#RelatableAF: 8 Things That Were Part of Every Batang ’90s Childhood

The ’90s are memorable for many reasons. There was the music, iconic TV shows, and hip trends that are now coming back. It was a time when social media wasn’t even a thing. While it’s impossible to turn back time,  it’s always fun to reminisce about the good old days. In this list, we’ve rounded up some of the things Pinoy ’90s babies could relate to. Do you remember any of them?

Artista notebooks

Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal, and Piolo Pascual are only some of the most recognizable faces you’d see in artista notebooks. If you haven’t seen one, think of a bad Photoshop, questionable fonts, and loud colors, and you’re there. Sure, these spiral notebooks look quite meme-worthy now, but they were just the norm back in the day. 

Teks, marbles, and paper dolls

Teks, marbles, and paper dolls may seem old-fashioned to some, but they were childhood collectibles of Pinoy ’90s kids. You could buy them at the nearest sari-sari store, wet markets, or outside the schools. ~*Pokémon cards, who?*~ 

Fun snacks

The Original Lumpia Shanghai, Iced Gem Biscuits, and Sweet Corn are only some of the O.G batang ’90s snacks. They tasted so good, especially when you eat them with your friends after hours of playing. If you haven’t tried any of these classic Pinoy snacks, it’s never too late to enjoy them now!

Plastic balloons

Before we were freaking out about chemicals in our Pancit Canton, we had already been ingesting even more questionable substances for years. Take, for instance, the plastic balloons that were huge in the ‘90s. They certainly weren’t food, but we still stuck them in our mouths without giving them a second thought.

No birthday party was complete without a goodie bag with one or two of these babies, and kids would hold contests on who could make the largest balloon. It looks easy, but to blow a huge balloon, you would need a lot of air, patience, and serious skills.

Walkman

Before smartphones and Spotify existed, walking the streets with a Walkman in hand was a common sight. Powered by two batteries, the portable cassette player was a brainchild of Sony and was a huge breakthrough in the music industry. The Walkman is so iconic that some people still buy vintage Walkmans to this day for their collection. 

The infamous trio: hanger, belt, and slippers

As a ’90s kid, you know you did something really bad once your parents reached for a hanger, slippers, or worse, a belt. Whether you refused to take your afternoon nap or snuck outside to play with friends, getting disciplined with any of these was bound to teach you a lesson or two. This disciplinary approach is frowned upon these days, but many ’90s kids can still recall their funny encounters with these household items. 

Tamagotchi

Ah, the days when keeping your Tamagotchi alive was your only responsibility. This egg-shaped toy made a lot of responsible (virtual) pet owners in the ’90s, and we can still remember the anguish once our beloved alien pets bit the dust. In 2019, Bandai America gave the brand a facelift, renaming it Tamagotchi On. The new version of the toy comes with a full-color screen and a feature to interact with other Tamagotchi On devices. 

Video rentals

Newer generations won’t understand how lucky they are to have access to streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Renting a VHS tape was the best way ’90s kids could get to watching the movies they wanted to see. Our weekly visits to Video City/ACA Video/the corner video store played a huge role in our formative years. Although video rental stores are now a thing of the past, they’ll always be in our hearts.

What do you remember the most about the ’90s? Comment down below.

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