Trigger warning: Mention of rape, sexual assault
Whoever said that time heals all wounds has not been put through the wringer like Miko Gallardo.
A decade-long struggle involving blackmail and unresolved trauma came to light after he uploaded a YouTube video on June 10, 2025, titled “My Final Message.”
Once celebrated for his rise in the BL (Boys' Love) genre and his breakout moment on It’s Showtime’s “Bidaman” segment, his story reveals much more beneath the surface,
Who exactly is Miko Gallardo, and what brought him to this breaking point?
Read: Miko Gallardo says he's a victim of blackmail, threats, extortion
EARLY LIFE
Real Name
In the eight-minute video clip, Miko Gallardo introduced himself as Dwayne.
A publicly accessible land document filed in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, lists a “Dwayne Maeko Gallardo” as the attorney-in-fact in a land sale, suggesting this could be his full legal name.
This detail also aligns with his previous statements about working in real estate and being a resident of Puerto Princesa.
Birthday, Age, Zodiac Signs
He was born on May 30, 1998, making him 27 years old this year.
He is a Gemini by Western astrology and was born in the Year of the Tiger, based on the Chinese zodiac—both signs often associated with duality, intensity, and emotional depth.
Hometown
As mentioned earlier, Miko grew up in Puerto Princesa, Palawan—a city widely known as the “City of the Living God,” and famed for its pristine beaches and historical landmarks.
Family
On June 16, 2019, an episode of "Bidaclips" on Showtime Universe Online, showed Miko opening up about his upbringing.
“Hindi talaga ako lumaki kay Mama kasi na-separate kasi ako kay Mommy, nung naghiwalay sila,” he shared.
“So, kay Dad ako lumaki. Tapos nagka-connect kami ulit ni Mama nung mga 10 years old na ako.”
This separation created a strained dynamic between him and his mom, May, during the early years of his life.
“Okay naman yung relasyon namin ngayon,” he added, “pero nung una, it was off kasi hindi ako lumaki sa kanya.”
Miko said his sister grew up with their mother.
Read: Miko Gallardo's agency confirms he's safe after alarming post
EDUCATION
Before his family moved abroad, he spent his formative years studying in Puerto Princesa.
In the same interview for "Bidaclips," he shared that after finishing Grade 6, his family relocated to the United Arab Emirates, where he continued his education.
“One year or two years bago kami nag-abroad. After Grade 6, nag-aral po ako ng high school doon [Dubai],” he recalled.
No additional details about his college education have been made public.
CAREER
In a 2022 interview with Palawan News, he revealed that he began pursuing showbiz opportunities at the age of 20 while juggling his full-time job.
Miko also put up an agency called Art Talent Management.
“I am now moving on to producing and acting at the same time.
“It’s a nice job kasi your creative team will be challenged din.
"You have a say na on what you want to act as, what part you want to take, at saka how your story will go. As a producer, masaya.”
At present, however, there is no publicly available data to confirm if Art Talent Management remains active.
Read: Production company to probe Miko Gallardo's alleged ordeal
TV debut
Miko’s on-cam journey began with his participation in the "Bidaman" segment of It’s Showtime in 2019.
While he didn’t take home the grand title, his screen presence and charisma became a gateway to acting projects, particularly in the emerging BL genre.
Acting in BL (Boys' Love) series
Miko became one of the breakout faces of the Philippine BL wave during the pandemic—an era when online streaming platforms gave rise to a new generation of queer storytelling.
He starred in My Day (2020), Ben X Jim (2020–2021), My Story (2023), and The Boyfriend Express (2025).
These shows introduced him to a loyal and passionate fanbase that celebrated not only his roles but also his effortless chemistry with co-stars.
PERSONAL LIFE
Miko's Relationships
In March 2023, Miko revealed that he once planned to marry his Fil-Am girlfriend, shortly after they reconciled following a brief breakup.
He was 24 at the time.
“I was supposed to get married,” he admitted in an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine entertainment Portal).
“I proposed to my ex… I was planning to get married, start a family, and move on with my life.
"Akala ko yun na, pero alam mo naman ang Diyos, minsan iba ang ibinibigay sa iyo sa mga plano mo.”
Eventually, the relationship ended for good, and his then-partner left the country.
When asked whether the breakup was the reason for his two-year absence from the public eye, Miko paused and said, “She was there when I was looking for myself…
“At least now, nung nawala siya, okay, accept na lang. I wish her the best.”
Read: Miko Gallardo reveals breakup with non-showbiz girl he wanted to marry
Controversy
Miko became the center of intense public concern after he published a series of distressing Instagram Stories on June 4, 2025.
Followers were met with jarring messages: “F*ck this life man. Time to end,” followed by what appeared to be a farewell note identifying himself both as "ochomiko" and "Miko Gallardo," before signing off with, “These will be my last and final messages.”
He then removed all posts from his Instagram feed and even deleted his display photo.
Miko remained silent until the early hours of June 10, when he uploaded an eight-minute video titled “My Final Message” on his YouTube channel.
In it, Miko—speaking not as the actor or public figure, but as “Dwayne,” his real name—addressed the camera with an air of exhaustion and urgency.
“Hey everyone. My name is Ochomiko on social media. You might know me as Miko Gallardo as an actor, but today I will be talking to you as Dwayne and what I have been going through my whole life,” he began.
“I’m not asking for sympathy or attention. I simply just want things to end.”
What followed was a confession about spending the past ten years under the weight of blackmail, threats, and emotional manipulation.
As the minutes passed, Miko began to share, for the first time, the harrowing details of his early life.
At just eight years old, he said, he was raped by two people he had trusted as older sisters.
Around the same time, he allegedly narrowly escaped sexual assault by older men, who were only deterred when they were nearly caught.
“I was a scared little boy who never talks, but this time, I’ll say it all, I don't care. I don't give a f*ck. I don’t give a f*ck anymore.”
He also spoke about being groomed into a sexual relationship with a much older woman, starting at the age of ten and continuing into his mid-teens.
“That really f*cked up my mind. Filled my head with anger, lust, and bad choices.”
Entering showbiz supposedly didn’t spare him either.
Miko disclosed that upon starting his career in the entertainment industry, he was sexually assaulted multiple times by individuals in positions of power.
“Filipino PD trying to get me many, many times,” he revealed.
“But I never spoke up. They told me to shut up, take it in, and just focus on my career.”
Speaking up, he feared, meant being “buried.”
And in the cutthroat world of showbiz, he said, “Life is about survival. And right now, I am trying to survive.”
While the full extent of Miko’s story is still unfolding, the online support has been swift and deeply empathetic.
Read: Bidaman finalist Miko Gallardo, may follow-up movie na pagkatapos ng Us Again