Boy Abunda is hosting GMA Network’s newest limited series called “My Mother, My Story.” It is his brainchild from a concept he holds very close to his heart – an exalting ode to his late mother Lesing Abunda who's fond of endless conversations, and whom he loves more than anything and anyone in this world.
A VERY PERSONAL PROJECT
“It started with me. This is my concept that my “Fast Talk” family is also behind – lahat ito. This is very personal,” said Abuda during the show’s media conference.
When “My Mother, My Story" aired its pilot episode on Mother’s Day, May 12, Tito Boy had the chance to explore the motherhood of ‘Star for All Seasons’ Vilma Santos through the stories of her son, acclaimed actor Luis Manzano. This is but a glimpse of what the show has to offer, a concept borne out of Abunda’s personal experience being a loving son to a “funny, strong, and kind” Nanay Lesing.
Boy is an avid fan of his late mother, to say the least, and he has always been fervently vocal about it, in words and in deeds.
He has written two books in honor of her: “Nanay’s Gay Boy“ (2018) and “Make Your Nanay Proud” (2014); and used concepts embedded within a mother-child relationship when he did his postgraduate dissertation entitled “Transformative leadership using maternal love as a tool.”
His popular “and always make your nanay proud” catchphrase will forever be attached to a television legacy that’s distinctly Boy Abunda.
“My dissertation was on transformative leadership using maternal love as a tool, pero hindi ko ito binasa bago namin kinon-ceptualize ang story, pero andaming insights. I was browsing through it, I was like ‘ito yun, ito yung application nung pagmamahal na iyon.’ This is very personal,” said the 63-year-old talk show icon.
BOY’S BELOVED NANAY LESING
Boy admitted having adopted certain personality nuances and antics from his Nanay Lesing.
“Unang pumapasok sa isipan ko yung ang hilig ko sa toothpick pag kakain. Ang Nanay, pag kakain, automatic may toothpick. And I would catch myself, hindi pa nga kumakain pinaglalaruan ko na ang toothpick. That is Nanay right there,” shared Abunda.
During the media conference, the multi-awarded host also shared some anecdotes about his childhood, which he describes as simple but resilient that was largely anchored on Nanay’s strong personality, “Nanay was funny, she was strong, and just kind. Kahit gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan ni Nanay sa buhay, nakakahanap siya ng dahilan para maging masaya.”
The King of Talk’s knack for dialogues and conversations is also a hand-me-down, an innate talent he possibly inherited from his Nanay who was “fond of conversations.”
“She loved conversations. Ang Nanay – gusto nakikipag-usap, nakikipag-kwentuhan, nakikipag-tawanan, nakikipag-debate. Yun yung engagement ng Nanay,” he noted.
“Siguro nasa bahay lang kami, magluluto lang kami ng mga Waray na pagkain, minsan nagpapadala galing ng Borongan, Samar ng lechon. To nanay, ang selebrasyon ay kuwentuhan at pag-uusap,” said an emotional Boy Abunda when asked his mother’s way of celebrating the occasion.
“This is emanating from my core persona, which is one that is devoted to his mother – in life and in death.”
