Boy Abunda on tourism secretary offer: "No, I am not going to accept the offer.

"

By: Noel Orsal

Talk show host and talent manager Boy Abunda

spoke last night, June 2, on SNN concerning a
supposed offer for a cabinet post from President-
apparent Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
Mounting criticisms have finally made Abunda
speak up.

Elyas Isabelo Salanga

News about TV host and talent manager Boy

Abunda getting an offer for a government post
from president-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino
III hit the headlines a few days ago. This sparked
debates on whether or not he should take it and
whether on not he is capable to hold such
position.

Last night, June 2, on the nightly ABS-CBN showbiz talk show SNN, which he and Kris Aquino
host, Abunda broke his silence and answered the issue at hand—the supposed offer of Sen.
Aquino to become one of his cabinet members once he assumed the presidency.

"Una sa lahat, I'd like to thank President-apparent or presumptive President-elect Noy Aquino
for the kind words that he said doon sa kanyang press conference," began the popular TV host.
"Noy, I am grateful. Maraming salamat sa tiwala at respeto.

"Pangalawa, mga kaibigan, ay nais ko po malaman ninyo na naiintindihan ko po that when one
is given the chance to serve in government, e, dapat kayo po ay intellectually ready, emotionally
ready, at financially ready.

"Intellectually ready...we can debate about that. That's debatable. Emotionally ready, it's a
judgment call. You yourself, you know when you are emotionally ready for something.
Financially ready, mga kaibigan, hindi po ako financially ready.

"Mga kaibigan, matagal na po akong nagtratrabaho sa industriyang ito. Nakaipon na po ako ng

kaunti para sa kumportableng buhay ng aking nanay, kapatid, at ng aking maliit na pamilya. If I
lose my job tomorrow, hindi po ako magsisinungaling, I am okay. Pero kung ako ay papasok sa
isang government post, e, wala akong perang gagastusin pang araw-araw," Abunda admitted.
"Sinasabi ko po na I'm not financially ready," he continued. "I need a few years para mag-ipon
sakali-kaling kung ako ay magdesisyon to join government. Mayroon po akong disposable
income, 'ika nga."

NO FORMAL OFFER. The TV host then talked about the announcement of Sen. Aquino that
he is considering him for one of the cabinet posts.

"Two days ago, I was surprised when ang kaibigan nating si Ces Drilon called me because she
wanted me to make a comment about some pronouncements made by presumptive President-
elect Noy Aquino tungkol nga sa Department of Tourism... Nasopresa po ako because the
question was: 'Are you accepting the offer na?'

"Mga kaibigan, wala pong pormal na offer ang ibinigay sa akin," stressed Abunda. "Wala pong
inilatag sa akin ang isang komite o di kaya ang ating future president na ako'y inaalok. Lahat po
ito ay pinapag-usapan nang impormal. These were all informal talks among friends and family.

"In that press conference, I think tinanong ang ating President-apparent Noy Aquino tungkol sa
mga possibilities ng mga potential na tao na puwedeng imbitahan at makasama sa cabinet ni Noy
Aquino. Na-mention nga po ang aking pangalan. Nais ko lang iklaro na there was no formal offer
so it was very difficult for me to answer a very direct question na sasabihin ay, 'Are you
accepting or not?' I have not been offered.

"Since napapag-usapan po natin ito at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako tinitigilan, kahit
sinabi ko na po na hindi ko tatanggapin, mga Kapamilya at kaibigan, I'm happiest where I am
right now. I cannot complain. I am happiest in the entertainment industry. I am blessed with a
wonderful career. To get where I am today, kahit maliit ang espasyo nito was not easy. It was a
difficult journey at pinaghirapan ko po ito.

"Ngayon, kung tatanungin po ako kung bakit ako nahirapan magdesisyon 'ika nga, kung
sakaling may offer, e, there are contracts to be fulfilled, there are commitments to be fulfilled,
there are talents to be discovered, there are talk shows to be produced, there are studies to be
finished. Ang dami ko pa pong trabaho na gagawin. Isa po iyan sa mga dahilan," he explained.

NOT JUST AN ENTERTAINER. On the other hand, the veteran TV host and talent manager
showed a tinge of disappointment on news report saying that he doesn't have the credentials fit
for a post in the Department of Tourism.

"At ngayong araw lumabas po ang balita," he said. "At dito po ako medyo napipikon, sasabihin
ko sa inyo ang totoo. Dahil may sinasabi na po ako na I'm inclined to decline two days ago, na
kung saka-sakaling bigyan ako ng offer. Si Boy Abunda ay dapat hindi tanggapin dahil siya ay
hindi marketing man, hindi siya abogado and he is just an entertainer.

"I take offense, sasabihin ko po iyan. I am an entertainer but I am not just an entertainer. Dahil
gusto ko malaman ng mga taong nagsasalita ay hindi po madali ang aming ginagawa. Ang
puhunan po namin ay utak, puso, pawis, at dugo. To do what we do is not easy. This is not an
easy job. And yes, I am proudly an entertainer."
 After the short pause, Boy gave this short lecture regarding how the Department of Tourism
should operate.

"Alam n'yo po, sa mga nagtrarabaho sa Department of Tourism, this is what you are missing
out: A large part of the job of the Department of Tourism actually is to sell the entertainment
angle of this country. It is entertainment that should draw so many people around the world to
come in this country. Entertainment in the form of food, national heritage, dance, destinations,
but that is entertainment. It is also entertainment that should convince locals to travel around the
country."

That said, he looked straight into the camera and proudly said: "I am not just an entertainer. I am
a serious entertainer at ikararangal ko pong maging entertainer."

RELATIONSHIP WITH NOYNOY. Even without a government post, Boy explained that
getting his thoughts and advices across Noy is all in a matter of serving the next president in a
different way.

He said, "What is my relationship po with Noy Aquino? Alam n'yo po mga kaibigan,
right now I am able to write him memos, short notes. I am able to say and express
things to him about matters that are relevant to the Presidency, matters relevant to
the country, at maraming bagay po. Ang iba ay kanyang binabasa at
pinapasalamatan niya po ako at iba naman ay siguro narinig na niya sa iba.

"I would like to be able to continue serving my future president by being able to tell him
honestly, without bias and agenda and without political and personal interests, and to me that is
the best place in the world today and I don't want to change this."

NOT CLOSING HIS DOORS. Although it is clear what Boy wanted to convey about the
supposed offer, he hinted that he is open to the idea, but not now.

"The answer is no," he stressed. "At doon sa mga interesado sa posisyon, e, makakatulog na
kayo nang mahimbing.

"Okay, am I closing my doors? I have a contract with ABS-CBN that I would like to honor that
lasts until 2011. I will respect and honor the contract. Am I interested and not closing my doors?
I am not closing my doors. Is it going to happen now? No, it is not going to happen now. Doon
po sa mga nagsasabi na hindi ko dapat tanggapin o tanggapin ko, e, sinabi ko na po na, no, I am
not going to accept the offer.'"