What makes Boobay & Tekla cry

MANILA, Philippines — While both can easily give anyone a good laugh with their funny antics, Boobay and Tekla can also turn emotional in an instant. The two couldn’t help but cry once they start talking about the beginning of their showbiz careers.

Boobay said it was director Cesar Cosme who paved the way for him to get into the comedy mold. He was discovered through the audition tape he sent to GMA after learning that the network was looking for talents.

Norman Azurin Balbuena in real life, Boobay hailed from San Marcelino, Zambales. He was a third year AB Communication student at St. Louis University in Baguio City when he chanced upon a commercial on GMA 7 announcing its search for comedy talents.

“It was for a kiliTV show,” said Boobay in a cracking voice. “Pardon me for becoming emotional as I couldn’t really help it every time I talk about this. And so, I asked my classmate to take a video of me while impersonating some of the stars and I sent it through LBC. Naalala ko pa na nag-lagay ako ng picture ko na kamukha ko si Ethel Booba.”

What came next made Boobay jump up and down with joy. Director Cesar called telling that the comedian that he was among the lucky few who would be appearing in the network’s different comedy shows.

“That was in 2006 when I started in Idol Ko Si Kap. Ako yung dumadaan sa likod at nung matapos yung Idol, I decided to finish my schooling. Without expecting anything, direk Cesar called and asked if I had already finished college. I said yes and he said that there’s a show for me. He put me in the cast of Takeshi’s Castle with Joey de Leon. I am really thankful to direk Cosme for giving me this great opportunity.”

Tekla has his own heart-tugging beginning. First off, Tekla revealed he is not gay. “Mas maganda kasi akong tingnan ‘pag ganito (fully made up and in a woman’s get-up) kumpara kung lalaki ang hitsura ko, hahaha.”

Tekla came from the far-flung area of North Cotabato where there is no electricity and one would have to cross rivers to get to the city. “And I am really afraid of the dark even when I was small. After high school, I went to Manila and tried to find a job.”

Luckily, he got into comedy bars where he earned decent money. Unfortunately, he suffered depression and before he knew it, he was already sleeping on the streets.

“I lost everything even my friends that’s why I got hooked on vices then. But anyway, during that time, I thought of going back to the province baka kasi para doon naman talaga ako dahil may bukid naman kami,” Tekla shared.

But fate had other plans. Willie Revillame searched for Tekla to be a show mainstay.

“Apat na beses kong inisnab si Kuya Wil sa show na ‘yun kasi unang-una natatakot ako sa kanya at nung pang lima wala na kong magawa kasi pinahanap talaga n’ya ako. ‘Yun na ‘yung time na di ko alam na ‘yung pagsali ko sa Wil of Fortune, ‘yun na ‘yung tinatawag ko na shining moment ko. I never knew that after many years of hardships, what came for me was that right timing.”

Indeed, the time has come for Tekla and Boobay to have their own TV show titled The Boobay and Tekla Show (TBATS) that is set to premiere tomorrow, Jan. 27 after Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.

Originally an online show, TBATS turned out to be a hit among netizens that the GMA management deemed it best to air it on free TV.