Mike Tan means what he says

TAN. “Put your game face on!”

Mike Tan is a refreshing presence in Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana’s latest starrer, “No Boyfriend Since Birth.” When we met him in the flesh, however, we quickly realized that the former “Starstruck, Season 2” champ isn’t just a looker—his candor makes him even more interesting!

Mike is no fence sitter—ask him a question, and he won’t bore you with safe, bland or carefully calibrated answers.

What was it that made him win the top plum of the talent search, which is now on its sixth edition?

“I didn’t take anything for granted,” the actor told us. “It’s OK to make friends, but I knew that I was in a competition—so, my goal was to win! When you’re faced with a challenge, you have to put your game face on!”

Mike isn’t as big a star as his supporters hoped he’d become, but he’s thankful that he’s still around. Indeed, good things come to those who wait.

What tenets have served him in good stead? He shared, “Know your strength—be aware of what you can and cannot do. I wouldn’t want to force my singing voice on viewers if I knew that my voice wasn’t that appealing.

“As far as dancing is concerned, I can’t do pop or hip-hop—but, I can do jazz, which has a structure that you can follow. But, I’m most passionate about acting!” (Playing a “discreet gay” on “Rich Man’s Daughter” was exciting for him.)

In a relationship

The 28-year-old actor is in a relationship with a non-show biz girl, whom he describes as “very smart.”

What does he do between projects? He replied, “I take workshops to enhance my acting skills, and I train in aquathlon, which involves swimming and running.”

How does he deal with nasty rumors about him? “I don’t mind people speculating about my sexuality and saying that I’m gay,” Mike said. “But, for them to gossip na tumatambay ako sa sementeryo (to do tricks) is—ridiculous and cruel!”

If he were to vote now, what qualities would he be looking for in a presidential aspirant? He shared, “We have limited choices. I would have wanted Dick Gordon, because he means what he says. Or, Rodrigo Duterte.

“For the most part, though, actors should remain apolitical—it isn’t our field! Let’s not take advantage of some voters’ gullibility. It would help if candidates had a background in law—especially if they’re running for a seat in the Senate!”