Young actor and TV host Mico Aytona is happy with the state of his career in GMA-7. Particularly after joining Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition, Mico believes everything is looking up for him.

"Siguro, para sa akin, pinakamalaking break para sa akin itong Survivor sa career ko. Siguro ito na yung turning point, ito na yung climax ng career ko, nung dumating yung Survivor," Mico, who is 22 years old, says.

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press had a chance to interview Mico at the pocket presscon for Survivor last October 19 at GMA-7's executive lounge.

Mico is a former member of Anime, a dance group in ABS-CBN. In 2008, he moved to GMA-7.

"Dati po, nakilala po ako sa ABS bilang, 'Uy, 'yan yung nasa Anime,'" he says. "Pero ngayon, nasasabi na nila, 'Uy, si Mico 'yan, o, sa Survivor.' May Mico Aytona na, may name na.

"Malaking tulong po talaga sa career ko yung ginawa ng Survivor. Sobrang... kung wala po sigurong Survivor, hindi ko alam kung ano yung meron ako ngayon."

Mico is a regular host in German Moreno's Walang Tulugan, and a semi-regular cast member of the Kapuso network's Sunday noon song-and-dance program, Party Pilipinas. He has also appeared in the now-defunct shows Daisy Siete and Ka-Blog!, both from the Kapuso channel.

"And I was praying before na, sana, after Ka-Blog!, magkaroon ng isang show na regular. Natupad, ang bait talaga ni Lord," he says.

Survivor Philippines, he says, is a big blessing. The show fell on his lap, and he did not hesitate to take it.

He narrates, "Tawag lang po, e. Text lang pala muna. 'Mico, do you wanna join Survivor season 3?' Sabi ko, 'Totoo ba 'to?' Baka mamaya, poser lang 'to na pinagtitripan lang ako.'

"Tumawag sa akin. Interview muna. Saka merong mga psychological exam na kailangan namin ipasa, pati mga medical exam. So yun, ginawa ko po yun.

"Hindi po ako nag-hesitate. Kasi nung napanood ko yung season one, gusto po naming dalawa ng brother ko na sumali sa Survivor. Parang dream ko na sumali sa Survivor. E, yun nga, nakatsamba, sinuwerte."

Although Mico was voted out from Survivor Philippines on Day 19 of the competition, the exposure paved the way for his joining a new show. And, as everyone in the entertainment business knows, getting on a regular show is a star's bread and butter. Television, after all, is the dominant medium today, providing the steadiest jobs and paying very respectable fees for its stars.

Mico is now a part of Dwarfina, the new GMA-7 primetime offering starring Heart Evangelista and Dennis Trillo.

"Masaya po ako basta hindi ako nawawalan ng trabaho. Hindi ko naman ine-aim na big star ako kaagad. Nagagawa ko yung gusto kong gawin, dahan-dahan lang," he says.