One thing that the Boys Night Out DJs have in common is that they all know how to have fun.
But it’s probably their contradicting yet complementing personalities that make Tony Toni (Anthony Bueno in real life), Sam YG (Samir Gogna), and Slick Rick (Eric Virata) an unbeatable team on radio.
At the recent SM Youth launch party, Toni, Sam, and Eric shared how they have grown to be some sort of experts on dating and how to keep the show going in the process.
Known for their “very naughty, pilyo, X-rated” topics on air, the trio claims that they’ve actually toned down since their show started eight years ago.
“We’ve kinda mellowed because of our immorality clauses before. I’m the bastos one. I’m the really bad one.
"Sam’s the lover boy, Eric is the boy next door. But now he’s married, so he’s very much tamer than the old Slick Sick,” said Toni.
Sam cheerfully interjects: “Ang bigat ng salitang expert. Baka humingi ng certified course sa amin iyang mga iyan!”
Erik goes on to say that the key is to make sure that the listeners are having fun.
“What people notice is that we make fun of each other. We don’t want any bad vibes. We know how far to go.”
ON RELATIONSHIPS. On a personal note, all three of them also have different takes on love.
Currently, Toni is dating and keeping his options open. Sam, on the other hand, is single, and Eric is happily married to a doctor.
“There are a few girls on the list. There’s one girl, but I gotta keep my options open," Tony admits.
“In Boys Night Out, I’ve always told the girls that as much as I wanna be committed to one girl, the nature of my job requires me to flirt and mingle."
Toni further reveals that he can’t imagine himself settling down or going steady with one girl for that matter.
He exclaims: “Why just one? ‘Cause this one girl has one thing, another girl has another thing.
“I think you have to ask the girls how difficult it is to actually try and date me. There’s a lot of girls that I’ve dated and I think the majority is hopeless!”
The thing is, he knows himself too much and what he wants in life that you either love him or leave him altogether.
“I think this is it. I’m just very selfish with myself. I like my time. I’ll make time for you when I want. And it’s pretty selfish. So, I think wala pa akong nakikitang girl [who’d make me change my mind].”
Sam, on the other hand, claims that he’s actually cautious when it comes to matters of the heart.
“For me, love is not a game. So, quit playing games with my heart! Huwag niyo na ako saktan. Paikusap lang.”
Apparently, he got fed up with girls who never take him seriously and decided to just focus on doing the things he loves instead.
Sam further remarks: “Wala naman akong tinatago, e. Nakakapagod masaktan. It’s tiring to be the victim of paasa and those mga masarap kasuhan ng emotional estafa!”
But should he fall in love again, Sam says that it’s probably with a girl who’s really understanding and passionate about whatever she does.
“Based on the girls I’ve dated, iyong looks medyo wala siyang [pattern]. Mayroong mestiza, chinita...
“It’s more of the connection, what they bring on the table, and really understanding with what I do,” Sam added.
Toni also clues women in on the qualities that usually attracts men like him.
“If you are super secure and super independent, no matter how old you are, I think you have an edge.
“I don’t care what color, what race, what height, what size you are. I think that’s one of my turn-ons in a woman.”
Eric, for his part, believe that Toni and Sam would find the right girls for them in due time.
Although he’s a happily married guy, Erik maintains that he never meddled with the love lives of his friends.
“In the nine years that we’ve known each other, we’ve never talked about love life.
“We’ve never asked, ‘Hey, who’s that girl you’re with?
“If she’s there, shes there. If she’s not, okay. We keep that part of our lives a secret.”
NEW VENTURE. But what really binds the trio together is their dedication to their radio show.
They’ve succeeded in establishing their own brand of hosting and expanding to other ventures like hosting events and creating their own clothing line via Tee Culture shirts.
Expressions that they’ve popularized on the show such as "Manyak Mondays," "HOHOL (hang out hang out lang)," and "Pasisikatin Kita, Hija Foundation" have been used for BNO statement shirts.
This time, Boys Night Out and Tee Culture collaborated with SM Youth to make these shirts available in 40 SM department stores.
“It’s a milestone for us. Because Boys Night Out has been on radio for eight years.
“We actually started printing shirts two years ago. Now, on our third year, we’re very fortunate that SM collaborated with us and gave us an opportunity to expand our brand,” Toni states.
Sam adds that it’s a perfect collaboration because SM Youth and Boys Night Out share the same advocacy for youth to find their passion and keep coming out with fresh ideas.
“I think it’s a perfect collaboration for SM Youth and BNO kasi it’s what both brands stand for.
“It’s the mindset for what we do. Especially the youth today, they’re very passionate about different things and they really go after what they want.”