Michael Sager opens up on PBB bashing and choosing authenticity

Michael Sager reflects on endless house nominations, online hate, and embracing his authentic self.

“Binabago ko ‘yong sarili ko para sa kaligayahan ng ibang tao, which for me is wrong.”

Looking back on his “Pinoy Big Brother” (PBB) journey, Michael opened up about being bashed, repeatedly nominated, and eventually realizing that changing himself to fit other people’s expectations was not worth it.

“Sa PBB talaga, ang dami kong realizations,” Michael recalled, admitting that he “was not the favorite pick from that batch.”

He entered the house determined not to play safe, describing himself as “maingay, makulit, full of energy” because that was how he naturally was with his friends, on set, behind the cameras, and at home.

“But for some people they took it the wrong way,” he said, recalling how others found him “a bit overwhelming.”

Michael said he initially tried to adjust, hoping things would eventually work out. However, after being nominated three times despite changing his behavior, he questioned the point of continuing to do so.

“The very last week sabi ko, ‘what’s the point of adjusting?’ No matter what I do, I adjust to them, I stick to what they want me to do, hindi naman nila magugustuhan e, diba?”

That realization led him to a bigger lesson. “Binabago ko ‘yong sarili ko para sa kaligayahan ng ibang tao, which for me is wrong,” he said in an interview for the digital talk show “The Good Take” with Christian Bables,

His takeaway? “If it makes you happy, continue it kasi you will not please everybody.”

Fans echoed the sentiment, saying that while some people inside PBB may not have understood Michael, many others appreciated him for remaining authentic.

“It must have been difficult to be bashed simply for being yourself,” one fan wrote, “but that very same authenticity was what made so many people admire you, appreciate you, and root for you.”

Now, Sager is building his career beyond PBB. He currently stars as Nate Lim in GMA Afternoon Prime’s “Born to Shine” and is set to lead the upcoming Viu Original rom-com “The Way Back to You” alongside AZ Martinez and Ralph de Leon.

He is also set to appear in the upcoming horror film “Huwag Kang Titingin” with Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay, while serving as a regional brand ambassador for an international watch brand.

READ: