Learning the ropes

CEBU, Philippines - This six-footer was all set to become a banker after securing a business degree from Ateneo. But before he could even plunge into the corporate jungle, the showbiz limelight lured him in. Mikael Daez has since joined the grind, adjusting to the long hours, filming in far-off locations, promoting his primetime series in regional road shows and sitting through press interviews. If this is just a temporary detour or he’s in it for the long haul is too early to tell. The newcomer is intently watching and learning though, because thrown into a cast of acting veterans in a big-budgeted series, he knows the only way to go is to improve and deliver.

Mikael had not once imagined becoming an actor. He was basically in love with basketball and Math, with zero interest in the arts. Early last year, he wanted to earn extra cash for a beach excursion with buddies. A pal then suggested he model for the upcoming Philippine Fashion Week for a quick buck. With his height, strong square jaws and chiseled physique, it was no stretch for him to get a spot and attract model agents after that runway debut.

Mercator Model & Artist Management, which handles the careers of Brapanese hunks Daniel Matsunaga, Akihiro Sato and Fabio Ide, plus Survivor Philippines standouts JC Tiuseco, Ervic Vijandre and Ian Batherson, signed him up in a heartbeat. What came next was a flurry of fashion shows, print ads and TVCs for big local brands.

“It was a whirlwind! I graduated March 2010, began modeling a month later, did a commercial in June, then next thing I knew I was auditioning for Amaya in October. In December, I was told it was a go. I said, are you guys sure? I was really surprised!” recounted the 23-year-old of his string of breaks, which other hopefuls wait years for to land.

In the currently airing GMA 7 historical-drama Amaya, Mikael is the second love interest to Marian Rivera’s title character, the first one being award-winning actor Sid Lucero. He plays Lumad, a tribe slave who is Amaya’s willing protector at all times. He had also hosted the GMA News TV travel-documentary show World Premiere and had just appeared on the big screen via the recent Temptation Island remake.

The second of eight siblings, Mikael mentions family with delight. His mom works as consultant in an ad agency, while his dad passed away seven years ago.

“We came one after the other, like one and a half years apart. I also have a lot of cousins. It’s really fun! They all support me. They laugh at me and tease me, but that’s normal, because if they entered showbiz, I would also do the same. They make going back home exciting and fun. Which is important, because after a long day, it’s nice to go home to a place where you can relax and have fun.”

These days, Mikael’s schedule doesn’t afford him to see his loved ones as often as he used to. For someone who enjoys being with family, this has been his biggest adjustment so far, not the prying and intrigues that come with celebrity. Even the sleep deprivation and endless waiting during tapings have been somewhat tolerable, because going through fashion events and commercial shoots softened the transition phase for him.

Mikael further revealed that he rarely watches TV. He would rather play video games or browse on sports news. His knowledge of showbiz details then was next to nil, and his impression of actors was that they had the easiest lives in the world. That notion took a complete turn-around when he came to see their real work up close.

“I thought they earned a million bucks just by sitting pretty in front of a camera. Now that I’m in it, my perspective changed because I see how hard the people work. My perfect example is Marian, as she’s the first one I got to know. In terms of work ethic, she’s a robot. And right off the bat, she was very supportive. For a newbie like me to be seated next to her in my first story conference, with her telling me, ‘Ok lang yan, akong bahala sa ‘yo. Tutulungan kita. Dapat ganito ka magbihis at magsalita. Relax ka lang…’ — that was such a big confidence-booster.”

With the realization that it isn’t all glamour, Mikael is directing all his energy into becoming a better actor. In fact, when asked about rumors that he and ABS-CBN actress Megan Young are an item, he claimed he won’t be dating anytime soon so he could focus on the tasks at hand.

He related, “The first time I met her was in an event last year. We don’t really go out. But I see her. She’s a good friend. Other people also grilled me about this. But I choose to concentrate on work now because nakakahiya naman if I focus on other things when they have been giving me so much in terms of projects. What a waste if I distract myself and not put my full attention in trying to improve and deliver. Nakakahiya naman if I party and date around.”

While pressure may be unnerving for some, Mikael considers it his motivation to do better the next time around. After brief feelings of intimidation are out of the way, he redirects his attention to picking up the best practices from castmates. He has also been seeking advice from an acting coach and from Sid himself.

“I’m working with veterans. I don’t have acting experience. All I have is the workshops I’ve been to. So after getting over being awestruck by the actors I’m with, I observe. Working with Sid, for instance, I really see his intensity and passion. I had a long talk with him, where he aired out his own experiences when he was new. I get carried away, and it’s nice to absorb from them because they love their job and they’re good at it,” Mikael disclosed.

He’s a fresh recruit and all, but he has already grasped that it won’t take looks alone to make him last in the limelight. “It doesn’t matter how good you look, the only thing that matters is how your acting goes. Because if they like how you act, then you might get picked up for another project and that’s all that matters — getting that next project and staying in the business.”

If for anything, that mentality is a good sign of things to come. (FREEMAN)