Boy Abunda

Eugenio "Boy" Romerica Abunda Jr. (born October 29, 1955) is a Filipino television presenter, publicist, and talent manager. Known as the "King of Talk", Abunda has presented several talk shows centered on the Philippine entertainment industry. On GMA, he co-presented Show & Tell (1994–1995) and Startalk (1995–1999). After transferring to ABS-CBN, he hosted The Buzz (1999–2015), Kontrobersyal (2003–2006), Homeboy (2005–2007), The Bottomline with Boy Abunda (2009–2020), and Tonight with Boy Abunda (2015–2020). He partnered with Kris Aquino in hosting Boy & Kris (2007–2009), SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (2009–2011), and Aquino & Abunda Tonight (2014–2015). After the ABS-CBN shutdown, he returned to GMA to host Fast Talk with Boy Abunda (2023–present). In the PMPC Star Awards for Television, he has been inducted to the Hall of Fame for having won Best Celebrity Talk Show Host 11 times while Tonight with Boy Abunda was awarded Best Celebrity Talk Show 4 times.

An openly gay celebrity, he advocates for LGBT rights in the Philippines. Politician Maria Fe Abunda is his sister.

Early life and education
Eugenio Romerica Abunda Jr. was born in Borongan, Samar. He attended Ateneo de Manila University, where he took up Business Management. However, he did not finish that course because of his father's death. He left Ateneo and worked in odd jobs to support himself.

He graduated from Philippine Women's University with degrees Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts in 2009, Master of Arts in Communication Arts in 2011, and Doctor of Philosophy in Social Development in 2016.

Career
At the Metropolitan Theater, he worked as a stage actor and eventually as an assistant stage manager. Later, he became the assistant of the theater's administrator Conchita "Tita Conching" Sunico, who taught him public relations. In a couple of years, he started Backroom, Inc managing singers and actresses and a public relations firm. He also worked as public relations consultant for GMA Network. It was during Abunda's public relations work in GMA when one of its executives, Bobby Barreiro, suggested that he should try hosting a television show.

Abunda became a host of Show and Tell, a late night variety talk show with Gretchen Barretto, and Startalk, an entertainment talk show. He subsequently moved to GMA's competitor ABS-CBN in 1999, where he has hosted the following shows: The Buzz, Private Conversations, Homeboy, Kontrobersyal, SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon and The Bottomline with Boy Abunda, a talk show interview. He was dubbed "Asia's King of Talk" after The Bottomline was awarded Best Talk Show at the 16th Asian Television Awards (2011). He is also a newscaster for entertainment of the late-night news program Bandila. He also worked as a radio commentator for DZAR, during the Angel Radyo era. He is the founder and head of Asian Artists Agency, a talent management agency.

He also produced an album titled Melodic Conversations.

After 23 years in ABS-CBN, Abunda broke the speculations as he returned to his home network, GMA on December 15, 2022, as part of its retrenchment program caused by the ABS-CBN shutdown from the Philippine Congress that junked the new legislative franchise to operate. He marked his free-to-air television comeback via Fast Talk with Boy Abunda in 2023. However, GMA Network gave him permission to return to ABS-CBN for hosting the Vilma Santos-Recto's 60th anniversary special, Anim na Dekada… Nag iisang Vilma.

'Bilang'
Abunda, in joint venture with Star Music composed his first single, disco-pop 'Bilang' for Pride Month. He is credited with the lyrics and overall production of the six-soundtrack extended play ‘Say It Clear Say It Loud.’

Personal life
Abunda is openly gay and has been in a relationship with partner Elmer "Bong" Quintana since 1983. Although Abunda is a practicing Catholic and Marian devotee, he is a supporter of LGBT rights and same-sex marriage, expressing disagreement with the Church's stand on homosexuality. He denounced the 2016 Orlando Nightclub Shooting, which has been recorded as the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in the United States.

On June 23, 2010, Abunda became a part-time professor at Philippine Women's University, teaching radio and television to Communication Arts students. He currently resides in Quezon City.

Abunda's sister, Maria Fe Abunda, currently serves as a congresswoman for Eastern Samar. She had previously served as the mayor of Borongan.

In 2014, Abunda was hospitalised due to a liver problem.

Accolades

 * Celebrity Inductee Winner, Eastwood City Walk Of Fame Philippines in 2010
 * 3rd EdukCircle Awards - Most Influential Celebrity Endorser of Year (2013)
 * Winner, Best Showbiz Oriented Show Host - PMPC Star Awards for TV
 * Startalk (1995–1999)
 * The Buzz (1999–2008 and 2010) (tied with Paolo Bediones in 2005)
 * SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (2009)
 * Hall of Fame (2011)
 * Winner, Best Public Affairs Program Host - PMPC Star Awards for TV
 * Private Conversations (2004)
 * The Bottomline With Boy Abunda (2010-2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
 * Winner, Best Magazine Show Host - PMPC Star Awards for TV
 * Kontrobersyal (2004)
 * Winner, Best Celebrity Talk Show Host - PMPC Star Awards for TV
 * Homeboy (2005–2007)
 * Boy and Kris (2008)
 * Winner, Best Talk Show Host - UPLB Gandingan Awards
 * Homeboy (2006)
 * Boy and Kris (2007–2008)