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.

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.

"I grew up without these things na alam mo 'yun, gusto ng maraming bata, let's say for example toys, video games," he shared. "Growing up I remember na meron akong kapitbahay o kalaro na meron siyang Voltes V 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," he recounted.

Eventually, his mother bought him a small Voltes V toy, one he described as no bigger than a matchbox but priceless in his eyes.

"Until ibinili ako ng nanay ko ng Voltes V na akala ko 'yun na 'yung hinahanap ko, hindi pala. Parang match box, ang liit, eh 'yun lang ang afford  namin eh. But for me talagang ang precious nun," he said.

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.

"Nawala na 'yun kasi there was a time nung umalis kami ng tenement, sila lang '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 'yung joy na naramdaman ko dati, hinahawakan ko lang siya, tinitingnan-tingnan ko ng ganun at bumabalik na lahat 'yung memories ng naging buhay mo dun sa tenement," he relayed. 

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.

"Growing up without the proper resources para sa pagbili ng mga laruan, dapat marunong kang gumawa. So ang tatay ko ang ginagawa niya nun, 'yung kahon ng sigarilyo, 'yun ang ginagawa niyang laruan so magdro-drawing siya ng mga superheroes dun, icu-cut out namin, parang paper dolls, 'yun na 'yung figures ko," he recounted.

Eventually, when his father was at work and unable to make the toys himself, Bitoy began to explore his own artistic skills.

"'Pag 'yung tatay ko nasa trabaho, siyempre wala namang gagawa nun for me so natuto akon gumawa, natutu akong mag-drawing, natuto akong mag-crafts," he said.

Today, Bitoy owns an impressive collection of toys and video games.