The child star’s world according to Aiza

It’s been twenty-five years since a three-year-old Aiza Seguerra first sashayed across the stage in Eat Bulaga!’s Little Miss Philippines contest and into a smitten nation’s heart. Now a serious-minded singer and guitarist, Aiza still nurtures a passion for performing and for the industry that made her a big star. “It pains me lang kasi yung industriya na mahal ko, na makapangyarihan, ay ginagawang tanga ang mga tao," she said. Seguerra was the featured speaker during a media and children forum on Saturday sponsored by Rock Ed, a volunteer group creating avenues for alternative education. The impetus for the forum was the now notorious incident concerning a dancing six-year-old boy on the TV5 show Willing Willie. But Rock Ed founder Gang Badoy said at the outset that it wouldn’t be the focus of the afternoon. “This is not a network thing," said Badoy. “It’s about adults and how we are taking care of our children." Never felt abused “Beauty queen po ako, di niyo lang alam," said the chunky Seguerra, trying to suppress fits of laughter. From that early triumph on Eat Bulaga!, Seguerra would become one of the most prominent child actors of her time. Her mother went to extreme lengths to make sure her daughter would still go through a “normal" childhood. Even when she was already working, Seguerra recalls being taken to Dapitan so she could play in the streets. “Medyo mahirap lang kasi, kailangan lang ipasara yung kalye, pero may mga kalaro din ako," she said. So no, despite the rumors surrounding Seguerra, she never felt that she was abused as a child. “Meron akong tagapagtanggol," she explains, referring again to her mother, whom she described as her “buntot" whenever she went on tapings. She also pointed out that even her bosses in Tape Productions always made sure she would get enough rest, especially during tapings. She recalls that during an episode of Okay Ka, Fairy Ko, she was supposed to take care of a live chicken—something she was terribly afraid of. No solution to keep the chicken from moving had worked and in the end, they decided to just change the story. The support and care of her parents and other adults around her, Seguerra said, made a world of difference. It’s the element that Seguerra feels was absent in the Willing Willie controversy and even in the upbringing of many child stars today. “Dun na pumapasok yung role ng mga nasa paligid ng bata," said Seguerra when asked if she thought the child in question had no qualms about dancing the way he did during the game show segment. On Willing Willie’s last show before it went on a two-week hiatus, Seguerra was lambasted by host Willie Revillame during a 24-minute monologue. She was one of the many celebrities who had spoken out against Revillame on Twitter. “Minsan ang bata, yung judgment, purol pa. Pero dun ako lucky kasi my mom was always there [to tell me if there was something right or wrong]," added Seguerra. She added that during her time, money wasn’t the biggest motivation to enter showbiz. Her mother, in fact, didn’t know anything about the business until Seguerra entered it. All she knew then, she said, was that she wanted to sing and dance in front of an audience. Her father was a government employee while her mom had been a teacher before becoming a stay-at-home mother. Television personality Bianca Gonzales, who was at the forum, said that the greater importance of income from such opportunities could be why the situation is so different now. “It’s not that objectively mali yung kumita," Gonzales clarified. “Nagiging mali ata siya kung nagsa-sacrifice ka na ng ibang values [para lang kumita]," added Badoy. Not a matter of social class The forum extended beyond the walls of the Lopez Museum, since it was also broadcast live on the Internet. Netizens took notice of the discussion, with some even sending in comments and questions. One viewer pointed out that, “The [particular Willing Willie] episode came out on March 12 and went online two weeks later. It just goes to show that the people reacting negatively to it are those who don’t watch the show." Others argued that the issue has nothing to do with class. “Someone did something wrong and this someone who did this wrong might not have known that this was wrong but still, that’s why there are laws," said Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chair of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP). “At six years old, he (the dancing boy) might have wanted to join but at that age, he does not have the capacity to say ‘no’ [when asked to do certain things]" said Kay Bunagan, a Psychology Masters student. Child stars who talk back The discussion unavoidably touched on parenting—particularly in light of the prevalence of various forms of media nowadays. When Seguerra was asked what she thought of some child stars today, she could hardly hide her concern. She recalls, for example, seeing child stars who talk back to their parents and whose parents don’t even try to assert themselves. “Hindi ko nilalahat ha," she said. For Seguerra, the responsibility of a parent is tripled when the child is in showbiz. There’s even more of a need to be hands on, she explains. “Sana yun ang bumalik sa industriya na at the end of the day, bata pa rin [ang mga child actors]," she said. Ophelia Dyloco, a child specialist, said that parenting is especially difficult today because this generation of children is “very hard" to control because of various reasons. A former preschool teacher at the forum agreed. “There is that disconnect because media is becoming the parents of our children," she said. “The milieu of parenting is different now so perhaps it’s time for us to balance things," said mother Earnest Zabala. “Give us better options" The crowd recalled a time when only six channels were available to them, and how easy that was for monitoring media consumption. Badoy said that the options available today are a reality that parents should recognize and adapt to. “It’s time to study our standards for children," she said. While having more options isn’t necessarily a problem, people in attendance argued that the problem was in the quality of programming. “Taste is determined by what you’re exposed to [and the] the responsibility of the media practitioner is grave right now because the shows that you produce creates the baseline for taste," said Badoy. Seguerra pointed out that television shows should stop underestimating its audience. “Wag natin ibaba yung shows sa audience pero i-akyat natin yung audience," she said. The responsibility, several members of the group said, doesn’t rest solely on the networks. Advertisers also play a vital role. “Ayoko nang marinig ng ‘mashadong mataas!’ [from advertisers]," said Itchyworms drummer Jazz Nicolas, who has also dabbled in advertising. Seguerra suggested that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board involve itself more in television programs. “Sana tumibay yung classification ng MTRCB at magbigay ng guidelines para itaas yung quality ng shows because Filipinos deserve better," she said. Gonzales added that the review of children in television should not be limited to game shows, but news programs and soap operas as well. The MTRCB had earlier announced plans to establish a Magna Carta for children on television and in movies. “It’s time that the directors, producers and network owners come in," said one audience member. “Are we gonna wait for the government to intervene when we can really stop it right there?" What now? For Badoy, the goal is straight-forward. “When there are games [or television shows] that involve children, they should be tailor-fit for the children," she said. “Ibalik ang Batibot," Seguerra joked, apparently unaware that the Filipino-produced children’s television program based on Sesame Street recently began airing again on TV5. When asked if children should just stay away from television and movies, Seguerra answered in the negative. “Iba rin ang inspirasyon na dinadala ng bata sa television," she said. She mentioned several soap operas which featured children who embodied good Filipino values and explained that those children, or the characters they play, serve as role models. “Pero dapat yung mga bata na nasa media, innocent pa rin," said Seguerra. Badoy was quick to admit that reforms and changes of any kind will take time. “No short cuts on this one," she said. For now, however, Angsioco of the DSWP said that the best the public can do is to at least stop mentioning the child’s name in reports. “Five years from now if the child’s friends see the video, you think he won’t be bullied because of that?" For Seguerra, the recent controversy has at least triggered discussion. “Siguro after [the controversy], magkakaroon na ng aksyon. It all boils down to responsibility. Ang responsibilidad ng media, ng magulang sa anak, at ng bawat isa sa iba," said Seguerra. More than anyone else at the event, she was the only one who could imagine with authority what a six-year-old in the eye of a media storm was going through. – GMA News