Embracing a new venture, King of Talk Boy Abunda delves into the emotional depths with his limited talk series 'My Mother, My Story.' This series allows the sharing of heartwarming, poignant, and inspiring narratives.

Debuting on May 12, Mother's Day, Tito Boy's new program will tell the life stories of celebrities through the lens of their relationships with their mothers. The program will air on the second Sunday of every month until October 2024.

In the show's pilot episode, Tito Boy will have actor and host Luis Manzano as his guest. They will be reminiscing about the best moments of Luis and his mother, Ms. Vilma Santos, also known as the Star for All Seasons. However, beyond their laughter and closeness, they will also talk about how they solved life's puzzles together.

According to Tito Boy, “It’s very personal to me—the emotional and revealing conversations with celebrities tungkol sa kanilang mga relasyon sa kanilang ina.”

“Ibabahagi nila kung paano sila pinalaki ng kanilang magulang, paano itinaguyod, paano nasaktan, paano naging masaya sa buhay, paanong tinuruan magmahal at paanong hindi natuto magmahal. Pag-uusapan namin lahat ng mahahalagang karanasan na humubog sa kanilang pagkatao,” he explains.

The host guarantees that everyone can relate to their show and will learn a thing or two, “This is about us and our mothers. Makaka-relate tayo dahil lahat tayo ay anak. Proud kami sa proyektong ito. I had this concept a long time ago, and we're putting it together para sa inyong lahat.”

In this special, guest celebrities and viewers will understand how their mothers shaped their strong, independent, and loving personalities through various perspectives.

When asked about the same thing, Tito Boy shares that he learned to trust himself because of his mother. He says, “Hanggang ngayon ang lakas ng loob ko dahil sa nanay ko. Nung bata ako, tuwing sasali ako sa mga amateur singing or declamation contest, sinasabi ng nanay bago pa magsimula na ‘you are my winner.’ Paano naman ako matatalo eh para sa nanay ko ako ang panalo.”

From birth until children find their own path, mothers play an essential role in their lives. A mother's love and sacrifices should be celebrated daily. This limited talk special is here to honor them.

“My Mother, My Story” is made possible under the supervision of GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Vice President for Business Development Department II Janine Piad-Nacar; Assistant Vice President for Business Development Department II Enri T. Calaycay; Senior Program Manager Cecille De Guzman; and Executive Producer Reylie Manalo.

The creative team behind this highly anticipated show consists of Head Writer Ardee Delola, Writers Yani Bautista and Bam Salvani, and Brainstormers Suzanne Samson and Sheba Gopita.

Other possible guests

During a press conference at Azadore in Quezon City on May 7, Tito Boy mentioned the potential guests being considered for the show.

"Andi Eigenmann. She had agreed to do it. I spoke to Cornerstone about Julia Montes. Positive rin ang response. We're also working on Jillian Ward. Yun muna ang mga kinakausap namin. 

"I love to do Bimby (Aquino), but I am very sensitive to the condition of Kris (Aquino). I'll be in touch with Kris one of these days. Kung meron akong finale, I would love to do it with my inaanak. I don't know if this is possible pero susubukan natin at pakikiramdaman natin.

"This talk series is very personal because it emanates from my core persona: being devoted to his mother in life and death. But I want to clarify that I am not diminishing a father's contribution in raising a child. It just so happens na maagang namayapa ang aking ama, and I have a strong relationship with my mother," said Tito Boy.

Nanay Lesing

Tito Boy, 63, deeply loved his late mother, Licerna Abunda, whom he called Nanay Lesing. She passed away on Dec. 1, 2019, at the age of 90. Almost five years since she passed on, the television host still feels the pain of her demise.

"I said this before, and I will say it again. I don't want the pain to go away. I want to bear the pain because it is the physical connection I have with my mother. For as long as the pain is there, I am good. 

"Every time I make a decision, I always say, 'Ano kaya ang sasabihin ng Nanay?' Ano kaya ang gagawin ng Nanay sa pagkakataon na ito. She was a problem solver," he said.

Tito Boy admits that he comes home with a photo of his mother in front of him. "This is not a defense, but I'm not obsessed." This simple practice has helped him maintain focus and motivation in his career.

The host reminisced about some of his cherished moments with his mother. When he started participating in contests in his younger days, his mother instilled in him the value of self-assurance.

"Ang lakas ng loob ko noon sumali sa declamation and oratorical contests kasi ang coach ko si Nanay. I loved it every time she coached me.

"Lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, 'Every time you join a contest, even before the contest begins, you are my winner.

"Looking back, I asked myself, 'Pinalalakas lang ba ni Nanay ang loob ko noon?' or 'Sobrang naniniwala siya sa akin?' or 'Gusto lang niya ako ma-entertain dahil nga mahilig ako sumali?' Thinking about it, mukhang seryoso ang Nanay. So ang lakas ng loob ko. I think nadala ko ang lakas ng loob in a good way.

"Madalas niyang sinasabi sa akin na speak slowly at yan naman ang hindi ko nasusunod. Speak from the heart. People need to understand what you're saying," he added.

Being gay

Tito Boy has expressed regret over not discussing his sexuality with his mother, who passed away. He regretted not having the opportunity to confide in her that he was a gay man. His mother never asked if he was gay, but he would speak to her about his partner, Bong Quintana.

"Hindi namin napapag-usapan ng nanay ko yung journey ko as a gay man. But I knew she knew it. She loved Bong like her own son.

"Meron lang siya na sinabi sa akin na alagaan si Bong. Light lang ang pagkasabi niya. Mag-alagaan kayo. She had more conversations with Bong. Nagtatawanan sila. May tiwala siya kay Bong kapag umuuwi kami ng Samar because Bong was a flight steward. Minsan nga nagseselos nga ako eh. 

"I would love to talk to Nanay about being gay. Gusto ko sanang ipaliwanag sa kanya kung bakit hindi kami pwedeng ikasal. Gusto ko rin ipaliwanag sa kanya kung bakit ganito na lang ang nangyari. 

"Ang dami kong kaalaman sa estado ng buhay ko ngayon na sana napag usapan namin," the award-winning TV personality said.

Tito Boy believes his mother would have asked many questions.

"I would share everything I knew. Naalala ko noon si Nanay in our disagreements like political, kapag alam ko na galit na siya, hindi na ako sumasagot. Kapag may emotions na ang nanay, I shut up.

"Nanay would have asked very difficult questions, like how I would reconcile my being gay with the Catholic church. Paano nagsimula na pareho kaming lalaki. She would have asked the difficult ones. I would be glad to explain it to Nanay," Tito Boy said.

House for mom

When he was younger, Tito Boy recalled he and his mom would bring a folding bed to the back of the grandstand at Rizal Park. They would spend the morning there, just talking. "We talk about anything. We are all Warays there."

Tito Boy also remembered going to Tagaytay and renting nipa hut by the ridge, where they would ate rice and adobo.

"Ang Nanay mahilig sa malalamig na lugar. I bring her to Tagaytay at umuupa kami ng bahay-kubo by the ridge. Kakain kami doon na may baon na adobo at kanin the whole day or half day. Then nakatingin kayo sa bulkan."

There, he promised his mother that he would build a house for her in Tagaytay. "Sabi ko, 'Nay, kapag nagka pera ako, ibibili kita ng bahay dito' kasi nga she loved cold places. Noong nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon, pinatayo ko siya ng bahay sa Tagaytay."

Mother's Day is just around the corner. So how does Tito Boy want to celebrate the special day for his mom? "If she were still alive, Nanay loved conversations. Gusto niya laging nakikipag-usap, gusto niya laging nakikipagtawanan, nakikipag-debate. Ganun ang engagement ni Nanay. So siguro nasa bahay lang kami at magluluto lang kami ng mga Waray na pagkain. To my Nanay, ang celebration ay kuwentuhan o pag-uusap."

Treat your mothers on their special day this May 12 by tuning in to the pilot episode of “My Mother, My Story” — under the helm of Rommel Gacho — at 3:15 p.m. on GMA Network.