Mike Advincula instantly stands out among the other finalists of the MYX VJ Search 2011 because at six-foot-one, he is the tallest of them all. The 23-year-old just finished his Industrial Engineering course at the De La Salle University and is currently taking up masters in Entrepreneurship in the same school. In an interview with ABS-CBN.com, Mike confessed that he all his life he never dreamt of getting into showbiz. “Never ko naisip talaga mag-showbiz. But now I’m here, ha ha ha!,” he laughed.So how did the idea of joining the MYX VJ Search came about? Mike shared, “Niyaya lang ako ng mga friends ko. Since graduate na raw ako mag-audition daw ako sa MYX VJ Search, trip trip lang daw. Hindi ko naman inakalang papasa ako magiging finalist pa ako. Kung ano ano na ang mga nagagawa ko because of MYX. But I’m having so much fun.”
He talked about how he made a fool of himself during the audition just to impress the judges. “Sinabi sa akin ipakita ko raw ‘yung talent ko. E hindi naman ako marunong kumanta, I don’t dance, I don’t act. Ang alam ko lang sports na swimming. E hindi naman ako pwedeng lumangoy dun so ipinakita ko na lang kung paano lumangoy sa competition. Mga kalokohan, ha ha ha!”
Mike thanked the activities in the MYX VJ Search for helping him get out of his shell. “Noong una sobrang shy ako at ‘yun din ang first impression nila sa akin. Pero unti unti nawala ‘yun, kung ano ang sabihin sa akin, gagawin ko. Ibinigay ko lahat ng kaya so sa mga challenges. Wala namang mawawala. Dati takot pa ako pero ngayon sobrang nage-enjoy ako.”
When asked what he considers his edge over the other aspiring MYX VJs, he said that being unpredictable is a good thing. “Siguro ang edge ko is mahirap ako basahin. Hindi pa ako masyadong kilala ng mga tao. Unpredictable pa ako ngayon. Ewan ko lang kung ano ang tingin ng mga tao dun. Nagugulat pa sa akin ‘yung mga tao so I think nandun ‘yung excitement.”
Now that he has already stepped one foot into showbiz, Mike said he is ready to grab the other offers that might come his way. “Kung nandiyan ang opportunity, why not? Bibihira lang naman ang nabibigyan ng opportunity. Pero kung singing, forget it! Ha ha ha! Sa school plays lang ako nakakapag-act and enjoy talaga ako lalo na kapag comedy. If ever kukunin ako as an actor paghahandaan ko like with workshops and all. Napapagaralan naman ‘yan e. Sa buhay kapag may opportunity dapat kunin mo agad. I believe na para mag-improve ang isang tao dapat umalis ka sa comfort zone mo. Kasi kapag nag-stay ka lang sa comfort zone mo, paulit-ulit lang ang mga gagawin mo.”
If Mike’s face looks familiar to fans of collegiate sports, that’s because he is the former team captain of the La Salle swim team where one of his good friends was swimmer-turned-actor Enchong Dee. Mike shared the story of how a broken heart back in grade school urged him to get into sports. “When I was 12 years old, I was 220 lbs and maliit pa ako. Hindi ko binibilang kung ilang cups of rice ang nakakain ko. Lola ko naman nagagalit kapag konti lang ako kumain. E may nagustuhan ako babae. Gusto rin naman niya sana ako, kaya lang mataba raw ako. Dun ako nag-start magpapayat. I got into basketball during high school, naging varsity player ako. But I got injured and my doctor told me to quit basketball, just find other sports na less pressure. That’s why I got into swimming nung college. Nakita ako nung life guard, dahil may potential daw akong mag-compete and six footer pa ako, dun na ako naging part ng La Salle swim team.”
How does he feel that most often swimmers are regarded with a sexy image? “Compliment ‘yun,” Mike answered. “Ang ideal image ng isang swimmer is may broad shoulders, may abs, lean body. Okay kasi kahit hindi naman talaga ganun ‘yung katawan ko, kapag narinig nilang swimmer ako, naiisip nila agad na sexy ka kahit hindi naman.”
Mike admitted that recently he showed up in a go-see for a famous fashion show, but the casting agents told him to shed a few pounds. If ever the offer comes his way, is he ready to go sexy like his former teammate Enchong? “Magagalit na mommy at daddy ko, ha ha ha!,” Mike laughed. “May pagka-conservative ang family namin. Okay lang ang naka-swimming attire kasi nagawa ko na so comfortable na ako. But if ever underwear pictorial o fashion show parang ayoko na. First of all, hindi pa ako comfortable with how my body looks. But I still can’t say. Gaya nga ng sabi ko, it’s about grabbing the opportunity. We’ll see.”
Source: www.abs-cbn.com
