MIKAEL DAEZ is one of the luckiest newcomers in town. He didn’t have to go through the rigors of joining a reality show as the likes of Enzo Pineda and Rocco Nacino did in Starstruck and yet he’s now playing lead roles in both the big and small screen. He’s Solenn Heussaff’s leading man in “Temptation Island” and is paired with Marian Rivera in “Amaya”. Stardom was given to him on a silver platter. Last Wednesday, he signed an exclusive contract with GMA network for two years with option to renew, guaranteeing him two big shows a year. “I’m really so blessed so I promise I won’t waste these wonderful opportunities they’re giving me,” he says. “I also want to thank the people I work with as they’re all very helpful to a newcomer like, lalo ang co-stars ko in ‘Temptation Island’ who give me acting tips. The ‘Temptation Island’ offer was a complete surprise. Natutulog ako, then my manager, Jonas Gaffud, called me: do you want to do a movie? I said, when? Now, you have to go to Ilocos as the shoot starts na. They chose me to replace Paulo Avelino who got sick. Sabi nga nila, it’s my fate na sa’kin mapunta yung role.”
What’s this rumor about his having a sex video? “Can’t we just talk about ‘Temptation Island’? Kasi pag ganyang intriga, ayokong patulan so I’d rather not talk about such things. As my manager, Jonas Gaffud, said, wag na lang pansinin. I’d rather focus on my work, on my acting.”
How’s his kissing scene with Solenn? “It’s very passionate as it’s meant to be our replacement for food. We’re marooned in an island, walang food, so yung kiss ang kapalit ng food. It helped that kilala ko na si Solenn before pa as we’re both Penshoppe endorsers and we did a pictorial together.”
Does he feel any rivalry with the other hunks in the cast, Aljur Abrenica and Tom Rodriguez? “No, naging friends kami agad. We share our diet and workout programs. Sa Ilocos, magkasama kaming mag-exercise. Masaya ang atmosphere sa set along with Marian Rivera, Rufa Mae Quinto, Lovi Poe and John Lapus.”
How does he feel disrobing before the camera? “As long as it’s part ng work, that’s just fine, walang malisya. Even in ‘Amaya’, I just wear a bahag or loin cloth. But all the guys in the cast, ganun ang suot, so okay lang.”
