Czarina Faith Abuso

Michael V. shares personal story behind his passion for toy collecting

Article (news)

E. Kristhoff Cagape

Push Team

<p>Michael V., also known as Bitoy, opened up about the deeply personal reason behind his passion for toy collecting, revealing that it stems from a childhood where toys were a luxury his family couldn’t afford.</p><p>In an interview with Bernadette Sembrano in her latest YouTube vlog, Bitoy looked back on how his love for toys began not with ownership, but with a sense of longing.</p><p>&quot;I grew up without these things na alam mo &#x27;yun, gusto ng maraming bata, let&#x27;s say for example toys, video games,&quot; he shared. &quot;Growing up I remember na meron akong kapitbahay o kalaro na meron siyang <em>Voltes V </em>na toy dati tapos siyempre wala naman kaming pambili, gustong-gusto ko magkaroon. Tapos I ended up creating my own out of mga lumang tsinela so nakaka-cope ako dun ako sa mga inggit na nararamdaman ko nun,&quot; he recounted.</p><p>Eventually, his mother bought him a small <em>Voltes V</em> toy, one he described as no bigger than a matchbox but priceless in his eyes.</p><p>&quot;Until ibinili ako ng nanay ko ng <em>Voltes V </em>na akala ko &#x27;yun na &#x27;yung hinahanap ko, hindi pala. Parang match box, ang liit, eh &#x27;yun lang ang afford  namin eh. But for me talagang ang precious nun,&quot; he said.</p><p>Years later, after losing the toy during a family move, he searched for and purchased the exact same model to remind himself of his roots whenever he feels down or disconnected.</p><p>&quot;Nawala na &#x27;yun kasi there was a time nung umalis kami ng tenement, sila lang &#x27;yung naglipat ng gamit eh so hindi ko natutukan so I ended up buying another one exactly like that na parang kapag ka nade-depress ako or feeling ko gusto kong maramdaman ulit &#x27;yung joy na naramdaman ko dati, hinahawakan ko lang siya, tinitingnan-tingnan ko ng ganun at bumabalik na lahat &#x27;yung memories ng naging buhay mo dun sa tenement,&quot; he relayed. </p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHP_QSORLnU/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A1848523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1185" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Bitoy also recalled how his creativity was shaped by the lack of access to store-bought toys. Instead, he and his father would craft their own.</p><p>&quot;Growing up without the proper resources para sa pagbili ng mga laruan, dapat marunong kang gumawa. So ang tatay ko ang ginagawa niya nun, &#x27;yung kahon ng sigarilyo, &#x27;yun ang ginagawa niyang laruan so magdro-drawing siya ng mga superheroes dun, icu-cut out namin, parang paper dolls, &#x27;yun na &#x27;yung figures ko,&quot; he recounted.</p><p>Eventually, when his father was at work and unable to make the toys himself, Bitoy began to explore his own artistic skills.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Pag &#x27;yung tatay ko nasa trabaho, siyempre wala namang gagawa nun for me so natuto akon gumawa, natutu akong mag-drawing, natuto akong mag-crafts,&quot; he said.</p><p>Today, Bitoy owns an impressive collection of toys and video games.</p>

<p>Michael V., also known as Bitoy, revealed the deeply personal story behind his passion for toy collecting.</p>

Michael V., also known as Bitoy, revealed the deeply personal story behind his passion for toy collecting.