Eugenio "Boy" Romerica Abunda Jr. (; born October 29, 1961) 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 eleven times while Tonight with Boy Abunda was awarded Best Celebrity Talk Show four times.
An openly gay celebrity, he advocates for LGBTQ rights in the Philippines. Politician Maria Fe Abunda is his sister.
Early life and education Abunda was born Eugenio Romerica Abunda Jr. in Borongan, Samar.
He attended his primary education at Barok Elementary School for his first grade and Borongan Elementary School for his second to sixth grade. He attended his secondary education at Seminario de Jesus Nazareno.Manila Up! International Magazine : In Depth With Boy Abunda
He attended his tertiary education at Ateneo de Manila University, where he took up Business Management. However, he did not finish it because of his father's death. He left Ateneo and worked in odd jobs to support himself.
He continued his tertiary education at Philippine Women's University and graduated with degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts in 2009,Boy Abunda obtained his first college degree. Master of Arts in Communication Arts in 2011,Boy Abunda obtained his second College degree. and Doctor of Philosophy in Social Development in 2016.Boy Abunda graduates with a doctoral degree from PWU. Push.abs-cbn.com. July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 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.Procrastination awards , Manila Times
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'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.The Ballad of Boy and Bong Although Abunda is a practicing Roman Catholic and Marian devotee, he is a supporter of LGBTQ 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, previously served as a congresswoman for Eastern Samar from 2019 to 2025 and also previously served as the mayor of Borongan from 2010 to 2019.
In 2014, Abunda was hospitalised due to a liver problem.BOY ABUNDA SUFFERED FROM LIVER PROBLEM, NOW RECOVERING
Filmography Television and online
Year Title Role NotesSource 1993–1995 Movie Magazine Himself Host 1994–1995 Show & Tell 1995–1999 Startalk 1999–2015 The Buzz (formerly known as Buzz ng Bayan from 2013–2014) 2001–2022 Private Conversations 2003–2006 Kontrobersyal 2004–2005 Star Circle Quest Judge 2004–2005 Morning Star Host 2005–2019 Pinoy Big Brother Talk show host 2005–2007 HomeboyHost 2007–2009 Boy & Kris 2008 Volta Ama Supporting cast 2008–2022 Inside the Cinema HimselfHost 2009–2011 SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon Anchor 2009 Ang Kwento naming Dalawa (Judy Ann-Ryan Love Story) Host and narrator 2009–2020 The Bottomline with Boy Abunda Host 2011–2014 Bandila Ikaw Na! segment anchor / host 2014–2015 Aquino & Abunda Tonight Host 2015 Your Face Sounds Familiar Guest Jury 2015–2020 Tonight with Boy Abunda Host 2016 Born for YouGuest 2017 I Can Do ThatJudge 2019–2020 Your Moment 2022 The 2022 Presidential Interviews with Boy AbundaHost The Interviews with the Wives and Children of the 2022 Presidential Candidates with Boy Abunda The Interviewer Fast Talk+ & Why of the 2022 Senatorial Candidates with Boy Abunda Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho GuestCompañero: Remembering Sen. Rene CayetanoHost2023–presentAll-Out SundaysGuest2023–presentFast Talk with Boy Abunda Host2023–2026Cayetano In Action with Boy Abunda2023Anim na Dekada… Nag iisang VilmaFamily FeudContestant (Team Fast Talk)Battle of the JudgesJudge The Political Conversations with the Mayors Host2024TiktoClockGuestMy Mother, My StoryHost2025 The 2025 Senatorial InterviewsHost
Film
Year Title Role 2004 Naglalayag Himself / Cameo Volta Ama 2008 Scaregiver Himself 2010 Noy Himself / Cameo 2012 Boy Pick-Up: The Movie 2018 The Girl in the Orange Dress Joey Marasigan
Bibliography 2014: Make Your Nanay Proud (ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.) 2017: It's Like This (ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.) 2018: Nanay's Gay Boy: Two Speeches (ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.)
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)
Year Award giving body Category Nominated work Results2000PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Male Showbiz-Oriented Show HostThe Buzz
See also Kim Atienza Ai-Ai delas Alas Bernardo Arévalo Alejandro Giammattei Ana Sofía Gómez
References
External links Boy Abunda | Facebook Page