Abunda won’t join Aquino government
Posted By www.BoyAbunda.net on June 2, 2010
MANILA, Philippines – Not now; in two years, maybe?
That’s what TV host and STAR columnist Boy Abunda said when asked if he would accept a possible offer from president-apparent Noynoy Aquino to be a member of his Cabinet, probably as secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
“There hasn’t been a formal offer but there’s a ‘feeler’,” said Boy, who is an adopted member of the Aquino family, he being like an older brother to Noynoy’s sister Kris who is not only Boy’s co-host on two ABS-CBN shows, The Buzz and Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN), but also his soul-mate.
“They have what they call a search committee and I’m flattered to be considered for a cabinet position, but…”
And that’s the BIG BUT.
“Even if I want to,” added Boy, “I can’t accept any government position at present because I’m tied down to a contract with ABS-CBN which is still good for one year and a half. Besides, I’m also managing several talents. Holding a Cabinet position is a full-time job. It’s not as if you go to a government office on Monday and attend to your showbiz commitments the rest of the week.”
Rumors of Boy being offered a Cabinet post started circulating after Funfare broke the story that he might be appointed as an ambassador to either the Vatican or, as Boy put it, “any small country.”
Despite criticisms against him, Boy indeed has the credentials for a Cabinet position, preferably as DOT secretary because as Noynoy pointed out, “he’s articulate and well-rounded,” so he would be an asset in that area.
A bookworm, Boy reads all kinds of books (preferably biographies and history) and he has traveled to every corner not only of the country but the world.
He’s currently pursing a master’s degree in Communications & International Diplomacy at the Philippine Women’s University, lacking only a thesis to complete the course.
He also hosts the show Bottom Line on ABS-CBN in which he discusses in-depth current national issues with his guests.
The show is a spin-off of his Conversations show on ANC, ABS-CBN’s sister station, in which he tackled the same important issues.
When he said “in two years, maybe,” what Boy said he meant was that by then, he should have fulfilled his showbiz contracts and commitments, and have saved enough to live “a simple but comfortable life” with his mother, Nanay Lesing, who served as councilor of their native Borongan, Western Samar. (Boy’s sister Fe has just been elected mayor of the same town.)
“Public service is not a money-earning job,” said Boy. “If I ever go into it, I want to devote to it my full time with all my heart.”
Boy campaigned for Noynoy before the May 10 elections and he even offered to sell his house and contribute the money to Noynoy’s campaign fund. He didn’t have to.
But even without a Cabinet position, Boy said that he can help in Noynoy’s administration in a private capacity.
“I’d like to be able to advise Noynoy in my private capacity as a friend, family and citizen on various matters about the country and his presidency without bias, without politics and without an agenda.”
Tough but low key
Meantime, Aquino said he would like the members of his official family to be tough but low key and not stray from the path of reforms he would like to undertake.
Aquino said he would not tolerate lobbying or a power struggle within his camp and would make sure that only the ones deserving would be appointed to government positions.
He prefers to work with people who would tell him the truth and not brown nose or try to earn brownie points or be a parasite, Aquino said.
In choosing his executive secretary, for example, he said he wanted someone who would watch his back, like long-time friend and counsel, Quezon City administrator Pacquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr.
He said he has complete trust in Ochoa because they have a long history and Ochoa has helped him in his legal needs for free since he became congressman in 1998. Aquino said it was only lately that he paid a retainer’s fee to the law firm of Ochoa.
“He’s (Ochoa) also the type who’s not arrogant and egotistic who will say I know everything all the time, he’s honest enough to say he was not adept in some things and would have to research first,” Aquino said.
First Posted: philstar.com.ph
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