MANILA -- OPM icon Freddie Aguilar, the 60-year-old folk singer behind the hit "Anak," might encounter problems in his controversial relationship with his 16-year-old-girlfriend due to the large age gap, a psychiatrist said on Friday.
"Ang dilemma kasi diyan siyempre iba 'yung takbo ng isip ng isang menor de edad at saka sa isang may edad na. Magkaiba ang maturity, nandoon 'yung kakaiba ang henerasyon," Dr. Bernadette M. Arcena, an adult psychiatrist from St. Luke's Medical Center, said in an interview with Ogie Diaz on radio DZMM's "Mismo."
"Ang epekto nito ay siyempre 'yung isang mas bata nandoon pa din 'yung sense of 'yung hindi pa siya mature enough na maintindihan ang takbo sa buhay, lalo na 'yung responsibility kapag magkaroon na siya ng baby. Siyempre ang level ng kanyang stability ay iba pa at ang age na 'yan ay nag-aaral pa, nagkakaroon pa lang ng first love. Sabihin natin na batang bata pa," she said.
Arcena said this age gap will affect how the couple will handle adjustments and responsibilities in their relationship.
"Sa isang nai-in love kasi, sasabihin nila na walang pinipiling edad kapag tumibok ang puso. Siyempre talagang kilig to the bones yan kapag na-in love ka," he said.
"Kapag tumagal, ano na kaya ang mangyayari? Kaya bang i-sustain ang relasyon? Kaya bang tiisin ng matanda ang kanyang pag-adjust sa ugali ng mas bata?" she asked.
Asked of her advice to couples in such a situation, Arcena said: "Para sa akin kailangan din nilang malaman kung kaya ba nilang i-sustain, kahit magkaiba ang kanilang age gap. Para sa akin kung saan ka masaya, well, you can give it a try pero kailangan handa ka sa responsibilities at pagsubok na darating sa ganitong klaseng relasyon."
The psychiatrist also urged the minor's parents to continue guiding their daughter and to always be there to give support.
"Sa magulang naman ituloy nila 'yung paggabay doon kahit sabihin nating nakagawa na sila ng desisyon. Kailangan handa sila sa ups and downs just like any other relationship," she said.
In the interview, the expert also admitted that Aguilar's newest relationship is not conventional but no one has the right to judge their love for each other.
"Hindi natin masabi na abnormal din, hindi natin masabi na ayos lang ito kasi siyempre kung titignan natin it is very individually speaking, hindi tayo makakahusga sa kanila, for me. Kasi wala tayong karapatan magsabi na 'o ganito yan, ganyan.' Alam mo naman dalawa silang nagmahal siguro may nakita sila sa isa't isa kaya gusto nilang magmahalan," she said.
"Hindi kasi siya tradisyunal na nakikita natin na ilang taon lang ang agwat ng pagitan ng babae sa lalaki. Kaya siyempre news yon dahil sa laki ng kanilang agwat," the doctor added.
In an interview with ANC's "Headstart" on Friday, the "Anak" hitmaker said he is unfazed by criticisms that he is dating a minor, as he revealed plans to marry her soon even before she turns 18.
He also said he is ready to face anything that may come because of his love for the young girl.
"They can persecute me pero tumingin kayo sa paligid niyo mas marami pa ang matitindi ang ginagawa kaysa sa akin. These are also popular people. They brag about their wealth and their wives. Ako, wala akong maraming asawa at maraming wealth na pinagyayabang. Ang asawa ko ay tatlo at pwede niyo silang tanungin kung naging masama akong asawa sa kanila. Ngayon na-in love ako sa pang-apat," he said.
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/10/18/13/psychiatrist-gives-advice-aguilar-girlfriend
