Betong Sumaya, One Of GMA's Busiest Kapuso Stars, Shrugs Off Gay Rumors About Him

BETONG SUMAYA never imagined he’d be a TV host-actor someday. He took up AB in Pilipino at PUP then had on the job training at GMA. He later on applied formally for a position but was rejected. He worked briefly for a smaller network then Cheche Lazaro’s Probe Team got him as an all around P.A.
“Lahat ginagawa ko at dun ako unang napasabak sa pag-arte,” he says. “Kapag kailangan ng artista sa mga re-enactment scenes nila, ako yun. Bale 8 years ako with them. Hanggang kinuha na ako ng GMA-7 at naging kapartner ko si Maey Bautista sa mga re-enactment din nila.”

He became more popular when he won “Survivor Philippines” in 2011. He was included in the cast of “Bubble Gang”. Now, he’s also acting in “Once Upon a Kiss”, performs in “Sunday All Stars” and is also a hosting a new show, “Sabado-Badoo” with Sef Cadayona. “Mapapanood na po ako araw-araw kasi daily ang ‘Once Upon a Kiss’ as assistant ni Cris Villanueva, tapos may ‘Bubble Gang’ on Friday nights, may ‘Sabado-Badoo’ on Saturday night at may ‘Sunday All Stars’ pa ako on Sunday afternoon, also yung ‘Pinaka’ sa GMA News TV.” He’s also always included in the mall shows of GMA stars, cracking jokes as he emcees the program. “I never planned being a comedian, pero joker talaga ako in real life.”


How does he like hosting “Sabado-Badoo” with Sef? “Nag-audition ako rito at hindi ko nga akalaing ako at si Sef ang makukuha kasi ang dami naming nag-audition. Nung second audition, kami ni Sef ang pinagpareha at nag-buckle ako kaya akala ko, wala na, pero kami pala ang napili. Magkasundo kami ni Sef kasi pareho kaming nasa ‘Bubble Gang’. Nakakatuwa ang ‘Sabado-Badoo’ kasi compilation ito ng mga sari-saring klase ng shows at videos na sumikat at pinag-usapan noong araw, pero binabalik namin na kasali na kami sa eksena, to remind today’s generation of viewers. Eere ito starting this Saturday before ‘Pepito Manaloto’.”
What can he say about gay rumors concerning him? “Di na lang pinapansin kasi kilala ko naman ang sarili ko. Siguro dahil yun sa effective akong gumanap na babae sa ‘Bubble Gang’, lalo sa role ko as Antonietta. May eksena ako rito na lagi akong sinasampal ng mga kilalang artistang babae, like Gloria Romero, Chanda Romero, Cherie Gil, Jaclyn Jose, Odette Khan, at iba pa. Hindi daya ang mga sampal nila. Totoo talaga.”
So who among them slaps the hardest? “Si Gladys Reyes. Ang liit niya pero ang bigat ng kamay niya. Namanhid ang mukha ko. Pero sorry siya ng sorry.”