Mikee Bustos is turning 44 with the same vibrant energy that first catapulted him to fame, the Filipino-Canadian singer, comedian, and viral vlogger is not slowing down. In fact, he鈥檚 just getting started. From parody king to ant whisperer, and now an independent music artist with a brand-new single out, Bustos celebrates his birthday not with cake or confetti, but with wisdom. In a heartfelt post marking his 44th year, he shared ten life hacks鈥攓uirky, wise, and deeply personal鈥攖hat reflect the lessons he鈥檚 gathered from a life spent under the spotlight, and in search of self. But first, who exactly is Mikee Bustos? THE RENAISSANCE MAN OF THE INTERNET Born Michael John Yadan Tumanguil Pestano Tilapia Bustos III on June 23, 1981, Mikee first caught public attention as a finalist on Canadian Idol. But it was through his creative, often hilariously Filipino-themed YouTube content that he truly captured hearts both at home and abroad. With over a million followers across platforms, Bustos built an empire of cultural comedy sketches, music parodies, lifestyle vlogs, and one particularly niche (and massively successful) YouTube channel: AntsCanada, where he educates and entertains viewers about the captivating world of ant-keeping. Whether he鈥檚 filming viral skits about OFWs, serenading audiences with Tagalog-English ballads, or narrating the rise of an ant colony with the gravitas of a nature docuseries, Mikee remains unapologetically himself鈥攁 trait that continues to endear him to fans across generations. TEN LIFE LESSONS AT 44 To celebrate his 44th birthday, Mikee didn鈥檛 just post selfies or birthday wishes. He gave back something more valuable鈥攚isdom, distilled from the journey so far. Here are some highlights:鈥 鈥淭here is no such thing as 鈥榶our prime.鈥欌滷or Bustos, success isn鈥檛 linear鈥攁nd age isn鈥檛 a limitation. 鈥淵ou can peak as many times as you work for it,鈥 he says, challenging societal timelines and encouraging lifelong ambition.鈥 鈥淣ature is your best friend.鈥滱s someone who literally built a brand around ants and ecosystems, Mikee鈥檚 reverence for nature runs deep. He advocates for sunlight, trees, and even walking barefoot鈥攇rounding advice, literally and spiritually.鈥 鈥淎ddress all your demons before you get rich.鈥滷ame and fortune can magnify inner chaos. Bustos urges self-reflection and emotional healing before chasing external validation.鈥 鈥淟ove yourself like crazy.鈥滻n a world that often mistakes confidence for arrogance, Bustos offers a refreshing take: 鈥淎nyone who says you love yourself too much secretly hates themselves.鈥 His advice? Be your biggest fan.鈥 鈥淟augh at yourself鈥攂ut be kind to yourself.鈥滽nown for self-deprecating humor, Mikee reminds us that joy doesn鈥檛 come from perfection, but from self-compassion. These aren鈥檛 just slogans鈥攖hey鈥檙e truths earned through public wins and private struggles. Each piece of advice reflects a version of Mikee who鈥檚 grown through vulnerability, reinvention, and deep personal work. A NEW ERA OF MUSIC And speaking of reinvention, Mikee鈥檚 birthday coincides with the release of his second single, 鈥淧arachute鈥濃攁n emotional and creative departure from the comedic content he鈥檚 known for. 鈥淭his is a new part of me I love sharing with the world,鈥 he said. 鈥淪treaming and sharing my music is the best birthday gift you could give.鈥 Unlike his parody roots, Mikee鈥檚 current music speaks from the soul鈥攅choing the lessons he鈥檚 learned, the identities he鈥檚 embraced, and the heart he鈥檚 always carried. FROM ANT COLONIES TO CULTURAL ICONBustos remains a rare breed: a creator who doesn鈥檛 chase trends, but builds communities. Whether it鈥檚 fellow Filipinos abroad, LGBTQ+ youth looking for representation, or science geeks obsessed with formicidae, Mikee creates space for everyone. He鈥檚 the content creator who made being yourself the brand鈥攁nd who continues to show that success, when rooted in authenticity, only gets better with age.