Boobay and Super Tekla get emotional as they share their life stories before showbiz

Kapuso comedians Boobay and Super Tekla got emotional as they shared their life stories before they rose to fame in the showbiz industry.

The two had a tell-all Monday evening at the press conference of their newest Sunday bit "The Boobay and Tekla Show."

Boobay who is Norman Balbuena in real life said getting into the showbiz industry  wasn't something he expected. He had his start in his third year of college in Baguio's St. Louis University.

'Pag binabalik-balikan ko ‘yan, lagi po akong emotional kasi sobrang hindi ko in-expect talaga na makakapasok ako sa GMA. Nag-try lang ako," Boobay narrated.

Boobay said he submitted a video of himself impersonating popular celebrities and sent the video to GMA through LBC without presumptions.

"Tapos biglang tinawagan ako ni Direk Cosme. Tinext niya ako na nakasama ako d’on sa mga contestants, ilalagay daw po kami sa iba’t ibang comedy shows kaya kung meron man po akong pasasalamatan ng talagang sobra sobra, si Direk Cosme po ‘yon. Siya talaga ang nagbukas ng pagkakataon sakin," he narrated.

He said he officially started in 2006 through the GMA show "Idol Ko si Kap" as an extra. He then temporarily quit showbiz to finish his college degree.

Boobay said Direk Cosme reconnected with him after graduating. 

"Tinapos ko ‘yong school ko, tapos bigla na lang nagtext si direk Cosme tinanong niya kung tapos na ako sa college ko sabi ko Opo tapos ko na po ‘yong course ko tapos sabi niya ilalagay daw niya ako sa Takeshi’s Castle, Kay Tito Joey de Leon, Direk Cosme thank you."

Tekla's bukid life to city life

Super Tekla, who is Romeo Librada behind the scenes, said he used to hate the darkness from the farm he used to lived in Mindanao, North Cotabato.

"Bata pa lang ako, ayoko ng madilim, ayoko ng madailim. Gusto ko makakita ako ng ilaw, makakita ako ng sasakyan, kasi bukid po talaga kami, out of civilization; hindi po inaabot ng kuryente, ilang ilog pa ‘yong tatawirin namin," Super Tekla narrated.

His hatred of the darkness forced him to travel to Manila when he was in high school where was strained to build a life of his own.

"Kaya nung high school ako, lumabas na ako, bumaba ako ng bundok sa city ako tumira and then sa Manila, sapalaran. Di ko alam ano gagawin ko dito," he continued.

He said he got into the comedy bar business through the people he met in the city.

"Ang Diyos na lang siguro may alam, may mami-meet kang tao, ganon lang ‘yon may mga gagamitin hanggang sa dumating ako sa comedy bar," he added.

Even though he makes people gag for a living, it wasn't always happy for Super Tekla, who revealed there was a time when he lived in the streets.

"Bumagsak ako sa comedy bar, nagkaruon ako ng isang napakabigat na depresyon sa life ko, dumating ako sa puntong natutulog ako sa kalsada kasi wala akong shelter," he said.

During that time, Tekla said he was hooked in displeasing things that forced him to go back home to their farm life in Mindanao.

"Lahat ng friends ko and then na-hook ako sa kung ano anong keme, n’ong time na ‘yon bumalik ako sa Mindanao n’on, balik bukid, meron naman kaming bukid ‘yon talaga ‘yong buhay ko," he said.

His whole life turned around when Willie Revillame contacted and searched for him to join his show.

"Then suddenly nangangailan si Kuya Will ng ano, sabi ‘maghanap nga kayo ng karakter na bakla.’ Eh sabi ko, hindi naman ako bakla, karakter nakakatawa," he shared.

Super Tekla said he turned down Kuya Will four times out of his fear of him.

"Apat na beses ko pong ini-snob si Kuya Will sa show na ‘yon. Ayaw kong tanggapin kasi unang una natatakot ako sa kanya," he said.

He accepted the offer on Kuya Will's fifth try to get him for his show, never imagining that "Will of Fortune" would be the beginning of his showbiz career.

"Nung panglima wala na akong magawa kasi pina-search, pinahanap talaga ako, aand then nung nakita di ko alam na pagsali ko sa Will of Fortune ‘yon ‘yong shining moment ko after many years na pinagtiisan ko ‘yon ‘yong tinatawag ko na life timing," he emotionally said with a cracked voice.

The two have certainly come a long way since then, and come January 27, will headline their own show.

The Boobay and Tekla Show will premiere on January 27 after Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho. — LA, GMA News