Former child actor Niño Muhlach opened up about his old life and his son Alonzo’s budding career on Tapatan ni Tunying last Thursday.

Dubbed as the Child Wonder of the Philippines, Niño shared that he was able to do 105 movies, in which 35 of them were his solo films.

“Naging Box Office King ako. Nagkaroon ako ng tatlong Famas awards. Halos lahat ng awards nakuha ko na rin,” he told host Anthony Taberna.

Remembering how he was discovered, Niño narrated, “Nadiscover talaga ako kay tito Ariel… Ureta, yung Ariel and Company After 6. Meron siyang TV show noon na naghahanap sila ng child star na co-host. Yung mommy ko, hindi niya nabasa yung fine print na dun sa auditions na female only. So nun dumating kami dito sa ABS, tablado kaagad ako. Ang ginawa ko, lumapit ako kay tito Ariel at sinabi ko, ‘tito Ariel, tito Ariel, look oh, I can do what they’re doing,’ kasi may mga batang babae na na nag-o-audition. Ako na yung pinapanood ng ibang mga magulang. Ako yung nakuha.”

Meanwhile, Niño’s son, Alonzo is also making a name in the industry. “Nung sumali kami nun sa… nung unang una talaga yung sa Bet On Your Baby. Tapos nanalo siya roon so maraming nakapansinsa kanya nun na magkamukha nga kaming dalawa nung bata ako. There was a time na kailangan ng PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) ng mga bata na pumasok para magkulit dun sa mga housemates, isa siya sa mga napili. Tapos eh maraming nakapansin sa kanya talaga dun sa PBB, parang siya yung parang nagstand-out,” Niño related on how he knew Alonzo was meant to enter showbiz.

Niño also revealed that he did not think twice about letting his son enter show business.

“Hindi kasi naging masama yung naging experience ko sa showbiz. Naging mabuti pa nga, nakatulong sa’kin, nakapag-ipon ako so bakit ko naman idedeprive yung anak ko na maexperience kung ano yung naexperience ko, di ba?” he said.

Even though Alonzo has appeared in three films already, he admitted that he does not read scripts yet but was able to memorize lines through coaching. Turning 5 years old this February, Alonzo still goes to school while accepting projects. Niño said he will eventually move his son to a morning class so he could still tape for a teleserye afterwards.

When host Anthony Taberna asked Alonzo what he wants to be when he grows up, he answered, “I like to be (a) garbage collector.” Niño laughed it off, saying that Alonzo said he wanted to be a doctor yesterday while the other day, he wanted to be a mailman.

As for being dubbed a ‘stage father,’ Niño said he is just concerned for his son’s welfare. “Hindi naman maiwasan na ang tatay eh maging concerned sa anak. We will always look up to his well being.” He also shared that he has opened a trust fund for Alonzo, the same thing his father did for him when he was a kid.

Speaking of his dad, Niño said that it was Alexander who taught him that fame is not forever. “Nung 8 years old pa lang ako, kasikatan ko pa lang, sobrang at the peak of my career, lagi niyang sinasabi sa’kin, ‘Niño, darating ang araw, mawawala lahat ‘yan. Kailangan pag dumating yung araw na yun, kailangan matutunan mong tanggapin. So nung dumating yung araw na yun, eh nakapaghanda ako.”

Niño hopes that his son will remake some of his films. “Yung Kwatog, 'yun kasi yung pinakamalakas kong pelikula,” he said.