Raising Aiza

While many of us are familiar with the phenomenal return of former child star Aiza Seguerra into the glare of the klieglights, only a small number realize that we are lucky to have her at all.

Before duck-walking into our hearts via her memorable stint in 1987’s staging of the Little Miss Philippines pageant of Eat Bulaga!, Aiza first had to hurdle one tricky obstacle–being born into this world.

Caridad "Caring" Yamson was 38 when she married Decoroso "Dick" Seguerra after some seven years of courtship. "I felt so insecure because of my age," shares Mommy Caring, well aware that her advanced age would make pregnancy both unlikely and risky. Indeed, for five years, the Seguerras tried unsuccessfully to have a child. They tried everything– from dancing at Obando to borrowing a lampin and various articles of baby clothing suggested by Pinoy pamahiin.

Doctors found out that Caring had myoma–and declared that surgical intervention was the only recourse. "But I asked what the chances were if I went ahead with the operation. Doctors said it was just 50 percent. I decided hindi na lang. Di pala sure, eh," she says.

In Caring’s mind, there was only one option: call on Divine Intervention. "Sinabi ko, kung di kaya ng mga doctor, si Lord ang bahala sa akin," comes the defiant answer. Also in her prayers was a fervent wish for the baby to be normal. Caring was mortally afraid of any complications because she was way past prime childbearing years.

"Kahit isa lang basta normal. Kung hindi normal, huwag na lang. Kawawa naman kung sakitin kasi matanda na ako. Sinong mag-aalaga?"

The answer came in the form of doctor friend Elmer Angus, who took a keen interest in helping the Seguerras achieve their hearts’ greatest desire.

However, Caring’s condition took a disturbing turn for the worse. "I began to get thinner," she reveals. "My puson was noticeably distended, and I began to worry that I might be sick. I didn’t have any morning sickness so I discounted the possibility that I was pregnant."

The couple went back to Dr. Angus, who gave Caring some medicine. If she didn’t have her period within a week, it meant that she was pregnant.

"I didn’t menstruate after a week, so I was advised to take a frog test at San Lazaro."

Lo and behold, she was pregnant.

"Ang laking tuwa ko," she recalls, her eyes lighting up. "Para akong sira ulo. Iba yung kaligayahan ko. After five years, I was pregnant!"

Caring called up Dick, who was so delirious with glee that he got lost on his way home from work.

On September 17, 1983, 43-year-old Caring gave birth to 7.5-lb. Cariza "Aiza" Yamson Seguerra.

Unfortunately, the trials didn’t stop there. Aiza had adverse reactions to her infant formulas–suffering from constant bouts of diarrhea, throwing up any sustenance. Consequently, Aiza was in and out the hospital, and it broke Caring’s heart to see her only child become skin and bones before her eyes. "Nakakaawa. Pati ulo kinabitan na ng dextrose," she says. "I’d tell her: ‘Aiza, ba’t gustong gusto mo sa ospital? Wag naman. Ikaw lang naman ang binigay sa amin. Ilaban mo.’"

During these trying months, Aiza didn’t sleep in a crib but on the chest of her mother who had prayed so long to have her. Caring would talk to her–willing her to get better.

And Aiza did.

Aiza was barely one when she became interested in books–not the standard coloring books of kids her age but reference books around the Seguerra household. "She talked before she walked," Caring shares. "You see, when we talked to her, we’d talk straight–not baby talk."

Caring would also let Aiza face the mirror to look at herself as she mouthed different words. Also, Aiza’s slumber was accompanied by classical music on the radio. "That’s probably where she got her love of music," Caring continues.

But to be fair, both parents are comfortable with song. Dick plays the piano and guitar, while Caring can sing.

At age 2 1/2, the Seguerras entered Aiza into a daycare center, where she was the youngest ward. "Nanghihinayang ako sa talino," says Caring. "In those days, one had to be at least five or six years old to enter school." She had wanted Aiza to sit in at kindergarten, but was not allowed to do so.

Aiza’s bubbly, loquacious character won her adulation at the center, and soon, people were asking Caring to enter her daughter in a pageant called Little Miss Philippines at the noontime show Eat Bulaga! But Caring wondered whether Aiza was just talkative because she knew the people in the daycare. How would she stand up to total strangers?

Aiza took a day off from school and was accompanied by Caring to the tape offices in Quezon City for an audition. After getting lost and finding out they were five hours too early, Caring persuaded the security guard to let them in and wait inside the compound.

That was where Aiza started to weave her magic.

She started talking to a lot of people–total strangers–and before long, Caring noticed a stream of employees issuing forth from the tape offices. She later discovered that these people were all eager to see the charming girl that was her daughter.

Aiza even struck up a conversation with Maru Sotto, flatly telling him: "Ang pogi pogi mo!"

Maru proudly declared to all: "Ang bata, di nagsisinungaling!" and gave Aiza 50 pesos. Her first professional fee, perchance?

For an encore, Aiza had tape boss Tony Tuviera drive her around the compound in his Mercedes Benz.

She had approached Tuviera and said: "Kayo po ba may ari nung chedeng?"

"Oo, bakit?" came the reply.

"Gusto ko pong sumakay sa chedeng, pano po bang sumakay?"

And so she then got the ride of her young life.

"I saw how she could charm people," narrates Caring. "People thought we were connected to Tito, Vic and Joey. The truth is, it’s just Aiza’s charisma and attitude."

That same charisma and attitude got the feisty Aiza into the grand finals of the Little Miss Philippines tilt, where she was crowned Little Miss Metro Manila.

A slew of movies, two music albums, TV appearances, plus three FAMAS awards were soon tucked proudly under young Aiza Seguerra’s belt. Still, Mommy Caring made her daughter value formal education, and so when the demands of high school at OB Montessori began to encroach on her showbiz schedule, the choice was simple and obvious.

Now, while Aiza still has that pair of intelligent eyes (although behind spectacles), she is not the barely-three tot who taught us to bow, eat vegetables and–somewhere along the way–love her, too. If anything, Aiza is asking us to love ourselves. While she has pulled off an amazing comeback, this time in the music industry, Aiza steadfastly clings to her principle of being true to oneself.

"Ang hirap maging hindi totoo sa sarili. It’s hard to please other people when you’re not happy with yourself," she says. Such words from an 18-year-old only mean that there is a happy pair of parents nearby.

"We taught her that we’re not here to make money at the expense of her character. I told her, ‘Kung kailangan nating magdildil ng asin, magdidildil tayo.’ Mabait na bata talaga yan, masunurin," says Caring.

That they have a 43-year gap is something that is not lost on Caring. But she has learned to work on the generation gap. Just like when she would speak to the sleeping infant Aiza on her chest then, she respects and loves her daughter now. "I see to it that we communicate. Wala akong tinatagong problema sa kanya. I want to know what she’s thinking about. I want to listen to her reasons. Ako ang nagko-cope. I adjust, because the gap is so big. Some people think I’m her grandmother, but that’s okay," she smiles.

That’s okay, indeed, because Aiza has grown up to be a well-adjusted and respectful lady. How many 18-year-olds do you know who can give good advice that moves others to tears? Aiza delivers talks to teens for the religious group Oasis of Love.

But Caring still gets to dote on her, and keeps tabs on Aiza wherever she is. "I give her freedom gradually," Caring shares.

Aiza has learned that you can’t please everybody. Never mind if they talk about your gender or how you dress. "Kung sa pananamit, dun s’ya kumportable. Bakit siya magse-sexy kung di naman bagay?" Mommy continues.

Intrigues? Who cares? Says Aiza, "It’s normal. It’s part of it. Kahit naman nasa opisina ka, may intriga. Tanggap na sa showbiz na pag pumasok ka, wala ka ng private life. It’s up to you kung malalagyan mo ng limitasyon ang paghihimasok sa ‘yo.

"When you’re in showbiz, you have to please people to the point na hindi na ikaw yun. Kaya nga mas gusto ko sa music. Tinanggap ako dahil they like my music."

Caring and Dick’s daughter looks the world in the eye and says: "I’m just an artist. I like what I do," sans the egotistical I-am-the-center-of-the-universe credo that many in her position are only too willing to think.

"I’d be a hypocrite to say that I’m not happy with what’s happening in my career, but I’m happier with the fact that even if it all goes away, I’d still have myself."