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Throwback Thursday: Sam Pinto

8/29/2013

Unintentionally, this interview came in two parts—the first as seen above at the studio, while the latter came about purely by sheer coincidence almost a year later during another assignment I was covering.

The original issue theme focused on dermatology/cosmetic surgery for a sister magazine where we ended up featuring Phoemela Baranda. So after the story I wrote on Sam got shelved for two ensuing issues, a vacant cover story fortunately put it back in the lineup. After failed attempts at rescheduling a follow-up interview for what would be the mother's-day issue, the situation seemed hopeless.

I happened to be on an overnight assignment covering the newly developed Ponderosa Leisure Farms by Landco Pacific Corp, when during one of the stops at a beachfront resort I noticed a big-budget shoot was going on (there were huge skrims, too many grip boys to count, and several fresnel lights). On the way to our group's cabana, I recognized the hair and makeup artists from previous shoots we'd done. I asked who the talent was, and the rest, thanks to my trusty Nokia's recorder feature, helped finished up the article below.

Side note: This was a year before Sam went on to become FHM Philippines' Sexiest for two years in a row in 2011-12.

The Princess Next Door

According to my estimates, more people have landed on the moon than have been lucky enough to actually say that their audition for a modeling agency happened in a mall food court. But the proverbial fairytale story is exactly what happened to Samuelle Lynne Pinto

Text by V. Glenn Orion
Photos by Shaira Luna
HMUA Regie Escolin Soriano
Styling by Miko Calma
Shot at Calibre Studios

Hers is truly the stuff fairytales are made of. Her whirlwind romance with the hearts of Filipinos the country over unraveled before everyone’s eyes in the “House of Kuya”. Her ready laughter soothing smile, and demure yet regal presence permeated through the television screen.

As in the footsteps of successful housemates before her, she went on to bigger and better projects despite being in the house for only a month and a half. Where others fizzle out as quickly as they erupted, she remains in the public spotlight, snagging a role on the fantasy TV series Captain Barbell. She also starred in the remake of the 80s film by the same name, Petrang Kabayo, and later played the role of Senator Bong Revilla’s love interest in Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote which was a record-breaking blockbuster during this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

But you know what they say, “Behind every PBB Housemate, actress, model, and covergirl is a lawyer mother.”

Exposition

Who would have thought an unassuming trip to the mall on an unassuming Sunday afternoon would be so pivotal in the life of an unassuming 10-year-old girl?

Sam takes a deep breath, probably having recited this story numerous times though it never gets old. “I was at a mall, buying French fries, when an agent for a modeling agency approached me and asked, ‘Do you want to be a model?’ I said I’d ask my mom and if she said okay, then I’d give it a try.” She flashes a big grin.

Yes. It was that anticlimactic. The literary technique called “rising action” in a story plot contains, as any Lit major will tell you, the development of secondary conflicts, and the introduction of various obstacles in the protagonist’s attempt to reach their goal.

And yet, her childhood up until that point and for a number of years afterward, were by no stretch of the imagination, extraordinary. “Which means, hanging out with friends, going to the movies, watching DVDs. Just being normal,” she nods knowingly.

Her mother, a busy attorney, enrolled her in a school unlike traditional schools where children would follow a strict curriculum and study subjects as planned by the teacher. Her school, which followed the Radcliffe and Harvard method of teaching, gave Sam the flexibility to delve into the topic of her choosing when she chose to study it. And as a young girl, her interests were constantly shifting, so she managed her academics at her own pace.

Soccer games or piano recitals were probably the typical weekend activities of girls her age, but Sam was sending VTRs to her agency whenever they felt her look fit the description required. Her mom’s encouragement helped her early on. “It’s actually pretty crazy, with modeling, you don’t get projects just like that, you get rejected all the time. So siguro after like the first ten VTRs, I was like ‘Ayoko na,’” she says in a mock-whiny voice. “But after a while, I started getting offers na rin thanks to my mom, who was there every step of the way.” Her first print ad was for CocaCola.

And more good fortune keeps coming her way. Pre-PBB, hardcore fans will remember the Voice Combo Sandwich TV ad that featured her one-liner, “Zipper mo bukas!” Today’s just another busy day like the many other busy days in the years that have passed since. “Lately, it’s been work, work, work. I’ve been taping, sometimes 24 hours straight. I try to nap on set when I’m not in a scene, but when it’s my turn it’s “O, game na. Game, game, game.”

Aside from being involved in the commercial modeling scene and occasional TV spot, Sam followed one of her passions by going to the De LaSalle-College of Saint Benilde. “I took Fashion and Design at CSB but had to stop because of all the projects I’m working on.” Although education is on the backburner at the moment, she continues, “As of now, I’m doing the whole showbiz thing so I’m concentrating more on the acting. I’m doing all the workshops and stuff, but if this doesn’t work out,” she laughs, “it’s my back-up plan. I’d go back to CSB or I could study elsewhere like London. But definitely for fashion pa rin.”

Her mom completely understands. “I realize that this industry is all about striking when the iron is hot,” Attorney Theresa says when I caught up with them at another shoot for a new endorsement of Sam’s. “As a mother, of course my dream is to one day see her finish [schooling]. But she came up with a very logical statement. She said, ‘Mommy, you sent me to a very good school so that one day I could earn my own living. And now I’m earning it, and I’m not even done yet. So can I just do it?’ So I said, ‘As long as you, one, promise you will finish.’ Secondly, she said, ‘Mom, my course is a craft, it’s never going to go away, it’s my passion and I love it and I will finish.’”

Sam says she’s even prepared to take on a supportive role should the time come, having been in the spotlight herself. “When I do guestings, or other appearances, I style myself. I pick out my own clothes. Kasi some artists hire a stylist for a month or something. For me, I have the freedom to choose my own outfits and do my own makeup.” She even gets to put some of the things she’s learned in her current line of work. Her mom adds, “It’s an education which could not be paid for or learned in any university.” At the MMFF Awards Night red carpet earlier this year, Sam wore a gown that she designed herself.

Mommy’s girl

Her success in the industry is a reflection of both the close professional and familial relationship she has with her mom. Having been separated from her father when Sam was about seven years old, she inculcated in Sam and sister Rea, less than two years her senior, the importance of respect, honor, and humility.

As a civil attorney, her mother pores over contracts advising Sam about the details and technicalities many other young stars are oblivious to. “If we’re talking about [the specifics of] this project or this contract, I’m a lawyer,” Atty. Theresa explains. “But if I’m advising her for or against the contract, I’m a mother. So it’s really understanding which hat I’m wearing and what perspective I’m taking when we’re talking. And she understands that.”

Sam shares that her mom gives her the reins when it comes to the majority of the decision-making. Raised on good Christian values, she gives her moral compass priority. “We work together,” Sam says, “me and my mom will give our suggestions, and the creative team will do their best to honor that. And we usually come to an agreement that works for everyone.” Having a mom with that kind of professional background is imaginably the envy of many of Sam’s peers.

I’m reminded of a story involving a celebrity and his “momager.” Pop artist Usher made headlines a few years back, when he fired his mother who had been his manager ever since the beginning of his career. “Oh, I don’t think Sam will fire me,” Atty. Theresa interjects, laughing. Some say that working with family in such an industry is taboo. “They understood, even early on, the many hats I wear. Sometimes I’m father, sometimes I’m mother, sometimes I’m a sister, sometimes even Lucifer,” she jokes. “And it helps that the communication between the tree of us is very open.”

And it’s apparent, too, in their home life. “I don’t cook, so that’s the frustration of the girls,” teases Atty. Theresa as Sam gets prepped for another spread. “We have a very orderly life. Our home is peaceful and quiet. It has fast become the clubhouse of their friends and barkada because I welcome them, I welcome everybody.” The relaxed and easygoing vibe seems like something Sam has inherited.

Sam’s projects come in waves, apparently, where she’s doing tapings and shoots one after another which are then followed with a period of relative relaxation. Perhaps a week or so off. Those are the times she, Rea, and their mom capitalize on time bonding together. “Some days, all we have time for is watching DVDs in my room,” shares Sam. “We’ll order pizza, go out for a midnight snack or Starbucks, and just hangout or I try to catch up on sleep. But when I can block off a couple weeks, we really love to travel together. Europe is definitely among our favorites, I love it there.”

As Atty. Theresa looks out over the veranda onto the beach where Sam is doing what she does best, you can just sense the pride she must have for her daughter, her princess. Who wouldn’t? Sam has handled the inevitable road bumps the industry has thrown her way with an honest, no-frills-attached poise that is becoming a rarity these days.

She’s still writing her story. Still dancing at the ball in her glass shoes, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Whatever comes her way, she’ll be sure to have her very own Happily Ever After.

-30-

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Three Hours Up, Three Hours Down

8/21/2013

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Got to spend two of Abbie's weekends off putting in quite a bit of time behind the wheel—first heading north to New York City and then south to Chincoteague Island, VA.

Thank goodness for E-ZPass lanes. And great company.

New York/New Jersey

Tom's Cove/Chincoteague Island

Good times!

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Throwback Thursday: When in Bali

8/1/2013

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Back into the archives again for another #tbt except I seem to have misplaced the actual tearsheets. Insert cheesy emojicon here.

Bali was really the first time that I ventured out of the vegetarian comfort zone I had been raised in. It was the right place to do it. Read on:

When In Bali

Sea, Sun, Shopping—the “3 S’s” this island getaway is sure to have more than enough of. And who could ask for more? Certainly not the increasing throngs of surfers, beachgoers, and bargain hunters who, year after year, continue to flock here faster than you can say “Bali Holiday.”

But to do as the Balinese do, one must venture off the beaten path and discover a library of wonders far beyond this triumvirate alliteration. Read on with writer and photographer Glenn Orion as your guide to the remainder of Bali’s alphabet.

And Then There Was Denpasar

As quickly as we came, we went. Jakarta had been a pleasure to unravel, from the rolling hillsides of Bandung to the bustling cityscape downtown. But as much as we hated to leave, we knew and eagerly anticipated the next stop—Bali. This meant taking the brief ride back to Soekarno Hatta International Airport and flying Garuda Indonesia Airlines to Ngurah Rai Int’l Airport. Enjoying some snacks during a bit of down time before the flight, our small group along with our guides from the Ministry of Culture & Tourism who would be accompanying us on this next leg, laughed as we recounted the already memorable first half of our trip.

The short flight literally flew by and before we knew it, we were all loaded-up in a spacious van and immediately whisked on our way to the first stop. Winding through, climbing up and down the coastal roads, our local guide “Wira” warned us to put away our glasses and to secure other valuables or loose accessories. We soon found out why when, arriving at the cliffside temple at Uluwatu, we stepped into what is the home of an estimated 300 wild monkeys. Even at the entrance, signs advise visitors of these furry burglars’ clever attempts at thievery. Before being allowed to enter, female guests wearing shorts or skirts were provided with wraparound skirts and the men were given sashes worn at the waist as a sign of reverence to the holy site.

Uluwatu

We wandered through the cobbled pathways and up large stone steps to a lookout point on the easterly coastline. All the while, generations of monkeys strolled lazily among us with an air of nonchalance. Wira said that these monkeys had been allowed to inhabit and roam in this area freely even since he was a child. The Balinese believe that monkeys are gods incarnate and although they aren’t worshipped, these primates are, for the most part, allowed to do as they please. As soon as those words left our guide’s mouth, a loud shriek followed by nervous laughter came from behind us. We spun around to see a grown monkey make off with a young woman’s sunglasses. The monkey bandits strike again!

Soon, we were all herded into the outdoor amphitheater that sits right on the cliff’s edge, hundreds of feet above the crashing waves below. With the setting sun as its backdrop, the Kecak dance performance began. The group of primarily male dancers wearing only a checkered cloth around their waists, perform the ritual to the rhythmic sounds made orally using no other instruments. The latter syllable of its name, Kecak (pronounced “chak”), is chanted throughout the ceremony. For a small fee, visitors can watch the depiction of the battle from the Ramayana epic between monkey-like Vanara and the evil King Ravana.

I asked a companion to save my front row seat about midway through the performance so I could capture the vivid colors streaking across the setting sky. The three-tiered roof section of the temple seemed to teeter on the precipice creating a dramatic contrast between the blackness of the cliffside and the blue sea that, if not for the flickering lights of fishing boats on the horizon, looked like it and the sky had seamlessly meshed together. The quiet night sounds were interrupted by sporadic laughter coming from the amphitheater. I returned just in time to have the monkey god Vanara jump into the crowd and sit next to me!

Wira excitedly told us that we would be having dinner at a popular fresh seafood market paralleled by a line of seaside restaurants serving up delicious, five-star dishes at two-star prices. This was no occasion to cling to my vegetarian ways. And if there was ever a better time to experience a true meat-lover’s delight, it was now. With the gentle sound of waves lapping on the sandy beach serving as our four-piece string quartet, and with the moon and stars overhead as our chandelier, we began scarfing down all manner of meats, soups, and rice. I found myself knuckle-deep in Be Siap Pelalah, a boiled chicken meat dish that is then barbecued and served soaked in hot and flavorful chili sauce; and Bandeng Presto, pressure-cooked fish with an unmistakable aroma and sambal garnishing. What a night to do as the locals do.

Bali-vanting

Bright blue skies and a pleasant breeze greeted us the next morning. We had a number of stops ahead and were eager to be on our way after a hearty breakfast at the newly opened Aston Hotel. We would have the pleasure of visiting the Taman Ayun family temple in Mengwi first. Balinese for “beautiful garden,” this 17th Century historical landmark, complete with moat and bridge, continues to serve as a place of worship. Lily pads and their blooming flowers float with the clouds in reflections created by the still water.

By the time we left the spacious garden temple, we had worked up an appetite. Approaching noon, we began our ascent up Terate Bang Mountain where we would be having lunch at the Khayangan Restaurant. I noticed, as we passed by street-side stores and private homes, that none of the windows and doors had grilles, neither were the properties fenced-in. Our guide Wira said that this was because of the devout belief in karma. Locally, the phrase tatwa masi, roughly translates to “I am you, you are me,” and it is the adherence to this code that guides the Balinese moral compass.

Next, we headed north about 60km from Denpasar City towards Singaraja. As we climbed up the mountainside, the weather became noticeably cooler. Through the fog rolling in and under a light drizzle, we arrived at the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple. This Hindu temple is dedicated to the water goddess, Danu, whom the locals believe to be the source of fertility and prosperity. With four mountain ranges in each direction, the lakeside temple is the largest group of Hindu temples in East Java. When the tide is in, sections of the temple become isolated on man-made islands; definitely a must-see in Bali.

Around mid-afternoon, we strolled through a large open market to buy and snack on some local fruits and shop for souvenirs. The locals are friendly and inviting, accustomed as they are to tourists visiting the area. Further down the road is Alas Kedaton, the fruit bats and monkey forest in the middle of a Tabanan regency rice field. The temple’s maintenance and caretaking of its animals is provided on a completely voluntary basis.

Lastly, we visited one of the most anticipated sunset spots—Tanah Lot Temple. Also known as The Temple on the Rock, Tanah Lot looks out on the Bali Sea and is one of the seven sea temples that form a chain along the southwestern coast. A large boa constrictor roams the grounds under the careful eye of its keeper and it, along with the sea snakes at the temple’s base, are believed to keep out evil spirits and intruders. The innumerable souvenir stands that line the cemented path to the sea are a last-minute stop after the sun has set.

Innumerable, too, are the experiences to be had, sights to be seen, and foods to be tasted. Bali is just one of 17,500 reasons to visit Indonesia. And when in Bali, you, too, will speak volumes of this island paradise.