Miles and Michelle bring YouTube couple’s love story to life

 Portraying an LGBTQIA+ couple in this week’s episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) are Miles Ocampo and Michelle Vito, who have learned some great truths about love and their impact on them.

In the Oct. 23 episode, viewers will see a different kind of love between flight attendants and YouTube content creators, Tanch Lobete (played by Michelle) and Sarah Garcia (portrayed by Miles). Amidst the different perceptions of people, Tanch and Sarah will show that two women can find love, comfort and security in each other, the synopsis reads.

Michelle Vito

Miles shared in a virtual call that they had the chance to meet Tanch and Sarah, also known online as Team Tarah, in person. “Kahit anong tanungin namin, ‘Bakit ganito? Bakit ganyan?’ At the end of the day, ang sagot lang nila, kasi love namin ang isa’t isa. Kasi mahal ko siya. So, with this story, pinakita yung unconditional love ng isang tao at kung ano yung kaya mong gawin para dun sa partner mo.”

On the other hand, Michelle boldly stated, “Whom we love can’t be dictated by anyone,” adding, “Hindi mo alam kung sino yung mamahalin mo. Basta ibibigay na lang sa’yo ni God kung sino yung para sa’yo.”

“We have a lot of experiences in love and sometimes, it really doesn’t work. Pero darating yung time na maayos din lahat. And darating yung tamang tao para sa atin na magbibigay ng love na deserve natin,” said Michelle.

Since they are doing a girls’ love (GL) episode, they assured fans of the kind of kilig seen in Team Tarah’s vlogs.

The first question Miles asked when she was presented with the role was, “Who is my partner?” She explained that no matter how good the story is, if one is not comfortable with her onscreen partner, it still won’t work. “When they told me it was Michelle and si direk Raz (dela Torre) ang gagawa ng episode na ‘to, na-excite na ‘ko and siyempre, po hindi maiiwasan na matatawa talaga kami ni Michelle dun sa mga eksenang ginawa namin.”

It’s also their first time to play these kinds of characters. “And with the help of direk Raz, nire-remind naman niya samin yung sincerity, dapat makikita kasi eventually lalabas yun. Yug pagmamahalan at yung kilig. Lalabas siya dun sa story.”

Michelle was also glad that Miles is her partner in the show. “Kasi ang laking bagay na kakilala and kaibigan mo yung ka-partner mo. Lalo na sa mga ganitong eksena. May mga scenes kami ni Miles na katulad ng kanina sa trailer na pinakita na may titigan na malapit. Ang laking bagay na kaibigan mo yung ka-partner mo dito sa MMK. Kasi wala na yung awkwardness.”

Both Kapamilya stars consider their past experiences as working students to be their MMK moments or stories that they can share to viewers.

Michelle said, “Baka ma-inspire yung mga tao na kayang pagsabayin yung pag-aaral and trabaho. Walang impossible basta gusto mo yung ginagawa mo. Ma-achieve mo yun.”

Miles agreed, “Nagsimula po akong nung bata sa pag-a-artista tapos napag-sabay din po yung pag-aaral. Pero siguro sa akin, ipa-pakita ko yung frustrations na di ba minsan meron tayong timeline sa life natin na gusto natin ma-achieve natin yung goal natin. Gusto natin by this age, graduate na tayo.”

“At the end of the day, kahit napag-iwanan ka, yung mga ka-batch mong grumaduate or meron na silang plans in life, (always remember) you have your own timeline, your own story. Di mo kailangang i-rush yung mga nangyayari sa’yo. Basta nandun ka sa moment na yun and you’re giving your 100-percent, parang OK ka,” she went on.

Meanwhile, Michelle’s beau Enzo Pineda has just completed his military training as a Navy reservist. For her part, Michelle wants to give back through promoting her advocacy on animals and the homeless.

“Wala talagang problema na sumama ako dun (Enzo’s graduation rites). Kasi police din yung tatay ko… Pero ako siguro sa ibang bagay ako tutulong, like donation for dogs because I love dogs and magpakain sa mga tao sa streets. Dun ko ipu-pwesto sarili ko kasi feeling ko mas dun yung purpose ko na dapat kong gawin,” said the actress.

As registered voters, Michelle and Miles likewise highlighted the importance of voting in the May 2022 elections.

Miles looks forward to the 2022 polls and believes that it’s our “power and responsibility as Filipinos to vote.” “Dati kasi parang yung boto, ‘Ah isang boto lang yan’ (mindset). (But now) I’m very happy na maraming mga Gen Z na nagpapa-register. Dun mo mapapatunayan na yung isang boto ng isang tao, akala mo wala lang pero pag-pinagsama-sama natin lahat yun, maririnig kung ano talaga yung boses natin,” she said.

Michelle shared the same sentiments with Miles, saying how she didn’t care about registering before. “But with what’s happening now, talagang nakaka-frustrate and parang gusto mo ng pagbabago. Naniniwala ako na kahit isang boto lang yan, pag-pinagsama-sama mo yan, malaking epekto yan. Sabi ko nga sa ibang tao, as one yung magiging voting sa next election… aalamin natin kung sino ba talaga yung deserve na dapat iboto.”

She added that while she was lining up to register, she thought of why she didn’t do it before. “Kasi ang sarap sa feeling na magagawa mo yung karapatan mo na bumuto at maging parte ng pagbabago sa susunod na election.”

Asia’s “longest-running” drama anthology series MMK, which can be viewed via Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, iWantTFC and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary on ASAP Natin ‘To.