Boy Abunda on running for public office: ‘It's difficult to say never’

Aside from being a publicist, talent manager, endorser, and columnist, Boy Abunda is now also a book author with his book 'Make Your Nanay Proud” The 59-year-old said most of the inspiration for the book came from his experiences with his mother who is now going through a medical condition. “I was enlightened that the way of loving my mother was not the only way and being cognizant that there is a whole universe of loving each other somehow just lets you know that you are okay. That what you're doing is okay even if it is different. It is not the same language but you belong to a community of lovers,” he said.

The host of Aquino and Abunda Tonight also shared what he does to make his nanay proud. “My relationship with my nanay has come to a spiritual level now because of her state of dementia. There are times when I don't know if we are on the level of communication of understanding each other. But talking about making her prouder by expressing my love in a stronger manner. We pray together now. I am just amazed when she says the Our Father and the Hail Mary the way she used to do then. And when nanay five minutes later looked for her favorite Fox's candy, I gave it to her. I used to worry and say, 'Nanay, that's not good for your teeth.' Number three we went through the very difficult decision to go through stem cell here in the Philippines. We're talking about the adult stem cell procedure. There were many considerations. I prayed so hard. Ang ipinaglalaban ko naman ang ma-extend ang buhay ng nanay ko for the next five to ten years. I stay in my house most of the time now because even though I may not be in front of her, I want to hear her voice. She's starting to sing again and when she does, I go down and listen. Because I want my mother to know how appreciative I am. Some of the songs I don't understand but I know she sings from her heart. How do I make her prouder? I will be spending more time with her in the next few years,” he said.

Now that the roles have been reversed and he is the one in the nurturing position, Tito Boy said he has still not measured up to his mother's level. “Palagay ko mas mabuting ina pa rin ang nanay ko kaysa sa akin. Halimbawa linggo linggo nag-ba-budget ako ng para sa mga gamot niya. Araw-araw tinitingnan ko kung anong kakainin. Araw-araw tinitingnan ko kung may diapers. I worry about her din. I make sure that she has the best wheelchair in the world. Tinitingnan ko kung ano ang kanyang damit. Halimbawa kung nagpapaaraw, I make sure na meron siyang mga caregivers at mga nurses. Sinisiguro ko na siya'y inaalagaan ng mabuti, hindi lang ng mga experts kundi kami, I make sure that I am present. Hindi puwede magpa-consult ang nanay ko sa hospital without me lalo na pag merong dementia dahil ang mga nurses at caregivers naman hindi nila alam yung contexto at kuwento ni nany. Kaya when she starts talking about certain people minsan tumatawa yung mga nurses nung nag-uumpisa pa lang sila sa amin. Now I tell them kung sino si Nanay Rosa ito yun, totoong tao yun. You have to be there. You have to be present. Presence is very important. Dati akala ko pag naibili ko na si nanay ng damit, pag naibili ko na siya ng mga kailangan niya... There are times you have to be there. Kaya I work in the house unless it is between life and death I will stay in my house because that is where my mother is,” he says.

With many from the LGBT clamoring for him in next year's elections, Tito Boy admitted even his own mother wanted him to become a public servant. “She wanted me to get into public service because in our small family I have a sister who is the mayor of our small city in Borongan. Nanay, after having been a public school teacher went into politics. My father was a town politician. I'm the only one who didn't go into public service. I'm sure she would be proud if I went into public service but am I running for public office in 2016? No. Dati I was looking into running for a post in Eastern Samar pero ngayon parang I want to spend more time with my family. I want to write more books for ABS-CBN Publishing. There are other things that I am aiming to do. Am I closing my doors? Mahirap. It's difficult to say never,” he admitted.

If there was one thing Tito Boy is most proud of his mother, it was her confidence to face every challenge head on. “She was never afraid. At yun ang namana ko sa kanya. Parang early on in my life I did not recognize comfort zones. I took a lot of risks because I saw my mother take risks. I did not live around my limitations. Hindi dahil sa mahirap ako hindi na ako puwede mag-aral, hindi dahil sa hindi matangos ang ilong ko hindi na ako puwede mag-telebisyon, lahat ng yun natutunan ko sa nanay ko. At ang sabi niya palagi was, 'Lumaban ka dahil manalo ka man o matalo, para sa akin panalo ka.' It sounds better in my mind but she used to say it beautifully. Kaya hindi ako natakot sumali sa mga declamation contests. Dati I used to be conscious about it because here in Manila you require everybody to speak in Tagalog and English the way you guys do it,” he recalled.