During a recent press conference for his special ‘My Mother, My Story,’ the King of Talk, Boy Abunda, shared on May 9 a heartwarming and amusing anecdote about a mannerism he inherited from his late mother, Nanay Lesing.
Abunda began by describing his mother as funny, strong, and kind. He recalled a particular habit that has stayed with him throughout his life: using toothpicks after meals.
“Unang-unang pumapasok sa isipan ko is ang hilig ko sa toothpick. Ang nanay, pagkakain, automatic, may toothpick. And I would catch myself. Halimbawa, minsan hindi pa nga ako kumakain naglalaro na ako ng toothpick. That was nanay,” shared Tito Boy.
This seemingly trivial habit holds significant sentimental value for him, serving as a simple yet touching reminder of his mother’s influence on his daily life.
“Namana ko talaga sa kanya,” the TV host said.
Abunda also recounted a humorous story his mother loved to tell, which has become a cherished family memory.
“Actually, ‘yang toothpick may k’wento siya na paulit-ulit, na alam na namin—alam na namin lahat ng nasa bahay namin, kapatid ko, lahat kami, pero paulit-ulit niyang kinek’wento at tawa siya nang tawa sa sarili niyang k’wento,” he revealed.
The story involved two families dining at a restaurant—one wealthy, the other poor. The poor family would mimic everything the wealthy family ordered. At the end of the meal, when the wealthy family asked for toothpicks, the poor family did the same, mispronouncing it as “toothper.”
This simple tale always brought hearty laughter from his mother, a memory that Abunda deeply treasures.
For the TV host, these memories are a testament to his mother’s resilience and her ability to find joy despite hardships.
“That’s a memory because kahit gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan ng Nanay sa buhay ay yun, nakakahanap siya ng dahilan para maging masaya,” said Abunda.
Meanwhile, his special ‘My Mother, My Story’ aims to honor mothers and explore their impact on their children’s lives. It will air every second Sunday of the month at 3:15 p.m. on GMA Network. Directed by Romel Gacho, it promises to bring touching stories and memories like those Abunda shared, celebrating the enduring influence of mothers.
