13 Things from Boy Abunda

Do not let anyone define you! Who you are today is okay. That is perhaps the most important advice that celebrity talk show host Boy Abunda said as he addressed the delegates of the 35th Philippine Society for Training and Development at the Marikina Convention Center. Boy was a fitting encore for the day that featured various speakers and events on the second day of the convention. His talk was actually entitled "13 Things That I Know That You May Want to Know about Managing Public Figures in the Philippines”

Boy started out with the premise that once a person is a celebrity, private moments are limited to your room and not a moment in the sight of the public. He apologized at first if ever his powerpoint presentation would have some problems since he said it is just his second time to give a power point presentation. "I apologize for that, but let me talk for five days straight and I can do that!" He believes and a lot would agree that his talent for talking is God given. He chose to divulge 13 things because the number 13 is a very lucky number for him and he plans to include verything he talked about in a book that is coming out by lat this year.

Gems picked from his talk include advicing trainers to create their own identities. In doing so he cited that he actually studied numerous talk show hosts but stuck to what he thinks is his identity like the one that people shout at him when he passes by "Explosibong, Exclusibo!" Yes he said its one thing to emulate and copy people who are succesful and people who have become influential to us, but you can never be him. Try to see what your weaknesses and strenghts are and use them to create your own identity. I can actually relate to this. When i am paired with rookie emcees they usually ask me advice or ask me how the hell they can make the people laugh. I usually tell them to just be themselves and leave the merry making to me. If they believe they suck at making jokes then give that to me and highlight something else.

After discussing the 13 things to the trainers, Boy ended the talk by saying that COnfidence in a way is far better than beauty. Beauty fades but confidence goes on, and if you are not confident then fake it. I myself am a believer of this one. The confidence that one exudes makes up for the other flaws that we as persons have. Now, in jobs that commands a lot of public speaking, the reason why people believe you is your confidence in delivering the goods. I really enjoyed listening to Boy most specially since he blabbered away so many side stories which elicited a lot of laugh from the audience. And as he went on he ended by saying that everything passes and nothing lasts forever. This was really an upclose and personal encounter with Mr Explosibong Exclusibo! Nice one Boy, hope next time you can bring your imaginary mirror!