Boobay
| Boobay | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Norman Balbuena |
| Born |
November 7, 1986 San Narciso, Zambales, Philippines |
| Medium | Television |
| Nationality |
 Filipino |
| Alma mater | Saint Louis University (Philippines) |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Genres | |
| Notable works and roles | Celebrity Bluff |
Norman Balbuena (born November 7, 1986), better known in his stage name as Boobay is a Filipino actor, comedian and television host. He is best known for appearing in several GMA News and Public Affairs shows as a co-host. He was also a regular host in the award-winning comedy-game show Celebrity Bluff as a gangnammm along with Jose Manalo, Brod Pete and 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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[1]
After graduating, he submitted a resumé 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.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
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). He will also be co-hosting Marian Rivera on her upcoming morning-talk show Yan Ang Morning!, set to air on May 2, 2016.[8]
Filmography
Television
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–present | Co-host | GMA Network | ||
| 2016 | [8] | |||
| 2016–present | Yaya Pak | [9] | ||
| 2015–2016 | Co-host | [10] | ||
| 2015–present | Lora | [11] | ||
| 2011–present | Recurring co-host | GMA News TV | [12] | |
| 2013–2016 | Celebrity bluffer | GMA Network | [13] | |
| 2012–2013 | Co-host | [14] | ||
| 2011–2013 | Host | GMA News TV | [5] | |
| 2007–2008 | Co-host | GMA Network | [3] | |
| 2004 | KiliTV Comedy Hunt |
Finalist |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Fulgoso | GMA Network | Supporting role; voice only |
[7] |
Drama anthologies
| Title | Year | Episode | Role | Network | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Soap Opera Sisters |
Janna | GMA Network | [15] | |
| 2015 | Una Siyang Naging Akin |
Dennis | [16] | ||
| The Paul John Presado Story: Ang Ganda na 'Di Nakikita |
Paul John | [17] | |||
| Sleeping Beauty |
Tribe leader | [18] | |||
| Sugar Daddy |
Venus | [19] | |||
| Wagas |
2014 | A Transgender Love |
Vonda | GMA News TV | [20] |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Producer(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi |
N/A | Panoramanila Pictures |
Supporting role |
[21] |
| 2010 | Market Vendor | Cameo role |
[22] |
Accolades
| Year | Film award / Critics | Recipient / Nominated work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 |
PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Reality Program Host/s (with the hosts of Day Off) | Nominated | ||
| Aliw Awards | Himself |
Best Stand-up Comedian | Nominated | ||
| 2014 |
PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Educational Program Host/s (with Drew Arellano) | Nominated | ||
2013 |
PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Reality Program Host/s (with the hosts of Extra Challenge) | Nominated | ||
| Aliw Awards | Himself |
Best Stand-up Comedian | Nominated |
External links
- Boobay at the Internet Movie Database
References
- 1 2 Landingin, Ria (11 January 2013). "Boobay: From soldier's son to comic wonder". gmanetwork.com. GMA News Online. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ↑ Mendoza, Ruel R. (8 November 2012). "Extra Challenge co-host Boobay reveals serious side behind the funny mask". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Boobay Recalls Trials In Life". Yahoo.com. Manila Bulletin. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ↑ "Boobay at Boobsie, magiging mga lion dancer sa 'Day Off'". GMANetwork.com. GMA News Online. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- 1 2 "Karambola, Kontrobersya at Kwarta sa 'May Tamang Balita'". GMANetwork.com. GMA News Online. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ Espinosa, Aries B. (20 October 2012). "All systems go for new 'Extra Challenge'". inquirer.net. Philippine Inquirer. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- 1 2 Sun, Cherry (28 August 2015). "Boobay, bibigyang-boses si Fulgoso ng 'MariMar'". GMANetwork.com. GMA Network. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- 1 2 Miralles, Nitz (9 April 2016). "Kabata-bata pa dami na agad kita Marian nag-open ng bank account para kay Baby Z". philstar.com. Philippine Star. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ↑ "AlDub Day 210 Yayapak". Youtube.com. Eat Bulaga! Youtube. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ↑ "CelebriTV Ep. 24: Boobay vs. Antonietta!". GMANetwork.com. GMA Network. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ Acar, Aedrianne (6 April 2015). "Is there room for one more beki in 'Ismol Family?'". GMANetwork.com. GMA Network. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Bela Padilla and Boobay as mami vendors in Binondo - Day Off". pinoynews.com. Pinoy News. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Celebrity Bluff: Boobay's funniest moments". Youtube.com. GMA Network Youtube. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "An extra explosive 'Extra Challenge' awaits fans in 2013". GMANetwork.com. GMA News Online. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Dear Uge Ep. 7: Soap opera sisters". GMANetwork.com. GMA Network. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Magpakailanman presents 'Una S'yang Naging Akin'". GMANetwork.com. GMA Network. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Boobay stars in his first 'Magpakailanman' episode this Saturday". GMANetwork.com. GMA Network. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Carla Abellana and Rafael Rosell on 'Dangwa'". GMANetwork.com. GMA Network. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Karelasyon: Sugar Daddy". IMDb.com. Internet Movie Database. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "'A Transgender's Love,' tampok ngayong Sabado sa 'Wagas'". GMANetwork.com. GMA News Online. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (8 November 2012). "RED CARPET WATCH: Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote (2010) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.com. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Nominees for the 29th Star Awards for TV bared; Kapuso Alden Richards competes against six Kapamilya stars for Best Drama Actor". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Aliw Awards 2015 Nomination Announcement". musicalplayphilippines.com. Musical Play Philippines. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "28th Star Awards for Television nominees revealed". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "ABS-CBN dominates nominations for 27th Star Awards for Television". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2016.