Mikee Quintos: Raw, Real, Unedited
Text by Felix Ilaya
Photos by Michael Paunlagui
GMA’s Artist of the Month talks about her whirlwind rise to fame and how she handles everything that comes with it.
This is a story about a girl named Mikee.
One look is all it takes for you to know just what kind of person Mikee Quintos is.
Unlike a few artistas in the industry that seem to have that unapproachable air around them, Mikee is the type that would always put her authentic self forward.
She likes to wear her heart on her sleeve.
It is this authenticity that has allowed Mikee to grow her fan base despite being a relatively new face in the industry.
In just three years after entering showbiz in 2016, Mikee has steadily inched her way to stardom with each project she takes. Die-hard fans of the young Kapuso actress know how her career started but for those who are curious, here’s how this lucky dreamer became one of GMA’s brightest stars today.
"A talent scout saw me in this fans day of GMA and he told me to do a VTR for Artist Center,” she recalls.
“Ito 'yung funny, 'yung day na nag-audition ako sa panel, I didn't know na 'yung mga nasa harap ko were like big bosses. I wasn't aware so 'di ako kinabahan kasi akala ko chill VTR lang. Well, iyon 'yung naka-help sa 'kin kasi nga 'di ako nahiya, kumapal 'yung mukha ko. Kumanta ako for them, nag-host, nag-acting din for a bit.
“And a few months later, I was signing a contract na. That's how it all started.”
Funnily enough, Mikee is the first to admit that she’s never dreamt of being a celebrity. It was her mother, Manila Public Servant Jo Quintos, who wanted that opportunity for her.
Before entering politics, Mommy Jo used to model for various skincare brands and fast-food companies. Now, she gets to experience a bit of the artista life through her daughter, Mikee.
The Kapuso actress says of her mother: "Minsan sinasabi kasi ng mom ko na frustration niya 'yon so gusto niyang i-try ko. Honestly, 'nung sinasabi niya na i-try ko mag-acting workshops, ang tingin ko gastos lang, kaya ko naman 'yan aralin mag-isa, magbabasa lang ako.
“Pinilit ako ng mom ko mag-try ng workshop and then when I got in, doon na-open 'yung eyes ko na there's a science to it. It's harder than it looks, sobrang lalim. May iba-ibang techniques, iba-ibang systems na pwede mong i-try, whatever works for you.
“Yung enjoyment of exploring that world, it was new for me and it was so exciting. It brought me to where I am today.”
Since her standout role as Lira in the 2016 reboot of the widely popular drama fantasy series Encantadia, she has continued to take on challenging roles and give her own signature charm to them just like what she did with Maila in 2018’s Onanay.
But for someone who quickly rose to stardom the way she did, Mikee is actually doing great at handling fame.
"After a year of workshops, Encantadia na, my first-ever show. Pinasok ko sa system ko na kaya nag-work 'yung role kasi in-offer ko kay God. Bago ako noon, maganda 'yung character na binigay sa 'kin.
“Sobrang daming nagtatanong, 'Sino 'to? Bakit siya binigyan ng ganito?' Pinili kong hindi magpadala. If I'm gonna be 100% honest, doon ko natutunan na mag-stop magbasa ng comments online and until this day, I don't read, good man or bad. Iba kasi 'yung nagiging effect niya na akala mo ‘di ka naaapektuhan, babasahin mo lang, sisilipin mo lang. Pero 'di mo napapansin, a day or two later, nako-compromise 'yung work mo kasi na-bother ka pala. Tapos maaamin mo 'yon sa sarili mo, too late na kasi nag-taping na. Mae-explain mo ba 'yon sa lahat ng nanonood? Hindi 'di ba? I chose to stop reading and just trust God.”
But it has not been all roses for her.
na you should always be thankful.
Work is work. It's how you earn and how you prepare for life, trabaho pa rin talaga
ang pagiging artista."
Mikee has had her own fair share of bouts with self-doubt.
"So far, I've worked with a lot of big names already. I'm so grateful that I have all these opportunities to hone my craft and to learn more about my acting. [But I sometimes ask myself.] 'My God, bakit ako nandito?' Pero pinapaalala ko sa sarili ko na 'hindi ka dadalhin ni God diyan kung 'di mo kaya so make Him proud.'"
Not a lot of people also know about the things that Mikee has sacrificed to get where she is now. All of the lights, flashy Instagram photos, and fancy events come with strained friendships, judging eyes, and the pressure to maintain a “perfect” image.
"Somehow, na-compromise 'yung personal relationships ko,” she shares.
“Hindi lang romantic ha, like family, friends. Lalo na friends kasi nakaka-guilty minsan na alam mong may special event sila pero may work ka the next day na maaga. 'Yung priorities mo magbabago talaga. At the beginning, 'di ko pa siya nararamdaman na sacrifice siya until it hits you na 'Uy, hindi ko na close si ganito, miss ko na siya.' May mga kwento silang big deal na nami-miss mo, wala 'eh, busy ka.”
Being the trooper that she is, not once has she complained about everything on her plate, no matter how hard it gets.
"Once nag-reklamo ka, pwedeng bumalik sa'yo na next thing you know, wala ka nang makuhang work. I keep myself in a mindset na you should always be thankful. Work is work. It's how you earn and how you prepare for life, trabaho pa rin talaga ang pagiging artista. Itong kind of trabaho na ito, wala siyang off, basically. Nasa work man ako o wala, mayroon akong image na kailangang alagaan and minsan nakakapagod rin.”
There are also times that Mikee finds herself wanting to escape the public eye. But due to her unique circumstance, she has it harder than her peers.
“Coming from a political family, our house is always open to the public but may moments ako na gusto ko 'yung home na home lang. It's a place where I can move without makeup, wear my shirt bra-less, 'yung mga ganoon! 'Yung wala akong pake sa kung anong itsura ko. But when you go down, there are people waiting for you and you have to greet them,” she reveals.
Nevertheless, she has realized that those people who are eager to meet her are the very same people who keep her going and the reason why she’s doing this.
“That kind of pressure gets tiring. But at the same time, seeing those faces and knowing that they give so much time just to get there, reminds you na maybe you're doing something good. Makita pa lang nila 'yung no-makeup face mo, it makes them smile. Nakakabuhay 'yon. It keeps me going.
“Even strangers na makakasalubong mo lang tapos itatago nila kunwari na 'di ka nila kilala pero mapapa-smile sila. Lagi naman akong naghe-hello na parang 'It's okay, you can say hi kahit 'di tayo magkakilala personally.'
“I've been there before, nakaka-excite naman talaga when you bump into people you see on TV. 'Yung friend nga lang na makasalubong mo, tuwang-tuwa ka na, paano pa kaya if it's someone you idolize?”
Despite everything: the whirlwind rise to fame, the fans, the challenges, and the sacrifices, Mikee manages to remain authentically herself.
"Iyon 'yung siniguro ko sa sarili ko, I want my fans to love me because of me. Not because of the Mikee I wanna show people. If you're gonna praise and show me love, gusto ko naman ma-feel na deserve ko 'yon.
“For me to feel that, papakita ko 'yung totoong ako. I would respect it naman if you hate me pero at least, totoo ka! Mas may respect ako sa'yo 'pag ganoon. I wouldn't want my fans to love just a part of me, it's so unreal.
“If you're asking me kung kailan 'yung pinakatotoong Mikee, I'm always real; or at least I try to be."
