“I’m back, hopefully matandaan pa ako and if not, I’m willing to start over again. I don’t have to be bida again,” says comebacking young actor Mikel Campos.
Mikel Campos, the boy who would be prince returns to his home studio, Viva Artist Agency. More than four years ago, nang na-introduce ang third batch of Click, a toprating show co-produced by Viva Films for GMA-7, dalawang lalaki lang ang ipinakilalang kasamahan nina Iya Villania, Denise Laurel, Valerie Concepcion, and later belatedly Sarah Geronimo—sina Mikel at JC de Vera.
Mikel and JC joined the pretty boys group of Richard Gutierrez, Railey Valeroso, Jolo Revilla, AJ Eigenmann, and Drew Arellano. The then 16-year-old son of former commercial model Susan Campos—the first Dove commercial model when it was re-launched in the Philippines—was tagged as the next matinee idol dahil same breeding sila noon nina Richard and Railey—from good school, very tall, and drop-dead gorgeous.
Mikel was one of the first of his generation of actors na nagkaroon ng sunud-sunod na commercials and his star was shining to the point na siya na ang ipinares sa rising singing sensation na si Sarah, not just in Click but also in their launching movie na Filipinas from Viva Films.
Then, the relationship of GMA-7 and Viva became sour.
Pinull out ng Viva ang halos lahat ng artista nila sa GMA-7 in 2003 and transferred them to ABS-CBN. Still, si Mikel pa rin ang ipinareha kay Sarah when the Star for A Night winner was launched via Sarah, The Teen Princess ngunit tatlo silang naging leading men, the other two being Mark Bautista and Aaron Agassi.
Biglang naglaho ang ningning ni Mikel, although napasama pa rin naman siya sa ilang ABS-CBN TV shows like Qpids opposite Paw Diaz and two years ago, ang Let’s Go.
From then on, Mikel disappeared from the view.
Viva Artist Agency (VAA) decided to resurrect his career when he was recently signed up again by the management firm for a three year-contract. He now joins the new artists of VAA including Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition first runner-up Riza Santos, singer Rachelle Ann Go, actor Carlo Aquino, and new stage performer Cheska Ortega.
Hindi namin nakilala si Mikel nang unang lumapit sa amin sa presscon na ibinigay ng VAA kaninang tanghali, January 21, sa J-Jay’s Restaurant sa Ortigas. Very lanky then, nagkalaman na siya ngayon as he gained more than 30 pounds daw, now weighing 160 lbs.
The first thing we asked him, what happened at bigla na lang siyang nawala.
“You want the truth or showbiz answer?” natatawang balik-tanong niya sa amin.
We opted for the truth.
“It seems showbiz lost interest in me, and then nagka-girlfriend pa ako who is so possessive she asked me to quit showbiz,” sagot ng binata.
Mikel doesn’t want to dwell on the past. Wala na raw siyang magagawa roon and he is just thankful that Ms. Veronique del Rosario-Corpuz contacted him again and asked him to renew his contract.
“I’m back, hopefully matandaan pa ako and if not, I’m willing to start over again. I don’t have to be bida again,” honest na sabi ni Mikel.
Mikel has since split-up with his girlfriend. But he is also very proud to announce that he has a new girlfriend 11 years her senior, as he is just 21. Nakabalik na rin siya sa schooling although huminto ulit.
Hindi pa alam ni Mikel what’s in store for his second chance sa showbiz, but he would like to try comedy sana. We suggested he tried the sexy route.
“Puwede ba ako?” tanong niya. “Kung dati ang payat-payat ko, now I feel I’m flabby. Not that I’m closing my doors on this suggestion but I have to ready myself before I can have the confidence to bare.”
Okay rin na magkontrabida si Mikel, pero dahil wala pa ngang ibinibigay na proyekto sa kanya, he said he has just to wait.
We asked Mikel kung saan niya gustong magtrabaho this time.
“Anywhere where work will take me,” sagot niya. “I would like to try again to GMA though dahil doon ako nagsimula. It was never my intention to leave naman that time, I had no choice.”
DINNO ERECEPhilippine Entertainment Portal
