Mikael and Megan’s motivation for relocating to Subic

Mikael Daez (left) and Megan Young

For Mikael Daez and Megan Young, 2020 was a year of “growth” as a married couple.“I got to know her in a different light because we’re in a situation we have never been. It’s our first pandemic (COVID-19) and it’s our first lockdown. It’s good that we’re able to adjust and adapt to something that came out of left field,” Mikael told the Inquirer in a virtual conference for the GMA 7 drama series “Love of My Life.”

“We achieved new things … we were able to work on different aspects of our relationship, because of the challenges presented to us. And we’re still married! That’s a good sign!” he jested.

The year 2020 compelled them to appreciate the small things in life and make the most out of the situation.

“For a lot of people at home, it can feel like being imprisoned, especially on bad days. And that’s understandable. So, we just try to enjoy the quiet moments and be grateful for them,” Mikael said. “Sometimes, it’s about how you look at it. And I’m just thankful to have my wife with me.”

The two Kapuso stars rarely have misunderstandings. But if they do, they make sure to take things in stride and be understanding of each other.

“If ever there’s an argument here and there, we just go, ‘OK, let’s just be better.’ We’re usually very positive-minded when it comes to our approach in life, even if there are problems,” Mikael related.

But that said, it’s not a sure-fire thing, he added—making mistakes is part of the learning process. “Sometimes, we do miss out on our obligations. But we just promise ourselves that we won’t ever tire of improving ourselves,” he said. “It’s OK to make a mistake—everyone does, eventually. But the fire to be better shouldn’t die.”

Mikael and Megan have “semi-moved” to Subic, Zambales, where they’re currently “testing the waters” and getting a feel of the environment to see if living there would be a good idea. Another goal of theirs is to help local tourism get back to its feet once the situation permits. “Travel has been a big part of our lives for the past 10 years; it has been part of our advocacies. Tourism is a big thing here and it was hit very hard. We hope to shed some light on it … while following safety protocols, of course,” Mikael said.

“We hope to go to various provinces around the Philippines as our way of paying it forward. We want to help our fellow Filipinos to the extent that we can,” the 32-year-old actor said. Mikael admitted that he was initially worried about what will happen to “Love of My Life” which has already resumed airing new episodes. “The anxiety, fear were there … But toward the end, we were able to push through with our locked-in taping. So positive aspects eventually sprouted,” he said.Locked-in taping, he observed, has advantages. Convenience is one of them.

“It has a lot of pros. It actually worked in our favor, because work became faster and was more efficient. I enjoyed the convenience of the setup adjustments we had to make,” he said. “As nerve-wracking as it may had seemed, it did present us with new options … now we have something else at our disposal.”

More importantly, the environment strengthened Mikael’s friendships with his coworkers, like Carla Abellana.

“Carla and I have known each other for more than a decade. We did the sitcom ‘Ismol Family.’ We attended an event in Cambodia a couple of years back. But this was the most we have talked to each other behind the scenes. I got to know her better,” he said.

“I appreciate these small moments I had with our coactors and people we love,” Mikael added. “And that hit me hard. It made me realize that relationships are most important in our lives.”