Seizing the day

 A year and three months ago, I entered GMA Network fully aware of the fact that I had absolutely zero acting background, barely had any showbiz know-how and did not know the ins and outs of the business. One movie, two teleseryes and countless workshops later, the opportunity of a lifetime finally arrived — I finally got my big break. It’s pretty common knowledge that most of the people in the industry are always looking for that elusive opportunity and I’m just happy that mine is finally here.

Just a few months ago, GMA executives broke the news to me that I would be the leading man in Sana ay Ikaw Na Nga. It is a remake of an extremely popular series that aired a decade ago. It was one of the longest running programs ever created by the network and for them to entrust the responsibility of remaking it to me was and is a great honor.

At first, my reaction to the news wasn’t out of the ordinary. I was giddy and smiling from ear to ear, as I tried not to let my emotions explode in front of the executives. But a few days later, when everything had sunk in, I had also started to feel the pressure and weight of the task before me. After struggling through the roller-coaster ride of emotions that followed the breaking news, I found that one realization stood out — this was my chance to prove that all my sweat and hardwork was worth it.

As production for the show ramped up and our staff laid out our insanely hectic plans for the coming months, I knew it was going to be exhausting and uncomfortable. We had out-of-town trips every weekend with taping days booked three times a week. This schedule was not for the weak! I knew that there were going to be days that sleep would be the last priority on my things to do and I would have to put my social life and even family life on hold. However, I just told myself that this was the perfect time to seize the day! These opportunities don’t come by all the time so I should strike while the iron is hot. Besides, it’s not like my family, friends and bed would be permanently removed from my life anyway.

So far, Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga has just finished airing its first two weeks. We got awesome reviews from viewers around the Philippines and our TV ratings have also been great. All in all, everything that could go right seems to be falling into place but surprisingly, that’s only half of what makes me feel so fulfilled about the project. The other half comes from the joy of the work itself. The people I work with, from the cast to the staff to everyone part of the crew, have made this project extremely fulfilling. With each day, I can feel and see our chemistry growing and it really lightens the mood on the set. As for our finished product, it’s a group effort that we put together so we can bring color and life to this soap. Everybody on the set is inspired to do their roles well and I think it really translates into quality material whenever our show airs.

Quite honestly, the journey leading up to this point in my life has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve grown up so much and learned from every single person that I’ve met along the way. I admit that there have been many times when I have felt overwhelmed or out of place. I did have moments when I felt all my work was going to waste and I was focusing on the wrong things. But at the end of the day, I’m just glad that I had people around me who cared enough to remind me to keep on pushing for my goals. We just need to have a little faith in those around us and in ourselves.

Another thing that makes me happy is that I can share this experience with everyone because it’s a testament that hard work and perseverance do matter.

On that note, I invite everyone to continue my journey with me. There’s so much more to do and you can follow my every step through my show, blog or this weekly column. As cheesy as it may sound, I want to cap this off by saying thank you to everyone and anyone who has been and will be a part of my journey. I’ve always believed that I can never say thank you enough for my blessings and I intend to follow through on that.

(Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga is shown weekdays on GMA Afternoon Prime, after Hindi Ka na Mag-iisa. Weekly updates are posted on my personal blog www.mikaeldaez.com. You can also follow me on Twitter: @mikaeldaez)