LIKE most boys his age, little James Yap loves playing with toy guns. For his fourth birthday on April 19, the precocious kid is asking for a new one, said his mother, Kris Aquino.
“Baka sabihin ng [ibang] magulang, ’tong Kris na ’to baril ang inireregalo [sa anak],” she said during their launch as White King Fiesta Spaghetti’s new endorsers recently.
Although she herself is apprehensive, Kris said, close friend Boy Abunda and estranged husband James Yap approve.
“Sinabi rin naman ni Ninong Boy, I should be happy he likes guns! Tapos sinabi rin ni James na walang masama kung ’yun ang gusto, because that means lalaking-laki talaga,” she said. “Not that I’m saying there’s anything wrong with being gay, but of course, I want to encourage his manhood!”
She continued, “Kaya okay, go … pero ’yung Nerf lang ang binibili namin para safe.”
One thing the boy certainly inherited from his mother is the sharp tongue. In fact, Kris admitted, many things he says floor her.
She related: “One time, I wanted to change channels to watch the news. Nanonood si Bimby ng Cartoon Network. Nung pinapa-change ko na sabi ba naman sa ’kin, ‘Mama, I don’t like. That’s so stupid!’ Ay, nakakaloka.”
She also said Bimby once told his dad: “I don’t like basketball. It’s so boring!”
Kris said she conferred with his teachers in Brent School and was told her son liked to play with kids four years his senior “because Bimby’s so tall … kaya kung anu-ano sigurong napupulot [from the older boys].”
Thankfully, after a heart-to-heart with Kris, “alam na niya not to say those things. Kailangan lang i-explain mo talaga …”
The endorsement launch also served as advance birthday party for little James. He gave gifts to 35 orphans from Bahay Maria Children’s Center.
Asked how important it was to instill the concept of sharing at a very young age, Kris said: “I always tell him, hindi pwedeng kuha ka lang nang kuha tapos wala kang tinutulungan. He should also learn by example. Kung makita niya na hindi suwapang ang nanay niya, at merong desire na mapaganda ang buhay ng ibang tao gagawin din niya ’yun.”