Miguel Tanfelix returns to teleserye acting with new screen partner

MANILA, Philippines — His last teleserye was Sahaya and Miguel Tanfelix was then paired with perennial screen partner Bianca Umali. However, the former child star has remained visible in this pandemic through All-Out Sundays. Next Monday after Lolong on GMA Telebabad, Miguel will return to teleserye acting as Franco, a young man whose real identity is shrouded in mystery, through the drama romance What We Could Be.

He is foraying into it with a new screen partner Ysabel Ortega, as the nurse Cynthia, who aspires to give her family a good life. Early this year, Miguel and Ysabel were introduced as among the Sparkle’s 8 or next brightest stars.

“This seems like my transition period to a young adult (actor and given that, to the mature kind of) characters I may be playing in the future,” reflected Miguel on this new beginning in his career during a virtual press conference. “Yes, this is a big turning point. This project is very important to me.”

This movement will reaffirm and signal that Miguel has to gradually embrace the thought of graduating from being a teen heartthrob to a serious leading man. Franco’s characterization and arc are going to be proof of that.

“He is very mature, makakatulong siya sa career ko and over-all, nag-enjoy ako (I had an enjoyable time),” said Miguel, who has shown his acting mettle many times. The young actor said he didn’t feel pressured with this latest development in his work life.

Aside from headlining What We Could Be, Miguel and Ysabel will be seen soon in the Kapuso adaptation of Voltes V: Legacy. In fact, the love team mates began their work first in Voltes V and then, segued to What We Could Be. At some point, they were whisked off from one lock-in taping set to another.

“I always find it exciting to work with new artists,” answered Miguel when inquired about his team-up with Ysabel. “Unang-una, marami akong matututunan sa kanila, may makikilala akong bagong kaibigan (First of all, I will learn a lot of things from them and find new friends in them)… I feel magkaiba yung love team namin ni Ysabel dahil nag-start kami na may kanya-kanya kaming career (I think my love team with her is different because we started it having our own respective careers). That’s something I like about it.”

With that, Miguel looked at it as not the usual love team, because he and Ysabel can pursue projects as a love team and as individuals.

“This love team is exciting because I’m comfortable with her, gamay ko na siya, gamay na namin ang isa’t-isa (we know each other),” said he. “We’re very open to each other. If we want to do something, we talk it over, very mature yung pag-uusap namin about our careers.”

With other production considerations about Voltes V: Legacy, What We Could Be will be released ahead. This goes to show what a popular saying claims, “Change is the only constant in this life.” Actors know that delays in taping and detours in careers are realities. That’s why they have to be accepting, resilient and patient. The pandemic has even made people realize more the value of these qualities. Everyone has to embrace changes and adapt to them.

“Wala naman talagang nasusunod madalas na plano mo, di ba? (Most of the time, your plans don’t go as planned, right?),” said Miguel. “Na-surprise tayong lahat, na kailangan nating mag-lock-down, (may) nawalan ng trabaho (We were caught by surprise by the pandemic, which led to lockdowns and unemployment). Now, slowly, we’re getting up, but it doesn’t mean we are no longer in the pandemic. We’re still in it. Our patience is still being tested.”

When faced with such a tough situation, what Miguel would do is, “I’m just making the most out of it. We’re very lucky that we’re getting work,” said he. “Every time I get a taping or guesting (opportunity), I feel grateful.”

Each time he receives the good news of him starring in a new show, Miguel can’t contain his happiness. “Never nawawala yung excitement ko (The excitement never disappears),” said the actor, who had the chance to enter into two completely different worlds of a superhero in Voltes V: Legacy and a conman with a mysterious past in What We Could Be.

“When we (I and Ysabel) learned that we got to work (again) for this show (What We Could Be), na-excite kami kasi ma-e-explore namin yung aspect ng pagiging love team naming dalawa na hindi namin masyadong na-e-explore sa Voltes V. (That’s true because) the latter’s story focuses on (themes) like family and war.”

As a love team, Miguel and Ysabel were asked, too, about a brewing romance between them or their reel- and real-life relationship.

“Very close kami ngayon,” said Miguel. “I think it’s inevitable kasi araw-araw kaming magkasama (because we’ve been working together practically every day). Aaminin ko na yung mga traits na hinahanap ko sa babae ay nakikita ko kay Ysabel (I have to say that when it comes to the qualities I’m looking for in a girl, I have found them with Ysabel), yun muna.”

For now, let’s enjoy Miguel’s onscreen chemistry with Ysabel and his comeback to TV acting.