MIKE TAN won in the second edition of Starstruck in 2005. His female counterpart, Ryza Cenon, chose to leave GMA, had a baby and is now mising in action.
Mike has been a loyal Kapuso and he’s thankful that he’s been given lead roles in many soaps through the years, like “Legacy”, “Mga Basang Sisiw”, “The Rich Man’s Daughter”, “Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka” and “Ika-6 na Utos”.
Now, he plays a villain role in the new GMA Afternoon Prime soap, “Artikulo 247”.
“I play Julian, secret boyfriend na partner in crime ni Kris Bernal as Claire,” he says. “I help her to get into relationships with rich men na kinukuwartahan namin.
"One of them is Mark Herras, na brother ni Benjamin Alves, with her using a new identify as Carmen. Pero muntik na siyang mabisto nang ang girlfriend ni Ben, si Rhian Ramos, recognized her as Claire, the killer of her former husband na si Victor Silayan.”
Doesn’t he mind playing kontrabida now? “Not at all. The key of staying long in this business is for you to be versatile enough to play all sorts of role. Ang importante, makilala ka ng viewers as someone na magaling kahit anong role ang ibigay sa iyo.”
He co-stars with Mark Herras in the show and they’re now both fathers.
“Yes, pareho na kaming family men. Hirap na hirap siya kasi locked in taping kami and it’s his first time. E, ako, pangatlo ko na ito. Una ko was ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ with Glaiza de Castro.
"Then we were taping ‘Live Die Repeat’ with Jennylyn Mercado, but she got pregnant so shelved muna yun. Buti nga’t habang shelved yun, nabigyan naman ako nitong ‘Artikulo 247’ as kapalit na project.”
But even if it’s his third locked in taping, he still missed his family so much.
“Siguro dahil mas close na kami ngayon ng two daughters ko, lalo yung bunso, my second daughter, na lagi raw hinahanap si daddy.”
When he taped “Nagbabagang Luha”, he was all afire to work.
“Kasi matagal akong nabakante because of the pandemic. So na-missed kong magtrabaho at umarte sa harap ng kamera.
"But now, mas matindi ang longing mo for your family, for my wife and our kids, missed na missed ko sila kasi bale two legs ang taping namin ng “Artikulo 247’ na 30 days each leg. So nakaka-miss talaga yung pakikipaglaro at bonding ko sa kanila.”
He’s happy that restrictions have been eased and now, some shows are already taping like before, without restrictions.
“Hindi na raw locked in, nag-uuwian na sila. So sana, magtuloy-tuloy. Kasi it’s so hard to be away from home, being separated from your family even if you know you’re doing it as a sacrifice kasi you have to provide for them.”
Mike got married to his showbiz wife in January 2018. Their first born, Victoria, was born in December 2018 and the second one, Priscilla, was bon on February 16, 2020.
“Buti nga, natapos yung locked in taping sa Batangas ng February 23, so nakabalik ako sa bahay in time for the second birthday of Priscilla.”
Mike describes himself as a doting father.
“Basically, talagang certified homebody ako. I help my wife around the house, wash the dishes, ganun. Noong locked down, I enjoyed spending all my time with my wife and our kids.
"We play together and, at night, I read them stories before they sleep. I want to be hands on as a dad and see them as they grow up.”
