MULTI-awarded television host Boy Abunda has said that he has forgiven Representative Manny Pacquiao of Sarangani when he compared gays to animals even if he is not asking for it.
Abunda made the reaction in his #AskTitoBoy” portion of his late-night talk show “Tonight with Boy Abunda” over ABS-CBN.
A viewer had asked Abunda if he has forgiven Pacquiao. “Napatawad n’yo na ba si Manny Pacquiao?”
“That’s a tough one. That’s a difficult question. Wala po akong galit sa aking puso. I continue to disagree to some of the views of Manny lalo na sa diskursong may kinalaman sa LGBT (lesbian gays, bisexual and transgender) issues or community;
“Pero hindi po ako nagtatanim. Why can’t I say yes or no? Dahil nakakahiya po kay Manny. Hindi naman humihingi ng tawad si Manny Pacquiao;
“Pero in general terms, kung ‘yung pagpapatawad na konsepto ang paguusapan, sino ba na man tayo para hindi magpatawad?;
“Pero sinasabi ko po na hindi po humihingi ng tawad si Manny Pacquiao sa akin kaya ayokong maging presumptuous na oo o hindi,” Abunda said.
In February, Pacquiao has apologized to Abunda and ace comedian Vice Ganda when he said that gays who practice same-sex are worse than animals.
“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa inyo kung nasaktan ko po kayo sa pagkumpara ko sa inyo sa hayop,” said Pacquiao, in an interview over DZMM Teleradyo.
“Pero opinion ko po yun. Ang sinasabi ko po doon yung act or pag-gawa hindi po yung tao. Andun pa rin po yung paniniwala kong hindi ako pabor sa same sex marriage,” Pacquiao added.
Pacquiao, who currently ranks No. 7 in partial and unofficial count of the Commission on Elections transparency server for senators, is expected to be proclaimed this week as among the 12 winners for the Senate during the national elections held last May 9.
Girl crush
Abunda was also asked if he had a crush on a girl. “Nagka-crush ka na ba sa babae?”
“Ano ba naman ’yan? Yung mga ganyan hindi na itinatanong,” Abunda laughed. “Huwag n’yo naman akong ipahiya. Pero I will tell you a story.”
“I’m proudly gay. I’m a proud member of the LGBT community. Hindi po ako activist because I may not live up to the expectations of being an advocate. But I am a gay person in solidarity with my community and in the fight against homophobia and bigotry. I am for equality;
“I grew up in a small town in Borongan, Samar. S’yempre when I was a young boy, I was expected to have crushes;
“Kaya pinilit ko po ang aking sarili na magkaroon ng crush na girl. Patawarin mo ako kung ika’y nanunood;
“So ginawa ko po ‘yang mga pa-crush crush. Nagsulat-sulat kunyari gusto ko pero ’yung kapatid nyang lalaki ang gusto ko;
“In college, because of peer pressure, I could not be open to some of my friends. I tried liking a girl but I was a failure,” Abunda said.