Click star Mikel Campos on being paired with Sarah Geronimo: “It happened so fast, actually. I had a shoot at Enchanted Kingdom for a music video with Sarah Geronimo. And then, I had this TV show, Sarah The Teen Princess. I think it would air three times a week.”
PHOTO/S: Khym Manalo / Candy Magazine

Mikel Campos, 39, has been away from the limelight for years now, but he remains recognizable—what with his pretty-boy looks—as the mestizo teen star who’d been paired with Alex Gonzaga, Sarah Geronimo, Paw Diaz, and Valerie Concepcion.

PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had a chance encounter with Mikel at the headquarters of Summit Media, the media arm of JG Summit Holdings Inc., on October 22, 2024.

Wearing a simple blue shirt bearing the logo of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), Mikel appeared low-key as he stood in front of the pop-up booth showcasing properties from the real estate arm of JG Summit.

Several PEP staffers approached him to ask if he was that artista way back in the early 2000s.

A bit surprised to be recognized, Mikel smiled and confirmed the PEP Team’s query about his teen-star days.

Mikel readily granted PEP an interview for WHERE ARE THEY NOW, a feature where celebrities who have decided to leave showbiz take the spotlight and relive their glory days.

The interview was held at Summit HQ on October 22 and October 29.

Photo/s: Khym Manalo

MIKEL CAMPOS SHOWBIZ BEGINNINGS

Mikel was only 16 years old when he joined the roster of talents of Viva Artists Agency sometime in 2002.

He attended a workshop for aspiring talents with director Mac Alejandre as facilitator.

The next thing he knew, he landed a role in Click, a popular teen-oriented show in GMA-7 starring Angel Locsin, Chynna Ortaleza, and Richard Gutierrez.

Mikel became part of Click Batch 3 and was cast as Valerie Concepcion’s love interest.

Looking back at how quickly he became an artista, Mikel told PEP, “I really was a shy boy when they found me. I don’t know what they saw in me.

“But, yun. I started with Click. I was there for a year or two.

“I loved being in Click. I loved also my second show after Click, [which] was Walang Hanggan with Valerie Concepcion.”

Alden Richards: “People will change… and sometimes it can break your heart.”

NETWORK TRANSFER AND WORKING WITH SARAH

Mikel transferred to ABS-CBN in 2004.

It seemed like ABS-CBN management saw the potential in him to be paired with Sarah Geronimo following his appearance in the music video of her song “Sa Iyo.”

Sarah, who was also a showbiz newbie at the time, was trying her hand at acting in her very first title role.

“It happened so fast, actually,” recalled Mikel.

“I had a shoot at Enchanted Kingdom for a music video with Sarah Geronimo.

“And then, I had this TV show, Sarah The Teen Princess. I think it would air three times a week.

“There were a lot of projects coming in that time.”

In the series, Mikel played as one of the four leading men of Sarah. The three others were Mark Bautista, Alwyn Uytingco, and Michael Agassi.

Sarah was also just starting out as a singer-actress at the time.

Asked about her impression of Sarah, Mikel said he found her so easy to work with.

“I really liked Sarah. Back then, her personality was just so simple, so human.

“You wouldn’t think of her as a debonair artist or whatever. She was so down to earth and human.

He remembered that one time when Sarah was eating balut on the set while waiting for their next scene.

Of Sarah’s unassuming personality, he said, “Kahit nangangamoy balot ang kamay, okay lang, you know.

“She was also shy. But at the same time, she didn’t mind being herself.

“Although she may have been a bit recluse, like me. Na-appreciate ka yun.”

Sarah wih Sarah The Teen Princess leading men Mark Bautista, Michael Agassi, and Mikael Campos 
PHOTO/S: ABS-CBN

In June 2004, Mikel was also featured in Candy Magazine, which went so far as to describe him as some sort of “modern-day prince” for his charm and good looks.

His fans adored him as the teen star who was “super gwapo” exuding “sosyal, but still down-to-eath vibe.”

It was the time in showbiz when love teams were a big thing, an opportune time for Mikel to be paired with different promising female stars at ABS-CBN.

REALITY SHOW EXPERIENCE

In 2005, Mikel became part of Qpids, a reality show that put together ABS-CBN’s up-and-coming talents.

The show starred Carlo Aquino, Paulene Luna, Carla Humphries, Janus del Prado, and Paw Diaz, among others.

They were tasked to go through different challenges to test who could be best paired with each other, and ultimately be launched as a new onscreen love team.

Initially, Mikel gravitated towards Carla, whose feet he even kissed during one of the show’s challenges.

But later in the series, Qpids business unit head Lauren Dyogi, who played “Mr. Qpido,” chose Mikel for Paw.

“Sorry, Carla,” Mikel remarked during PEP’s interview.

Explaining what he meant with his apology, he recalled how there was a point in the show when he and Carla had a heart-to-heart talk.

In that episode, Carla broke into tears as she admitted to having romantic feelings for Mikel.

“Well, she thought din kasi that I made her believe that may [romantic] development or something, maybe.

“But we’re really good friends. Like, the way I saw it. Like, she was just a really good friend na makulit.”

Mikel was eventually paired off with Paw because of their good chemistry during the challenges and acting showdowns.

“Actually, Paw Diaz, she was developing a deep friendship with someone else already, si TJ [Ramos].

“And, you know, we all thought that since you could see it, it was apparent, it was strong.

“They had pet names for each other. Na, you know, okay sila na.

“Little did I know na, okay, it’s going to be Pao and I.

“So, yun. From there, nanalo kami. I was so surprised.”

PHOTO/S: SCREENGRAB FROM ABS-CBN YOUTUBE

Mikel went on to say that he didn’t expect to be noticed in Qpids because of his “introverted tendencies.”

Explaining, “I was such a weird guy. Like, I didn’t really talk to much of them, my co-stars. I wasn’t engaging in them that much.

“But my weirdness was like something that my other co-stars would call out.

“And buti nalang, kina-cut nalang nila [producers] sa final cut.

“Buti nalang. Thanks, you guys.”

There was supposed to be a movie lined up for Mikel and Paw after Qpids, but it didn’t push through.

WORKING WITH ALEX GONZAGA

In 2006, Mikel was paired with Alex Gonzaga in the teen-oriented show Let’s Go.

He was her first onscreen partner.

The two had good onscreen chemistry and were both effective in delivering their comic punchlines with their love-hate relationship in the series.

“Siya yung pina-partner sa akin. Kung ano siya as a character sa Let’s Go, medyo ganun din siya in real life. Baliw din.

“Na-enjoy ko actually sobra yung Let’s Go.”

However, Mikel and Alex’s promising start as a love team was put to a halt when his real-life romance got in the way of his showbiz career.

“Yun nga lang, that’s when I had a sort of relational issues, I guess,” he admitted to PEP.

“Na medyo nahi-hinder yung work ko and how I was working with them and how I would see what I’m doing.”

Mikel and Alex in Let’s Go 
PHOTO/S: SCREENGRAB FROM ABS-CBN YOUTUBE

CAREER SETBACKS

Mikel decided to quit showbiz and continue his studies.

In 2008, he tried to make a comeback and, in fact, began appearing in several shows thereafter.

Some of his acting stints included a supporting role in Budoy (2011), the hit Kapamilya primetime series starring Gerald Anderson.

By this time, however, he had lost his momentum as an up-and-coming Kapamilya star.

Coupled with personal issues that resulted in career setbacks and missed opportunities, Mikel’s TV appearances became few and far between.

He still pursued acting when he was cast in lead roles for Shakespeare plays in mall shows.

But at some point, he gave up acting altogether and tried a different field of career.

He became a blacksmith and even put up his own company.

“I like to work with my hands. I would make knives, furniture, spoons, forks.

“You give me a design, I can make it for you,” Mikel said.

MIKEL ON STARTING ANEW

Then pre-pandemic, Mikel went back to school and took up a degree in Communications at Thames International School.

He graduated sometime in 2020 or 2021.

Wanting to start afresh, Mikel has recently started working as a real estate agent at Robinsons Land Corporation.

Describing his new field of career, the 39-year-old former actor said, “It’s been going really well.

“Actually, I’m a massive introvert.

“But like they say, you don’t do something that terrifies you every day.

“So I went for this. I’m trying to sort of develop my social skills with this.”

Still adjusting to his new role, he added, “I haven’t been in the company for so long yet.

“But the experiences it’s been giving me, it’s fun.”

Mikel also appeared in an August episode this year of Family Feud, the popular franchise game show in GMA-7 hosted by Dingdong Dantes.

He joined the game shows as part of the group of former Click mainstays.

Asked if he’s open to try his luck in showbiz again, Mikel said he’s not closing his doors to acting, but that he wants to focus on his current profession for now.