Mikee Quintos Recalls Her Struggles As A Working-Student—And Addresses The Freedom Wall Controversy

Being in the public eye often means facing controversies that are hard to fully explain or address. Actress Mikee Quintos experienced this firsthand when she was dragged into the so-called Freedom Wall controversy, after an anonymous post accused her of being "pabigat" in college and not contributing to group work and her thesis.

Years after the issue first surfaced, Mikee is finally breaking her silence, this time as a degree earner, opening up about what really happened, how it affected her, and why the situation unfolded the way it did.

"It affected me... Na-affect ako in a way na ayokong pumasok kahit online class. Kasi feeling ko, tinatawan ako ng mga kaklase ko… Parang, 'why are you enjoying in seeing me fall like this?'" the actress shared in a podcast with Chris Cantada, former vocalist of Sponge Cola.

"I was balancing two things, two worlds… Nakalimutan ko na yung mga kaklase ko sa college, hindi pa nagtatrabaho… Hindi nila mag-gets yung pressure. So, I can't expect na when I talk to them and explain na, kailangan ko magpa-nails para sa show at may taping ako, hindi nila makikita na trabaho yun for me," she explained.

According to Mikee, the backlash took a serious toll on her mental health. However, she also acknowledged her shortcomings, saying the experience taught her to take accountability and become more aware of her surroundings. 

"Fault ko yun to expect na magets na nila yun. Dapat mas ako yung naging bigger person at mas naging aware ako, mas naging sensitive ako somehow," the actress said. 

"Ever since, ang naging mindset ko, as long as okay ako sa prof ko, tapusin ko lahat ng classes ko. After all that, di ba, na-shift ko na yung mindset ko. I was back into it. I started enrolling with more classes na," the actress shared. 

What ultimately pushed her to keep going and finish her degree, despite how difficult things were, was a moment shared by a student from a younger batch. The student recalled how one of Mikee's professors once spoke highly of her after she submitted a plate requirement two weeks late.

"Masungit sa akin yung prof na yun kasi late na nga ako mag-pass… Kinuwento niya sa akin na paglabas ko daw, sabi daw ng prof sa class, 'Kilala niyo yun? Si Mikee Quintos yun,'" Mikee shared.

"Sabi, 'Nag-a-artista yun.. Tignan niyo yung plate niya. Kahit late, laging quality pinapasa niya,'" the actress recalled.

Finishing college was far from easy for the actress. As a working student, Mikee had taping schedules on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while attending classes at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. She even shared that there was a time when she was asked to choose between earning her degree or pursuing her acting career.

"GMA offered the contract and I was second year college nun. Ayaw pirmahan ng daddy ko yung kontrata ko. Sabi niya, 'ayoko pag nagkumita ka na, hindi mo natatapusin yung college,'"” Mikee shared.

"Eventually, pumayag siya after ilang weeks of convincing him… Tatapusin ko no matter what, no matter how long it takes, I will finish it," she added.

True to her word, Mikee proved everyone wrong. In 2025, she finally defended her thesis, and a few months later, she graduated from the College of Architecture alongside 318 other graduates, earning her hard-earned degree.

"Feels wrong to not have these pics on my feed. These people motivated me through the hard college all-nighters. And though it took longer than expected, a promise is a promise!" the actress wrote.