Boy Abunda: 'Gay' Comment of Terrence Romeo's Father Hurtful, Unfair

Image courtesy of www.philstar.com

Source: www.philstar.com

“I respect you, but I don't respect your opinion.”

Thus said Boy Abunda in response to the statement of William Romeo, the father PBA player Terrence Romeo, regarding his son's rumored relationship with comedian Vice Ganda.

In an interview with sports news website Spin.ph, Romeo defended Terrence over reports linking his son to the ABS-CBN actor.

“Si Terrence talagang tinuturuan ko yan ng katuturan. So kung totoo man 'yang istorya na 'yan, sinuway niya ko. Dahil hindi naman lahat ng oras nakasama ko siya,” he said. “Pero si Terrence, kumpleto ng aral sa akin 'yan. Pinaiiwas ko siya sa mga bagay na hindi mabuti.”

Terrence also denied the rumored relationship with Vice and even quoted as to saying, “Sana matapos na 'yung isyu na 'yan, dahil paulit ulit lang naman na hindi katotohanan! Isang multo yan ng imahe ko na gusto ko nang mabura totally.”

In an episode of “The Buzz” on Sunday, Abunda, who is one of the hosts of the ABS-CBN showbiz talk show, said the statement of Terrence's father was hurtful and unfair.

“Nung iyong sinabi na pinalaki mo ang iyong anak para lumayo doon sa hindi mabuti. If that was in reference—yung 'hindi mabuti'—to gays, kayo po ay nagkakamali,” Abunda said. “Hindi po tantamount, hindi po equivalent ang hindi pagiging mabuti sa pagiging bakla. Dahil that's not fair, that's totally unfair at nakakasakit po yan sa akin.”

He added, “Sana po, ingat-ingat sa ating pananalita, dahil sobrang aping-api na po ang mga bakla, ang mga tomboy, ang mga transgendered people dito sa Pilipinas.”

Abunda said the National Basketball Association has learned to be gender-sensitive, citing the cases of openly gay player Jason Collins and cager Roy Hibbert, who was fined $75,000 last year for using the phrase “no homo” in a press conference last year.

“Yun po ang aking pangarap, na pagdating sa Pilipinas ay matuto po tayong gumalang sa isa't isa,” he said.

The statement of Terrence and his father William came following speculations that the GlobalPort Batang Pier cager had a relationship with Vice, who recently admitted he broke up with his boyfriend who he never identified.