and Halili Cruz Dance Company, to name a few.