Boy Abunda and Boobay. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Boy Abunda gave an account of what happened during his live interview with Boobay, recalling how he initially thought the comedian was just getting emotional when he became unresponsive.
“When he was booked to come to the show, I was told na may nangyari kay Boobay,” the TV host stated during his conversation with actor Dingdong Dantes in “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Friday, April 21.
“It wasn’t clear. Ang nakarating sa amin ay nagkaroon ng mild stroke,” Abunda continued. “I remembered telling the staff, ‘Huy, i-postpone muna natin para makarecover [kasi] baka he’s not feeling well.'”
Abunda said Boobay insisted on coming to the show and even expressed excitement to have the “fast talk.” Abunda noted how the comedian had a fun conversation with the staff when he arrived at the studio, and that “there was no indication that he was not feeling well.”
While they were in the middle of the interview, Abunda then noticed that Boobay suddenly became silent after the latter reenacted the audition piece he had sent to GMA.
“Akala ko iiyak. Akala ko he was getting emotional because he was remembering how he started. So pinapanood ko lang siya. After a few seconds—instinct e— sabi ko, ‘Something is wrong.’ Kaya [tinanong ko siya], ‘Are you OK?’ Siguro mga dalawa o tatlong beses? I said, ‘Are you okay?'”
“Nilapitan ko na kasi I instinctively felt that something was wrong. Niyakap ko and medyo ‘yung weight niya, alam mong [nakasandal] na sa ‘yo,” Abunda continued, stressing how he did not mind the cameras because the life of anyone in the show “will always be more important than any interview or show.”
During the break, the staff of the show made a request for doctors and nurses, who immediately came to the set. Abunda said Boobay became well again after a few minutes and explained to the TV host that it was one of his “silent or mild seizures,” which was what also happened to him a day before.
“In all the years that I have been on television, that was the first time na may nangyaring gano’n. I don’t think we can panic,” Abunda said. “Ako, I was praying to God that I’d be present in the moment.”
Abunda stated that Boobay insisted on continuing the interview and that he was given further medical attention after the show. Abunda then addressed Boobay and said that although the TV host admires the latter for being hardworking, the comedian should take good care of his health given his condition.
Boobay suffered from a stroke in 2016, and has since been experiencing instances wherein he suddenly becomes unresponsive. Boobay said that although he was advised by his doctors not to exhaust himself, he noted that he does not want to miss the opportunities given to him and that he considers performing as his way of resting. /ra