Back in the days when I was....

Hanging out with my nephews and nieces is not a problem for me, and any kid for that matter. I am just fond of playing with them. I wonder if other people felt the same way with me when I was a kid.

I was born and raised in Sampaloc, Manila (that explains why I’m like this). It was a small and noisy neighborhood. I lived the first nine years of my life there. But it was fun because everyone seemed to know each other and gossips were everywhere! Weekends we’d travel to Marikina by bus (take note!) and spend it w/ our lolo and lola there. We were fetched every Sunday afternoon.

As far as I can remember, I had a normal childhood, or should I say I had a blast! I was the youngest in our family and the youngest among the Mortels. Somehow, my whims and wishes were most of the time granted. If I don’t get what I want, I cry. No, I would wail ‘til I have my own way. I was spoiled by my lolo and lola, Ninong and Auntie Nida back then in Marikina. My cousins couldn’t do anything once I start crying and I put the blame on them for something that I actually did. I was a very good actress!

Summer was spent always in Marikina. I’d have my usual weekend friends for two months. We played like there was no tomorrow. We only came home to eat. We even forget to take our bath. It was all play. As we enjoyed our summer days, so as our lice. But that didn’t stop us from playing. Actually, one factor that made our friendship stronger was the fact that we all had lice! Mwahahaha! I would occasionally have wounds and bruises. I played like a boy just like my brothers. Every summer we’d go to Cuyab hotsprings in Laguna (I wonder if it’s still operational up to this day). And never did I fail to entertain the people there every time the jukebox plays “Telephone” by Sheena Easton. I was a performer ever since. When some people had to overcome their shyness, I had to overcome my overflowing confidence. When I was asked to dance, sing or act, I would always be willing to do it.

As a kid, I was very talkative. The nuns in Nazareth School would always say that I’m smart but then my talkativeness would always get me into trouble. I enjoyed endless talking! I say whatever I wanted to say.

Of course I would get occasional “palo” from my Nanay. And it hurt a lot. I was even slapped with a leather slipper on my mouth because I would never stop crying and at the same time give my explanation for doing that act. As they say, mahilig daw akong mangatuwiran kahit mali na.

Other things that I remember:

• I first studied in a local daycare center at age 3. Since I was a “saling-pusa”, I had to bring my desk and chair everyday to school.
  
• I loved eating kutchinta with nyog in the mornings tsaka taho.
  
• I would crack open a lot of “butong pakwans” first until I’ve gathered enough before eating them continuously.
  
• I would play boxing with my Kuya Rei and my Kuya Roy would be our referee. I always won!
  
• I once punched my playmate and she lost a tooth. Sad to say that was the day before her ID picture-taking. (huy Cherry Pie kung nasan ka man sana napatawad mo nako!)
  
• My cousins and I would always cram in my Ninong’s room because that was the only room that had aircon in my Lola’s house.
  
• Every Christmas day, the celebration would end with the famous “hanapan ng pera”. Every corner of the house was turned upside down just to look for the ultimate P20, P50, or P100. Saya nun!
  
• I was in prep and we had an exam. I finished early and I got bored. I was seated next to an electric socket and I put my lead pencil in it. The whole floor lost electricity.
  
• At age 5, the first movie that I saw was “Campus Beat” starring Aga Muhlach.
  
• I worshipped the boyband Menudo.

What others had to say about me:
Ate Sheila: In fairness RC, sobrang cute mo nung bata ka.
Caloy: Tinis ng boses mo. Sobrang sakit sa tenga. %&*@ng !$^ sobrang kulit mo nung bata ka. Kalabit ka ng kalabit. Tanong ka ng tanong!
Nanay: Tinanong ka ni Aling Nelia bakit maganda ang kutis mo. Ang sabi mo kase parate kang kumakain ng kamatis at sinabi mo sa kanya “kaya Aling Nelia kumain po kayo ng kamatis”.
Ate Ning: Sinipa mo ko sa sikmura tas sinumbong mo ko na sinipa kita.
Auntie Nida: Inikot na naten buong SM tas nakita na kitang nakaupo sa isang tabi dahil sa pagod. Tinanong kita kung sasama ka pa ulit sa kin sabi mo “oo naman”.

So there…. I have to interview other people. I was once a kid and growing up should be enjoyed. That’s the reason why I understand kids. But I don’t know up to what age I can tolerate them.

that's me at age 5