Mikey Bustos facts for kids

Mikey Bustos (born June 23, 1981) is a Filipino-Canadian YouTuber, actor, singer, and comedian. He became known after appearing on the TV show Canadian Idol. Mikey also runs a popular YouTube channel called AntsCanada, which is all about ant-keeping.

Early Life and Education

Michael John Yadan Tumanguil Pestano Tilapia Bustos III was born on June 23, 1981. His hometown is Weston, a neighborhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He went to St. Michael's College School in Toronto. Before becoming famous, he worked at the Bank of Montreal.

Mikey's Journey on Canadian Idol

In August 2003, Mikey Bustos competed in the first season of Canadian Idol. He finished in seventh place in the finals. Many people, including Chart magazine, thought he had a great voice.

Mikey recorded music for the Canadian Idol album. This album quickly became very popular. It sold over 60,000 copies across Canada. It was one of the top 5 best-selling Canadian albums when it first came out.

After Canadian Idol

After his time on Canadian Idol, Mikey started performing a lot. He sang at many events and shows in Canada and the United States. He performed in top venues, showing off his talent.

Mikey Bustos' Career Highlights

In 2004, Mikey moved to New York City to work on his music. He recorded songs with producer Glenn Swan. Glenn Swan worked at the famous Chung King Studios.

In 2005, Mikey released his first music collection called Love Me Again. It came out on May 7. Brent Bodrug produced this music. Brent had worked with other famous artists like Alanis Morissette.

In 2006, Mikey continued to tour in the U.S. He performed in cities like New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas. He also started performing in the Philippines. He was the opening act for the Pussycat Dolls there. Mikey also appeared on many popular Philippine TV shows. These included ABS-CBN's ASAP '06 and GMA-7's Eat Bulaga.

In 2007, Mikey was in a commercial for MTV Canada. He also opened for Christina Aguilera in the Philippines on July 6. The next year, he released a music video for his song "If It Feels Good Then We Should." This song was from his first solo album, Memoirs of a Superhero, released on December 23, 2008.

In 2009, Mikey's song "If It Feels Good Then We Should" was a Top 20 hit on Canadian radio. It was also a Top 2 music video in the U.S. Another song, "All I Need Is Me," played in Footlocker Stores. Mikey signed a deal with Universal Music in May 2009.

In 2010, Mikey was nominated for a Toronto Independent Music Award. His song "Everytime My Heart Beats" became very popular on YouTube. Mikey also acted in musical theater. He had a main role in Prison Dancer: The Musical.

In January 2014, Mikey joined the radio show Good Times with Mo. This show was on Magic 89.9 in the Philippines.

In 2017, Mikey hosted his own TV show. It was called Mikey Bustos: Your Pinoy Boy Vlogserye. The show aired on CLTV 36 in the Philippines.

Mikey's YouTube Channels

Mikey Bustos is very well-known for his funny and musical videos on YouTube. His personal channel features videos about Filipino culture, food, history, and traditions. He often makes parody songs and skits.

Mikey also runs another YouTube channel called AntsCanada. This channel is all about ants and antkeeping. He shares videos of his ant colonies and teaches viewers about ants. Mikey also has an AntsCanada store in Toronto. It sells ant-keeping supplies that he makes in Manila.

In 2021, Mikey Bustos helped discover a new ant species in the Philippines. It was called Meranoplus bicolor. This was the 555th ant species found in the country.

Product Endorsements

Since 2011, Mikey Bustos has been a spokesperson for big brands. These include Samsung, Nescafé, and Mang Juan snacks. His TV commercials for Chicharron ni Mang Juan are shown on major TV networks in the Philippines.

Television Appearances

Awards and Recognition

See also

In Spanish: Mikey Bustos para niños