Miguel Tanfelix

When GMA-7 launched the reality-based artista search StarStruck in 2003, it sent the country into reality-TV frenzy.

- Shara Cayetano

Week after week, Filipinos tuned in to watch showbiz hopefuls aged 14 to 18 battling it out to win half a million pesos and an exclusive contract with the Kapuso network. The show’s format turned out to be a hit with the public, who liked the fact that StarStruck allowed them to get to know the aspiring artistas for who they truly were.

This is where Miguel Tanfelix comes in.

At the height of the StarStruck fever, he was an energetic five-year-old with a penchant for performing. He wanted nothing more than to be on StarStruck. “Napanood ko po sina Kuya Mark Herras na sumasayaw on TV, onstage,” he recalls. “So sabi ko, parang sinabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘I want to do this.’”

Mark Herras, then 16, would emerge as the Ultimate Male Survivor of the show’s inaugural season. Jennylyn Mercado, also 16, became the Ultimate Female Survivor. Miguel particularly remembered Mark because of the latter’s dancing skills, which the young boy aspired to have.

Almost immediately after the first season wrapped up, things began to work in the young Miguel’s favor. GMA put out a call for auditions, this time for kids aged five to seven. Miguel, the eldest child of educators Grace and Gary Tanfelix, wasted no time.

“No’ng nakita ko na may StarStruck Kids, sabi ko, ‘Mommy, audition tayo.’ Ako talaga ’yong nagpumilit na ‘Mommy, samahan mo akong mag-audition sa ganyan.’”

It was not the easiest of requests to fulfill. Back then, Miguel’s Mommy Grace was pregnant with her second child, Don Juan—who is now 13 years old and still the bunso of the family. “So talagang tyinaga lang din ni Mommy na sumama sa mga auditions,” Miguel says.