By YASMIN PASCUAL-DORMIDO
ABS-CBN Bacolod

Cedie looks like most pre-schoolers.

But aside from nursery rhymes, this five-year-old has an appetite for learning history and general information.

Christine, his mother, said Cedie became absorbed with learning the capitals of countries when he was barely two years old.

She helped him memorize the capitals of at least 10 countries a day, until he was able to memorize the capitals of 104 countries.

Christine: Israel?

Cedie: Jerusalem

Christine: Italy?

Cedie: Rome

Christine: Kenya?

Cedie: Nairobi

Christine: Kuwait?

Cedie: Kuwait City

Christine: Lebanon?

Cedie: Beirut.

Christine shares, "A shampoo commercial that he saw on TV sparked his interest. ‘What’s the capital of Zimbabwe?’ He asked me one time. Then, he said, ‘Mama I want to learn that! Arare!’ Everyday, he kept on saying Arare. Before he goes to sleep we would review all his notes. While cleaning the house he would approach me and ask me to help him review. He calls it his lesson."

Before going to sleep, his mom would help him review the seven days of the week, the 12 months of the year, the oceans, seven continents, nine planets among others.

That’s not all. The toddler can also name with ease the 14 Philippine presidents.

Cedie: 1. Emilio Aguinaldo

2. Manuel L. Quezon

3. Jose P. Laurel

4. Sergio Osmeña

5. Manuel A. Roxas

6. Elpidio Quirino

7. Ramon Magsaysay

8. Carlos P. Garcia

9. Diosdado Macapagal

10. Ferdinand E. Marcos

11. Corazon C. Aquino

12. Fidel V. Ramos

13. Joseph Estrada

14. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

He is already familiar with the seven ancient wonders of the world.

Cedie: 1. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

2. The Pyramids of Egypt at Giza

3. The Colossus of Rhodes

4. The Lighthouse of Alexandria

5. The Statue of Zeus of Olympia

6. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

7. The Mausoleum of Halicarnasus

And the boy is quick to add, "The Banaue Rice Terraces."

"Our neighbors who are high school students would come to our house and let Cedie answer their assignments in history," Christine said.

Cedie is on his third week learning simple addition, on top of knowing how to write his name. With the aid of his fingers, he adds and subtracts single digit figures.

Yasmin: Who invented the telephone?

Cedie: Alexander Graham Bell.

Yasmin: Who is the founder of the KKK?

Cedie: Andres Bonifacio

Yasmin: Who is our national hero?

Cedie: Dr. Jose Rizal.

Yasmin: What is the smallest fish?

Cedie: Pandaca Pygmea!

The toddler has not yet gone to nursery nor to any day-care class but has shown an exceptional interest in general information and history.

The Internet has become his best friend as it helps him absorb a loadful of information in minutes.

Christine said, " He can't wait to go to school that's why he always asks me and his grandmother to help him learn a few things everyday."

"He can already write and recite the alphabet from A-Z," Christine proudly shared.

"The toddler is eager to learn and always learns fast," his mother continued.

Christine plans to have his son take an IQ exam and checked by a psychologist so that she will be able to know how to help his son with his gift.