Roderick Paulate misses lost playtime as child actor

Column: Entertainment
Author: Reyma Buan-Deveza

Veteran actor Roderick Paulate, who was a popular child star during the 1970s, said today's kiddie stars have more opportunities to behave like children compared to his generation.

Paulate, now fondly known as "Kuya Dick" to younger showbiz denizens, said his life as a child star was totally different from the lives of current child performers.

"Iba kasi noong araw. So kapag kami nila Maria (Maricel Soriano), kami nila Vi (Vilma Santos) kapag nakikita namin 'yung mga bagets ngayon--parang ang laki talaga ng pagbabago. Ngayon kasi mas nakakapaglaro na sila, sabihin na nating mas pasensiyoso ang mga direktor," Paulate said.

The actor explained that being a child actor and star during his time meant losing a great part of one's childhood. He said that child stars of his generation were not allowed to play and behave like children during movie or TV shoots.

"Kasi noong mga panahon namin parang hindi kami pwedeng maglaro sa set; kailangan nasa corner kami kasamang magulang at tinuruan ng script. E, ngayon yung mga ganyan, yung naglalaro sa script. Kaya ang akin lang siguro ang na-miss ko lang yung paglalaro at pag-e-enjoy," the actor added.

Now, when Paulate observes the child actors he works with, he said he could not help but feel some pain over the chances he lost to play and enjoy life like other ordinary children.

Kasi parang bata pa lang kami noon very competitive na kami nila Gina (Alajar) nila Maria, nila Snooky (Serna), parang ini-inject na lahat ng gagawin mo kailangan magaling ka yung ganoon," he added.

The actor also admitted that he feels awkward seeing new batch of child stars playing on the set when they have tapings.

"Ngayon aaminin ko naiilang ako kapag medyo naglalaro sa set na nagre-rehearse. Bumabalik yung alaalala ko yung sinabi ni Marlene Dauden na 'huwag kayong maglalaro kapag nagre-rehearse,' sila Lolita Rodriguez, so parang naga-adjust adjust ako ng konti...So biglang naaalala ko na iba na ang panahon: dapat mag-enjoy kayo. O sige so okey lang pero kapag take na , take na," he said.

Paulate being a professional actor also gave his unsolicited advice to current child stars by saying that they have to do their work with dedication and passion while having fun.

"So I think yung masa-suggest ko sa mga bata siguro just enjoy it, mas maganda yung bata sila na hindi nila nalalagpasan yung dapat nilang pagdaanan bilang bata. Pero pagdating sa trabaho dapat ay mahalin din nila yung trabaho. Siguro ipaliwanag na din sa kanila yung importansiya ng professionalism, 'yung importansiya ng pagmamahal sa trabaho pero huwag mawawala 'yung fun, kasi 'yun yung nawala sa amin. Hindi ba lagi naming sinasabi nila ni Snooky na nag-skip kami ng childhood parang doon na lang namin iniisip na itong trabahong ito, laro na lang ito. So gusto ko laging mag-enjoy," he said.

As a child star, Paulate already worked with legendary actors including Gloria Romero, Lolita Rodriguez, Pilar Pilapil, Susan Roces and Fernando Poe Jr.

In 1968, Paulate received the Best Child Actor award from the country's most prestigious award giving body -- FAMAS.

In 2000, he won the Asian TV Award for Best Drama Performance by an Actor with his role in ABS-CBN's longest running drama anthology "Maalaala Mo Kaya" episode "Wristwatch."

Paulate is a regular castmember of ABS-CBN's "That's My Doc!" with actor Aga Muhlach.

Source: ABS-CBN News