Boy Abunda, widely known as the Philippines’ “King of Talk,” opened up about his past discomfort with being linked to gossip or chismis.
During a recent episode of Your Honor, hosted by Buboy Villar and Tuesday Vargas, Abunda shared that he once struggled with the perception that his work was rooted in delivering gossip.
“There was a time in my career that I was bothered by, ‘Boy, anong chismis?’ It was a dubious reputation that what I was doing was delivering chismis,” he admitted. “Medyo naapektuhan ako.”
He explained that chismis often carries a negative connotation. “Ang pagkaunawa natin ng chismis ay hindi totoo, iniimbento, at may kalakip na paninira. Chismis is done to demean, to derogate others. That’s the premise—it seems baseless, done just for fun,” he said.
The Dichotomy of Chismis
Abunda cited insights from his academic paper, Dichotomy of Chismis, submitted as part of his Master of Arts in Communication degree, to highlight the different types of chismis.
“May chismis na nakakatuwa, may chismis na entertaining lamang—parang biro. Meron namang chismis na nagiging source ng impormasyon,” he explained. However, he emphasized that some chismis is intentionally harmful.
When asked if he personally engages with chismis, Abunda responded, “I’d rather not,” stressing the importance of truth in communication.
“Dahil importante ang katotohanan. Doon pa lang sa debate ng truth, masalimuot na,” he said, adding that truth can be subjective. “Facts don’t change, but truth based on facts is impregnable.”
A Legacy in Talk Shows
As a celebrated talk show host, Abunda has been a staple on Philippine television with programs like Fast Talk With Boy Abunda, which airs on GMA Network.
The discussion on Your Honor, a vodcast produced by GMA Network’s YouLol Originals, offered a deeper glimpse into the philosophy behind Abunda’s work and his reflections on navigating perceptions of chismis.