Mark Herras and the season of survival

February 24 ------ Around this time last year, Mark Herras was probably going through the “driest spell” of his life. Desperate for work to provide for his family, the showbiz dad of two felt compelled to take a side hustle at a male entertainment bar in Pasay City.

No, it was not a brief macho-dancing stint but a decent, well-paying job. All it took was showing off what he became famous for on this side of showbiz — his signature hip-hop grooves. The touted “Kilabot ng Dancefloor,” however, had become a “terpsichorean terror” no more. His dancing career ended in an instant — a “drought” that seemed to last forever.

Had it not been for his gay bar stint, Mark would have been tapped by GMA to join its weekend program “Stars on the Floor” — now on its second season — as one of the show’s credible judges. I remember Mark lamenting how the opportunity slipped through his fingers. All he could do was shake his head in utter frustration.

It is also a pity that the first-ever Ultimate Survivor winner of GMA’s artista search “StarStruck” is no longer under the network’s protective wings. Is he to blame? If you ask for my two cents, no. Whatever vagary or vicissitude he has faced boils down to priorities — with family topping the list. Even Mark acknowledges that he is no aspirant for greatness. It is enough for him to meet the needs of his family. Period. Of late, he has found an ally in fellow “StarStruck” alumnus Mike Tan. Mark and Mike — who won their respective seasons a year apart — both clinched the highest male titles.

Source: manilatimes.net