Mike Tan is a good provider and a responsible father.
He has easily adjusted to being a first-time dad, but because of his taping schedule, his baby is usually asleep by the time he's home.
At the grand presscon of Kara Mia, he told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "Alam mo, every time na tinatanong ako niyan, hanggang ngayon nahihirapan akong sumagot. Kasi sobrang daming emosyon ang nararamdaman ko ngayon bilang tatay at asawa.
"Masaya ako na naaalagaan ko ang mag-nanay ko, at hands-on ako sa pagpapalaki sa anak ko.
"Alam mo yung galing kang trabaho 'tapos gusto mo pa siyang kunin at kargahin, pero tulog na siya at bawal na siyang gambalain at baka magising.
"'Tapos galing pa akong taping, so hindi ko pa siya puwedeng hawakan."
Mike and wife Cris's daughter Victoria is now three months old.
One thing Mike was able to do before getting married was prepare himself emotionally, and be mature enough to handle the challenges.
He added, "Priorities mo talaga at goal sa buhay, mag-iiba. Pero bago pa man din kasi ako nag-asawa at nagkaanak, binago ko na rin naman talaga yung lifestyle ko para handa na ako bago pa ako maging ama."
KARA MIA ROLE
Mike plays an engkanto in Kara Mia, and he spends grueling hours for his makeup and prosthetics.
Appearing topless in most of his scenes, Mike revealed his preparations, "Nag-diet at nag-workout."
He continued, "Sa pag-arte naman lagi naman kami may workshop kay Anthony Bova [New York=based acting coach], dun ko na rin iniisip kung papaano gagawin ang character ni Iswal."
On his makeup and prosthetics, Mike said, "Mahirap at makati lalo na kapag matagal na sa katawan mo. Alam naman natin kung gaano katagal ang taping."
In the series, which is top-billed by Barbie Forteza and Mika dela Cruz, he falls in love with Carmina Villarroel's character.
We asked Mike what similarities he has with his character Iswal.
He said, "Hmmmm… Malaki ang pagkakaiba ng love ni Iswal. Kay Iswal kasi, 'obsession' siya kaysa love.
"Kung mahal mo kasi yung tao, di mo naman siya sasaktan. Pero kailangan kasi rin nating isipin na si Iswal ay engkanto kaya yung way of loving niya ganoon."
What's the worst thing he did for love?
"Hindi pinakagrabe kundi pinakamagandang nagawa ko—mag-antay at pakasalan ang asawa ko bago kami nagkaanak."
Mike was the Ultimate Survivor in StartStruck's season 2 back in 2004. Now that StarStruck is coming back, what's his advice to the contestants and future winners?
“Bukod sa galingan nila at wag silang makampante...Maging mabait sila sa lahat ng makakasamuha nila mula sa ibaba hanggang sa pinakamataas na posisyon sa industriya.”