MANILA, Philippines - Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix first made their mark as a loveteam when they were paired in the GMA fantasy series Paroa. Their team-up became so successful that the Kapuso Network had them topbilling another soap in Niño. They again hit it big this year with Once Upon a Kiss.
But off-cam, Bianca, 15, and Miguel, 16 — also known as BiGuel — act more like buddies. Bianca doesn’t mind if Miguel often teases her whenever she buckles and forgets her lines during their scenes together.
“Mas madalas s’yang napipikon sa akin,” said Bianca before ascending the stage for The STAR’s 29th anniversary celebration last Wednesday.
Instead of taking offense, Miguel said, “Hindi kaya, ikaw ang mas pikon.” He admitted to always tickling Bianca whenever she’s in sleeveless top.
The ribbing is so natural, you find yourself laughing at them.
Kidding aside, Bianca shared that Miguel is nice and a gentleman. “We get along really well now unlike before when we first met. I called him suplanget kasi suplado s’ya but later on, I found out I was wrong.”
Miguel, on the other hand, said, “Honestly before, I thought she was a snob because her eyes were so sharp whenever she looked at me (then, he looked at Bianca sharply and laughed). I find her beautiful and caring. She never fails to bring food for me on the set.”
And that’s what makes them click. Bianca and Miguel are friends off-cam. The two have been loveteam mates for four years now.
“Perhaps, what makes us also click together is we never pretend to be matured or ipakitang nag-ho-holding hands just to tell everybody that we are a sweet loveteam.”
Their past TV shows may have been anchored on love but that is something that never entered their minds yet.
According to Miguel, they are “super special friends but not to the point of getting into a serious relationship. We know that we are still young and there are more important things that we need to focus on like our studies and career.”
Bianca agreed by telling that she tries her best to finish her studies through a home school program at Veritas in Parañaque City. She is presently in Grade 9. Miguel, on the other hand, is taking up entrepreneurship at the De La Salle University in Dasmariñas, Cavite but is planning to enroll in home school program by next semester due to his and Bianca’s upcoming soap.
Both know that their team-up just happened at the right time. Truth is, they didn’t expect that their loveteam would become popular. It is heartening for Miguel to hear people shriek during their out-of-town shows.
“At ang daming nagpapa-picture,” Miguel shared. “It’s really a nice feeling.”
For Bianca, “Nakakatuwa ’pag may tumitili but what’s important to me is to be able to fulfill their expectation, masarap sa pakiramdam.”
Their TV shows have not only granted their dream to be stars. Bianca and Miguel also enjoy the fruits of their labor. Bianca has already bought a car. She, too, can now afford to finance her own schooling.
“I also bought myself a car and I have started building my own house in Cavite near our residence. Actually, gusto ko three-storey (house) but right now hanggang second floor pa lang,” related Miguel who got into showbiz when he won First Prince in the Kapuso artista search StarStruck Kids in 2004.
Asked about the shows being lined up for them, Bianca and Miguel said that they will soon be seen in another GMA soap and in a movie to be shown later this year. “But we can’t reveal the titles just yet,” Miguel said.