On August 1, Kapuso actor Mikoy Morales admitted that he had doubts regarding his showbiz career after ‘Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break.’
At a media conference for his two Cinemalaya 2023 entries, ‘Rookie’ and ‘Tether,’ which LionhearTV covered, Morales said he had trouble finding his niche or place in showbiz after his stint in ‘Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break’ in 2012.
“So ‘yung the struggle was more finding how to navigate–how to navigate the industry, kung saan lugar ako na tatayo. Mas nandoon ‘yung struggle sa kung– hindi sa kung may work or hindi, or mabibigyan ba ako ng work o hindi, it’s more on mahahanap ko ba kung saan ako dito, kung saan ako tatayo? ‘Yung niche ko, or kung ano ba ‘yung dapat kong ginagawa? Saan ba ako mag-eexcel or ano ba ‘yung dapat ko gawin.”
Aside from that, he also talked about his early career before entering showbiz through the GMA Network reality show.
“Feeling ko ‘yung struggling days ko mas nagsimula after noong Protege. It wasn’t actually like that kasi before parang chill lang.
“Pero si Kuya John, siya actually ‘yung reason kung bakit ako napunta sa showbiz. So sa UST nagstart ako, I was doing theater, I was doing musicals, and senior ko siya sa org, siya ‘yung nag-recruit, hindi naman recruit, pero siya ‘yung nag-bridge sa akin.”
He then revealed that his parents had apprehensions when he started his showbiz career.
“And first ever na pina-audition nila sa akin was ‘yung Protege.
“Parang ayaw pa nga ako payagan– initially, nagdalawang isip pa ‘yung parents ko na payagan ako mag-artista kasi nga I was taking architecture back then, sa UST. And I had to stop school kasi nga iha-house kami doon sa Protege, parang months ‘yun na naka house kami.
“So pumayag lang sila sa condition na after, at dapat sa contract, dapat co-manager namin si Kuya John. So ako ‘yung first artist ni Tita Becky na ang co-manager ay si Kuya John.”
Aside from the struggle to find his place in showbiz, he also recounted his doubts about his sacrifices for his career.
“Struggling kasi parang may dilemma na parang hindi naman tuloy-tuloy ‘yung work mo di ba? Kasi, I was acting, ano pa bang napatunayan ko noon. Wala pa naman.
“So I guess, nagkaroon ako ng struggle noon in terms na parang worth it ba ‘yung pagtigil ko ng pag-aaral para dito. Like tama ba ‘yung ginawa ko, ‘yung malalaking desisyon na ginawa ko? Paninindigan ko ba ‘to, or babalik ba ako ng pag-aaral?”
As for his upcoming Cinemaya 2023, ‘Rookie’ stars Pat Tingjuy, Aya Fernandez, and Agot Isidro.
As for ‘Tether’, Morales stars with Jorrybell Agoto, Breech Mae Valencia, Olivia Banela, and Albert Briones.
Catch Morales’ films and other Cinemalaya 2023 entries at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) from August 4-13, 2023.
