Boobay and Boy Abunda. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Boobay was in the middle of answering a question from Boy Abunda when the comedian suddenly could not speak and just continuously nodded while looking at the TV host.
This happened during the live episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Thursday, April 20. Boobay, whose real name is Norman Balbuena, and Abunda were recalling the audition tape the comedian had submitted to GMA which started his showbiz career.
Abunda then asked Boobay how he felt when he was praised for his audition tape, but Boobay did not utter any words, just nodded and looked at Abunda.
“Are you OK?” the TV host, who stood up from his seat to hug Boobay, repeatedly asked. A production staff then assisted Boobay, while Abunda told the director to take a short break.
After the break, Boobay continued the interview and explained that a similar instance happened to him during a taping held the day before.
“Kahapon nagte-taping kami tapos bigla akong medyo nag-hang habang kami ay nagshu-shoot sa aming ‘The Boobay and Tekla Show.’ Siguro dahil sa ilaw din tapos siguro konti pa ‘yung tulog ko no’n na maling-maling ginawa ko,” he said.
(Yesterday we were shooting for “The Boobay and Tekla Show” when I suddenly [became unresponsive]. Maybe it was because of the lights in the set and because I had slept only for a few hours, which was very wrong.)
“Sinabi naman ng doktor sa akin before na mangyayari talaga ‘yun after nung nangyari sa akin na na-hospital ako. After daw no’n, maaaring mag-hang daw ako,” he added, referring to when he suffered from stroke in 2016. “The best thing you can do is parang mag-stop ka lang until hayaan mong bumalik sa dati ‘yung pag-ikot mo.”
(I was informed by my doctor that it might really happen after I was hospitalized [in 2016]—that I might become [unresponsive at certain instances]. The best thing I can do [when such happens] is to stay still until I become OK again.)
Boobay further said that although he was advised not to exhaust himself, he does not want to miss the opportunities given to him. He added that he considers performing for the public as his way of resting, and that he wants to save up for himself as long as he is able to do so.
During the interview, Boobay also spoke about his emotional stability after ending in 2021 his eight-year relationship with his former partner. The comedian admitted he still tried to patch things up between them by going on a trip together last month, but it did not work out. Despite this, Boobay said he and his former partner remain friends. /ra