Why Mike Tan’s drama anthology ‘Wagas: Throwback Pag-Ibig’ hits close to home

Mike Tan

While Mike Tan has always been vocal about how happy he is with his personal life, he’s also wary about revealing more than he feels he should, especially about his family.

“My show biz life is open, but my personal is private. And no one can break the boundaries I have set between those two things. They’re not show biz people … so I don’t want them being bothered by what happens here,” he told reporters at a recent press conference for the GMA 7 daytime anthology “Wagas: Throwback Pag-Ibig.”

“I’m very protective of them,” said the 32-year-old actor, who usually posts photos of himself with his 9-month-old daughter, but rarely of his wife, whom he married last year in a wedding devoid of publicity. “They’re my family now. And I thank God for them.”

In “Thowback Pag-Ibig,” which starts airing on Sept. 2, Mike plays Ryan, who tries his best to mend his relationship with his wife, July (Sunshine Dizon), after losing their child. As a father himself, the story hits close to home.

“One time, taping was packed up because of me. My baby was rushed to the hospital—she was vomiting and had high fever—and I just couldn’t leave her,” he related. “I didn’t know what to do. I was apologetic, but I’m thankful for my coworkers.”

It was also hard playing a man separated from his wife because his relationship with his wife is as happy as could be.

“Of course, I don’t want that happening in real life, but that’s how the story goes. I just have to put my mind into it and do what I have learned when it comes to acting. It hurts me thinking about the idea of breaking up with my wife, but that’s work,” he said.

Luckily, his leading lady, Sunshine, makes things easier for him on the set. “I love working with her. She pushes me to perform better,” Mike said of Sunshine, whom he previously worked with in the hit drama “Ika-6 na Utos.” “It’s a breeze acting with her because we’re already familiar with each other—no inhibitions, awkwardness.”