Mike Tan takes criticism in stride

CEBU, Philippines - Mike Tan is well aware that while there are those who give a thumbs-up to his acting in the soap Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit, there are viewers on the other side of the pond who remain unconvinced.

The Ultimate Male Survivor of Starstruck 2 portrays a dashing playboy architect torn between two women in the GMA7 afternoon drama. If praises are being heaped upon his two gorgeous leading ladies Carla Abellana and Michelle Madrigal, the same critics cite his lack of depth and emotion.

But Mike isn't totally sulking. He considers the unfavorable feedback as helpful constructive criticism.

“We can’t avoid negative comments, and I don’t take these as insults. I see them as a way for me to know what’s lacking and where I can improve on. Because even if my director himself tells me that what I did was good, my target really is to please those watching at home and the network bosses. And so far, the GMA bosses have been congratulating me,” the 24-year-old actor said during an interview at Midtown Hotel's Saffron restaurant. He and fellow Starstruck discoveries Mark Herras and Vaness del Moral were the featured Kapuso mall show guests at the adjoining Robinson's Mall.

Mike said he has a regular habit of checking fan pages and online forums to get a pulse of how viewers rate his performance. He also knows that he's been the subject of blind items lately, particularly of a showbiz gossip show in TV5, about an actor whose director can't squeeze anything out of him during dramatic scenes.

"What I heard was, they said I would have a dramatic scene cut and I would say, ‘kissing scene or love scene na lang,’" said Mike. 

The chinito hints he's being made topic of unsavory talk due to a misunderstanding five years ago with one of the show's hosts, IC Mendoza.

"Hindi ko naman ma-iaalis kay IC yun eh, kasi may naging kasalanan ako sa kanya noon. I guess he felt insulted on what I said back then. Whatever it was I said, ayoko nang pag-usapan. It was his mom, Ms. Dolly Anne who got really offended so I called her and apologized. I thought we were okay. Minsan nagkakasama at nagkikita kami, okay naman. So whatever their opinion is, there’s nothing I can do about it. They’re just doing their job, and I’ll just do mine."

In the series, Mike’s character Jonas is married to Carla’s Ellery. Michelle’s Bridgitte is the latter’s close friend, and is secretly pining for Jonas. Since the couple can’t bear a child, they accept Bridgitte’s offer to act as surrogate mother, not knowing she has a hidden agenda behind the seemingly noble deed.

This is Mike's first project as the main male lead.

Asked to describe how the two actresses are off-cam, he replied, “Michelle and I started in showbiz at about the same time, although in different channels. We have gotten a bit close because of all the scenes we have to do together. With Carla, she’s the type of person who wouldn’t talk just for the heck of it. When she talks, it has to have meaning and sense.”

Other stars in the cast are Will Devaughn, Ricky Davao, Paolo Ballesteros, Sharmaine Buencamino, Ces Quesada, Jan Marini and Steph Henares.

How does Mike assess his current acting so far? "I wouldn’t know as of now because each time I ask my director, wala naman siyang sinasabing iba. There are really those who bash you, but there are also those who greet me for my work. Last I read, someone said Carla and Michelle were doing okay pero naiinis o nakukulangan daw siya sa acting ko."

"I can’t blame the person. We have different perspectives with acting. And I cannot sacrifice the way I act just to please one person. I’ll just do my job, and hopefully, they will appreciate my acting later on," said Mike, who is also seen as segment host in Good News, Vicky Morales’ magazine show on GMA News TV. Here, he is assigned stories that interest men.

Apart from his director and followers, Mike reveals the other people in his life whom he trusts will give him honest feedback and sound advice are his non-showbiz girlfriend of six years and his theater mentor Nanding Josef. Unknown to many, Mike used to act in theater plays when TV work came in trickles. (FREEMAN)