King of Talk Boy Abunda has expressed regret over not discussing his sexuality with his mother, who passed away in 2019.

During a press conference for the GMA Network talk series "My Mother, My Story" at Azadore in Quezon City on May 7, Tito Boy wished he had shared with his mother, Licerna Abunda, whom he called Nanay Lesing, that he is a gay man. But his mom never asked if he was gay. Tito Boy believes his mother would have asked many questions.

"Hindi namin napapag-usapan ng nanay ko yung journey ko as a gay man. But I knew she knew it. She loved Bong like her own son.

"Meron lang siya na sinabi sa akin na alagaan si Bong. Light lang ang pagkasabi niya. Mag-alagaan kayo. She had more conversations with Bong. Nagtatawanan sila. May tiwala siya kay Bong kapag umuuwi kami ng Samar because Bong was a flight steward. Minsan nga nagseselos nga ako eh. 

"I would love to talk to Nanay about being gay. Gusto ko sanang ipaliwanag sa kanya kung bakit hindi kami pwedeng ikasal. Gusto ko rin ipaliwanag sa kanya kung bakit ganito na lang ang nangyari. 

"Ang dami kong kaalaman sa estado ng buhay ko ngayon na sana napag usapan namin," he added.

"I would share everything I knew. Naalala ko noon si Nanay in our disagreements like political, kapag alam ko na galit na siya, hindi na ako sumasagot. Kapag may emotions na ang nanay, I shut up.

"Nanay would have asked very difficult questions, like how I would reconcile my being gay with the Catholic Church. Paano nagsimula na pareho kaming lalaki. She would have asked the difficult ones. I would be glad to explain it to Nanay," Tito Boy said.

Nanay Lesing, 90, passed away on Dec. 1, 2019.

'My Mother, My Story'

Tito Boy has taken on a new challenge with his limited talk series "My Mother, My Story," which aims to showcase some of the most touching, beautiful, and inspiring stories.

Debuting on May 12, Mother's Day, Tito Boy's new program will tell the life stories of celebrities through the lens of their relationships with their mothers. The program will air on the second Sunday of every month until October 2024.

In the show's pilot episode, Tito Boy will have actor and host Luis Manzano as his guest. They will be reminiscing about the best moments of Luis and his mother, Ms. Vilma Santos, also known as the Star for All Seasons. However, beyond their laughter and closeness, they will also discuss how they solved life's puzzles together.

According to Tito Boy, “It’s very personal to me—the emotional and revealing conversations with celebrities tungkol sa kanilang mga relasyon sa kanilang ina.”

“Ibabahagi nila kung paano sila pinalaki ng kanilang magulang, paano itinaguyod, paano nasaktan, paano naging masaya sa buhay, paanong tinuruan magmahal at paanong hindi natuto magmahal. Pag-uusapan namin lahat ng mahahalagang karanasan na humubog sa kanilang pagkatao,” he explains.

The host guarantees that everyone can relate to their show and will learn a thing or two, “This is about us and our mothers. Makaka-relate tayo dahil lahat tayo ay anak. Proud kami sa proyektong ito. I had this concept a long time ago, and we're putting it together para sa inyong lahat.”

In this special, guest celebrities and viewers will understand how their mothers shaped their strong, independent, and loving personalities through various perspectives.

When asked about the same thing, Tito Boy shares that he learned to trust himself because of his mother. He says, “Hanggang ngayon ang lakas ng loob ko dahil sa nanay ko. Nung bata ako, tuwing sasali ako sa mga amateur singing or declamation contest, sinasabi ng nanay bago pa magsimula na ‘you are my winner.’ Paano naman ako matatalo eh para sa nanay ko ako ang panalo.”

From birth until children find their path, mothers play an essential role. A mother's love and sacrifices should be celebrated daily. This limited talk special is here to honor them.

“My Mother, My Story” is made possible under the supervision of GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Vice President for Business Development Department II Janine Piad-Nacar; Assistant Vice President for Business Development Department II Enri T. Calaycay; Senior Program Manager Cecille De Guzman; and Executive Producer Reylie Manalo.

Treat your mothers on their special day this May 12 by tuning in to the pilot episode of “My Mother, My Story” — under the helm of Rommel Gacho — at 3:15 p.m. on GMA Network.