Comedian Buboy Villar, 25, is nothing but grateful for the big showbiz breaks that he's been getting from GMA-7.
On June 3, 2023, he landed the opportunity to be part of the revamped Eat Bulaga!, a blocktimer noontime show in GMA-7, as one of the hosts.
Then on July 9, he was launched as the new addition to the cast of BBLGANG, formerly known as Bubble Gang, the longest-running sketch comedy show on Philippine TV.
Read: Paolo Contis on axed Bubble Gang cast members: "We're not taping friends. We're friends."
He's also one of the mainstays of the Sunday musical variety show All-Out Sundays.
"Lagi kong pinapasalamat po talaga sa Diyos natin na kung ano po yung nararating ko po ngayon," said Buboy.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) interviewed him at the presscon of BBLGANG last July 3.
Buboy continued, "Hindi po ito yung parang ginusto ko lang, e. Talagang si Lord na yung nag-push sa akin dito.
"Actually, yung nangyari nga sa akin sa Eat Bulaga!, e, isang snap, host ako.
"Iba po. So, anong kailangan ko gawin? Kailangan ko lang galingan."
When asked to describe how his life has changed so far, Buboy pointed out that he appreciates the small luxuries that he's experiencing for the first time.
"Siguro, yung dating wala ako, siguro hindi ako nakakain na masarap," he candidly admitted.
Taking pride in his humble beginnings, he added, "Pero hindi mahirap, okay? Kasi okay lang sa akin yun. Pero ito rin pala yung pakaramdam ng ganito."
He didn't want to say it at first, but Buboy eventually revealed that he recently purchased a brand-new SUV.
"Meron akong binili, bago, kotse. Ayun. One month na. May naipundar ako na bago kasi nasira na po kasi yung second-hand ko po na kotse.
"Ano na talaga, tumitirik na, madaling masira.
"Bumili lang po ako ng Fortuner para po sa anak ko kasi yung bunso ko kasi, sobrang laki na."
When asked if he bought the car using his earnings from Eat Bulaga!, Buboy clarified, "Actually po, matagal ko na po naipon iyan.
"Simula po nung nag-iipon ako sa Paresan ni Bok, pati po sa kita ko rin po sa social media. Doon po nag-umpisa."
Paresan Ni Bok started out as a food cart that he is running near his place in Quezon City, but has now branched out to different locations with the help of his franchisees.
It was featured in a funny vlog where vlogger-actress Jelai Andres did a prank on him May of last year.
Buboy's former Running Man PH co-star Mikael Daez also came to eat at Paresan Ni Bok together with his wife Megan Young.
Read: Eat Bulaga! war and how it changes Philippine TV: A Timeline
COMMUTE TO WORK
In spite of his improved lifestyle, Buboy pointed out that he still commutes to work even if he has a car.
"May mga tropa po akong mga rider. Marami po akong mga kaibigan na mga ganon.
"Kasi, kapag umaangkas ako, Joyride, minsan nagugulat sila. Kinukuha ko na yung number. 'O, kuya kapag napunta ka sa lugar na to...'
"I mean, yung commute ko, angkas-angkas na lang po. Masaya po. Nag-e-enjoy ako sa mga ganon. Nag-e-enjoy ako pag umaangkas ako."
He explained that it's more convenient when going to work from Quezon City to Marcos Highway in Cainta, Rizal, where APT Studios is located. It is where Eat Bulaga! is broadcasting its live telecasts.
"Lalo naman sa atin, di ba, ma-traffic, e. So, kailangan natin makatawid-tawid. Saka ginusto natin to," said Buboy, laughing at how he juggles his time for his three shows.
Read: Awra Briguela bar brawl incident: A timeline
ON remembering his humble beginnings
Buboy went on to say that he doesn't want to get carried away with the blessings that he's getting from his life as an artista.
"So, hindi porke dumating ka sa ganito, ay kakalimutan mo yun. So kailangan maging balanse lang yung buhay.
"Wag mo kakalimutan yung nakaraan mo kasi yun yung magpapalakas pa sa iyo in the future.
"So, meron ka rin mga taong makakasalumuha na ganoon din yung sistema nila. So, anong kailangan mo gawin? So, puwede ka makatulong, di ba?"
He also emphasized the importance of spending his earnings wisely.
"Ako po kasi sobrang maipon po akong tao. As in lahat po ng kinikita ko po, ini-invest ko po iyan.
"So, nakatingin po kasi ako, hindi po bukas o hindi next week, nakatingin po ko in next five years, yun po yung tinitignan ko.
"Yung five years na yun, yun yung mga anak ko, hindi naman na po ako."
Aside from his dream to buy a house, Buboy pointed out that he just want to keep working to provide a better life for his two kids.
"So sa akin po, ginagawa ko na lang, kailangan ko lang ingatan yung sarili ko.
"Kailangan kong maging healthy pa, lalo pag hanggang sa tumanda ako. Kasi may mga anak ako na kailangang gabayan."