Ronnabelle Lora

Michael Sager recalls his family’s struggles during their early years in Canada

Article (news)

E. Kristhoff Cagape

Push Team

<p>Former <em></em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pinoy-big-brother-collab"><em><strong>Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition</strong></em></a> housemate Michael Sager recalled the early struggles of his family when they migrated to Canada in 2007.</p><p>In an interview with Karen Davila for her YouTube vlog, Michael shared that his family endured many challenges during their early years abroad.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung buhay namin sa Canada, talagang ang dami naming pinagdaanan. Lumipat kami dun back in 2007 and I was 3 years old. Talagang ibang mundo siya. It was gray, it was cold, it wasn&#x27;t like the Philippines. Dun ko nakita na, hala this is a start of our new life as a family,&quot; he shared.</p><p>Michael recalled how his parents juggled multiple jobs to provide for the family. &quot;Just like every Filipino working abroad, it was difficult because you really restart, and my parents had to work two to three times at that time. Si papa po he did fast food, janitorial services, meron din siya sa glass warehouse,&quot; he said.</p><p>The<em> PBB</em> housemate also spoke about the sacrifices of his mother, who had to restart her professional career in Canada.</p><p>&quot;Si mama po pharmacist dito pero paglipat niya kasi hindi counted &#x27;yung degree niya or it&#x27;s not the same so she had to study again for her to be a pharmacist there, so she really took it one by one,&quot; he recalled. </p><p>&quot;[She worked] as a pharmacist, as an associate then pumasok as technician, lahat na na lang sinubukan nila para makapag-ipon and para ma-settle na po kami lahat sa Canada kasi wala rin po kaming bahay din dun. Kumbaga we were renting lang sa basement, isang basement sa Vancouver na maliit lang pero super happy ko nun kasi may sarili kaming tahanan.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-23" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJEKMA2yCjG/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A23%2C%22os%22%3A6800143.5%2C%22ls%22%3A46601.89999997616%2C%22le%22%3A46613.60000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-23" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>He also recounted how his parents coordinated their work shifts so someone could always care for him.</p><p>&quot;Naalala ko pa nung bata pa ako sa Canada kasi you cannot leave a child alone at age 4 and my mom had to work in the morning, my dad work graveyard at night so ang schedule namin gigisingin ako ni mama, magre-ready kami, tapos mag-ready na siya tapos pupunta po kami sa midpoint at sa midpoint na &#x27;yun nandun si papa galing sa work tapos si papa iuuwi ulit ako. So for me enjoy ako, wow ang dami kong napupuntahan, &#x27;yun pala everyday ginagawa kasi for work nila.&quot;</p><p>Despite the difficult start, their sacrifices paid off. &quot;Maraming pinagdaaanan &#x27;yung parents ko na to the point na at least 15 years later, we were able to be more comfortable. I graduated from my high school years there in Canada na rin. It was a lot of learning experiences for me.&quot;</p><p>Asked why he decided to return to the Philippines, Michael said it was a personal choice rooted in his love for the country.</p><p>&quot;Umuuwi po kami every two years sa Pilipinas. Nag-enjoy ako &#x27;pag Pasko, every New Year. Ang ingay po dito, ang dami naming pamilya, masaya. Sinabi ko na kay mama, &#x27;Ma dun ako mag-aaral sa Pilipinas ha &#x27;pag college.&#x27; Naramdaman ko lang na gusto ko talaga dito,&quot; he said.</p><p>Michael relayed that he also wanted to try out for the UAAP. &quot;It was for basketball at that time. Gusto ko mag-try out for UAAP sa basketball sabi nila, &#x27;Ha dun ka mag-aaral, ayaw mo dito?&#x27; Sila &#x27;yung nagulat and then to the point na derecho showbiz na, sabi ko, &#x27;Gusto ko po dun ha, gusto ko po i-try out dun.&#x27; Sabi nila okay sige, pinagbigyan na nila po ako,&quot; he stated.</p>

<p>Michael Sager and his family migrated to Canada in 2007.</p>

Michael Sager and his family migrated to Canada in 2007.

Former PBB housemate Michael Sager recalls his family’s struggles during their early years in Canada

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Former PBB housemate Michael Sager recalls his family’s struggles during their early years in Canada

Toff C.,

Push Team

Published May 10, 2025 12:32 PM PHT

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