SHE was the Drew Barrymore of the Philippines, a child wonder who endeared everyone with her antics in Bunsong Querubin and Halimaw sa Banga. Her famous line, “Takot ako, eh,” became a byword that went for decades. She had the world in her hands. She had projects here and there. She was a FAMAS Best Child Actress awardee. And her pedigree had her predesigned to live in the fast and furious world of show business.

But like Drew Barrymore, Ma. Nora Ana Theresa “Matet” de Leon was growing up to be a rebellious child. Her Superstar mother decided to pull her out of the limelight. Then she was called “Laos” and her self-esteem plummeted.

We stalked the former child star inside the GMA7 compound as she loitered outside the studio where she was due to tape an episode of the morning talk show, Sis. She was with her husband, former NU Bulldogs cager John Michael “Mickey” Estrada, and she had arrived on time. We asked her what their topic was. “Buhay may-asawa raw,” she said, obviously clueless about what the show’s writers had in mind. We followed her inside Studio 3 to watch the taping.

The talk show’s hosts, sisters Janice and Gelli de Belen, and Carmina Villaroel, asked questions such as “Sinong mas madalas mangalabit?” “Sinong mas maingay?” and “Kailan nyo huling ginawa at saan?” Years ago, Matet would have gamely answered the questions without batting an eyelash. But as we watched her from our seats, we could tell that Matet has mellowed as she sheepishly answered each question with much tact.

“Nag-init ang tenga ko sa mga tanong,” she admitted when we approached her after the taping. Indeed, the usually tactless Matet has learned how to be more in control of herself. Now 23, she exudes a more mature aura. Is motherhood the culprit?

“Napagisip-isip din ako,” she told us when she and her husband agreed to sit with us at the GMA waiting area.
“Ngayon meron nang nakaasa sa amin na tao, nakaasa sa akin ‘yung buhay nila,” she said of her children, two and a half year old Mika and one-month old Mishka. Their second child, a boy they had named Miguel, died five days after he was born.

The Taming of Matet

“Hindi talaga ako masama,” Matet explained. “Pero ang gulo ng utak ko noon. Lahat ng pumasok sa utak ko, sige gawin ko na lang. Kung anuman ang mangyari, kung anuman kalabasan niya, I didn’t care noong mga panahon na ‘yun.”

“Ang dami kong kahihiyang pinaggagagawa,” she admitted.

Then she met Mickey. It was a whirlwind affair that ended in marriage seven months after they met. Their 2004 church wedding was very emotional, with Matet bawling as she walked down the aisle when she saw parents Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon together again after so many years.

What advice did Guy and Boyet give her about marriage?

“Actually pareho sila ng payo,” a wide-eyed Matet told us. “Nang malaman ng Daddy ko na buntis ako, kinausap niya ako sa phone. Sabi niya, ‘Sundin mo lang asawa mo.’”

“Tapos nag-usap kami ng mommy ko, ‘yun din ang sinabi niya pero hindi naman sila nag-usap ng Daddy ko kung anong sasabihin nila sa akin,” Matet said with astonishment.

Sumusunod ba?

“Eh kung hindi siya sumusunod,” 24-year old Mickey started in a very serious tone, “Eh ‘di hindi ko siya paglalaba, maglalaba siya ng sarili niyang damit. Hindi ko siya pagpaplantsa, hindi ko siya pagluluto.” Sweet.

Learning from experience

These days, Matet is looking forward to bagging a regular showbiz gig. But she’s oh-so-in-touch with reality that she told us that, though self-deprecating, she’s not aspiring to be the bida. “Manonood ka ba kung si Matet de Leon ang bida? Hindi ba hindi? Ako din hindi eh.” She told us, though, that she wants to play more challenging roles. “Parang character actress.”

Based on her experience, wasn’t it difficult growing up with a showbiz mother?

“Busy kasi ang mommy ko dati, so parang hindi namin siya nakikita, wala siyang oras sa amin,” Matet recalled. “Ako, gusto ko ma-enjoy nila (children) ‘yung kasama nila kami kasi parang hindi ko nakuha ‘yun sa nanay ko. Gusto ko iba ‘yung sa kanila, lagi nila kaming kasama. Hands on. As in bawat (bagay) sa buhay nila nandun kami, makita namin kung paano nila ginawa ito, paano nila natutunan ito. ‘Yung mga firsts nila, gusto ko alam namin.”

Besides, Matet seems more determined to work now because Mika is growing up and they now have a second daughter to raise. Actually, the couple is already planning to send Mika to school this coming June.

“Nung ma-realize kong mag-aaral na, lumalaki na, nadagdagan na kami, parang natakot ako. Hindi ko naman puwedeng pabayaan. So naisip ko paano namin pag-aaralin, paano pa namin siya magagawang maging mas mabuting tao, paano siya mapapalaki nang maayos.”

Would they allow their children to enter showbiz?

“Ako susuportahan ko ha kung gustong mag-artista ng mga anak ko, ewan ko rito sa katabi ko,” Matet remarked while looking at Mickey, who was shaking his head and saying, “Ayoko.”

But both agreed that Mika, who is a spitting image of Matet when she was still a tyke, is as bibo and ma-showbiz as her mother. The proud mother shared with us how Mika would tell her, “Mama, pakinggan mo ako, oh” and sing her a song. Little Mika also liked seeing her parents on TV. One time, Mika told Matet, “Ang ganda ganda mo Mama oh.”

Despite Mickey’s current objections to her daughter’s possible entry into showbiz, he softened his stand by saying, “Kung makakatulong sa personality niya, ‘yung hindi makakasira. Kapag nakita kong responsible siya, nagagawa niya ‘yung dapat niyang gawin, alam niya anong ipa-prioritize niya, saka ko lang siguro siya papayagan. Pero kung alanganin, hindi talaga ako papayag.”

Conservative mom

Since Matet herself was young when she had a boyfriend, would she allow her daughters to have a boyfriend at an early age as well?

“Ayoko,” Matet hastily replied. “Parang hindi ko makitang okay sa akin ‘yung ganun. Pero siyempre kailangan kong aralin eh. Lumalaki na nga anak ko di ba,magki-kinder na siya.”

Mickey, on the other hand, is more open but added, “Depende kung mabilis umilag ‘yung boyfriend.”

“Hindi totoo ‘yung 18 o kaya pagkatapos mong mag-college (at saka puwedeng mag-boyfriend), hindi totoo ‘yun,” Matet asserted.

“Hindi siya totoo, hindi siya realistic. Pero as much as possible ‘yun ang gusto natin,” Mickey told her.

She shot back, “Hindi nga puwede ‘yun,” then faced us, “Nag-away kami?” She then ended it with, “Tatanggapin na lang namin pero ngayon, ngayon ha, ayoko. Kung puwede lang ‘wag na mag-boyfriend ‘wag na.”

Mickey again added, “Lahat kasi ng magulang ‘yun ang gusto. Pero in reality hindi talaga posible.”

Oh well. Kids with kids.

Despite their objections, the couple said that they would support their children in all their endeavors. But if she could have it her way, Matet would rather see Mika become a lawyer. And a beauty queen. And a lot of other good things.

“May mga dreams na ako for them. May mga goal na ako,” Matet mused. “Mas nagkaroon ng direksyon.”?

Matet’s husband works for Devine Communications which is offering Tawag na Direct, a low-cost long-distance call and text service provider. To know more about Tawag na Direct, call 1-800-760-4748 and look for Mickey Estrada.