WHAT keeps Pinoys closer to home? Why the Pinoy channels , of course. If kababayans abroad glue themselves to Willie Revillame’s Wowowee, they should be just as enamored of GMA Pinoy TV’s Bubble Gang, the longest-running comedy and gag show in the Philippines.

Credit part of the show’s longevity to creative director and castmate Michael V. He not only dreams up his parodies, he is equally convincing bringing them to zany life. Take his take on current commercials, melodramas, hit songs, showbiz issues and yes, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. As a bonus to fans, Michael V also has a hilarious new his audio-video CD entitled Michael V: Bubble Gang Anthology.

Michael V, or Bitoy as he’s also called (his real name’s Beethoven!), is also the beloved daddy of three kids. In a business known for overworking stars who neglect their kids as a result, Michael V has an unusual fathering style.

Hands-on dad
Bitoy has three kids: the eldest, Milo, is 13 years old; Yanni, the only girl, will be 9 this September; and Migo, the bunso, is 4. He and his wife are open to have another child if they’ll be so blessed.

In a scale of 1 to 10, Bitoy rates his feelings on being a father as “20,” adding “masarap maging tatay.” He said the family recent trip to the U.S. for a vacation only confirmed what he already felt.

In the run-up to this vacation, he gave his kids fair warning and a reason to be overjoyed.. “Pasensya na kayo, magbabakasyon tayo e. Sunud-sunod muna trabaho ko. Kasi kailangang mag-ipon ng mga episodes ng advance. Pagdating natin sa States, 100% sa inyo na ako.”

One hundred percent meant that whenever they’d go out, he took care of the kids and let his wife do as she pleased. While this can be overwhelming to a parent who isn’t sanay, Bitoy said the arrangement suited him perfectly since he also likes to hang out in the places his kids preferred to go – toy stores, bookstores, the arcade.

Noisy, artistic and a mini-me
He described his eldest as quiet but always smiling, a person with deep thoughts. His second as someone “very artistic.” And the bunso as the noisy one, “the small Bitoy.”

He and wife don’t ask their kids to be like Dad. They encourage them to be what they want to be. “Strive hard kung ano ang gusto nilang maging,” Bitoy explains. Milo wants to be a doctor, “I encourage him, give him books, medicine-related video games.”

Yanni loves music, “so ayun, piano siya, guitar,” he says.” Gusto raw niya sa gymnastics, so sige lang.”

His smallest? “Ewan, gusto yata maging presidente ng Pilipinas. Lahat kami pinupulitiko,” Bitoy replies with a wide grin.

He knows his kids well because evidently, giving his kids a huge percentage of his time is a crucial Daddy Bitoy to-do.

Bitbit pati bata
In fact, starting from when Milo, his eldest, was just a year old, Bitoy would always take his children with him whenever his job brought him out of town or even abroad. “I never got used to the idea of leaving for a long time without bringing my kids along,” he said. “Since nagagawan naman ng paraan na maisama sila, isinasama ko na. Kung hindi magagawaan ng paraan hindi ko naman ipipilit. As long as kaya, na palagi namang nangyayari. Ginagawa ko, mas secured ako.”

Because of this constant bonding with the kids, Bitoy never found it a huge problem to act, sing, dance and dress like a gay in his shows and music videos. With his habit of bringing the kids along, he’s able to show them that his work requires him to play-act, as other actors do, too.

In fact, his eldest son, Milo, was once asked by a barber, “Who’s your daddy?” The boy replied: “Beethoven.” The barber said, “Oh, isn’t he Michael V?” Milo explained: “Oh, that’s his work.” And that, said Bitoy, was correct.

BITOY’S DADDY TIPS
•Quantity time, not the so-called quality time, is needed. The more hours you spend with the kids, the better. Basta nandyan ka, lalaking matino ang anak mo. Nadi-develop ang quality time kung marami kang oras sa kanila. Quantity is equivalent to quality.

•Listen to your children, always maintain a common ground. When they talk to you, go to their eye-level. Umupo o dumapa ka, hindi maganda yung nakatingala sila sa iyo habang nag-uusap kayo.

•I’m not really following any “parenting school of thought.” Basta balikan mo kabataan mo, isipin mo lahat ng gusto mo na sana’y ginawa sa iyo ng magulang mo, iyon ang gawin mo para sa mga anak mo. Pareho rin ng mga ginawa ng tatay mo na gusto ninyo, gawin mo sa mga anak mo.