Around GMA

BSP summons financial institutions over transfer fee rules
2 die after fuel tanker hits food cart in NegOcc town
Mga bagets, saya at kurot ang na-experience sa rolling perya | Barangay Love Stories

Article Inside Page

Showbiz News

Through the "Buwayaserye" painting series, Boy Abunda is turning a controversial chapter in Philippine history into visual art while helping launch the career of his former scholar, Julie Ann Baltar.

Known for changing lives through education, Boy Abunda is now extending his support to the arts by entrusting one of his own scholars, young visual artist Julie Ann Baltar, to bring his vision for the "Buwayaserye" painting series to life.

Inspired by the country's controversial flood-control anomalies, the project serves as both a work of social commentary and a creative collaboration. At the same time, it provides the newly graduated Fine Arts summa cum laude with a meaningful opportunity to begin her professional career as a visual artist.

"Since, ako yung Fine Arts scholar ni Sir Boy, ako yung kinausap niya kasi nagkaroon siya ng idea na gusto niyang gawan ng artwork ang flood-control na very controversial at sobrang laking isyu para sa bansa natin,” Julie Ann shared with GMANetwork.com and other select entertainment media during an intimate interview recently/

According to the 22-year-old artist, the paintings were born from a continuous exchange of ideas between her and the King of Talk.

"Ang galawan po namin ni Sir Boy, magbibigay siya ng concept, then ibi-visualize ko. Gagawa ako ng sketches ng mga concept ni Sir Boy,” she explained.

Their discussions began at the height of the 2025 flood-control controversy. So far, Julie Ann has completed three large-scale paintings for the "Buwayaserye" collection.

She revealed that each piece took about one and a half months to finish.

“Per concept, ilang weeks din siya ginagawa, e. Kasi, busy si Tito Boy, at ako rin po, hindi agad-agad papasok sa isip ko yung gagawin ko. Kailangang pag-iisipan ko siya, seryoso, hanggang mabuo siya. 'Tapos, saka ko siya gagawin.”

Photo by: Nherz Almo

For Boy, the series is more than an art project—it is his way of preserving a significant moment in the country's history.

“This is my little contribution for the future generation so that we may not forget. Whatever your memory is, this happened. Sabi ko sa kanya, 'Bahala ka na.'”

Beyond documenting an important social issue, Boy also hopes the project will introduce Julie Ann to a wider audience. He is already planning an exhibition featuring the young artist's "Buwayaserye" paintings.

“I told her na hindi dahil naka-graduate ka na, gusto kong makatulong kung ano ang susunod. At least, mag-take off ka. What's next? Sabi ko, let's do an exhibit. Do I intend to sell? Ngayon ang sagot, hindi. Parang ayoko, parang archival.

“Imagine the value of these paintings 20 years from now. Yun lang ang gusto ko, para mapag-usapan ng mga bata, 'Bakit sila may ganun?' Nangyari lang na political, pero I think importante rin na may visual art, di ba? To provoke conversations, regardless of what we think, may pinag-uusapan tayo.”

He added, “These are the kinds of work na pagdating ng certain time, 'Oo, naaalala ko.' At saka, you have your memories that are evoked by that painting.”

Following the completion of the three large paintings, Boy is already conceptualizing six smaller works that will also be part of the "Buwayaserye" collection.

Photo by Nherz Almo

Giving hope through education

Julie Ann is among the many students Boy Abunda has supported through scholarships at Philippine Women's University. His scholars also include young actors Aljon Mendoza and Kaori Oinuma.

The visual artist admitted that she almost gave up on her education because of financial hardship before Boy stepped in to help.

Although both of her parents are employed, she said their income was barely enough to support the family's daily needs.

“Yung work po nina mama at papa, hindi ganun kalaki ang suweldo. Yung mother ko po, cook sa canteen sa isang school sa Cavite. Yung papa ko po, tricycle driver,” she shared.

"May time na hindi ko na kinaya na ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral ko because of financial problems po. Wala po kasing sapat na pera para sa allowance ko. Saka mahirap po na mag-aral na every week, nag-o-overthink ako, 'Hala saan kukuha sina Mama ng pera?'"

She recalled reaching her breaking point during her second year in college.

“Noong second year po ako, talagang pasuko na ako noon. As in, sumisigaw na ako na umiiyak, 'Ayaw ko na!'

“Kaya sobrang blessing po ni Sir Boy kasi siya po ang nagbigay ng hope sa akin.”

With the help of one of her professors, Julie Ann was introduced to Boy and applied to become one of his scholars.

"Gumawa po ako ng letter para kay Sir Boy. Ginawan ko rin po siya ng artwork. Sila po ng mother niya,” she recalled.

"After ilang days, sinabi po niya na gagawin niya ako na scholar. Nag-continue po ako sa pag-aaral since malaking opportunity. Ang sagot po niya, yung allowance ko. Yung sa tuition po, academic scholar po ako ng PWU.”

As a gesture of gratitude, Julie Ann regularly gifts Boy with her artworks. One of them, titled "Pangarap sa Papel," is displayed in the home of the Fast Talk with Boy Abunda host.

“About po siya sa isang batang nangangarap. Kasi po, di ba, lumalaki na ang child labor dito sa Pilipinas. Parang naisip ko is deserve ng bata ang mangarap. Hindi hadlang ang magulang, kumbaga,” she explained.

Photo by: Nherz Almo

Paying it forward

During the interview, Boy was asked how many scholars he has supported through the years.

“Alam mo, hindi talaga kami sadyang nagbibilang,” he replied with a laugh.

“Kasi, mayroon kaming mga tinutulungan na pabugso-bugso lang. Halimbawa, mga walang pambayad, kailangan lang ng ganito.”

Boy said his desire to help students stems from his own experience of struggling financially while pursuing his education.

“Siguro bumabalik ka sa inseguridad, sa kahirapan, sa pinanggalingan mo na at one point you wanted to go back to school, but you could not afford it. Kasi, nakatapos ako ng kolehiyo nagba-Buzz na ako, e."

He was referring to his previous showbiz talk show, which he co-hosted for a long time with his friend, the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino.

He continued, "The end of that journey was my doctoral defense, which was my birthday ni Ate Guy [Nora Aunor], May 21, 2016. I defended my dissertation. Bumabalik ako doon sa karanasan na at a certain point gusto kong mag-aral pero wala naman akong pambayad.”

For Boy, few things bring him greater fulfillment than seeing his scholars earn their degrees.

“Proud na proud ako kasi ang tatalino ng mga scholars ko,” he said.

“This is really a different kind of pleasure kapag nakakapagpaaral ako.”

In return, he asks only one thing from every scholar he supports: to help someone else someday.

“Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila, 'Bayad ka lang sa akin kapag nakapagpaaral ka ng isa at nakapagtapos.' Para ang cycle ay hindi natatapos, di ba, tuluy-tuloy lang,” he concluded.

Related gallery: Celebrities and their beautiful artworks