Boobay
{{Short description|Filipino actor, comedian and television host}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Philippine name|Balbuena}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Boobay
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Norman Balbuena
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1986|11|7}}
| birth_place = San Narciso, Zambales, Philippines
| medium = Television
|genre = {{flatlist|
}}
|alma_mater = Saint Louis University (Philippines)
|active = 2004–present
|notable_work = The Boobay and Tekla Show
}}
Norman Balbuena (born November 7, 1986), better known by his stage name Boobay, is a Filipino actor, comedian and television host. He is best known for appearing in several GMA News and Public Affairs shows (including Unang Hirit) as a co-host. He was also regular in the award-winning comedy-game show Celebrity Bluff as a bluffer or gangnammm along with Edu Manzano, Brod Pete and host Eugene Domingo.
Personal life
Born in the small town of San Narciso in Zambales province, Boobay is the eldest among the four children of Honorio Balbuena, a soldier, and Aquilla Balbuena, a retired elementary teacher.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/publicaffairs/tunaynabuhay/289806/boobay-from-soldier-s-son-to-comic-wonder/story/|title=Boobay: From soldier's son to comic wonder|author=Landingin, Ria|date=January 11, 2013|work=GMA News|accessdate=May 7, 2018}} He was in grade school when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, this caused him and his family to dwell in an evacuation site for two years after their house was destroyed by the eruption. Despite the hardships, Boobay finished grade school in Zambales. He pursued his college education at St. Louis University – Baguio taking AB Communication where he earned a scholarship upon joining the theater group Tanghalang SLU.{{cite news|url=https://www.pep.ph/news/36332/extra-challenge-co-host-boobay-reveals-serious-side-behind-the-funny-mask|title=Extra Challenge co-host Boobay reveals serious side behind the funny mask|author=Mendoza, Ruel R.|date=November 8, 2012|work=Philippine Entertainment Portal|accessdate=May 7, 2018}}
Career
=Early years=
In 2004, Boobay first tried his luck in show business by joining GMA Network's KiliTV Comedy Hunt, a talent competition for comedians. Although he did not win the contest, he made the cut and became one of the top 15 finalists.{{cite web|url=https://ph.news.yahoo.com/boobay-recalls-trials-life-035806550.html|title=Boobay Recalls Trials In Life|date=October 15, 2012 |website=Yahoo.com|publisher=Manila Bulletin|accessdate=May 7, 2018}}
Seeing potential in the aspiring comedian, director Cesar Cosme called Boobay for a TV project that year. Cosme gave Balbuena the screen name “Boobay” because he thought the comedian looked like the sexy comedian Ethel Booba. After that, Boobay had several guestings in Idol Ko si Kap doing character spoofs of Rufa Mae Quinto and Ethel Booba.
After graduating, he submitted a résumé to GMA Network hoping to become a production assistant. It was Cosme who gave him his break when he was referred to become part of Takeshi's Castle with Joey de Leon and Ryan Yllana.
=2007–present: ''Kapuso comedian''=
Boobay started his hosting stints as a Kapuso in several programs of GMA News TV. He is a recurring host in the reality-lifestyle program Day Off.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/newstv/dayoff/554239/boobay-at-boobsie-magiging-mga-lion-dancer-sa-day-off/story/|title=Boobay at Boobsie, magiging mga lion dancer sa 'Day Off'|date=February 6, 2016 |work=GMA News|accessdate=May 7, 2018}} Boobay was also one of the "anchors" of the satirical newscast television program May Tamang Balita with Ramon Bautista, Maey Bautista and Jinri Park where he hosted the segments "Ang Twit-twit Mo!" and "Bulag na Katotohanan" alongside Maey.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/newstv/maytamangbalita/276481/karambola-kontrobersya-at-kwarta-sa-may-tamang-balita/story/|title=Karambola, Kontrobersya at Kwarta sa 'May Tamang Balita'|date=October 2, 2012|work=GMA News|accessdate=May 7, 2018}}
In 2012, Boobay was picked as one of the three major hosts of the new season of Extra Challenge along Marian Rivera and Richard Gutierrez.{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/63856/all-systems-go-for-new-extra-challenge|title=All systems go for new 'Extra Challenge'|author=Espinosa, Aries B.|date=October 20, 2012|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=May 7, 2018}} He then replaced Wally Bayola in the comedy-game show Celebrity Bluff as a "bluffer" or known as celebrity gangnammm in 2013.
It was in 2015 when Boobay joined the cast of Ismol Family where he played the role of Lora the Explorer, the caretaker of "The Bekiry". The same year, he voiced the character of Fulgoso in the 2015 remake of MariMar starring Megan Young and Tom Rodriguez.{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/tv/marimar2/18509/boobay-bibigyang-boses-si-fulgoso-ng-marimar/story/|title=Boobay, bibigyang-boses si Fulgoso ng 'MariMar'|author=Sun, Cherry|date=August 28, 2015|website=GMA Network|accessdate=May 7, 2018}}
Boobay starred in his very first dramatic role when he played the life story of Paul John Presado, the dubsmasher who went viral after posting his video on social media while singing in a jeepney in Magpakailanman: Ang Ganda na 'di Nakikita. It is in the same year when Boobay once again showed his acting prowess in a more serious role in Magpakailanman: Una Siyang Naging Akin with actress Glaiza de Castro.
Boobay is now a co-host of the weekly entertainment news and comedy talk show CelebriTV and a regular guest in various GMA Network and GMA News TV programs such as Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, AHA!, Sunday PinaSaya and others. Recently, Boobay joined the cast of Eat Bulaga's Kalyeserye as Yaya Pak, one of the four applicants of Lola Nidora's new yaya (nursemaid). In 2016, he became the co-host of Yan Ang Morning! with Marian Rivera until its cancellation on the same year,{{cite news|url=https://www.philstar.com/psn-showbiz/2016/04/09/1570920/kabata-bata-pa-dami-na-agad-kita-marian-nag-open-ng-bank-account-para|title=Kabata-bata pa dami na agad kita Marian nag-open ng bank account para kay Baby Z|author=Miralles, Nitz|date=April 9, 2016|work=The Philippine Star|accessdate=May 7, 2018}} and Unang Hirit until 2018.
He is currently hosting The Boobay and Tekla Show with Super Tekla.
Filmography
=Television=
==Television series==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope=col width="13%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Year
!scope=col width="25%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Title !scope=col width="20%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Role !Notes !scope=col width="4%" style="white-space: nowrap;" |Ref. |
|---|
| 2004
|{{left|KiliTV Comedy Hunt}} | rowspan="6" |Himself |Finalist |
| 2007–2008
|{{left|Takeshi's Castle}} |Co-host |
| 2011–2013
|{{left|May Tamang Balita}} |Host |
| 2011–2019
|{{left|Day Off}} |Recurring co-host |
| 2012–2013
|{{left|Extra Challenge}} |Co-host |
| 2013–2018
|{{left|Celebrity Bluff}} |Bluffer |
| rowspan=3|2015–2016
|{{left|MariMar}} |Voice of Fulgoso | rowspan="2" |Supporting role |
| {{left|Ismol Family}}
|Lora |
| {{left|CelebriTV}}
|Himself |Co-host |
| 2016–2017
|{{left|Eat Bulaga!}} |Yaya Pak In Kalyeserye; Mother Goose, Quiz Vee Contestant/Lider | |
| 2016
|{{left|Yan Ang Morning!}} | rowspan="5" |Himself | rowspan="2" |Co-host |
| 2016–2018
|{{left|Unang Hirit}} | |
| rowspan="3" |2017
|{{left|Full House Tonight}} |Performer | |
| Road Trip
|Guest | |
| {{left|All Star Videoke}}
|Guest/Contestant/ | |
| 2018
|{{left|Super Ma’am}} | Lovely |Guest role | |
| 2019–present
|{{left|The Boobay and Tekla Show}} | rowspan="3" |Himself |Main host | |
| 2020
|{{Left|All-Out Sundays}} |Co-host | |
| 2022
|{{Left|TiktoClock}} |Guest co-host |
==Drama anthologies==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Episode !Role !Ref. |
|---|
| 2014
|{{left|Wagas}} |{{left|{{small|A Transgender Love}}}} |Vonda |
| rowspan=4|2015
|{{left|Karelasyon}} |{{left|{{small|Sugar Daddy}}}} |Venus |
| {{left|Dangwa}}
|{{left|{{small|Sleeping Beauty}}}} |Tribe leader |
| rowspan=2|{{left|Magpakailanman}}
|{{left|{{small|The Paul John Presado Story: Ang Ganda na 'Di Nakikita}}}} |Paul John |
| {{left|{{small|Una Siyang Naging Akin}}}}
|Dennis |
| 2016
|{{left|Dear Uge}} |{{left|{{small|Soap Opera Sisters}}}} |Janna |
| 2017
|{{left|Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko}} |{{left|{{small|Ang Pagong at Matshing}}}} |Matshing | |
| 2019
| rowspan="2"|{{Left|Magpakailanman}} |{{left|{{small|Kung Hindi ka Magiging Akin}}}} |Genesis | |
| 2024
|{{left|{{small|Taylor Made Success}}}} |
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope=col style="width:5%; white-space:nowrap;"|Year
!scope=col style="width:27%; white-space:nowrap;"|Title !scope=col style="width:14%; white-space:nowrap;"|Role !scope=col style="width:19%; white-space:nowrap;"|Notes !scope=col style="width:4%; white-space:nowrap;"|Ref. |
|---|
| 2010
|{{left|Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote}} | Market Vendor |{{left|{{small|Cameo role}}}} |
| 2012
|{{left|Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi}} |{{N/A}} | rowspan="2" | {{small|Supporting role}} |
| 2022
| Broken Blooms | Buday | |
Accolades
| class=wikitable style="width:100%" |
| scope=col width="5%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Year
!scope=col width="25%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Film award / Critics !scope=col width="10%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Recipient / Nominated work !scope=col width="45%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Award !scope=col width="10%" style="white-space: nowrap;"|Result !scope=col width="5%" style="white-space: nowrap;" |Ref. |
|---|
| rowspan=2|{{center|2013}}
|Aliw Awards |{{center|Himself}} |Best Stand-up Comedian |{{nom}} | |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television
|{{center|Extra Challenge}} |Best Reality Program Host/s {{small|(with the hosts of Extra Challenge)}} |{{nom}} |
| {{center|2014}}
|PMPC Star Awards for Television |{{center|AHA!}} |Best Educational Program Host/s {{small|(with Drew Arellano)}} |{{nom}} |
| rowspan=2|{{center|2015}}
|Aliw Awards |{{center|Himself}} |Best Stand-up Comedian |{{nom}} |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television
|{{center|Day Off}} |Best Reality Program Host/s {{small|(with the hosts of Day Off)}} |{{nom}} |
| {{Center|2021}}
|Best Choice Awards |{{center|The Boobay and Tekla Show}} |Most Outstanding Stand Up Comedian |{{won}} |
External links
- {{IMDb name|4347754}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Filipino LGBTQ broadcasters
Category:Filipino LGBTQ journalists
Category:Filipino LGBTQ comedians
Category:Male actors from Zambales
Category:Filipino game show hosts
Category:Filipino male comedians
Category:Filipino male film actors
Category:Saint Louis University (Philippines) alumni
Category:21st-century Filipino LGBTQ people
Category:Filipino male television actors
Category:GMA Network (company) people