In Star Studio Magazine’s March issue, Sam Milby retraced his journey from his figure-skating days in Ohio, USA to being one of the most sought-after heartthrobs in the country. But it was a long, hard climb especially during his growing up years wherein he experienced a lot of discrimination in his hometown. Apparently, he was often called names such as chink, which is a derogatory term for Chinese. “Akala nila, Chinese ako. Kasi konti lang yung Asians sa Ohio. Kapag nakikita nila na parang slant ang eyes, either Chinese or Japanese. Ganun yung tingin nila. Hindi nila alam yung distinction (na may iba pang Asians like) Thai, Pinoy, Korean. Sa kanilang (mga Amerikano), basta Asian, Chinese,” he explained. It was his third visit in the Philippines—where he stayed in Bulacan for three months— that he finally tried out for commercials after much prodding from his cousins. “They said I had the half-breed look,” Sam recalled. But things didn’t come easy for him even then for he had to experience riding tricycles, buses, and the MRT from Bulacan to Makati just to attend go-sees. Though there were instances when he would make it to the final casting then get rejected in the end, Sam didn’t let it stop him from finding his luck. “If I don’t get the part, it was fine since I was not really expecting it anyway.”
Looking back, Sam couldn’t still believe that his life took a drastic turn for the better right after his stint in Pinoy Big Brother Season 1. With six movies, four soaps, and countless endorsements under his belt, this 25-yearold managed to build a beautiful two-story house in Pasig and buy himself two expensive cars including a Nissan 350Z—all of which he proudly showed to Star Studio. “Dalawa lang kami sa Philippines na mayroon nung ganitong sports car. Tapos yung house kahit malayo siya, okay na rin. Ang sarap umuwi,” he beamed. Who wouldn’t love to go home to a house with a big swimming pool, a luxurious home theater complete with an all-original DVD collection as well as his very own gym plus a sauna? “Last time nagamit yung swimming pool last year pa (nung birthday ko). And I probably swam there mga two times pa lang.”
Find out all these and more in Star Studio’s a day in a life with Sam Milby and a couple of revelations straight from his former leading lady Tony Gonzaga and manager Erick Raymundo. Grab a copy of the March issue now in leading bookstores and newsstands nationwide.
On, June 30, 2010, Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III was sworn in as the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines. Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and Jesuit Fr. Catalino Arevalo, a close friend of the Aquinos, who held the bible, swore in the only son of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and former president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. To most Filipinos, this day was very memorable because it symbolizes the beginning of a new hope for the country, the hope of a clean and honest government.
