Juliana, unlike her mother, is not too fond of jewelry. "She's not as mahilig," says Lucy. "Maybe it's her age." What Juliana likes is anything and everything that comes in pink. "When we went to Singapore, all she wanted was pink bedsheets and Hello Kitty."
Lucy says Juliana is already asserting her right to wear clothes of her own choice. "Wala na akong magawa," Lucy says, shaking her head. For this pictorial, Lucy makes sure that she has brought with her all the dresses that Juliana ordinarily won't wear. "Like 'yan, ayaw niyang suotin 'yang binili ko na 'yan. Dinala ko lang kasi alam ko mapapasuot ko kahit dito lang sa shoot. Pero mahilig siya sa dresses. Gusto niya sleeveless, backless—depende sa phase."
According to Lucy, she looked exactly like her daughter when she was Juliana's age. But when it comes to attitude, Juliana undergoes character shifts, depending on who she is with at any given moment.
"'Yong mga activities niya kasi, sa Daddy niya, 'yong Richard na Richard—'yong brusko. Pag kami ang magkasama, babaeng-babae siya. Mahilig siya sa art, saka magkakalikot ng gamit—ako 'yan."
Asked if she wants a baby brother or sister, Juliana vigorously shakes her head and replies in a whisper: "No." When we relay this to Lucy (who, along with husband Richard Gomez, has been working hard to give Juliana a sibling), the mother also shakes her head, ruefully. "Sabi niya sa inyo?" Lucy asks back. "Sabi ko nga ba. Nasanay nang mag-isa, e. But sometimes she says she likes. And then she's very close to the brother of her best friend. She's very nurturing when there are smaller kids in the house. Gusto niya, siya ang nag-aalaga. But parang gusto niya, ano lang, may day-off siya sa ganoon. Hindi constant. Gusto niya pasulpot-sulpot lang."
Juliana's attending flamenco dance classes was her own decision. "Nakikita niya kasi ako," says Lucy, who's more than happy to support her daughter's interest in the terpsichorean art.
But Juliana's long-time nanny, Yaya Lita, adds: "Nahinto muna siya. Kasi napapagod. Kasi nagsa-soccer din siya."
For a kid her age, the hyperactive Juliana already has a very hectic schedule. In fact, on the date set for this pictorial, Juliana had first to attend her music recital at The Podium in Pasig City, where she played the violin, in the company of other kids from different private schools. One of the pieces she played at the recital was "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
Now that school is on semestral break, the musically inclined Juliana intends to busy herself with piano lessons.
Though an only child for six years now, Juliana is not a spoiled brat, according to Lucy.
"Like when we go to, kunwari, Toy Kingdom, she's hindi matakaw sa toys. Kasi, even when she was young, we trained her na one toy lang. Like, if it's her birthday, ‘Sige, choose one toy.' So, iikutin niya ang buong store, and then she'll just choose one.
"So we don't have that problem with her na when we're in the mall, she'll throw a tantrum and ‘I wanna buy this! I wanna buy that!'
"That was my nightmare talaga. God forbid, nasa mall ako, 'tapos I'm trailing a screaming child: ‘Mommy buy this!' Takot ko lang. Embarrassing, kasi parang, ‘Pa'no mo pinalaki 'yan?' It's really a reflection on you, di ba?
"Ayokong ma-spoiled. Basta alam niya, one in, one out. Otherwise, wala na siyang space, 'no?"
