Dr. Helena Benitez, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Women’s University (PWU)

Dr. Helena Benitez, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Women’s University (PWU), defended PWU student Boy Abunda from the criticisms that cropped up from his rumored appointment as Tourism secretary.

“By any standard, he is more than qualified,” said Benitez in a statement published in a local broadsheet on June 9. “[But] perhaps an indication of the kind of insight and appreciation that Mr. Abunda has about our society and its values is his declining to accept the position he is said to be being groomed for.”

She lauded the "King of Talk TV" for decidedly begging off from the post even before a formal offer was made by President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, believing that he may “have realized that some people might raise a ruckus over the matter.”

It was a “sensitive” and “sensible” move on Abunda’s part, Benitez said, for considering that Aquino “has more important issues and problems to attend to.”

“The President-elect’s energies should be devoted to these; not to defending Mr. Abunda’s proposed appointment to the cabinet. The controversy over his appointment is therefore one problem or situation that presumptive President Aquino III will not have to deal with.

“By that much Mr. Abunda has shown how sincere he is about helping the incoming administration succeed. And he is all the more admirable because of it,” she wrote.

Aquino III revealed earlier on that he deems the “The Buzz” host fit to be part of his administration as head of the Department of Tourism—an idea that came about with the help of his sister Kris’ powerful whispers—for his “ability to communicate, to understand the audience and to be able to propound and advance a particular set of ideas.”

Benitez sees these qualities in Abunda as well, but lamented that “people might tend to dismiss his ideas and work achievements lightly by virtue of his being a show business personality.”

She went on with her statement enumerating Abunda’s academic credentials and outstanding work ethics that are perhaps more than enough to shot down brickbats who claim that he is “just [an] entertainer.”

The host-talent manager is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts major in Communication Arts at the PWU, earning the degree under the Commission on Higher Education Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (CHED ETEEAP).

“Under this program, we evaluated college credits he earned from the Ateneo de Manila [University], the quality of his work experience and achievements in mass communication, and required him to take enrichment courses to qualify him for the degree under the rules and requirements of [CHED],” she related.

More, he is currently taking up his masters in communication after earning a certificate from a seminar course from the PWU HZB School of International Relations and Diplomacy.

In spite of his crazy schedule, Benitez said that Abunda takes “his studies seriously… Perhaps more seriously than his peers because he well realizes that being in show business, some quarters may be skeptical of both his motivation and his ability.” She also maintained that he is not given star treatment just because he is already an institution in the showbiz industry.

His passion for learning also translates evenly in his work as a talk show host, Benitez added.

“He has impressed me with his insights and the quality of the research he undertakes to prepare for the program. He does not just show up and ask questions. He does his homework. He takes his job seriously. This may be why he is such a great success in media,” she said.