Six things you didn’t know about Sam YG

Published March 19, 2014 8:13am

Behind Sam YG’s persona as the turban-wearing Shivaker and the naughty DJ is a man who faced down discrimination with the determination to succeed.

Most people know Sam YG for two things: his naughty turn on radio show “Boys Night Out” and his comedic stint as the stereotypically Indian “Shivaker”. But what most people don’t realize about Sam is that he draws on both intelligence and his experiences of being discriminated against for being Indian.

“Iba man ang bansang pinagmulan ng kanyang pamilya, hindi naman matatawaran ang pagpapahalaga ni Sam sa bayang kinalakhan at kumalinga sa kanya,” notes “Tunay na Buhay” host Rhea Santos.

Here are six things you didn’t know about Sam YG, from his schoolboy days to his Kama Sutra shrine.

1. Sam YG is a “true blue” Atenista
Sam studied in Ateneo De Manila from grade school to college, where he took up Legal Management. His favorite hangout spot? The Science Education Complex, or SEC, walkway. “Dito talaga ‘yung mga matatalino tumatambay,” he jokes. “‘Yung mga hindi mahilig sa girls. ‘Yung pakialam namin, mag-aral.” (In reality, the SEC walkway is known to Ateneans as a prime spot for people-watching.)

2. He faced “heart-crushing” discrimination as a kid
Inconvenient truth: Many Filipinos harbor stereotypes about Indians. The textbook “bumbay” is a motorcycle-riding, turban-wearing umbrella vendor who lends money at a five-six interest rate and speaks with a thick accent.

Because of this, Sam was bullied a lot as a kid. "Nandoon ‘yung notion ng five-six, na mabaho [ang mga Indian]. Lahat ng mga kaklase ko, pinagti-trip-an ako. Parang ‘ah, ayaw naming makipag-basketball sa iyo kasi mabaho ka. Bawal kang makipaglaro sa amin.’ As in solid discrimination, talagang heart-crushing," he says of those times. “Masakit talaga.”

While Sam admits that he used to be the “biggest asar-talo” about these jibes, he ended up turning the tables on racism by incorporating all the stereotypes into his successful comedic persona, Shivaker. Sam would turn into Shivaker, a turban-wearing love guru, when answering late-night callers in the DJ booth.

3. Despite being bullied as a kid, Sam YG’s entire barkada is Filipino
As a fourth-generation Indian immigrant, he has never regretted his choice to live here. “Filipino culture is something else, so parang in-embrace ako ng mga kabarkada ko,” he explains. “I’ve fallen in love with Filipino culture.”

4. Sam YG got his big break on Eat Bulaga's "Pinoy Henyo" contest
Sam and fellow DJ Tony Toni competed on noontime show Eat Bulaga’s “Pinoy Henyo” guessing game. Shivaker was already popular to radio listeners by then, and then the duo appeared in turbans and full-on Indian attire on TV. Sam confused the hosts by telling jokes in a thick Indian accent, and the rest is history. The audience loved Shivaker so much that Sam became a regular on “Eat Bulaga” as well as the late-night gag show “Comedy Club” on GMA-7.

5. He has a Kama Sutra shrine in his house
Sam shares an Indian-decorated home in Ortigas with his mom and two siblings. Everything in it is for sale to those who enjoy Indian culture: richly embroidered throw pillows, ornate teapots, cast metal sculptures, and wood-carved folding screens. "It's a little taste of India," says Sam, whose mom and sister run an Indian cafe and decor shop in Greenhills.

One of the highlights in Sam’s home is their intricately carved Kama Sutra shrine imported from India. “A lot of people think that Kama Sutra is just about sex,” says Sam. “But Kama Sutra is a lifestyle where you engage your senses. That means you’re fully aware of your senses.”

6. Sam YG's life motto: “Every day that you wake up, you’re given the chance to be the best version of yourself."
How does one get past racial discrimination to become a successful host and well-loved media personality? It seems the answer is in Sam’s determination and positive outlook in life. He says: “It’s up to you what you want to do with [the life you’re given]. You have the chance to prove that you’re the best.” —Cristina Tantengco/CM, GMA News

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