MANILA, Philippines — Did you know that before he became a comedian, TV producer, and novelty song hit maker, Michael V. used to be a product designer and sculptor?
Michael recently showcased his other side, as an artist, at the ComicCon Asia 2018 in SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
While doing an impromptu free-hand sketch, Michael told ComicCon host RJ Ledesma that he has been drawing since he was a kid.
"I wanted to take up Fine Arts nung college ako, pero unfortunately, mahirap nga lang kami," Michael recalled.
"Pero 'yun 'yung truth. Sabi ng tatay ko parang 'di ko daw kakayanin 'yung Fine Arts, 'di na kakayanin sa budget, so I took up Mass Communications, pero 'yung pag-draw-drawing ko tuloy tuloy."
The father of Michael's friend, who is a portrait artist, became his mentor. Following his mentor's advise, he took up an anatomy class in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila to improve his drawing skills.
"Luckily, malaki naitulong n'ya," he said of the class he took.
His studies helped him take on a job as a product designer for seasonal decorative items for an exporting company. His job included making prototypes through sculpting.
Even when Michael entered showbiz, he has continued to delve into the arts, specifically, photography, painting and sketching.
Besides Michael, Spongecola frontman Yael Yuzon also unveiled his artistic side at the ComicCon by launching his latest mini comics, "Watership & Joy."
Meanwhile, Walt Disney's Visual Development Artist, shared his experience in bringing to life well-loved characters from award-winning flicks like "Mulan," "Lilo & Stitch," and "Big Hero 6."
ComicCon Asia's other celebrity guests include the original Black Ranger Walter Jones; basketball star Stephen Marbury; "Teen Wolf's" Lydia Martin Holland Roden; and Dacre Montgomery of "Stranger Things." — Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo, videos by Erwin Cagadas
Related video: Highlights of ComicCon in the Philippines