Boy Abunda on EJ Obiena, Carlos Yulo, and Kris Aquino


At a glance

  • On Sunday, Sept. 29, Boy will feature world-class Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who also made the Philippines during the Paris Olympics.He is currently ranked as the world's third-best pole vaulter.


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Boy Abunda (center) with 'My Mother, My Story' creative head Ardee Delola (left), and executive producer Reylie Manalo

The country’s King of Talk Boy Abunda is up for another challenge to bring out some of the most touching, beautiful, and inspiring stories in his limited talk series, “My Mother, My Story," on GMA Network.

On Sunday, Sept. 29, Boy will feature world-class Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who also made the Philippines proud during the Paris Olympics. EJ is currently ranked as the world's third-best pole vaulter.

"Maganda ang aming pag-uusap because he guested muna on Fast Talk and then ang kasama niya ay lola niya, nanay niya, tita niya at kapatid niyang babae. Lahat babae," said Boy during an interview at Coffee Project in Quezon City last Tuesday. Boy was accompanied by My Mother, My Story executive producer na si Reylie Manalo and creative head Ardee Delola.

Boy added: "Napakaganda niyang kausap. He's a wonderful human being. Napakagaan kausap. We covered a lot, including his relationship with his mother. His parents were athletes. They met in a local competition. The younger sister is also an athlete. We talked about his relationship with his mother; he was fascinatingly honest."

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.

Boy 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 long ago, and we're putting it together para sa inyong lahat.”

Guest celebrities and viewers will gain insight into how their mothers have shaped them to be strong, independent, and loving.

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.”

"Mothers play a crucial role in their children’s lives from birth until they find their own path. A mother’s love should be celebrated every day, and this special event is here to honor them and their sacrifices."

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EJ Obiena (Facebook/Vogue)

Carlos Yulo

Boy revealed that his team has contacted Carlos for an interview on "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda," but Carlos has not confirmed his appearance.

Like the others, Boy said he doesn't know much about the controversy between Carlos and his family. When asked to react, Boy said he had limited knowledge about what happened in Caloy's family.

"Napakahirap kasi kulang ako sa detalye. What we know is what we read. May mga reaction tayo kasi nag umpisa sa post ng nanay, mabuhay ang Japan, sumagot ang anak, andun si Chloe sa likod, mga sagutan. 

"Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang totoo or hindi. Hanggang sa nagparada. So katulad ng marami, I want to know the truth. It's so hard to judge because my details are so limited.

"Sabi nila Boy is not interested because maka-nanay. Hindi naman. That's not fair. Makananay naman talaga ako at naniniwala naman ako pero napaka-personal na nun. Pero walang pwedeng gawin ang nanay ko na hindi ko mapapatawad. But I will not impose that to anyone. 

"Do I know the story of Carlos and the mom? I don't. Yung dynamics nila. Iba yung pag-uusap nila. I could only pray na sana ngayong maganda na ang buhay ninyo saba magkasundo na. At sana wag na tayong dumagdag sa ingay," Boy said.

Boy expressed his thoughts on why the public was interested in the drama surrounding Caloy.

"Emotional tayo. Ito ang napapanood natin sa teleserye. Ito ang kwento ng buhay natin. Relasyon natin sa ating ina. Ano ang ibig sabihin ng ina at anak sa atin. 

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Carlos Yulo (Associated Press)

"Ang ingredients ng kwento ni Carlo at ng kanyang ina lahat present doon. It's also the story of our country. That story is not copyrighted by Carlos and the mom. That's the story we all know. We all went through at one point in our lives. 

"I want to have an interview with all of them siguro when tempers are down. Maka-nanay ako and I won't correct that. Pero hindi ko naman masasabi na tama ang nanay sa lahat ng oras. 

"Yung detalye na alam nyo, yun rin ang detalye na alam ko. The details that I know are not enough to make me issue a judgment. Ang dami kong tanong. What triggered yung post ni nanay? Ano ang trigger ni Carlos sa pagsagot at nandun si Chloe sa likod? Ano yung nag udyok sa kanila na maging public at the time of their lives has so much become better? And then ibebenta yung bahay nila para ibigay yung pera kay Carlos. I don't even know if it's true. 

"I don't know them. We don't know them pero ang judgment natin is based on limited information. Sila ba yung tipo na nag-aaway and then after two months nagkabati? Gano ba kakilala ng mga magulang ang kanilang anak? Ang discomfort parang nanggagaling sa bilangan. It has also become an accounting problem which I believe is totally unfair," Boy answered.

But Boy said he had a chance conversation with Angelica Yulo, mother of Caloy, two weeks ago.

"I had the chance to talk to Caloy's mom by accident. I have a friend but she was with a friend tapos binigay sa akin ang telepono.

"Binati ko lang ng magandang hapon po. Siya naman magandang hapon Tito Boy, Sabi ko kamusta? Mag-ingat po kayo. End of story. So I had a one or two line conversation with her," the talk show host said.

Boy added: "I'm interested in doing separate interviews with Caloy and his mother. Kahit si Chloe (San Jose). Teleserye material eh."

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Kris Aquino (Instagram)

Kris Aquino

Boy claimed he is always in contact with Kris Aquino, who has just arrived in the country. He also said he would have an interview with Kris soon.

"Mag-uusap kami ni Kris one of these days. But we are in touch. I don't want to impose my relationship with Bimby (Aquino). A thin line separates doing a show and my relationship with Bimby because I am his guardian," said Boy when suggested Bimby could be a possible guest for an episode in "My Mother, My Story."

"Meron na kaming pang-anim and we're doing Alden Richards. He lost his mother when he was 15 or 16. That's interesting. How did it impact his story and his attitude toward his parents?

"Bimb would be lovely, but I am respectful of Kris' condition. To me, the priority is health. Hanggang text lang kami nag-uusap. Pero magkikita kami," Boy added.

“My Mother, My Story” airs on GMA Network at 2 p.m.